Updating RV Doors

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Doors. An absolute necessity but also generally pretty bland straight out of the factory. Our interior fifth wheel doors were not only bland but also dark and in rough shape. With a few extra supplies we were able to update all the fifth wheel doors with minimal work.

First Layer: Paint

Updating RV Doors

We started this update like many of the others… with paint! Luckily this was also around the time we decided enough was enough and bought a paint sprayer. I know I’ve mentioned this before but I’ll say it again: total game changer! It took longer to set up and clean up the sprayer than it did to actually paint. Ahhhhhmazing! So a couple coats of the same Cabinet Enamel we used on the rest of the interior and these doors were already much improved.

The louvered closet door didn’t need much more. A set of new black hinges and a couple coats of spray paint on the handles and this was complete. Super simple and super effective.

Second Layer: Peel & Stick

Updating RV Doors

The panty door was a different story. It has a faux stained glass insert that HAD to go. We weren’t willing to try and remove and replace the glass because that seemed like way more work than we wanted to attempt. So we decided simply covering the existing glass was best. Enter chalkboard vinyl and marble contact paper!

Updating RV Doors

Because the faux stained glass had a raised texture we cut down plastic sheeting(made for lining wire shelving) and glued it into place. This left a perfectly smooth surface to cover with the chalkboard vinyl. We finished it off with PVC corner trim and a bead of construction adhesive to cover all the seams and seal everything up.

Updating RV Doors

Lastly, the inside of the door needed some love. It felt like too much chalkboard to repeat on the interior glass so we went with something purely decorative. We had a roll of marble contact paper for lining the cabinet shelves and it was perfect for the updated color palette. Just cut to size, stick on, smooth out, and seal with a bead of white caulk! So easy🙌 And in case nobody has told you yet: these caulk tools are a LIFESAVER.

Updating RV Doors

Before & After:

Updating RV Doors

So have you updated your RV doors? Did you paint? Use chalkboard or contact paper? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

RV Doors straight from the factory can be seriously bland. Check out these quick DIY updates using just paint and contact paper!
RV Doors straight from the factory can be seriously bland. Check out these quick DIY updates using just paint and contact paper!
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Fall Fifthwheel Tour

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

If you follow us on IG you know we spent the last week traveling out of our usual path(and even dodging some snow!). And with all that cool Fall weather I couldn’t help but decorate the fifthwheel for Halloween! I love having a festive space regardless of how big(or small) and how much time we’re there. I decorate our spaces all year long and I think it’s time to start sharing some holiday tours with you guys. Lets start with a Fall fifthwheel tour!

Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
White Craft Pumpkin, Blue Indoor/Outdoor Pumpkin(from Marshalls), Magnolia Home Basket

When it comes to decorating our fifthwheel for any of the holidays we spend in it I only do one thing differently… I use Command Hooks! And I mean I use them for EV.ER.Y thing! Serious life saver in any sort of tiny home🙌 Q has even used them for hanging lights outside our fifthwheel windows and doors at Christmas.

It doesn’t take much to make a tiny space feel festive. Sometimes I just throw up holiday kitchen towel and consider it decorated. Other times(like last week!) I make my way through every nook and cranny and try to liven it up. Its fun, its something I’ve enjoyed doing in every place we’ve ever lived, and hopefully you guys are feeling at least a little festive after this tour too! Ive tried including as many sources as possible for the projects and decor in the captions below.

Living:

Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Fabric Banner, Orange Throw Pillows, Halloween Print Pillows
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Burlap Banner, Orange & Black Paper Fans, Small Faux White Pumpkins, Wood Box Signs
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Marble Diffuser, Retro Halloween Sign, Orange Paper Fans

Kitchen & Dinning:

Orange Paper Fans, Skull Jar(from Marshalls)
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Orange & Black Paper Fans, Pumpkin Mugs(from Marshalls), Chemex Classic
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Halloween Dish Towels
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Table Runner, Fabric Banner,

Bathroom:

Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Small Faux White Pumpkins, Wood Box Signs, Coconut Wax Candle
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Halloween Towels, Metal Succulent Planter

Bedroom:

Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Halloween Print Pillows, Orange Throw Pillows, Pom Pom Throw Blanket, Pumpkin Stack

So, have you spent any holidays in your RV? Do you decorate? Would you like to see more posts like this Fall fifthwheel tour? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
Its finally FALL and our favorite time of year! We love making our tiny space extra festive and cant wait to share this Fall fifthwheel tour with you all!
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Painting your RV

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

Painting your RV. It’s one of the things I get asked about most on this ol’ blog and all our social media. I wish I had a simple answer but as with most RV DIY projects… things are a little complicated. So let’s get into the details of what we used, why, and how it held up!

Cabinet Enamel

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

For the largest portion of our painting we used Valspar Cabinet Enamel. It covers all the cabinets, drawers, trim… basically anything that used to be dark wood! For about 99% of all this we applied it by hand with brushes. This was EXTREMELY tedious! I did a ton of research and everyone has a different idea on what works best and how to do it but one thing everyone mentions: this is time consuming work!

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

More recently we used the same paint in a sprayer to refinish our doors. This was an absolute game changer! When it comes time to paint our next project on wheels I can guarantee we will be using a sprayer. I don’t care how long the “taping off” process takes. I know it will be less time than I spent with a brush in my hand! It also coats everything super evenly and gets into tricky spaces (like our louvered doors) easily.

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

The Pros:

  • Self leveling so there are zero brush strokes.
  • Dries hard so no worries about tacky cabinets.
  • Works well in a sprayer.

The Cons:

  • It chips if it gets scraped, scratched, crunched, etc… This happened a lot during all the renovating so that was a serious bummer.
  • It’s expensive. Depending where you buy it a gallon of this stuff can be almost double the price of a can of latex paint.

*A note about painting RV cabinets: no matter what paint you use or how you apply it you absolutely MUST cut the seams! Simply run a sharp utility knife down the seams were your cabinets are joined after your paint is dry. We didn’t learn this trick until after the first round of painting and we had a good amount of splitting and flaking from all the shifting that happens when you are traveling down the road. Serious bummer but super simple fix!

Chalk Paint & Wax

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

We used FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint on the faux shiplap walls in the slide that houses our dining room and couch. Its actually watered down for that project and I loved the white wash look we got. We have also used this on several smaller projects as well. Things like the dog bowls, plant stands, and our pendant lights. This has become my go-to for smaller quick projects and all things white washed.

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

The Pros:

  • No need for sanding! You can seriously paint right over any surface with the most minimal prep.
  • This paint is so flexible and forgiving. You can use it straight out of the can, mix custom colors, and even water down for a color wash.
  • The coordinating wax finishes off the painted surface without all the bother of fumes and chemicals found in other sealers.

The Cons:

  • Not as many color choices. You may have to mix yourself a custom color.
  • Sold in small amounts so not the most cost friendly option for larger projects.

Spray Paint

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

This one is the biggest surprise of the list! We’ve used spray paint for so many different projects over the years but the payoff on the painted projects in here are surprisingly impressive. The majority of the spray paint we used in this space was for fixtures. Things like the ceiling fan, pendant shades, and door handles were perfect candidates. All the projects we used spray paint on have held up perfectly so far which is a total win as its also saved us some serious bucks!

The best paints to use when renovating your RV!

The Pros:

  • Quick and easy to apply (and quick to dry!).
  • Can be used on most surfaces.
  • Inexpensive.

The Cons:

  • Limited color selection and you cant customize by mixing.
  • Some surfaces require extra prep to ensure durability.

So, have you used paint on your RV renovations? Do you have a favorite? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!

 Painting your RV. It's one of the things I get asked about most on this ol' blog and all our social media. I wish I had a simple answer but as with most RV DIY projects... things are a little complicated. So let's get into the details of what we used, why, and how it held up!
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Updating RV Pendant Lights

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

Kitchen pendant lights were not something I focused on while we were shopping for our fifth wheel. To be honest, the lighting in general was totally on the back burner. We were more concerned with floor plans, storage spaces, structural integrity, etc… But the second we started ripping things out during demo and I looked up to see this statement and I knew it was in need of a legit update. Yikes!

