Easy DIY Caravan Refurbishment

Here in the UK, we love our caravan holidays; the freedom of being able to head off whenever we want to, without having to stick to a strict schedule or worry about having to leave our beloved furry friends behind.

After the pandemic put the brakes on international travel, staycation holidays suddenly became very popular, and now things have more or less gone back to normal that trend hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. It’s predicted that domestic tourism spending will increase by 80% between 2020 and 2029, and there are over half a million caravans in use in the UK, with first time buyers up 20%.

But as we’re spending more time in our caravans, it’s easy to get a bit bored, or for them to start looking a bit tired; you might want yours to stand out a bit more on the caravan site, or you might be one of the many people who have bought a second-hand caravan but want to make it your own. So how can you breathe new life into your caravan without spending too much?

Refurbishing a caravan is a great small-scale renovation project to take on; there are plenty of ways to give your caravan a facelift, whatever your budget and as the traditional idea of the holiday is constantly changing, with even the trusty old camping holiday being rebranded as ‘glamping’, this is a great time to get some inspiration. Let’s take a look at some easy DIY caravan refurbishment ideas that might make you want to hit the road:

Contents

RESEARCH

Have a think about how you’re going to be using your caravan. Do you just use it for the occasional weekend away? Or are you planning on using it for family holidays where you’ll head off for a week or more. Maybe you want to keep it in the same place for a whole season or are planning to use it as a home office. Do you want a vintage theme? Retro? Modern? You might want to stick to one colour scheme or have a mix of colours. Have a look at Instagram at other people’s renovation projects; there are also lots of suggestions there as well as on sites such as Pinterest.

INTERIORS

Upholstery – You could do something as simple as changing a few cushions and putting some new pictures up; small changes can make a huge difference, or you could change the fabric on the seating. New curtains are another easy way to change the feel of a small space; throw in some bunting in a contrasting fabric and you’ll have a completely different look

Floors – changing the flooring with new carpet, or vinyl flooring, can change the feel of a caravan. For such a small space it wouldn’t cost a lot to install something like laminate flooring; or you could even just buy a new rug.

Let there be light – changing the lighting can make a huge difference. LED bulbs are more cost-effective and better for the environment, or you could try adding some strip lighting on the underside of the cabinets, even string up some fairy lights for a really cosy feel!

Space – this often seems to be the main aim when making caravan improvements and there a few ways to achieve the illusion of more space. You could paint the cupboard doors a lighter shade, which is much cheaper than replacing the entire units. You could also place a few mirrors here and there to make it look lighter.

Storage – clever storage is vital in a small space and there are lots of ways to make the most of your space. Collapsible, or fold out, items such as pop-up laundry baskets can make a huge difference, and a shower caddy with a suction cup is a cheap and easy way to reduce clutter in the littlest room. Hanging items from hooks also saves a lot of space, for example, cooking utensils over the cooker, or shoe racks on the back of doors. Make the most of the space you have; under the bed, for example, or inside the microwave (just not when it’s in use, of course!)

EXTERIORS

You’ve got the inside how you want it, but what about the outside? You’re limited as to what changes you can make to the outside, unless you want to re-paint the whole thing, but it is possible to get a wrap for your caravan; a kind of vinyl coating that can change how it looks without too much effort. You can either go for the all-over type, or just part of it. These also help protect the exterior from the inevitable chips and marks that happen when out on the road. Alternatively, you could add a few bespoke decals instead.

Adding a few plants can add a fresh look, they don’t have to be real if you don’t have green fingers, there are lots of really good artificial plants around. You could have a feature wall using wallpaper, and as it’s such a small space you can go for that fancy stuff you’ve had your eye on that you maybe can’t afford for your bedroom at home. Just swapping the shower curtain and the bathmat can freshen up a room, or changing the door handles on cupboards. It’s amazing how a small detail can make it feel different.

Conclusion

The British love affair with caravans is obviously still going strong, and the #vanlife movement has highlighted a need to carve out our own space in the midst of our busy lives. But while we can’t all pack up all our belongings and head off on the open road indefinitely, we can channel some of that feeling into making our caravans our own little home from home that has our own individual stamp on it.