Is it possible to live in a home on wheels with style? Here are 20 inspiring RV makeovers and renovations to prove it just might be, with a little elbow grease and creative vision.
We’ve so enjoyed renovating our own RV which we lovingly call “TIDBITS ON WHEELS”, designed and decorated in my light and bright, Cottage Romance TIDBITS style.
Here is a peek, but check out all the details on our reveal post, then come back to enjoy this round-up of other RV renovations I discovered while looking for inspiration. Be sure to subscribe to my email updates to catch all the details of our adventures of living in our RV with our 4 kids, while we build our home.
There are some clever creatives out there taking small spaces and making them huge with style! Whether you have an RV just to hit the road or a temporary home on wheels, these ideas will get you excited to make the effort to make it an RV to love!
WHEN AND WHERE TO BUY AN RV
If you’ve ever imagined it would be fun to buy an RV to fix up, the off-season is a great time to buy! My husband works with someone who has a side hustle of buying and selling RV’s, and he highly recommends the new year as the perfect time. When people find themselves high with bills from the Holidays, the RV is the first thing to go, and they are often desperate sellers.
In our search for finding an affordable RV in need of some tender DIY love and care, here are the places we searched:
- Local Classifieds
- Facebook Marketplace
- Word of Mouth
- Local Dealerships
Beautiful RV Makeovers and RV Remodel Ideas
Be sure to bring big vision and hard work to the table, and you just might be able to create a tiny home as beautiful as these ones below!
1. COTTAGE HILL
Even though this is technically an airstream, I adore the bright and white color palette found in this transformation by Cottage Hill.
2. MRS. SCHMICK
This cute RV, lovingly nicknamed “Mrs. Schmick” is darling inside and out! Be sure to catch up on their adventures for Mrs. Schmick on Instagram.
3. KREATING HOMES
An incredibly helpful how-to from Kreating Homes for replacing those nasty floors and carpet that can be found in older RVs.
4. DOMINO
Another airstream makeover, but I am inspired by the custom seating found in this reveal on The Modern Caravan.
5. ARROWS AND BOWS
You’ve got to follow the live-in RV adventures from Arrows and Bows. Ashley shares great tips on her blog and the behind-the-scenes reality of living in an RV with kids on her Instagram.
I love how they painted the exterior and made a classy and cozy retreat just outside the front door.
They managed to make the small space cozy for kids and adults alike! Paint, statement wallpaper, lighting, and so many simple upgrades made a huge impact!
6. LIFE AS AN ARTISTPRENEUR
It’s important to rethink all the RV nooks and cranny’s to make sure they function for your needs. I love how Life as an Artistpreneur reworked this wall to provide entertainment and decor.
7. GYPSY AND PIRATE
The small bathrooms have got to be the trickiest space in an RV that gets full-time use. Making it pretty with some upgrades like Gypsy and Pirate did make all the difference!
8. HONEYSUCKLE
I love how Honeysuckle on Instagram added nice wood trim to the border of the slide out of their RV and improved the living space significantly with beautiful seating areas.
9. CLEVER FOX MAMA
I’m finding out Instagram is a major hub for RV enthusiasts to share their improvements and adventures. It was fun to discover this account –Clever Fox Mama on Instagram. You can’t even tell this is an RV!
10. THE ARROW ANGLERS
I’m inspired by the modern look in the RV by The Arrow Anglers. Their use of woods, whites, and blacks come together nicely.
11. BONNIE CHRISTINE
The most inspiring makeover I ran into comes from Bonnie Christine. The colors, the patterns, and the well-thought-out use of space are so inspiring!
12. RV FIXER UPPER
This gal should be dubbed the Joanna Gaines for RV’s! Be sure to check out her many RV design inspiration ideas on RV Fixer Upper.
I was wowed by the clever idea of using a ladder behind the potty for storage and beauty.
Every detail is noteworthy. Check out the wallpapered pocket door, faux shiplap, lighting, countertop, flooring, stairs . . .
I would never have guessed this was an RV kitchen! Definitely check out more on RV Fixer Upper.
13. KALIFORNIA KOUNTRY
I found another family living in their RV while they build a home and their bunk area is so cozy and adorable. Follow along with Kalifornia_Kountry on Instagram to get a glimpse of the reality of living in a trailer with kids!
Had to share her two-toned kitchen too!
14. WILSON GRAND ADVENTURES
I keep thinking those dinette nooks just make it hard for everyone to scoot and sit. I love how WilsonGrandAdventures on Instagram changed that area into a bar-like eating and work spot for the whole family. Brilliant!
This cozy landing place came a long way as well!
15. VINTAGE REVIVALS
You can count on Mandy from Vintage Revivals to come up with the most creative designs, and an RV was no exception. What she calls “the nugget” is a tiny retro RV that they transformed into the happiest place on earth!
