If you’re looking for ways to make the most of the space in your travel trailer, pop-up camper, toy hauler or RV, these clever camper/RV storage ideas will help you and your adventurous crew be the happiest (and most organized) of campers…
Having gutted and renovated several travel trailers (our work is featured in the fabulous book, All Things Camper Renovating), I definitely understand the struggle to make the most of cramped quarters in your camper or RV, especially if you travel with a group of people or pets.
That’s why I wanted to share some favorite camper and RV storage ideas with you. There are so many great nuggets about rv storage and organizing ideas out there, but it’s hard to find them all in one place. Trust me, as I’ve spent hours down that rabbit hole.
If you could use some more organizing and less clutter in your life, you’ve come to the right place! Grab a free copy of “60 5-minute decluttering ideas” and get on the road to a calmer, more restful home life in as little as 5-minutes at a time!
Camper and RV Storage Ideas Video Highlights
Expert RV Storage Ideas and Accessories
Personal experience + more importantly, suggestions and advice from full-timers, camper renovators, flippers, and enthusiasts all came together to create this shortlist of top rv and camper storage ideas and accessories.
We’ll dive into specific example of many of these in action in just a bit.
Command Hooks
These gems can be used anywhere and everywhere in your travel trailer, pop up camper or rv. And they are a favorite of campers everywhere, with good reason. They work, are inexpensive, and can go a long way to keep your living space organized and clutter-free.
Use them for towels, keys, and other small items.
One of the best place to utilize Command hooks is on the back of doors, both full-sized and cabinetry. It’s a great way to make otherwise unused surface area helpful.
Bonus: Command Hooks come in a variety of sizes to accommodate many different items.
Anti-Slip Shelf Liner
This product is super practical for campers. I’d highly recommend lining shelves, especially any that hold breakables, with some type of anti-slip liner before heading out on the road. Full-timers love this product for the kitchen where drinkware and dinnerware is kept.
It helps keep dishes, pots, pans, drinkware, and everything else place while on the road so that when you arrive, you don’t have to waste time cleaning up a mess.
Mesh Bags
Macrame-style mesh bags are not only attractive, they are also great for storing everything from root veggies to sand toys while on your adventures.
Bonus: not just for storage, these bags do double as re-usable, waste-free shopping bags.
Drawer Dividers
To help maximize drawer space, use dividers. These don’t have to be expensive. They could be DIY’d from anything from scrap cardboard to PVC.
Below, you can see my DIY drawer divider made from a piece of cardboard and some duct tape. Nope, it’s not magazine-worthy, but it works!
Take items that you want to stock in your rv out of the original packaging, and place them in drawers, bins or baskets to save space and also allow for easier access.
Cardboard dividers come in handy for all sorts of things, even (TMI) your feminine products (again, I use some extra cardboard to create dividers)…
Or the drawer you use for your socks or undies…
It doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective! Although, in some of my drawers, I do opt for these acrylic bookends, which both look and work great.
Airtight Stackable Bins
There are lots of brands, shapes and sizes of this type of storage container, and many can work for a variety of needs.
Stackability is important because it’s very space-saving to organize this way.
Airtight is important because you may be camping in all types of weather, and with all types of creatures, both desirable, and some a little less so.
Protect your gear from both weather as well as creepy, crawly, and squeaky friends by keeping a tight lid on all your belongings.
Consider repackaging pantry staples like flour, sugar, etc into airtight bins to lessen the chance of attracting unwanted visitors to your campsite.
Tension Rods
Tension Rods are inexpensive, and can be used for a variety of purposes in your camper or rv beyond hanging the shower curtain.
Use them in closets for additional hanging rods.
Try them in your rv kitchen cabinets to hang paper towels, or coffee cups using S-hooks.
Or use tension rods to create shallow racks to store dishes, spices, or even books.
Hanging Pocket Organizers
Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, pocket organizers are clutch in a camper. Hang them in a closet or on the back of a door to stash everything from jewelry to shoes, toiletries and more.
Baskets and Bins
Attractive, and absolutely functional, you’ll want to employ a variety of baskets and bins in your travel trailer, pop-up camper or rv in order to make the most of your space.
While the exact type you need will vary, focus on sturdy, inexpensive options…and if they’ll be visible, something you like looking at is a big bonus, too.
By grabbing some of these simple supplies, you can maximize the space in your RV without incurring much extra cost.
Now let’s dig into some specific ideas and examples of awesome camper storage ideas for you to try…
Camper Storage Ideas You’ve Got To Try
Whether you’re a camper, RVer, van lifer, or tiny home owner, storage is always a concern. How do you store all your stuff and still have room to move around? Here are 15 storage ideas, tips, and hacks to help you out!
1. Seating That Doubles as Storage
Kristi from Must Love Camping shares several awesome RV organization ideas and camper storage tricks in this article, but my favorite is her seating/storage hack.
She built these sturdy and attractive seating cube ottomans that work for a multitude of uses in their camper.
