The RV camper is a versatile and customizable space that can be transformed into a unique and comfortable space. Here are 10 DIY ways to update your RV interior:
- Repaint your RV interior; 2. Customize your van walls; 3. Overhaul your space with custom camper furniture; 4. Install shelves for more storage; 5. Give your RV a good clean; it’s amazing how a thorough cleaning can make any camper cute and comfortable.
To update your RV interior, consider the style of your camper, the type of furniture you want, and the type of accessories you want. Some clever RV remodeling tips include replacing the dinette table with a table and chairs, replacing the dinette with a TV station, installing a computer desk/workstation, replacing worn-out or drab carpet, and installing vinyl.
Additionally, paint your RV interior to freshen up the space. Replace furniture with a stylish kitchen or bathroom backsplash, update appliances, faucets, light fixtures, window treatments, and add decorative accessories.
A step-by-step detailed process of everything considered and did for our RV renovation includes repainting the interior, customizing van walls, overhauling the space with custom camper furniture, installing shelves for more storage, and removing the wallpaper border.
In addition to these DIY tips, there are many easy and affordable RV remodel ideas, such as painting, reupholstering furniture, changing cabinet and drawer hardware, painting or refinishing cabinets, changing lighting, and installing new flooring. By following these steps, you can create a unique and comfortable RV camper that suits your needs.
📹 My RV remodel on a budget before & after – see the whole transformation!!
Go here to get the written tutorial & all the links for the materials I used in this RV renovation: …
How to personalize a camper?
The application of color can markedly improve the visual appeal of an aged recreational vehicle, concealing imperfections and imparting a newfound lustre. Additionally, installing a backsplash in the kitchen can be advantageous. Utilising lighter colours can also contribute to the perception of the RV’s size.
Can you wallpaper camper walls?
Selecting the right paper for your wallpaper project can be a daunting task due to the numerous options available. First, clean and prep your walls by patching holes, ensuring there are no sharp edges or nails sticking out, and using a cleaner like Simple Green’s Surface Prep. Test in a small, unnoticeable spot first to avoid removing the color on the existing wallpaper.
Next, apply Zinsser’s Universal Wallcovering Primer to the walls to smooth the surface. Allow the primer several days to dry, even if it says it will be dry in a few hours. Pre-cut your first panel of wallpaper to the height of the wall, leaving 2-3 inches of excess material at the bottom. Align the pattern with each consecutive panel before cutting the next panel. Number the back of each panel to ensure they go next to each other.
Using a level and a pencil, draw a vertical guide down the length of the wall to ensure the panel is going on straight. Use a friend to hold the top corners of the panel of paper in each hand and peel back 8-10 inches of the backing to prevent it from sticking to the wallpaper. Apply the paper to the top edge of the wall and align it with the vertical guide. Gently press the paper to the wall, working from the center out, and smooth by going straight across the paper, left to right, or up and down starting from the middle.
Repeat these steps with any remaining panels, overlapping them by approximately 1/4 inch if possible, carefully matching the repeat. Use a credit card or plastic scraper to push the paper down into the edge, and trim all panels once installed where needed with a craft knife.
What is the lifespan of an RV?
The life expectancy of an RV or Travel Trailer depends on its frequent use, proper maintenance, and adequate protection from the elements. With proper care, an RV can last 10 to 30 years or 200, 000-300, 000 miles. However, ignoring proper care and maintenance, such as oil changes and tire pressure checks, can significantly impact its lifespan. It is crucial to prioritize proper care and attention to prevent the death of your RV’s life expectancy and ensure its longevity.
Is it better to paint or wallpaper RV walls?
Choosing high-quality wallpaper for campers is similar to redecorating a regular home. Peel and stick wallpaper is easier and quicker to apply than paint, and it won’t cause issues with cheap vinyl finishes or toxic chemicals. There are several ways to use peel and stick wallpaper for RV decorating projects, including:
- Choose a neutral color scheme for the walls, flooring, and accents.
- Add a pop of color with vibrant colors and patterns.
- Use a durable, easy-to-clean material for easy maintenance.
What is the best color to paint the inside of a camper?
The best color for your RV is one that matches your décor. It’s best to choose your paint color when you’re in a happy mood, as it will inspire happy travels wherever you roam. Other suggested paint colors include cream, beige, tan, biscuit, blue, green, gray with dark red trim, and Retro-hippie in multiple colors. Consult Camping World’s Design Center for more RV interior paint ideas and renovation tips.
How to decorate inside a camper?
DimePillows offers a variety of ways to decorate your RV interior, including pillows, wall decals, small photo frames, faux plants, placemats or table runners, throw rugs, dishes, plates, trays, and bottles or counter Trinkets. Personalizing your RV doesn’t have to be expensive; many small interiors on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook groups are beautifully decorated and personalized, even without looking like RVs or campers inside.
Whether you buy your Heartland for full-time RV living or use it as a seasonal camper, you’ll eventually want to personalize it. Don’t rush out and buy a lot of paint and wallpaper to make a statement in your towable.
How do you modernize an RV interior?
Transform your RV with simple, affordable remodel ideas, such as re-upholstering furniture, updating hardware, painting cabinets, adding lighting, installing backsplashes, upgrading counters, repurposing spaces, and changing flooring. With a bit of research, advance planning, and basic prep work, many RV renovation projects are simple and affordable. You don’t need professional carpentry skills or enormous budgets to enjoy the benefits of an RV makeover. There are hundreds of free tutorials and resources available on RV renos and other DIY projects. Pinterest, YouTube, social media, and RV forums are great starting points.
Reupholstering furniture is one of the easiest and most affordable RV remodel ideas. You’ll be surprised by the materials that make the best furniture fabric! Even if you choose just one main piece of furniture, like your dinette benches or living room sofa, the impact will be enough to give the entire RV a whole new look.
Can you change the furniture in an RV?
RV owners can replace their RV furniture with regular furniture, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. RV furniture is designed for RVs and motorhomes, making it smaller than regular furniture. However, RV furniture still offers comfort and functionality, such as dinette booths that provide extra storage space. RecPro, a leading RV furniture store, is a great choice for those looking for RV furniture. With over 12 years of experience, RecPro collaborates with RV enthusiasts and manufacturers to develop the best RV furniture upgrades.