16. THE WACO VEGAN
I adored the clean minimalistic look found in the RV from The Waco Vegan. It was clever to add the cute shelf just above the bed.
17. THE DIY MOMMY
The YouTube star, DIY Mommy, decorates her remodeled RV for all the seasons. I love watching them make the most of their RV!
18. ANYONE CAN DECORATE
For all my fellow shabby chic fans, this RV from Anyone Can Decorate goes down as the most unique RV I’ve seen yet!
19. ZEVY JOY
The pop-up camper that has taken Instagram by a storm comes from my sweet friend Annie of Zevy Joy. It looks like an outdoor oasis!
20. THE NOSERY
I love this sink and countertop transformation from The Nosery. It doesn’t even have the RV feel. I’m thinking the fancy faucet makes a huge difference too!
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the incredible possibilities that lie in a small RV space!
I’m working on finding even more inspiration and filling up my RV Design Pinterest board, so head HERE if you would like even more!
Please let me know if you have any experience with RV living or making RV makeovers a reality!
How about you take a guess at what we will be doing next. I dare you. 😉
Wow! I love everything, most especially the vintage revivals!!!
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Cami..I think people can adapt to “anything” if they really want to. If “the plan” is that you guys are going be living in an RV until those dreams of yours become a reality, then anyone can make it work. And it will. I sure wouldn’t spend a bunch of money to “redecorate” it, when I would sooner want my money to be put towards that end goal on your 25 acres. I think it will be fun and the kids will think it’s an adventure. It will all work out. One thing my hubby and I found out about ourselves over the years is that we can adapt to anything. We have travelled all over the world and have stayed in glamourous hotels right down to small hostels living among the locals and “those” have been our very best experiences.
Great ideas! We have an RV that’s looking kind of stale. Hmmmm, I’m definitely checking these out. Thanks, Cami.
Woohoo! I always thought it’d be fun to redo an RV. I would love to have one as a guest “cottage” at the farm. It kind of sounds like y’all are planning to live in one as you build. The tiny house movement is strong! With all your outside area for the kids to run in, you could do it!
Let the adventure begin!!
?Cecilia
These pictures are awesome – know you will enjoy doing your own space!! If you plan to live in it, you probably will want to join some Facebook groups to learn about how to keep the inside from molding as condensation is a big problem in small spaces when you run the heat or have high humidity. These pictures also show RVs which are settled in one spot – there is no way you could travel with those. I think you might like to investigate the RV Interiors Facebook page and any full time RV bloggers.
I have no experience with RVs but think this is a great idea for your family. My husband and I were high school sweethearts who got married and finished college together. We bought a used mobile home and replaced the carpet and moved it near the college we were attending. We paid $3000 for it and when we graduated, we were able to sell it for $3000. It was a great investment for two poor college students or for anyone. Best of luck on this new adventure!
Dear Cami , god bless all of you ,as soon as you look , listen and hear your voice , see that smile its so nice. Your plans sound great and god will guide you along the path . I am new to your site and enjoy it . I live in south florida so the land here is very different and you cant get that here , but I am thankful for the home I have and that GOD gives us . Looking to see and hear more about your plan .thank you for all the great stuff . Have a wonderful day .
Waouh ?????
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So many cute ideas, no reason you can’t make it cozy. It will be fun to see what you can do and i know you can do it.
I think you must be going to do some tiny living on your new property. We have a fifth wheel next to a river in the western North Carolina mountains. It’s been sitting there for 16 years. This past summer I finally got wood look floor vinyl put down and some painting done in the bedroom. I love getting to go for a couple of weeks at a time. It’s a six hour drive so I don’t get to go as often as I would like. Loved all the pictures. I saved some for future reference.
Oh my – so inspiring!!!! I know you will make whatever you live in comfortable, practical and beautiful for your family!!!!! This reminds me so much of a book that I read to my literature and art kids – it is by a homeschool graduate named Jonathan Bean and the book is called Building Our House!!! I found it at out library …. maybe your library will have it too!!!
Oh I gotta look that up! Thank you for the recommendation! So excited!
This is so amazing!! Thank you for sharing!! I love it!
Wow! Really a ton of great looking rv concepts. I like the one that looks so classy. Really nice to make your rv as comfortable by being you as much as possible.
I have had rc’s and I love what you are doing. Can be for guests once you have your home built. My question is, if you are not going to move it to an Rv pumping station all th time, how are you dealing with sewage?
I would like to know that too.
I live in my RV which is stationary – I pay a company to come and pump out the black water tank every 6 weeks or so. Lots of companies do it 🙂
I love how creative people are someday I hope to change the inside of mine
We are so excited to take our RV adventure. Honestly, not to make light of a terrible pandemic but we are so grateful for remote work. This has been an awesome project and we just need to get the paint up on the walls, and the hardwood flooring resurfaced to get this thing on the road. Thanks for sharing.