Fall RV Refresh: A Quick and Easy Bedroom Makeover

RV Life

Your RV bedroom is meant to be a haven. That said, if you aren’t particularly fond of the factory decor (or lack thereof), or if the old decor is just getting worn out or dated, you might need to put in a little effort to make it a relaxing place for you with an RV bedroom makeover.

The good news? I’ve redecorated RV bedrooms numerous times, and I can tell you it really doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, you can make your bedroom an entirely new space with just a few quick changes.

Here are my tips for a quick and easy RV bedroom makeover.

Switch Out the Mattress

First things first, if you’re still sleeping on the stock RV mattress, change it. Those mattresses are absolutely abhorrent, and a decent replacement mattress doesn’t have to cost much at all. We got our current hybrid (spring and memory foam) mattress for less than $300 on Amazon and we absolutely adore it.

Set a budget, shop around, read reviews, and order a new RV mattress. It’s almost guaranteed to be better than the mattress that came in your RV, and this single upgrade will make your bedroom a much more comfortable space.

Change the Bedspread

Okay, on to the fun stuff. Let’s start with the most obvious item in the room: the bedspread. This is the thing your eyes are most likely to be drawn to when you enter the bedroom, so it’s a good idea to choose a bedspread that reflects your personality and the vibe you’d like your RV bedroom to have.

Again, this doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of bed-in-a-bag sets for $50 or less, and many come with sheets and pillow shams in addition to the bedspread. Personally, I like cooler relaxing colors in my bedroom, but you can choose absolutely anything that suits your fancy for your RV bedroom makeover. Just make sure you love it!

Hang Fun Lights

One of my favorite things I did to my RV bedroom was to hang a set of fairy lights. I put them above the bed and they make for perfect reading lights and add a magical quality to the room. The lights I bought are battery powered, so they didn’t pull from our house battery while we were boondocking. This makes them even more awesome because I can light my bedroom at night without using our valuable RV electricity.

Replace the Window Coverings

Checkered curtains have replaced the stock RV window coverings. Photo: Shutterstock.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really not a fan of the window coverings that tend to come in RVs. In older RVs, especially, they are undeniably ugly, and even in newer RVs they’re not usually my style. Fortunately, changing window coverings is really easy. The ugly cornices that so many RVs have are simple to remove and they can be replaced by cute curtains or a valance. If the blinds of shades are torn up, these can also be replaced fairly easily.

Just know that if you buy ready-made curtains, you might have a hard time finding them short enough to fit your RV windows. Consider looking for the type of curtain that is actually only made to cover half of the window. In many of our rigs, these have been the perfect length to cover our smaller windows.

Put Up Wallpaper

Painting RV walls is a big job. While some might find it a worthwhile task, I simply don’t. We painted the entire interior of a trailer once and I vowed never to do that again.

That said, it is still possible to cover less-than-appealing RV walls and add a pop of color to your RV bedroom even if you don’t want to paint. In this case, wallpaper is the key.

No, I’m not suggesting you whip out the wallpaper glue. Instead, look for peel-and-stick wallpaper. This stuff is incredibly easy for anyone to hang, and many of the peel-and-stick wallpapers out there are even removable, making future updates a cinch.

Hang Greenery

You could also choose to skip the wall art for something a little different: hanging greenery. Fake vines, grass, and clover can be bought in panels and hung on the wall for a fun “secret garden” vibe that nature-lovers are sure to appreciate.

Find Some Wall Art

Another way to improve upon your RV bedroom walls? Wall art, of course. There are many ways to find wall art for your RV bedroom. You can of course head to the local Target or Ross and pick some up, but we prefer more budget-friendly methods.

Some of the best ways to get wall art on the cheap include:

Thrift stores
Garage sales
Making your own

Making your own wall art might mean painting, leaf rubbings, or even just framing and hanging family photos or printouts of favorite quotes. Get creative and see what you can come up with!

Create More Storage

Last but not least, I highly recommend adding storage to your RV bedroom wherever you can. Some of the best ways to go about this are listed below.

Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

This is my favorite RV organization idea. Simply hang an over-the-door shoe organizer over your bedroom door and use it to hold shoes, jewelry, scarves, hats, and any other small items you need to keep track of.

Around-the-Bed Shoe Storage

A friend of mine did this and I thought it was clever. She took smaller sets of shoe pockets and mounted them around the bottom of her bed. This gave her family a great place to store their shoes without consuming any cabinet space at all. Brilliant!

Bedside Storage Pocket

I will never understand why some RVs don’t include tables on both sides of the master bed. If your RV bedroom doesn’t have bedside tables—or only has a table on one side and not the other—you might consider investing in a hanging bedside storage caddy to hang on the side of the bed. This can hold things like glasses, a phone, a book, and possibly a water bottle.

Bedside Shelf

Another option is to install a small wall-mounted shelf next to the bed. This will give you a spot to put things without using up precious floor space.

Hooks (Command Hooks and Over-Door Hooks)

Finally, I have to mention my love for hooks. I put hooks absolutely anywhere I can find space, and I use them to hold jackets, bags, scarves, and more.

Over-the-door hooks work well for heavier items. Meanwhile, Scotch Command Hooks do a good job of holding towels and light sweaters. Get hooks and use them. Thank me later.

As you can see, an RV bedroom makeover doesn’t have to be difficult or even expensive. There are plenty of upgrades you can make with limited funds, time, or know-how, so why not get started now? You won’t regret having a comfy place to return to after a long day of camping adventures.