The Original

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

Initially, I thought we could just hit the plaque and actual pendant light shades with a coat of spray paint and call it a day. That was not the case. There was just no covering all that swirly-scrolly-viney mess so we started from scratch.

The Build

Right away we wanted to use a planked design to coordinate with our faux shiplap walls. So when my parents mentioned a bunch of old barn wood planks headed to the firewood pile we snatched the whole lot. The planks are a bit smaller than the ones on our walls but they’re perfectly sized for this project. And again, they were free! #alwaysawin

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

The new plaque design is super simple and as light as we could make it. We used a thin sheet of plywood as the base, glued on the barn wood planks, and framed it out in simple moulding.

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

We marked the center of the 2nd and 5th planks on a bit of painters tape and drilled holes for the wiring. The holes needed to be big enough for both wires to come through the plaque so we used a bigger 1/2″ bit. Drilling through the painters tape also helped the planks from flaking or chipping around the edges of the hole.

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

Once completely assembled, dried, and drilled the plaque got white washed. To make the wash I mixed about 1 part paint(I just used what I had on hand) with 2-3 parts water. I also did about 3 washes since the planks really soaked up the liquid. Each coat is buildable as far as coverage goes so I tend to stay on the sheer side when mixing the batches. The mount(which we left intact from the original plaque) got 1 coat of gripper primer and 2 coats of paint.

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

The lights

For the actual pendant lights we reused the original stems and just bought new shades. I hit all the pieces(unassembled!) with a few coats of black spray paint so everything matched. Also, if you follow us on Instagram you saw my new found electrical skills putting together the new wiring kits!

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!
Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

Lastly, we added some new 12v LED Edison bulbs. We’ve used these previously in the fifth wheel and they look ahhhhhhmazing! We get asked pretty regularly about swapping out old lighting and electrical. Generally speaking we follow one basic rule: match the new to the old. So if your system uses 12v wiring and bulbs(like ours) just replace them with the same.

The After

Updating RV pendant lights doenst have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

This came together really simply and we used a lot of supplies we already had on hand. Something about that makes this finished project just a little more satisfying! Anyone else get that feeling when you start using up your stash?!

So have you updated any of the lighting in your RV? Replaced the pendant lights in your space? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Updating RV pendant lights doesn't have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!
Updating RV pendant lights doesn't have to be complicated! Check out our simple solution for giving your pendant lights a simple DIY design!

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DIY RV Desk

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   When you start renovating any sort of RV, whether you’re a full timer or an occasional RV user, you really begin to consider every square inch. Being that Q and I do a ton of work on our computers(ok, and maybe a little gaming and pinning!) we knew a desk of some sort was in order. We also knew that 2 recliners in addition to a sofa and dining set was overkill. So it was a no brainer to scrap this lounge area and make a custom workspace complete with DIY desk.

The Before & After

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!
[BEFORE]
Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!
[AFTER]

The Build

   If you read the DIY RV Table post you’ll find this project very similar. Which of course was intentional. In a space this small it was important to keep things coordinated. We also just love the look of this wood!

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

   To make the desk top we used the remaining wood from our disassembled dining table. The top is just 3 pieces Q ripped down on the table saw to fit (almost) the entire width of the trailer. These were then mounted to a simple frame made of 2×4’s. The legs are the same hairpin style we used on the dining table and the chairs are the remaining 2 from this set of 4

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!
Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

   We also threw on a set of the same hairpin feet for more stability. Lastly, we added this cart (without the rollers) for storage and a bit more support in the middle of the desk. The cart is super lightweight but can house a surprising amount of goods. It also happened to be the exact height needed to use with the legs. I looooove when things like that just work out! 