Their seating options include RV recliners, jackknife sofas, captain chairs, swivel rockers, and RV theater seating. They also offer an extensive selection of other furniture and RV parts, such as dining tables, water tanks, and RV beds.
Is it possible to remodel a RV?
DIY camper renovations are becoming popular and affordable, making it possible to transform your RV into a home. One affordable option is replacing old carpet with stick-on wood tiles, which can be found at home-improvement stores for less than $1 per panel. This DIY project can make your RV feel more like home and add personal touches to make it feel more like a home. By incorporating these affordable renovation ideas, you can make your RV more comfortable and functional.
Are camper interior walls load bearing?
Travel trailer walls are a crucial component to repair due to their load-bearing nature but lightweight capacity. They are typically made of 2-inch by 2-inch lumber and weatherized with fiberglass siding. However, small leaks can compromise the particleboard within. Travel trailer walls are designed to improve fuel efficiency, but even small moisture can cause structural compromise. Depending on the RV’s age, wall repair may include upgrades to enhance its value.
As RVs become more modern, there are better options for insulation, paneling, electrical (12-volt), and fasteners. DIY projects for repairing travel trailer walls are popular among enthusiasts who prioritize self-sustainability and innovation. However, the steps may vary depending on the trailer’s age, extent of damage, and modernization of the trailer, such as electrical, material types, and manufacturing techniques.
Can you paint interior camper walls?
The construction of RV walls typically involves the use of wood-board covered with vinyl paper, as opposed to the use of perfectly angled corners and paint-ready drywall. It is of the utmost importance to prepare the surface adequately prior to the application of paint, given that RV walls require a considerable quantity of paint.
📹 DIY CAUTION: HOW TO PAINT RV WALLS & CABINETS. We Painted the Interior of our Fifth Wheel! Learn…
Last month we gave you a tour of our totally renovated Grand Design Solitude 310GK Fifth Wheel. We completely painted the …
This is one of the most encouraging RV/5th wheel transformation vids I’ve come across. So many seem pretty unattainable, this made me feel like my husband and I really will be able to make simple changes in our future 5th wheel home to make it really comfortable and more modern looking without breaking the bank.
I am glad I saw the darker colors in your RV. We are in the process of shopping right now, BUT, I know I will want to paint and do a little additional before we move in full time. I am DEFINITELY not an all whiter person, but wasn’t sure how darker colors would make such small spaces look. Thanks for sharing!!
😲 UNBELIEVABLE! 💐 I love everything you changed! Your entire renovation and choice of colors are stunning, clean, and homey! Beautifully and gorgeously done! We have a beloved family member who is going through a life-changing event. We’re going to offer to do something similar for our loved one and their child, and park it directly on our property. We may build a deck, planters, and fenced yard, and ask them where they’d like it (near our home or by one of our stock ponds). Prayerfully, they will feel loved, wanted, and safe. Thank you for the inspiration! I am very encouraged, knowing you did it while still taking care of your family. Thank you for sharing! 💐🙏🥰
Finally a RV reno that REALLY gives all the steps necessary for painting cabinets! Excited to see more RV organization and decorating articles in your new RV ! We own a 2019 28′ toy hauler without slides that we use 2-3 weekends a month on average. My husband rides/races a dirt bike so we spend lots of weekends at MX tracks. I’ve been working on personalizing outta for 2 years. We bought a B&W checkered flag outdoor RV mat and I was originally going to decorate with lodge/cabin decor but decided to go B&W rustic farmhouse instead. It’s so neutral that my husband doesn’t feel like it’s too girly and I use yellow, hints of red and blues to brighten it up. I’ve removed the heavy (ugly) valances and added curtain rods with curtains (softened and warmed it up so much)! I’ve added peel and stick tiles in the bathroom and B&W check wallpaper to several dark walls in the main area BUT still have decided on what to do for the wall over my sink and stovetop. I’ve purchased several options but can’t decide. There is a window so there’s actually very little wall space but it needs something…especially over the stovetop. Maybe even a 20×16 framed print since I only cook outdoorsnor use electric appliances. Also since it’s such a small space the wood colored cabinets and 3 doors still make it feel so “cave-like”. I love that color of wood for furniture in my home but didn’t realize how overwhelming it would be in our RV. I know some people remove the doors but I have over the door hooks and organizers that are essential and we have guests throughout the day so we need the doors (1 for bathroom, 1 for bedroom, 1 for pantry).
This looks amazing! I’m not a fan of the dark green, but you and hubby love it, so that’s all that matters. I was shocked to hear that all of this gorgeousness was done for less than $2,000!! My daughter and I just bought a class A motorhome and, after we get the mechanical issues fixed, we are planning to renovate the interior. I’ve saved this article and will subscribe to your website as soon as I get done posting this comment. Thank you so much for a great how-to article without tons of “fluff” that would make it annoyingly tedious to watch 💗
New subscriber and just wanted to leave a few comments and ask a question. First of all absolutely LOVE your article format!! You get right to the point and you don’t waste time with your DIY tried and true projects by speeding the camera up instead of posting in real time. Much appreciated. As well as your clear and concise content. You have a pleasant voice and you don’t prattle about unnecessary, to the article, content. I also love how you include your children in your diys:) such wonderful skills for them to learn and great memories to look back on! You completely transformed this fifth wheel and I really like your ideas of using brighter lighter colors to open up the psychological space constraints of an RV. As well as your innovative space expanding and personalizing ideas:) You’re amazing! 🤗 Now to my question. My husband and I bought a used RV but we have found that we don’t like the dinette and would like to remove it and place two recliners instead. The problem we’re facing is that there’s a heater box beneath the bench seat of part of the dinette. Is there a way around this? Trying to decide if we can keep and remodel this problem or sell and buy a different one with this feature. We took our honeymoon in our RV so we definitely have some sentimental reasons for keeping it. 💕 Thank you so much for any help you can give with this. And I look forward to checking out your website more. I’ve learned a lot just with this article! 🤗🌷
My walls are covered in wood look paper, only my cabinet doors are real wood. I have the wood look every where, lots of huge crown molding every where. I have 2 full wall slides so my toilet and sink room have floating walls with a long rectangular opening at the top and bottom on both sides. The small kitchen has a depth of a counter and a half with a huge dbl basin sink leaving about 12″ for a usable counter. My RV has so much storage inside and in the basement. I love to see remodels, so many ideals.