2. Mesh Bags For Dry Goods
My friend Aniko (Place of My Taste) has been a full-timer for over two years now, and her family’s camper is not only beautiful, it’s totally functional for their family of four, too.
She uses these mesh bags for dry goods like onions, potatoes, and of course…to do the grocery shopping, too.
3. Wall-Mounted Shower Gear
So this rv bathroom may be one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, so when you see it, don’t forget to take notice of Brittany Winebarger‘s genius wall-mounted shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel dispensers as you gawk at the space.
Camper showers are notoriously small, so making use of the vertical space is really key.
4. Roll, Don’t Fold
Rolling towels is something I do not only in our camper, but in our bathroom at home, too.
On the road, it’s especially important to preserve space, and this spa-style towel roll hack from Megan of Outdoorish RV is genius. It saves space, and keeps your bathroom storage space neat and tidy.
5. Cover Your Sink and Stovetop
Morgan from The Home That Roams has some awesome insights about ways to organize tiny spaces having lived full-time in both a catamaran and RV. One of her tips is to give yourself extra meal prep or workspace by using covers for your stovetop and sink.
Many RV’s come with covers for the sink and stove, but if yours isn’t one that does, do yourself a big favor and purchase, or make your own. A little bit of extra counter space can go a long way!
6. Periodical Pockets
I love how these attractive wire bins are used in this bunkroom from The Cruising Casita as a place to stash favorite books and magazines. Perfect for a little storytime before bed in a room that doesn’t have the space for a typical bookshelf.
7. Multi-Purpose Planter
Rachel of RV Family Renovators saw this planter and decided she’d work a little DIY magic to create an awesome-looking and incredibly useful little storage end-table!
The moral of this little camper fairytale? Make sure all your furniture works HARD! If you have a sofa, make it a sleeper. Got an ottoman? Don’t just rest your feet on it, use it to store your blankets, too. Want an end table? Make sure it can stash some stuff, too!
8. Queue the Kitchen Storage Confetti
Sarah Lemp of All Things with Purpose has lots of experience when it comes to campers and rv’s. Her family has renovated, lived in, and sold more than a few.
Check out just a couple of her smart ideas here in this kitchen. Notice the hanging wine glasses? What a great use of empty space under the upper cabinets.
I also love the wall-mounted planter, the chalkboard cabinet doors for a simple place to keep the shopping list, the bottle opener next to the electrical outlet, and the wire bins situated perfectly for cookbooks.
9. Pill Organizer Turns Travel Spice Set
Hauling all those 5 ounce (or larger) spice jars around in your camper is a total waste of space (although if you’re a full-timer, a strong case could certainly be made!).
Instead, take only what you need by pre-planning meals, and placing necessary spices in a handy pill organizer. Such an awesome brainchild from DIY Candy, right?
10. Create a Pantry From Unused Wall Space
If you have a really large rv, you may have a designated pantry space. But if not, or if you’re cooking for a big crew, extra pantry space is always a plus. Mrs. Captain Koch (also owner of the Instagram account @photohaus.co) creates a pseudo-pantry from some unused wall space using some pretty wood storage shelves that have a few inches of depth to help keep items in place.
11. Sound Storage Advice From A Full-Time Couple
Radar Road Warriors cover some outstanding modifications, storage solutions, and upgrades in this video. Some favorite ideas to watch for?
- Their drawer modification that gives them several extra inches of depth in each drawer
- The IKEA Skadis pegboard (with bungee cords to hold things in place)
- The many ways they’ve used Command hooks
- Command Center whiteboard/corkboard combo
- Clear plastic refrigerator bins
- Collapsable laundry hampers
12. Plastic Drawer System for a Traveling Dresser
Homemade Heather uses a Rubbermaid plastic drawer system inside one of her larger closets to create a dresser for clothing. It’s a great way to maximize vertical space in a camper closet.
13. Take Advantage of Space Above the Toilet
Katie of Mountain Modern Life has some beautiful, and really helpful adaptations in their camper. I love this simple open shelving they created in their bathroom to for a towel holder and a place to stash extra toilet paper.
It’s a great way to take advantage of otherwise wasted space above the toilet.
14. Make Storage That Works For YOUR Camping Lifestyle
And if your lifestyle includes coffee, or perhaps an adult beverage once in a while, then you may LOVE the modifications Christina of The DIY Mommy made in her camper.
She got rid of some cabinetry that wasn’t being utilized to its full potential, opting instead to create some helpful open shelving and a coffee/drink bar.
15. Wine Storage Options While Wandering
RVing Dogs and Wine has got priorities while camping, and wine is high on the list! So check out these amazing ideas for wine storage in your own fifth wheel, rv, or travel trailer!
16. Accordion Style Wall Storage
Rachel from For the Love of Winnie and Winnie’s Workshop used a budget-friendly accordion-style wall mounted peg rack to stash her cleaning brushes and tools on the back of their camper’s front door!