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

The New Space

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

   The desk completely transformed the “lounge” space and we love it! We generally use this as a “side by side” desk space but on the rare occasion I need more counter space for cooking or crafting I will spread out here too. Its even housed our Christmas tree during the holidays, served as a backdrop for photoshoots, and been used as additional dinning space when we had guests. I think its safe to say this is a pretty versatile addition! 

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

So have you reimagined any of the spaces in your RV? Added a work space or DIY desk? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!
Check out our DIY RV Desk and how we transformed our unused lounge into a perfect side by side working space for two with extra storage!

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Updating RV Furniture

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

We’ve shared a handful of our fifth wheel projects now(yay!) and after getting a pile of the same questions regarding our furniture updates I thought Id get together a post to house all the links and info. Hopefully this makes it easier/faster for you guys to reference the posts as well!

Dining Table & Chairs

We built our dining table and you can read the post here. The chairs we ordered on Amazon and they came in a set of 4. Two of the set were used at the dining table and two were used at the desk located in the back of the fifth wheel.

RV Dining Table Update

Sofa

The original sofa that came with the fifth wheel was crazy heavy, a sleeper, and not even close to our style. We knew right away the sleeper feature was not important but the style was. After a lengthy online shop sesh we found this Dove Grey Sofa at World Market. It fits the space in our slide perfect and is super lightweight! It also comes in a few large sections making it easy to assemble(which we did once it was inside).

Headboard

Our headboard was originally a super flimsy corduroy and cardboard number(yikes!). Luckily, it was also one of the first things we swapped out. We found this headboard at a West Elm pop up store which meant it was an absolute steal! We unassembled everything so we could just use the actual headboard. Later we used the wood from what would have been the frame as shelves and other small projects.

We will be updating this post as the projects keep going so keep an eye out for more soon!

A list of some of our top posts to help with updating RV furniture! Check out the projects, posts, and products we are loving in our home on wheels!
A list of some of our top posts to help with updating RV furniture! Check out the projects, posts, and products we are loving in our home on wheels!
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DIY RV Table

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

Ok, lets talk RV furniture. And lets get real… the furniture that is considered standard in most RVs is generally pretty bland. And beige. Aaaaand bland…. Did I mention bland? Ok, you guys get the point. Seeing this first hand in our fifth wheel we knew the majority of the furniture would be scrapped. And while it would have been convenient to just find new pieces that fit our style and our space straight off the shelf that was basically nonexistent. Enter the DIY RV table for our fifth wheel!

DIY RV Dining Table

The Original

In case anyone forgot how “charming” the original dining set was, lets go down memory lane…

DIY RV Dining Table

Ok, maybe there was a slight hint of sarcasm there! Sitting in these chairs felt like a 3 bears episode. I was fairly comfortable but Q(standing over 6′ tall) felt like he was at a child’s table. Besides the size, neither of us could stand the style and colors in the set which made tossing the whole thing a no brainer.

DIY RV Dining Table
DIY RV Dining Table

If you follow me on Instagram you may remember the day we stumbled upon a West Elm outlet pop up store… seriously one of the most exciting discoveries ever! It also couldn’t have been a more perfect time because it was shortly after we purchased the fifth wheel and we were still in the planning phases.

As we walked through the store I only had a loose idea of what I wanted to do with our space. That said, I knew I needed to bring home certain items the second I saw them! Sometimes when you know you just know! And I knew the second I laid eyes on the Mango Wood Dining Table that it was coming home with us.

DIY RV Dining Table

Obviously the table was way too big for the fifth wheel. Buuuuut when I saw that beautiful slab of wood I just saw a pile of DIY possibilities! Plus, at the crazy outlet price we were able to snatch 2 tables for a fraction of what a single piece of mango wood would cost anywhere else. I spent the next few nights sketching out plans and cuts to get the very most out of every inch of this top.

Repurposing and Customizing

DIY RV Dining Table

A few days and online orders later and we got to work. We scrapped the metal base and very carefully cut the tops. Between the 2 tops we got 1 table, 1 desk(more on that in another post), wall shelves, and a few other small projects. I stuck with a simple square shape just big enough for 2 of these Eames style chairs. We also hit the edges with a bit of sandpaper just to smooth out anything kicked up by the saw.