“wow”! You did an awesome job! I also love, LoOvE to decorate my motorhome, and switching it up, seems to be on a consistant basis. But anyways …that was so cute when your daughter walked through, it totally reminded me of my daughter, i almost dropped a tear,,,almost lol Thanks for sharing your ideas
You’ve done a fantastic job! This is one of the best DIY RV remodels I ‘ve seen in quite a while. It ‘s an inspiration for some soon-to-be retirees, my husband and myself. But folks, here’s the thing: Do it before you hit 60. Or maybe even 55. After 60, you’ll really have to plan differently and go slowly, so you won’t tire out!
Great job! I love color so that’s awesome you went for what you love. Paint is cheap, you can always change it later. I never understand why people are afraid of wall colors. 🤔🤷♀️ I love the white too, Im gonna use it in areas of our RV we just started renovating. Thanks for sharing your tips and cost! We’ve blown past that $$$$ already with ours. ☹️ It’s a 2009 but needs extra TLC thanks to some leaks I discovered while doing prep work. 🙄 Thanks to RV repair site articles it’s taken the fear out of fixing ourselves. 👷♀️🪛🛠️ I’m a total DIY girl too 🤗
Due to the scam heavy Canadian rental housing market and the lax rental housing tribunal, I have lost my entire savings on deposits for units that don’t actually exist. I will be moving into an existing RV (since half the RV sales are also scams) in a parking lot. Thanks Trudeau. And thank YOU for making my new “lifestyle” feel less bleak, depressing, and homeless. These tips will make the 26 feet of space I have to shove my family into…feel a little more like home.
I am terrified to paint the cabinets! I want to start small and paint our bathroom walls and cabinets. I love the dark color you used in the bedroom. I think a master needs a bit of moodiness. We just got our new to us RV. Unfortunately we have to store it somewhere other than home and that makes renovation very hard to do.
We did a very similar DIY in our fifth wheel and I swear I smile every single time I walk in the door. I did the bottom cupboards and entertainment section black but white everywhere else. It was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding makeovers I’ve ever done. Now on rainy or cold days, I don’t mind at all heading inside what I use to call the “cave”, now my happy place. You did an amazing job, congratulations. 😁
❤❤❤❤❤can’t sleep tonight because of the anxiety and hurt I feel from the betrayals I’ve experienced from my husband. I am so confused and sometimes angry at myself for being too forgiving and feeling like I’m betraying myself as well. This sermon was exactly the word I needed to hear from God. So thank you Pastor Mark, giving me hope for my family, husband and myself. Just reminding myself that these test never stop coming and it’s never too late.
Beautifully done! I hate RVs but seeing yours I would get in one and travel. Also loved how you broke down the cost of doing this. Most just want to say they did it cheap and used old stuff they had but I loved that u mentioned that but still added the costs so we can gauge how much. And then again with furniture or not. And the upcycle..👌 very helpful.
Thank you so much 💕 I love the dark cabinets and bed area!!!! It gave me ideas for my camper and for my kitchen too!!! Great job using the chalk paint too! I love the look and I do chalk painted furniture . I found a chalk paint sealer that is acrylic but it doesn’t change the texture of chalk paint!!! I can’t wait to get started!!!
Thank you for such a wonderful step-by-step article. It’s obvious you put a lot of time and work into the renovation. As someone who is planning to RV full-time in 2024 and 2025, I feel encouraged to tackle the makeover of my 2009 RV. The only thing I’m having trouble with is getting up the nerve to paint the genuine oak woodwork in my Arctic Fox fifth wheel. 😬
I just bought a 2014 Keystone Outback 298RE travel trailer and I’m curious if you’ve ever taken off what looks like padded leather above the bedroom cabinets. Unfortunately I can’t send you a picture. I’m hoping that if I take that off I can use it as a bookcase or some other display area but I’m a little nervous about pulling it off.
Omg! Im in love with you and your RV remodel! I’ve got a Keystone Cougar w/ a bunkhouse that I’m going to remodel that’s pretty much identical to yours. I agree with the white i just need a little dark but that’s where decor and flooring come in! Rock on my Canadian friend! I’ll be a fan of yours for life! Strangely enough, you remind me of my sister and niece in the face so it’s lovely to watch cuz it’s like I’m seeing them! Xoxo Transplant from Texas in Indy P.S. Any tips for the remodel would be greatly appreciated because we are living in it and I’m overwhelmed going from a 3/2/2 with fenced yard and shed to this w/ 3 dogs 😂😂 yeah… And i quit drinking… Jessica
❓My RV walls have a paper like finish what do I clean that with to paint? I’m afraid to wet it and it damages or peels. You did such an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G job! It looks so expensive and professional. I will be living in mine fulltime so this means so much that I can have a modern elegant luxurious home to be proud of. THANK YOU you soooo much.💓👑 Of 🆒
Beautiful! I am about to do the same idea in an RV or 5th wheel to live in but so many I come across have the bunks. It’s for a solo person so the bunks aren’t needed. Do you have ideas for how to make good use of the bunk area? A walk-in pantry comes to mind but a bit large for an Rv. A reading room but that’s not practical it’s a luxury. Or if the entry way wall isn’t load bearing, would removing most of it to open up the whole space to create a larger living room area make sense? Would love your feedback❤
Hi! I just found your website. I’m in Alberta too and recently bought a 2007 RV. I was shocked at the amount of money you spent on this amazing reno. I thought it’d be way more than $2,000!! Love your tutorial, clear instructions, very approachable. I’ve never painted not even a wall, but I think I could do something like this. Thanks for taking the time to show us how to do it ❤
I just bought a 33 ft motor home for 3k. it’s in really rough shape but frame and motor is good body is rough exterior and interior is extremely bad from the kitchen back. 😅 I don’t consider myself professional but I have a little experience from jobs I’ve had. I have listed everything and plan to do a whole remodel and upgrade all throughout I cannot wait.
