With RV living more popular than ever, Pinterest and Instagram are full of trailer and RV decorating inspiration to drool over.
It’s a good thing too, because although RVs and trailers are the epitome of compact living, the old-school ones are not the epitome of stylish decor.
If you’re tired of your boring motorhome interior, here’s some RV decorating ideas to help you turn it from drab to fab!
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Camper and RV Decorating Ideas
1. Add Some Color
I love how these RV owners used lime green in their space. It looks fabulous! You can’t even tell it’s a living room on wheels.
When decorating your RV, pick two or three accent colors and use them consistently around your space, just like you would in your home.
A throw blanket, some accent pillows, a rug or two to warm up the floor – all of these small touches make a big difference in the look of your home on wheels.
Or…you can go all out and add color everywhere for an eclectic look like the Australian full-time RVers below.
I’m digging that tropical vibe! Whether you go bold or subtle in your RV decorating, a little color definitely makes the space more warm and inviting.
Throw pillows are an easy way to add some colorful touches in your RV decor. Buy pillow covers and inserts, then you can swap out the designs when you want to switch up your RV decor. And the pillow covers don’t take much space to store.
The covers below are 17.5″ and 18″, so it’s recommended that you buy inserts that are 20″ to fill them out nicely. These pillow inserts are hypoallergenic and have great reviews.
Set of 6 Decorative Covers
Set of 4 Decorative Covers
2. When RV Decorating, Show your Personality
Talk about bold – this owner let her gypsy flag fly! Love it! Think of your RV or travel trailer as a blank canvas upon which you can splatter your charm.
Both of these travelers below went with a bohemian, earthy chic look which is fabulous too.
I love all the soft textures, especially the throw on the coffee table. They really soften the space.
If you collect things, bring a few of your collectibles and display them. If you love vintage, then deck your rig out retro style. Pinterest is full of adorable vintage themed travel trailers for inspiration, by the way.
If you’re into sports, Hollywood glam, cowboys, whatever…show it off in your home away from home and add some elements that demonstrate who you are.
3. Change the Curtains
This RV owner changed out the stock valance/curtain combo that you see in many RV decorating photos. I love the grommet curtains they used instead and the whole midcentury vibe going on there.
It’s an easy fix to dress up your windows with some curtains in a print or solid that works with your trailer or RV decor.
Patterned Grommet CurtainsSolid Grommet Curtains
If you can’t find curtains you like, look for fabric that strikes your fancy. Then use hemming tape to make a “seam” on the sides and bottom (or use a sewing machine).
Next, use clip style curtain rings to attach the fabric to your rod. Easy peasy! I love these clip curtain rings – They turn ANY fabric into curtains so easily. Just make sure they are wide enough around to fit your rod.
Clip Curtain RingsIron-On Hem Tape
If you are willing to tackle a small project, here’s a video tutorial for how to make some no-sew grommet curtains:
4. Paint the Walls and Cabinets
Simply painting the cabinets white really brightened up this rig! The current RV decorating trend is white cabinets and it does look very clean and modern. But there are other options that look great too, like the forest green cabinets in the photo below.
The folks below used a combination of wood and white in their little kitchen and that looks beautiful too!
If you’re up for some small scale renovations, paint the walls and cabinets of your home on wheels to brighten it up. Feel free to use the color of your choice!
When it comes to RV decorating, paint is probably the cheapest, but most dramatic change you can make to your interior.
If you have wallpaper and it isn’t peeling, you can paint right over it if you prime it with an oil-based primer. Watch the video tutorial below for more details.
Below is a short, Larry-The-Cable-Guy style video that explains how to paint RV cabinets too.
5. Use Maps as Wallpaper
I love this RV decorating idea. What better way to adorn the walls of your journey maker than with maps? Even if you added one in just a small area, it’s a fun and whimsical touch.
In researching the best way to apply the maps to the wall (since they are thinner than traditional wallpaper), some DIYers said regular wallpaper glue like this worked fine while others said the maps started coming off the wall in humid weather.
You could hang them up poster-style with these poster strips, which I have used to attach posters to the wall and work great for attaching anything made of paper to the wall.
If you’re unsure, you could always hang maps as artwork rather then wallpaper, and still achieve that traveler vibe.
Map and Saying PrintWanderlust Map Print
Which brings us to our tip #6 below…
6. Put Up Artwork
Artwork not only adds character to your motorhome, but it also expresses your style and personality. Whether it’s prints, signs, paintings, antlers or whatever floats your boat – display them proudly.