DIY RV Dining Table

Now lets talk about legs. I wanted something to coordinate with some of the other hardware in the space so I kept my search in the matte black finishes. I also needed the legs to be easy to mount, sturdy, and fairly light weight. These hairpin legs checked ALL those boxes! We pre-drilled holes to keep the tops from splitting and screwed the legs directly into the bottom of the table.

DIY RV Dining Table
DIY RV Dining Table

After attaching the legs and testing the table on the new floors we needed just one more accessory. Hairpin leg protector feet! The new floors are amazing but we didn’t want to chance any scrapes or scratches. These feet keep everything solidly in place without direct contact from the metal. If you’re using hairpin legs for any kind of DIY project I would highly recommend these! They’re lightweight, simple to pop on, and come in a ton of colors in case you want to get crazy with your design.

DIY RV Dining Table

Its been several months and several trips and I can confidently say this was the perfect choice for us! I love that we were able to repurpose the table top because it was an absolute steal but I really love the style it brings to our tiny space.

The Upgrade

DIY RV Dining Table

So, have you repurposed or customized any pieces in your RV? Have any plans to in the future? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

DIY RV Table
DIY RV Table
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RV Kitchen Upgrades

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We did a number of upgrades to the interior of the fifth wheel but some of my favorites happened in the kitchen. Luckily not all the kitchen upgrades were major time consuming intense projects(like flooring or painting!). The ones listed here were some of the simplest and quickest DIYs we completed!

Stick on Backsplash

RV Kitchen Upgrades

[before]

RV Kitchen Upgrades

[after]

Peel and Stick Subway Tiles completely changed our tiny kitchen! They are so simple to work with and you can change your backsplash in minutes. Literally just measure, cut, peel, and stick! I picked these tiles in particular because they’re resistant to heat, moisture, bacteria, and mold. Plus they’re far less weight than actual tiles and thats key in RV makeovers.

RV Kitchen Upgrades

We’ve been cooking in our tiny kitchen for months and I still love these tiles! I’ve put them through quite the heat test as we cook at home nearly every night. They’ve also been washed and wiped them down with multipurpose cleanser after some of our more messy meal prep (think bacon grease and spaghetti splatters) and they still look like new. Absolutely stoked on these tiles and I’d use them again in a heartbeat!

Cabinet Hardware

RV Kitchen Upgrades

In my opinion, hardware is one of the easiest changes to make with one of the biggest payoffs. The original cabinets had small oil rubbed bronze handles and pulls which matched the very brown themed interior. They were ok but they weren’t great. And they definitely didn’t fit the modern look we wanted to bring to the space.

After a bit of searching I found a style that came in both a pull and a knob. We needed the pulls for the drawers and the knobs for the cabinets. They come in bulk packs which is awesome because they’re priced so well and we used them for the entire trailer. The multiple lengths also meant we were able to use the existing holes in the cabinets and drawers.

Faucet and Soap Dispenser

RV Kitchen Upgrades

Initially when we gutted the fifth wheel I really wanted a whole new sink set up. And that would have probably happened if we had no budget and endless amounts of time. Ha! As a compromise I decided to start with a new faucet and see if that changed the look of the sink enough. And guess what? Totally did the trick!

We went with a pull down faucet in matte black that required only a single hole. This also meant we had and extra hole in the countertops from the previous faucet. And guess what fit perfectly in that space? A soap dispenser! This also came in a matte black which matched all our new hardware. Both felt like total luxury upgrades and the dispenser meant one less thing on my countertops. These 2 simple upgrades totally changed our sink space without having to rip out the original or mess with the countertops. We consider that #winning!