Ok first it’s wild how similar our rV stories are. We purchased a one owner 2007 NorthShore 5th wheel for 11k. It’s been taken extremely good care of inside & out. The seller even had a RV shed built that they stored it under. The interior of yours is quite similar to mine. The bedroom is almost exact. I’m contemplating using removable wall paper rather than paint. Just bcs it seems less work and not so permanent(?) Do you have experience w/ this vinyl covering?
What you did was a vast improvement. Your RV looks more like a home with personal touches. Most RV’s, even ones that are brand new, you know you’re in an RV by the builder’s generic choice of wall coverings, fixtures and decor. It just screams, “You’re in an RV!” Your makeover looks bright and modern as though I’m stepping into someone’s home. Great job.
Gorgeous! For anyone attempting to do this in their rig, a small tip that could save you time or energy if you hate masking to paint, there are screws on the top and bottom of the fridge and freezer doors that you can unscrew so you can un-slot and remove those front panels (the screws hold the plastic piece that the panels slot over, you’ll see, super easy) and paint them separate AND you also wouldn’t have to worry about anyone touching wet paint when they need the fridge! <3 Great vid (love the black evergreen A+)
You did such a great job! Everything looks so clean and fresh. I want to do this to our RV but my husband likes the dark wood and and doesn’t want me to change anything. UGH! Someday he’ll get sent out of town for a week for work and I’ll do a bunch of the things I want while he’s gone. Once he sees it, he’ll love it but he’s one of those people who can’t visualize things very well. And, he’s afraid of change. The kids don’t understand how he ended up married to a DIY queen. LOL
I am just starting to consider renovating our summer trailer here in Manitoba. Loved that you mentioned you are in Alberta. Beautiful reno! I am inspired….particularly with the flooring change. The nasty valances and flooring will be the first thing to go this fall! Thank you for sharing this in such a nice concise format!!!
I loved your article, I was given a fifth wheel for free does need some work I will be spending money on the electrical and gas stuff but other than that I think I can do the rest my daughter too. Thank you so much for this article for all those that are struggling and need to live in an RV I am blessed to have a home. I’ve never finished it and it is small, but God is good. He will make a way. God bless you and your family 😊
Ppl don’t paint your cabinets !!! You’ll regret it. It does not hold up over time and you can’t scrub it. It attracts dirt and you will see every little scratch or fingerprint . It will yellow also in time. You can’t clean it like you can the original laminate cabinets. Please post pictures of how it looks a year or two later. It also destroys the value. Ppl don’t want to buy a painted or “redecorated” interior. They want original in great shape. Not chipped and peeling, yellowing painted surfaces to have to fight to keep clean. Everyone does white ….why ?
I can’t overemphasize the importance of having a certified RV inspector, or at least a VERY knowledgeable RV owner inspect any used RV purchase. Back in the spring one of my granddaughters decided to buy an RV. I went with her to six different used privately sold RVs and every one of them had serious issues. All were advertised on Facebook. I am not a certified inspector but I have been RVing for many many years and am currently in my fifth RV. Every system in that RV has to be inspected. And then there’s the roof. I am glad your husband has the knowledge he possesses so he can see these things also. And you did a great job renovating it.
Wow. First off, thank you for putting in SO much effort to show us all how this can be done. You did a great job of making this look easy. Thank you. I own a newer trailer (Yet it looks so similar to your interior, lol). And I hope this doesn’t sound like a stupid question. But does the interior smell like pain since you pain everything in the interior? That is one reason for me not changing the interior of mine. Someday RV companies will log into YouTube and create an RV with an interior like what people are creating on YouTube. Thanks!
If you take a wire brush and just scratch it over RV cabinets then it will give you the grip you need to paint the cabinets without having to use a primer and without sanding anything so no dust. Also you don’t have to wait for hours to paint another coat. You just do the first coat very lightly so that it A. Dries quickly and B. Gives your paint a surface to adhere to. If you’re using a roller you will roll half dried paint back off IF YOU PRESS DOWN ON THE ROLLER WHILE ROLLING or try to roll too large of an area. You shouldnt apply any pressure to a paint roller while rolling and should only do one vertical roll up and one vertical roll down and then reapply more paint to the roller and then you don’t have to wait hours to paint multiple coats because you aren’t drying out your roller by trying to roll too large of an area…(because your roller is designed to absorb paint so it will absorb paint you have already rolled into the wall if the roller is no longer saturated with paint.)
I saw you on a Facebook reel And I popped over here to watch your article and answered all my questions!! So I liked, and subscribed you gained a new follower ! Two weeks ago I bought a 30 foot fifth wheel and I’m parking it on the Georgia North Carolina line in the mountains so im excited for this article because it’s exactly the same as yours on the inside !
I had a 07 Jayco 5th wheel 1 foot shorter, no bunk room. But a bigger main cabin and much better configured bedroom. Our shower is also in the bedroom, along with the sink, has a glass door (whole bathroom part has a plastic curtain thing in a track to separate from the bedroom) and feels the bedrm just feels more spacious. LOVE the water closet for the toilet! Even as tiny as it was, it’s an ingenious idea. We had same wood and fleur di lis decor lol and I thought alot of turning the entertainment ctr into more kitchen counter but as we lived in it, we needed room for the IP, etc; not a coffee bar. But the bar idea is wonderful too! We had our table down the center as my only counter space plus ate at it. I do like the huge back window better and we put our couch back there so the whole main cabin was open (for us to fill with stuff of course—2 teens). Such fun perusal u redo something so similar to ours! It was my dream to redo ours but living in it n redoing is not possible. Sadly I learned this. There will be a next time tho, and a (Jayco) 5th wheel will be it again!
Good Job, but I think you should know there are people like me who won’t buy your rig when it comes to resale. Factory finish is just fine for a camper, in resale I avoid any that have been painted. Why? well I can’t trust that theDIYer researched the paint and used oil based or outdoor type paint, because a camper is the same as an unconditioned cabin in the woods. you have all the elements effecting it and it will be effected.