And don’t forget about family pictures as well, so it feels like your loved ones are adventuring with you.
Usually, nails and screws aren’t recommended for use in RV or trailer walls because you can’t be sure what’s on the other side and don’t want to damage anything. But, some seasoned owners go ahead and use small screws with their rv or trailer decorations.
To be on the safe side, here’s a few other options that many long-time RV warriors swear by to keep their pictures and art in place.
Here’s a couple of cute camper art pieces you might like for your rig or as a gift to a fellow RVer.
Vintage Camper ArtTrailer Key Holder
7. Add a Backsplash
A peel and stick backsplash is an easy way to update your rig’s kitchen or bathroom. They can be applied to any smooth surface, even over wallpaper. They don’t require glue, but you could use a little spray adhesive like this one, if you have doubts they will stick.
They make a huge difference and really add a modern look to your trailer or RV decor.
Tic Tac Tiles Como PebbleTic Tac Tiles Mintgrey
8. Give Your Counters a Makeover
The nice thing about RV renovations is that since the area is small, the cost for materials usually is too. You can get a new countertop from a home improvement store without putting too much of a dent in your wallet.
And here’s an RV decorating tip for you – if your laminate counters are still in good shape, with no chips or peeling, you can paint right over them. Now that’s a cheap, quick and easy decor fix!
There are special countertop paints like this one just for this purpose. They give your RV kitchen counters a beautiful granite look and are surprisingly easy to use. Watch this video to see how.
There are also adhesive films that look like granite or other stones that work well to makeover countertops. One popular product for RVs is d-c-fix self-adhesive film. It comes in several designs and users report that it works great for decorating RVs and trailers.
Giani Countertop Paint Kitd-c-fix Adhesive Brown Stone
9. When RV Decorating, Use Regular Furniture
When it comes to RV decorating, many people first think about changing the upholstery. But professionally reupholstering existing RV furniture is usually more expensive than replacing it.
You could do the work yourself and save money, but you might consider just replacing the built-in furniture with regular pieces. I love how simple and clean the living and work area look in the image above, with a small table for a desk and a small futon sofa for seating.
You may find that a loveseat fits perfectly in the nook of your slide-out, anchoring it in place when you’re on the road (just take careful measurements to be certain). If not, simple metal brackets can be used to secure the furniture to the floor.
You can also replace the booth style dining area with a regular table and chairs like they did in the image above. Drop-leaf tables like this one are great space savers.
Keep the loose pieces secure when travelling with floor rings and straps if they don’t fit in your slide out area snugly enough.
Using regular furniture makes your trailer look and feel much more like home.
These are some of my favorite drop-Leaf table sets that would fit well into RV decor.
Gia Drop Leaf Dining SetTiffany Drop Leaf Dining Set
10. Try Open Shelving
To make the interior feel more open, consider taking out one row of upper cabinets and using open shelving instead.
Use decorative baskets or boxes to store things that you would normally hide in cabinets. Then display some decorative items on the shelves, once you’re at your destination.
Actually, that museum putty I mentioned early works really well for holding decorative items in place!
If you do try open shelving, use a tension rod like this one to keep things secure when you’re on the road, or take the items down when you’re traveling and put them back when you’re settled. The latter is the safer option if you have an RV rather than a trailer.
A decorative doodad can be a flying missile if you get in an accident or have to slam on the brakes.
Below are some nice-looking storage containers, pretty enough to display on open shelving.
Nesting Storage Baskets3-Section Baskets
11. Use Space Savers to Minimize Clutter
No matter how beautifully your RV is decorated, clutter can ruin that cute look in a hot second.
Make sure the products you use in your rig are collapsible, stackable, and otherwise easy to stow away. This is important not only for aesthetics, but also for safety when you’re on the road.
Here’s a few of our favorite RV and trailer space savers worth checking out.
RV Stovetop Cutting BoardCoghlan’s Pop-Up Trash CanNested Bowl and Measuring SetOver Sink Vanity Table
Feel inspired yet? We hope these trailer and RV decorating tips help you to decorate your traveling abode so it truly feels like home!
Looking for some space saving tips for your RV? many storage and organization ideas for a regular kitchen and bathroom can be applied in an RV or trailer as well.
Check out these kitchen space saving ideas and these bathroom space savers!