Copper Dish Rack

RV Kitchen Upgrades

This one is more of a pretty purchase than an actual upgrade but I still feel like its worth mentioning! Knowing we’d be washing all our dishes by hand was a major downer for me. Like I’ve mentioned, we cook at home for nearly all our meals and in our previous spaces I really put our dishwashers to use. So, if I had to have dishes out drying I figured I’d at least find something pretty to look at. This copper dish rack matches a handful of other decor I have in the fifthwheel and its held up to even our heaviest pots and pans. Obviously a dish rack is one of the most basic kitchen accessories but I promise it feels like an ‘upgrade’ when you’re hand washing every single dish in your RV!

Mounted Paper Towel Holder

RV Kitchen Upgrades

Lets be honest, no matter how nice or new your RV is there’s just never enough counter space. Ever. So anything we could do to free up just a bit more was a welcome upgrade. This included things as simple as a mounted paper towel holder. We mounted ours on the side of the kitchen island so its nearly out of sight. We also went for a simple black design that matched the cabinet hardware so it looks even more cohesive.

Magnetic Knife Strip

RV Kitchen Upgrades

In our previous stick built homes I’ve always had a drawer organizer or wooden block for our kitchen knives. Unfortunately both took up more space than I was willing to give up in this tiny kitchen so I found a knife strip we could mount on the wall. At first I was a little worried whether or not it would be strong enough to withstand traveling with the knives hanging but we’ve really put it to the test and its held up great. The magnet on this is incredibly STRONG! Plus, it was super easy to install over the stick on tiles.

Surely over time we’ll find more ways to upgrade our space. For now, we’re just happy all of the upgrades were simple to add and functional so far. So, have you made any upgrades to your RV kitchen? Tried any of the ones I mentioned above? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

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Faux Shiplap RV Walls

This post includes affiliate links. For the full disclosure policy click here.

Ok. That was a crazy(unplanned!) break. But big things are brewing and changes are coming to both this blog and our space. More on that soon! Promise!

But now that I’m back to the blog life lets chat about RV walls. Specifically how we remedied the dark and dirty walls in our fifth wheel with some awesome faux shiplap! In case you forgot the way it looked before…. lets take a trip down memory lane:

Faux shiplap RV walls

[Right after we brought the fifthwheel home]

Faux shiplap RV walls

[Halfway through demo]

Most of the walls were covered in the beige wall paper but the slide out that houses our living room and dining room had a bit of extra flair. The bottom half had a decorative border of plastic faux stone tiles and dark stone wall paper. How a designer thought dark and stoney was a good look in such a tiny space…I will never know!

So these items had to go. ASAP! But after doing the demo we needed a way to cover the ugly bits. We thought about painting it but its such a small amount of wall we wanted to so something a bit extra. Enter faux shiplap!

We’ve all heard and seen the wood planks a certain tv star has made so popular recently. And I do love the look. But I dont need it covering all my surfaces. Plus, real shiplap is pretty dang heavy. So adding just a touch of the treatment was the trick!

Faux shiplap RV walls

We’ve used faux shiplap in some of our spaces before and the method is super simple. We cut down sheets of 1/4″ plywood on our table saw to 6″ widths and glued them straight to the wall. The look comes out best if you vary the grains as you are attaching them. In other words, dont glue them on exactly as they were in full sheets.

Faux shiplap RV walls

One Pinterest trick that seems to really help with spacing is using pennies! Yup, the same ones that are collecting in the bottom of your purse or center console of the car. Grab a handful and stick them between the planks to keep them perfectly spaced while the adhesive dries. Once everything has set for 24 hours pull them from the gaps and enjoy getting use out of that change cup!

Faux shiplap RV walls

You can leave the planks naked if you want a more natural look. I’d hit them with a quick coat of wax just to help protect the wood if you go this route. For us, we needed more contrast since the wood was nearly the same as the existing beige wall paper.

Faux shiplap RV walls Faux shiplap RV walls

We wanted to keep some of the natural woodgrain so we went with a white wash. I used my trusty chalk paint and mixed it up 1 part paint to 3 parts water. You can adjust to show more or less of your wood grain. Just use a scrap to test on as this dries a little different from how it goes on.