The color of the wood was so beautiful and natural. In addition, when camping, we can compromise a little and not observe strict cleanliness like at home…. The white improvement reminds me of a surgical operating room and that I’m afraid to bring a little clay from the forest on my shoes. I don’t like it one bit. We have a similar 5th wheel camper and we really enjoy it decorated the way we bought it.
Did you use latex exterior paint? Trailers endure extreme temperature and humidity conditions, unlike the interiors of houses. Trailers are unused for cold, damp winters and also summers. Exterior paints are made for those conditions. I’d be interested to know how the interior aint and wallpapers held up.
This is fabulous! You are SO creative! Question please as I’m about to reno my new 5th wheel – did you paint the black window metal trim white? It looks so nice and I didn’t know that was an option:) Also, the aqua couch you are sitting on is lovely, need to find something like that for on of the spots in my slides. Thanks and take care👏🏻💗
It looks beautiful and your previous RV Reno inspired me to do our small camper a couple years ago. Question-how did you get wallpaper to stick? I added peel and stick wallpaper in our camper and it is constantly coming off. I’m in Ontario, Canada and I think the humidity is maybe the cause…Do you have any suggestions? Thanks !
We just purchase our fifth wheel in October 2021. While I love the layout of our RV, the interior needs updating, although it is a nice interior as well. You’ve done such a beautiful job with your RV, it is motivated me to get started on renovating the interior in our RV. Thank you so much for posting this!
*HERE ARE THE LINKS (scroll down)! 🛒FIND ALL THE PAINTING SUPPLIES HERE: amazon.com/shop/creativityrv Read Robin’s Books and here: 🎁WORK FROM HOME WHILE YOU ROAM: The Ultimate Guide to Jobs that Can Be Done from Anywhere: amzn.to/2MF09LK ✅ Be A Nomad Change Your Life: amzn.to/2NQaogN 📌instagram.com/creativityrv/ 💖Watch/Share TedX Talk “Why I Choose to be a Nomad youtu.be/Vs7WoriABF4 🎯***Here’s ROBIN’S BLOG!***: creativityrv.com/ 💰GET 15% OFF ON A HARVEST HOSTS MEMBERSHIP: harvest-hosts.com/8FG9L9/2CTPL/ 🎨NEED INSPIRATION? Check out : wordsinspired.com/ *This post contains affiliate links. *CreativityRV is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By using these links I will make a small percentage of your purchase, even if you buy something else–and it won’t cost you anything..
I used Zinsser oil based primer in my camper to make sure that the paint would properly bond to any painted surface, especially because of the temperature fluctuations. Then just regular latex paint in eggshell from Home Depot. The one mistake I made was not leaving enough drying time in between coats on the first 3 half walls I painted. They took months to fully cure and dry. If you scratched it will your nail during the months it hadn’t fully hardened then it would scrap off. It wasn’t really and issue for me though since I had a bunch of other work to do on the trailer. The other painted areas in my camper turned out great. Proper cleaning (I just used some Dawn dish soap and water) and then lightly sanding it are critical. 4 years later and everything is holding up great!
Regarding priming (I do this for a living), I’d be very careful using water-based primers on any wall covering. The reason is that the adhesive used to adhere the wallpaper to the substrate (typically 1/4″ luan plywood) can be reactivated by water in the paint and then completely break the bond that holds the wallpaper to the substrate. Also, I’d recommend ALWAYS using a primer product and a separate finish product. You can get away with the products that are supposedly all in one, but the durability will never be as good. This is a great article showing successes and lessons learned.
Love the how too article. It contains a lot of necessary information with dos and don’ts for folks wanting to do a face lift inside their RV. It is interesting too that the cabinet work near and around the refrigerator is sealed air tight with silicone caulk. The reason for that is that the refrigerator burns propane… similar to what a home gas water heater does. So the cabinet work is actually part of the chimney to vent out the exhaust gas to the roof. Keep the factory caulk in place. If you remove it you must put it all back. Yes it’s true paint don’t stick to silicone caulk, but masking tape will stick to silicone caulk. Put masking tape over the silicone caulk. Ok to paint over the masking tape. To help hide the masking tape ok to use water based latex painter’s caulk over the masking tape. Way less work than trying to dig out the factory caulk. Please leave that caulk where it was designed to be. If you do have to dig out any silicone caulk, get some new stuff and put it back where it was. Yes I am a professional painter. More importantly I’m an RV owner.
Hi Robin. Thanks for posting your experience with painting your RV. I recently painted mine. After doing a lot of research, I decided to use PPG Gripper primer and it worked very well. Just one coat covered the walls and ceilings. 2 coats for the cabinets. I did know to clean the walls before starting, but I didn’t clean the first few wood parts after sanding. I just wiped them down and starting painting. once the paint dried, it pulled off completely. After that, I sanded, cleaned, primed, then painted and the results were great.
I have not liked the color schemes on RVs ever since they started putting the weird graffiti looking designs on the outside and the poop splatter look on the inside walls. Your new paint job looks fantastic and really improves the look of your home. Do you plan on redoing the outside also? Almost anything would look better than those slash marks on the outside of current RVs. I really miss my old travel trailer that had wood grain walls on the inside and a beautiful simple paint job on the outside. I don’t know why they don’t put simple outdoor country scenes like mountains or lakes or trees on RVs instead of that ugly vandalized look. Again I love your paint job!
@5:23 makes me miss my cats. i used to love when they tried to swat at me while i was working on something. at the time it could seem like nothing or even annoying…but now that they’re gone, my life sucks. love and care for your pets no matter what you think… they will be gone one day, and you will be sad if you’re a good person at all.
We painted the walls in the first RV we renovated and hated it. We had tons of experience painting walls in houses; we did a good job and it looked great on film, but in person, it was flaws central. For our second rig reno, we used textured wallpaper throughout, and not only was it WAY less messy of a project but it came out A-MA-ZING and very classy. Highly recommend. Also, because you didn’t use the oil-based primer on all cabinets, if you find that skin oils cause the paint to peel away on frequently used cabinets—especially during the summer heat—sponge roller a top coat of polycrylic and you’ll be golden. 😉
Lots of great info here; adding another tip from my house painters – he had a metal strip with a handle that was about 18 inches wide and 4 inches tall before the handle; he would hold that metal strip into the corner and parallel to the wall he wasn’t painting; any overlaps from the brush went onto the metal strip. No need to tape, no need to paint very slowly on edges. Could buy/make those metal handheld paint guards in any size, and they would be easy to clean between or in the middle of paint jobs. Thanks for a great article and thanks all for the comments.