That’s a great item to get for your own camper because they are so flexible as far as being able to fit almost anywhere, and they have a lot of pegs to hang a variety of items that you’ll need while on the road.
17. Pegboard – Perfect for ALL The Camper Things
Outdoorish is written by a full-time RV couple, and they have some great suggestions for organizing. One of my favorites is their laundry room pegboard set-up.
Megan rightfully loves pegboards for camper organizing because, as she says, “you can completely customize and configure them to fit your needs.”
Megan and Phillip use theirs for stashing tools, and Megan’s sewing and crafting supplies.
18. Customized Cubby
Everybody camps and uses their rv’s differently, so don’t be scared to customize your rig to fit your personal needs.
Jackie of Rad Ronda RV didn’t use the outdoor fridge that was situated in their outdoor entertainment cubby. So they removed it and instead fashioned the space with extra storage.
And many people decide to remove the ovens inside their campers and reclaim that space for extra storage, as well! It’s all about making your camper work for YOU.
19. Around the Bed Shoe Organizer
More brilliant uses of Command hooks can be found for storage in all kinds of ways over at The Home that Roams, including here in their under the bed shoe storage hack.
As Morgan says, pocket organizers are very popular, and this one is great because it’s used in an often unused and forgotten spot in a camper…under/around the bed.
The pocket organizer is secured with Command hooks, and simply wrapped around the foot of the bed frame.
20. Maximize Shelving Space
When Aniko and her husband of Place of my Taste realized they weren’t making the most of the vertical space in their rv cupboards, they added extra shelving!
This technique goes for camper cabinets and closets, alike. Where there is extra vertical space, make sure to take advantage!
21. Shoes Off At The Door
Having adequate storage is important, but having items stored in a place that makes sense? That’s paramount. That’s one reason this idea from Liberty at B4 and Afters is great.
Not only is are these kind of wire basket storage bins easy to install in your camper, they’re located right by the door so that no one is tracking mud from your latest hike into the house.
22. Wide World of Wall Storage
This rv design from The Motorhome Memoirs, shared on Instagram by Mountain Modern Life makes the most of the rig’s wall space in beautiful and interesting ways.
On this one section of wall alone, you catch a glimpse of lovely rustic storage shelves, hooks used for coffee mugs, buckets and wire baskets, as well as a terrific open shelf with glass jars hanging from the bottom to make the absolute most of the space.
So many camper storage ideas in just one little space!
23. Tension Rod Shelving
You gotta love the MacGyver skills that went into this simple shelving system that Larissa of The Pop Up Princess assembled in their pop-up camper.
Constructed from some wire shelves, tension rods and plumbing hose clamps, these shelves weren’t difficult to put together, and added a whole lot of storage space to the camper.
24. Slide-Out Spice Rack
If you do a lot of camping, or you’re a full-timer, then making sure you have the spices you want, when you want them is important. A lot of camper and rv-owners use products from Rev-A-Shelf and swear by them. I do as well.
They are more expensive than some other similar products you may find, but having tried a variety, I can tell you that theirs are much sturdier, and well-made.
Laura from Cool Mom and Collected added a pull-out shelf for her spices right next to her rv’s oven. Perfect place for cooking at the campsite.
25. Space to Stockpile
Merissa and her husband from Little House Living have been full-timers on and off in the past, and despite having just 400 sq. ft in their rig, they managed to find space for stockpiling pantry items such as rice, canning supplies and water.
They make use of 5-gallon buckets with airtight lids, and store these under the camper.
26. Basic Hanging Shelf in Minutes
Diana and Eric of Let’s Camp Smore came up with a super simple hanging shelf idea that you can put together in minutes with just a wire shelf, some ribbon and Dollar Store book rings.
Their camper had hooks in the ceiling already that they made use of. If you don’t, you’ll need to install some of those, first.
27. Gem of Storing Jewelry
Another plug for hanging pocket organizers! This kind with clear plastic and zipper pouches because as Janae of Adventures with TuckNae explains, this is a great item for storing and organizing your jewelry while on the road.
Everything can quickly be seen, and this type of organizer takes up almost no space at all.
28. Attractive Magnetic Storage Ideas
The Cruising Casita has a couple of lightbulb storage moments in her happy camper kitchen…check out the magnetic spice rack, and bar with hooks to hang utensils.
I also love the small rack behind her stovetop which holds oils and cutting boards.
Pin these awesome RV storage ideas for your future camping adventures!
Need even more organization in your life? Check out these articles, too:
- Coat Closet Organization: 21 Amazing Ideas
- 17 Super Creative Key Organizer and DIY Key Holder Ideas
- 21 Must-Have DIY Ikea Closet Design Ideas
- Organization and Storage
- 53 BEST Craft Organization And Craft Storage Ideas
- 65 BEST Closet Organization Ideas
- 25+ Scroll-Stopping DIY Countertops
- 23 Clever Laundry Room Storage Ideas
- 19 Best Blanket Storage Ideas For a Cozy, Tidy Home
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