Faux Shiplap RV Walls

Also, Im kinda obsessed with my new mixing cup! Yes thats a hairdressers dye cup. You can get them at the beauty supply store for the whopping price of 99 cents! They’re cheap, have liquid measurement markers, and come with a convenient handle. I know you can get things similar at the hardware store but if I have a choice between 10 bucks or just 1… well, thats a no brainer!

I slap this wash on pretty quick(and without much precision LOL!) so it doesn’t have time to form lines from drying between sections. Once the planks have dried completely I add a coat of  wax and dry overnight. I didn’t want a shiny finish so I went super light on coverage and barely buffed it with a rag.

Faux shiplap RV walls

The section that is covered in the faux shiplap is relatively small but I feel like it still makes a big difference. This project is crazy affordable, easy to DIY, and looks good on just about any wall. Couldn’t be happier we added this to our tiny space!

So are you #teamshiplap? Have any gracing the walls of your home? You know Id love to hear all about it in the comments!

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Replacing RV Window Treatments

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Oh padded valances…. sigh. Why did you become an RV staple? I’ll never know! When we did all the demo on the fifth wheel I happily took out every last one. I knew this was something I’d do the day we first looked at this unit! It immediately brightened up the space and I was so excited to find new window treatments that kept all the pretty light!

Replacing RV window treatments

As you can see the valances also covered and enclosed the pull down day/night shades. After spending some time with these shades (and breaking one on our very first trip!) I knew they had to come out as well. Im sure people are cringing at the idea because shades are not cheap to replace but the idea of living full time with these was crazy. So out they went! Also, my fam doesn’t normally or intentionally match on demo day! LOL!

Replacing RV window treatments

Once everything was gone I realized I really wanted to preserve all that brightness. I looked at several different window treatments… roller shades, blinds, curtains… so many options! It became clear I was going to need multiple solutions to get both the look and privacy we needed.

Eventually I found these curtains on Amazon. Being that RV windows are crazy sizes I didn’t even bother trying to find ones sized to match. I ordered the biggest ones they had and planned to cut down to size. I really liked the linen texture and the sheer coverage. They let in a ton of light and they’re a fraction of the price of true linen.

Replacing RV window treatments

It took a few days to cut and hem all the panels to size but it was very simple sewing. All straight lines and long stitches! It took 3 sets total to make panels for all the windows and I puzzled out as many as possible per section. We installed light weight wrap around curtain rods to hang them on and even used some of the same holes left from the valances.

*Everything we’ve hung (pre-existing holes or not!) has been mounted with molly bolts. We find its the most secure way to hang anything permanent in our fifth wheel and works perfectly with the luan walls.

Replacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatments

When it came to the bedroom we wanted the option for a bit more privacy. I felt like I saw the same cheap rollers used in several RV makeovers. Im sure they are an inexpensive solution if you are working on a budget but again we are talking FULL TIME USE. And the one thing nearly everyone agrees on is the roller shades eventually loose their ability to roll back up. We aint got time for items that have a short shelf life! Ha!

So we headed to Home Depot to check out a few other options. After feeling a few window treatments in person we settled on Cordless Cellular Shades. If you buy them in the store they will also cut them to size for free while you do your other shopping. Obviously this was a perk as we needed some seriously non traditional sizes.

Replacing RV window treatments

The shades fit perfectly within the curtain rods we had and were incredibly easy to mount. The shades themselves are cordless and move up or down soooooo smoothly! We got the blackout versions which were a little more but totally worth it and doable since its only 3 small windows.

Replacing RV window treatments

In addition to the shades I also added a bit of tassel trim to the curtains in the bedroom. Im not 100% set on the bedroom color scheme for the new space but I know it will include some Navy as I plan to recycle some pieces from our loft. For now, this little addition is really perking up the simple window treatments!

Replacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatmentsReplacing RV window treatments

Have you replaced any window treatments in your living space lately? Is your RV full of bulky padded valances? Do you love em’ or hate em’? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Replacing RV window treatments

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