10:00 mark: If you take the tape off when the paint is still wet, that won’t happen. I’ve had this happen to me no matter what I’m painting. Just do your painting and then remove the tape shortly thereafter. Don’t wait until the paint dries. This isn’t just a problem in RVs. It happens no matter what your project. If you wait too long and the paint is dry, run a blade along the edge of the tape before you remove it. You almost have to do this when doing multiple layers of primer and/or paint unless you want to re-tape every time in-between coats. That would get costly. Just do however many coats of paint you want and then make your score along the edge each time (and especially after the last one) and remove the tape before the last coat dries.
We did ours too but we didn’t have the issues that you had. No caulk in corners that we were unable to paint over either. I like the texture of the wallpaper so we just primed and painted. No problem. We did cut corners on painting our cabinets and I won’t do that next time. Other than that, it went smoothly. Personally, I would never hire out. Flipping is something that is a great hobby/challenge for me and the more I do it, the more I learn! Your camper looks like it was worth the headaches! It’s absolutely gorgeous!!!! 🥰
We bought a 42′ 5th wheel that had a fire inside. Most of the damage was smoke so we ended up painting all thr walls. Here are some tips. 1. Almost everything is just screwed to the walls. Don’t tape around windows just unscrew and remove the interior trim. Paint and then reinstall. Same with lights and even some cabinets. 2. Instead of worrying about ceiling transition paint. Just install trim. Use construction adhesive and a finish nail gun. You can pre-paint it and then touch it up once installed. It really hides the transition gaps better and adds a decorative element. 3. They have lots of colored caulking that can be used instead of paint. If its a transition between a counter then the counter color looks good also. 4. Don’t use tape. Spend the extra time working slowly so you do not need to tape. It will save you time overall. 5. Remember in painting it is the detail work that takes the most time.
We’re full timers in our RV but we stay put…live in an RV Park. I will never paint the walls, I’d put up peel and stick wood wall planks….can get in so many styles/colors! So much easier and they stay put once applied! I will be painting cabinets in the kitchen though…this info is good to have.
The clear 100% silicon calk is the best caulk for adhesion and water proofing you can buy. To fill in the gaps get some white water based silicon window calk and you won’t have the gaps anymore. It should also match your paint. Apply it in small amounts and use a wet cloth and your finger to spread it into the corner so you won’t see it.
Ahh, I’ve got to look into the difference (or the ingredient list on both) between ‘Krud Cutter’ and T.S.P.? I LUV any KILZ products! This is all awesome information! And you did a “Fantabulous” job!! Even though it took you all that trouble, trial and tribulations, the pride you must have in the end result must be an absolutely amazing feeling! It looks “Fantabulous”!
Haha, yeah we just learned a lot about the same topic. We had bought a 2007 weekend warrior toyhauler and it had the cabinets spray painted dark brown . Thought the same thing as you did and we said oh it wont take longer then a couple weeks, after taking off all the doors from the cabinets and sanding them down. Then we had a problem with the paint not wanting to adhere to them. The caulking was terrible as well. But I was able to work around it though with a house hold kilz paint primer. On the walls we wanted a wood grain look and bought a foam wall paper with adhesive on it that you soak the foam wall paper in water, well then after getting the wall paper up is we noticed it started to peel off in spots… then I looked in the shower area where the walls were just the original wall paper but was in great shape, then I thought “crap” they used water resistant wall paper. So I looked into to what to do about that with out having g to remove all the existing wall coverings, so I bought some drywall mud and just did a skim coat over all if it and to my surprise, it worked awesome. Then we ended up going with a really light grey color on the walls and a union blue (nice light blue with a lil dept to it) . Our trailer also had this 1 inch wide pieces that divided the paneling so I took those off and made our own out of 1.75 inch wide x .25 inch thick cedar pieces and pre drilled my screw holes, then took a torch and lit them up and put it out after a nice pattern arose, then I sanded down the charred areas then painted with an enamel antique grey color, let dry and then lightly sanded them down to make a awesome rustic look and put those up in there place.
Thanks Robin, great article as always. I was wondering if you, or anyone following, had plastic/vinyl edging between panels, around door frames etc. I have this tan edging all over the place and don’t know if I can just paint it. I bought my Kiltz paint at the beginning of the pandemic, and haven’t been brave enough to start, but I think this will be my spring project! I’m curious if you removed any factory installed furniture too or painted around it… I have a folding futon that might just need to retain old wall color in the parts you can’t see! 😳 Thank you!
Great article. I would add one caution, and I realize most people don’t keep RV’s for a long time and fewer seem to want to deal with older RV’s. But having a late 90’s Tiffin I can tell you that the wall covering can become unstuck from the substrate. I can’t use Command Hooks, they just pull the wall covering loose. And I wouldn’t paint over it for the same reason. I have found that gentle use of a heat gun will let you remove the stupid, glued on wall covering in my RV, with little trouble. Thanks Robin!
3:11 Krud Kutter is good stuff. When i painted my kitchen cabinets in a house i used to own, it was double strength TSP, then light sanding, then steel wool, then tack cloth, then paint, then steel wook, then tack cloth, then paint, then steel wool, then matte poly. They looked brand new. Prep (and beer and a radio) is EVERYTHING
We are in the process of remodeling our travel trailer. Sometimes it works out better prior to your last coat of paint to apply a bead of white paintable caulk and carefully smooth it out. After dry apply your final coat of paint as the white caulks can yellow over time. And it really depends on the space but sometimes installing narrow paintable trim is best or using the yellow tape and removing before the paint dries works. One size doesn’t fit all RV Reno’s. Overall your article is helpful with real life tips. If interested in seeing how we painted our RV you can see it on our website. I think the more real life info people receive the better their painting will turnout. Great article 😊
Maybe you can try filling in cracks and hide paint imperfections near the edges by using white caulking. If you can apply a very thin bead in the corner, you can use a damp finger to blend/smooth/fill cracks. Instead of those big tubes that requires a caulking gun, the ones you can buy out of a toothpaste like tubes are better for this type of situation.
