Crafts & DIY
13 Genius RV Hacks Great For Improving Any Small Space
When you're in an RV (or even a studio!), every inch of space counts.
Ashley Fike
03.22.18

If you own an RV or a camper, you’re probably gearing up for your next epic road trip with family or friends. Owning a home-on-wheels can be a great way to travel without giving up too many comforts of home, but organizing all of your and your family’s belongings in such a small space can be a challenge.

Here are 13 easy and clever ways to upgrade your ‘home-away-from-home’s storage solutions. These ideas work great for small rooms and apartments too!

Your mobile home, camper, or studio apartment is about to get way more organized, cozy, and welcoming. These are brilliant!

1. Create PVC pipe toothbrush holder

Crafting in the Rain
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Crafting in the Rain

Crafting in the Rain has a really clever tutorial on how to create adorable toothbrush holders that can hang on a wall or inside a medicine cabinet without taking up much room. All you’ll need are a few supplies and access to tools like a drill and a PVC pipe cutter. The best part? It only takes a few steps. Head over to Crafting in the Rain for the full tutorial.

2. Mount your iPad

Chez Larsson
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Chez Larsson

RVs and small apartments are limited in space, so investing in something like a flat-screen TV might not be the most viable option for you. Instead, save tons of space by mounting your iPad! All you’ll need are four small Command hooks, which are great because they hang onto the wall using adhesive, so no holes! Chez Larsson explains how they hung theirs on a sloped wall in their home.

3. Ditch your traditional bed frame

Traveling Triads
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Traveling Triads

Bed frames can add a lot of personality and character to a room, but they can take up a lot of space. Maximize your use of space by swapping out a traditional bed frame for something a bit more practical and efficient. Traveling Triads traded out their bed frame for an IKEA entertainment center, providing them with extra drawers and shelves for storage.

4. Keep remotes organized and easy-to-find

Brie Brie Blooms
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Brie Brie Blooms

Finding a remote control of any kind is always a fun adventure (not!). It’s hard to remember where you last placed it; maybe it fell in between the couch cushions, or maybe you walked into the kitchen while holding it, who knows!

The struggle becomes even more of a reality when you have a home that actually moves. Fix this problem with one easy solution – industrial strength adhesive-backed Velcro. Brie Brie Blooms shows you how she did it.

5. Add more counter space

Amazon
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Amazon

To instantly give yourself extra prep and counter space in your small kitchenette, why not cover your stove top with a large cutting board? You can also make your very own DIY cover in a few easy steps with our gorgeous stove cover tutorial. No power tools required!

6. Hide your trash can

Amazon
Source:
Amazon

When working with limited kitchen and bathroom space, the last thing you need is a stinky garbage can sitting out in the open, taking up room. Hide a small wastebasket behind a door or a cabinet by purchasing one from Amazon, or you can make your own! All you’ll need are two Command hooks, then hang a plastic bag.

7. Hang bathroom toiletries

Camping World
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Camping World

Free up counter and cabinet space by hanging things like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or anything you use in the shower on a regular basis. Handy hanging caddies like this one are very reasonably priced, and they can also be used in different rooms to store items that you need at an arm’s reach.

8. Install pull-out trays under tables and counters

Camping World
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Camping World

Did you know that you can add drawers to a side table or countertop in just a couple minutes? Not kidding! Camping World sells super easy-to-use kits called “Add-a-Drawer,” that even the most novice of handymen can install.

9. Use a paper towel holder to store garbage bags

The Wandering RV
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The Wandering RV

Help declutter your kitchen cabinets by lifting as much as possible off of the ground. Vertical space is your best friend when you’re living in a small space! Use a mounted paper towel holder to store garbage bags. Now, the box of garbage bags is out of the cabinet, and not to mention – it’s so convenient!

10. Make a coffee can toilet paper holder

Pinterest
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Pinterest

If you’re headed out on the road for a few days at a time, you’ll probably be using the toilet that’s on board, which means you’ll need to stock up on TP. The problem is, where do you put all of it? It can be so bulky!

Get creative and use old coffee cans to create a toilet paper storage container that sits next to the toilet for easy access. You can cut the bottoms of some old coffee cans and tape them together and paint them to match your decor!

11. Create a “quick drop zone”

The Shabby Creek Cottage
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The Shabby Creek Cottage

Keep your RV or mobile home’s counters free of clutter by making a “quick drop zone” for keys, glasses, or anything else you might need before running out the door. The Shabby Creek Cottage has an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to create this piece that is both functional and decorative.

12. Hang hand towels with toilet paper holders

RVC Outdoors
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RVC Outdoors

Plastic, affordable toilet paper holders also make wonderful hand towel holders in RV and apartment bathrooms. Make sure to buy some double-sided adhesive or tape (non-damaging!) to easily mount them to a wall or door.

13. Keep creepy crawlies out of your RV

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Love Your RV
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Love Your RV

Okay, so this might not be a “space-saving” solution, but it’s certainly a “peace-of-mind” solution! Keep ants, spiders, and other insects out of your RV or trailer by using a bit of Gorilla Tape wherever you have openings. The strong adhesive will trap any bugs right in their tracks before they ever make it inside.

Or Pin It to save it for later!

House Beautiful
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House Beautiful
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