Only thing I would add is to pull tape up while paint is STILL WET. When wet it does not screw up edges as badly. But a paint edger straight flat piece of metal on a handle is so much easier. Big fan of Kiltz product. One of my favs is Kiltz restoration paint will even cover smoke damage. TSP is what I use on walls to clean the. Kiltz it….the joys of 30 years of painting rentals….ugh.
Thank you so much for this! I wasn’t going to paint, but the paneling my guy just installed wasn’t the birch I thought I was getting, it was the yucky brown stuff used in basement playrooms in the 1980s. I won’t bother with tape and I’ll get that little razor tool because this guy is silicone-crazy too. 🙂
I think your final colors look fantastic. I can only imagine how long this project took. My rv is constructed very differently but one approach that’s totally helped me on all my mods has been to test all the new materials I plan on using on scraps of wall, cabinet, etc from the rig before I go ahead with the project. This might have helped you find a caulk that might have adhered to the old caulk that then you could have painted over, instead of removing the old. But it might not have worked – 🤔
Yours is the first Reno, that I’ve liked. I don’t care for all the white, everyone is doing in RV’s now. I like warm colors and dark wood. Not white, sterile and plastic. Just my opinion. Yours looks expensive and professional. Very nice. The black accents are great. In my home I have black cabinets with a large white breakfast bar. Im older, so maybe that’s why. Great job.
This was so helpful!!! My husband and I are purchasing an older camper this week, and I couldn’t be more excited. I was a bit coming on what paints to use, so this was so helpful 🙏🏼 i did have a question and I have no idea is this is something you mite know or if I should ask someone that works with this daily, but what kind of caulk you used after ripping out the silicone caulk?
You should use paintable caulk to close up seams & all the edges. I’ve painted a lot of interiors, you can’t use a foam flat roller on rough or textured surfaces. The cabinet paint you used is excellent- I painted my daughter’s cabinets with that- no primer needed, just a thorough cleaning (including degreaser) and light sanding of the surface to add some texture for paint to adhere to. The tape will tend to stick if the paint layer is thick or if the tape is left there for some time to dry along with the paint. Tape should be carefully removed as soon as you’re done painting.
I’m so glad you posted this one about painting we bought the paint and everything we just might get a professional to do it sounds like a lot of work I have a hone that is farmhouse style and it is bright and cheerful our 2016 is like a Dungeon so dark it look beautiful when we bought it thanks for the tips Robin
I did hire someone. I started, I realized that I hadn’t a clue how to prep the surfaces, I called a guy who helped us with moving a couch and he said he did painting. He came over, told me I was using the wrong stuff, and $2000 later the interior of my 15 foot RPod – yup just a little 15 foot trailer, no slides, but 10 years old and very beige – had white walls, gray cabinets and turquoise doors. Fab!
I have bought and sold RVs for over 20 years as well as worked for a few large dealers here in FL. I think you did a great job and yes I think it looks good but just let people know that it DOES effect resale/trade in value when you paint a newer RV interior. One dealer even had a questionnaire that asked if the interior had been painted or altered in any way such as removal of dinettes etc. Those rigs that had been altered were very hard to resale and we had to usually run through the auction. We just could not sell them. Sure there is a butt for every seat, it just takes longer to sell those that were altered. The thing that I personally when I was buying to resale hated to see was the factory furniture removed and two huge Big Lots recliners put in the place along with a cheap Wal-Mart plastic 3 drawer bin. The manufacturers choose to use brown and tans as it is timeless and neutral. They know what sells. Again I think your paint job looks great but as far as resale it could lower the trade in resale value. Seeing how you change Rvs like many change socks lol. I will say from what I can see that your paint job does look as close to a factory job that I have ever seen. The cabinets look like they came white. Just watch out for the walls staring to bubble and peel. The chemical in some/most paint will cause the wall covering which is not drywall to come lose and bubble. It’s like painting over gift wrap. Also the reason they use those window box/valances is to reduce damage from the window coverings rubbing the wall while under way.
Thank you!! Started painting my 2013 RV. Thought I was doing all the right steps, including the cleaning and sanding and removing the caulk. Then the tape challenges began! Very good tip to not use the tape (i stopped using it pretty quickly except in areas like cabinet meets floor). Good tip on the driving around to see how the corners and joins clear up. Was trying to figure out how to address that.
Thanks for the info! My plan is to buy an older RV and renovate it. I’ve heard before that painting it was a huge pain, but worth it. And that there are a hundred shades of white 😄 (I paint on canvas so I know the frustration) I hear different things from others that have painted and this was really useful! I’ll be sure to check out everything before I begin…
First, it came out beautiful! 💜 Second, can ANYONE please tell me how RV companies that manufacture these aren’t being held accountable for the shotty work they charge obscene amounts of money for? I don’t understand how they are charging so much for rolling death traps? Infuriating 😡 I love that Big Boy made it into quite a few shots. Handsome guy 💜🐾
Looking for advice from this website, I have a 94 bounder with a tpo membrane. 94% of the factory coverage is gone. My plan is to recover it with the dicor clean primer and top coat. It is more than I can do in a day. So the question is, what if I do a 2 day approach and start on the top. And next day, reapply the primer and finish the sides from a ladder. I hear it is best to apply and cure when temperature is above 60 degrees? I live in north of 60 Canada, so I was going to start this next year in may. When the roof can expand, when the Sunshine is available. Any advice is appreciated.
The upper window boxes may look dated, but they keep outside light from shining up onto the ceiling (annoying in some city locations — think Las Vegas), make cleaning the cobwebs above the curtains easier, and make the layout neater and more uniform (covering a multitude of sins). And I prefer to mess up my own paint jobs, rather than deal with the same mistakes from a hired crew. It’s a cruddy job? No excuses, no busy signals, no strangers tramping through my sock drawer. Thanks, Robin and Doug, for doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us before our own frustrating projects. Good job, there!
I like how you honor the cow 🐮. Cows are the kindest animals, they do so much for us. If you reflect on all we get from them, it will surely melt your heart💔. Please people, understand that cows need to be treated well in their sad crowded pens. Please remember to have a place in your heart for them and see that the industries treat them humanely. Remember, cows have always been here and nurtured us as we grew. Please let’s see to it that they have their pastures and are cared for as is natural to thier habitat. Really, it’s the least we can do.🐂
Robin, I’m a big fan, have your books, etc; and I just want/need to tell you that you are the Godess of nomad living!! You are an authority on all things “nomad”, like Bob Wells, only much better looking! The amount of work, research that you obviously put into your work is breathtaking in scope and depth! I wager you currently work harder, longer now than you ever did in corporate Colorado! (HP for me, soul destroying!) And I would further wager that you are enjoying life a whole lot more!! Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing it!! Cheers!!
When I paint, I hate using the painter’s tape because it takes so much time (and it must be removed immediately after painting, you can’t let it stay on or it will take off the dry paint with removing). As a 40+ DIYer, I usually use this large scraping tool that I bought 35+ years ago when I put up wallpaper. It is long (approx. 24″) stainless steel rounded edge with a black handle. Since it is stainless, paint comes off easily after each use. I have a smaller version that I bought a few years ago (for a different type of project) and all I could find was all plastic. Still did what I needed it to do – keep the paint off the surface I didn’t want painted. Your all’s paint job looks AMAZING! I’m not sure a professional would have done that well a job.
I feel your PAIN!!! I am currently painting the main cabin of a small 2004 (19ft) RV, and I think the bathroom will just be left as is! LOL. Four coats if you are not doing wall coverings like removable wall paper, is what we are looking at. Scrunching into tiny spaces, and horrid corners – I’ve done myself some injuries. It’s a young persons game, LOL. I’ve been lucky that I decided not to use tape other than a couple of small weird spaces – saved time and aggravation that I’ve learned from painting inside a house. YES – RV walls are DIFFERENT, I just didn’t know how different until this project. I never planned to paint the cabinets – THANK GOODNESS. It’s been a much bigger challenge than I ever expected – but it’s coming along nicely.
I have been preparing to purchase and live in a 5th wheel for maybe the past year and a half (thanks COVID) 😒 and one of my main concerns about refurbishing a used one so I can make it up to my vision is the fact that you have limited weight. My biggest concern is painting the walls coat after coat and how much weight that will take up. Wasn’t that a concern of yours?
I would LOVE to do this to our RV because like yours, ours is just all brown and boring and dark with those heavy curtained valances and fake curtain on each side of them. But it’s already five years old and falling apart everywhere so I can only imagine the nightmare it would be (plus my husband wants nothing to do with painting ANYTHING). It’s sad we pay so much for how extremely cheaply made they are.
Thank you so much for this article!! I really want to paint our RV and your tips are priceless!! I hate the window coverings that came with our RV and I really want to do some blackout curtains or something along that lines and I was wondering if you have any information or tips on RV window coverings? Thank you so much Robin for such fabulous articles!!!!
LUAN…..is called Luan and it’s an awful nightmare! Lol. I ripped off the awful border in ours and you can’t even get the adhesive off of it let alone paint it. Ugh. I’ve wanted to paint ours for years, but everybody I’ve seen that did their’s, had all the same problems you did! I think I’ll pass! Lol. Yours looks amazing! Great job!
Well, I do think that when I paint our future RV it will go much smoother than yours Robin. Mainly because you paved the way! Thanks for the tips & explicit/clear instructions, it should help us have a home on wheels…baring user mistakes 😁. For some reason your “how to paint an RV” seemed to say more useful information than all the others I’ve watched. Hmmm, perhaps you nailed my way of learning & it took all those others to understand what you’re saying. Thanks again 💕
Several years ago, okay maybe 10 years we decided to do some painting in our house. Mind you our living room walls are whiteish paneling. Our bedroom was painted paneling but we wanted to refresh the paint. So off I went to Wal-Mart. Now I am not an amateur to buying paint. The people at Wal-Mart were, so it was good I knew what I was doing. Anyway I bought Kilz paint and had them tint it the color I wanted. One employee said we can’t do that to which I said yes you can. I know I bought it here before. So they did. Now, the bedroom only took one coat. The living room took more, mainly because the girl doing the painting used 2 different kinds of paint. It was a mistake but it turned out looking pretty darn good. We had used Kilz when we did the remodel of our old house so I knew what it was capable of. I felt for you with the caulk. If manufacturers would just pay attention and buy caulk that is paintable life would be so much easier. But it even happens in the construction business. The RV turned out great though😊
Great article. Very useful information. I haven’t done any RV painting yet, but I’ve done a lot of houses. I don’t have a very steady hand and always tape. Yes, I hate it with a passion, but I hate awful paint lines worse. Sometimes tape doesn’t work out so well, but one thing I know for a fact, Frog Tape is amazing. Use anything else and you are setting yourself up to be royally pissed. Frog tape is pretty costly but I will gladly pay the price when I know the results are going to be that much better. I’m wondering if you tried covering the unpaintable caulk with paintable caulk? Again, great article. Thank you.
before I bought my house I had a mobile home and painted it and it was the same. I did the several coats etc. It looked great but it was alot of work. I will say this though once the walls are covered when you paint again it a piece of cake. You’ll never have to go through it again. I wanted to ask, will you do a article on your outside lightning. I’ve heard you say about motion lights coming on but do you also leave lights on to scare away mice. Thank in advance,
WHY do RV makers use such dark colors ?? I HATE the brown !!! I’m afraid I Do Not have the Patience you have ! I have found since we are seniors we get shafted a lot because we trust too much what carpenters or handymen tell us when bidding for a job. Can we use stick on brick, wallpaper, do you have any shortcuts for older people ?
It looks beautiful. Surprised to hear of the Shody workmanship in the building your fifth wheel. They are so expensive to be made that way. I’m glad I bought a used one. It needs a lot of updating to look as good as yours . In time we’ll make some changes. Thanks to articles like yours we feel good about our updating plans. Thank you so much for sharing the ups and down of living in an RV.