How To Decorate A Camper Van: Seven Must Have Items

We believe decorating a camper van interior that feels like a tiny home is essential to long-term van life. After a long day of exploring, wouldn’t you want to return to a house that felt inviting and relaxing?

In our van, we made our vehicle feel like an actual home. Many choices have helped make our camper van feel warm and cozy, including our kitchen backsplash and rugs.

This article shares seven of our best ideas that help transform your vehicle into a photogenic camper van. These items have not only helped our home look better, but they’ve also been practical during our van life adventure.

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1. Kitchen Backsplash

Adding a kitchen backsplash is a great way to make your van interior picture-perfect! It presents a beautiful opportunity for adding a splash of color to space. This is especially true if you have white-colored walls, as it provides depth and transforms your camper into a comfortable living space instead of just a recreational vehicle.

A stick-and-peel kitchen backsplash is an excellent option for a camper van interior. Compared to traditional tiles, they’re lightweight, easy to install, and can be removed easily if desired. The adhesive backing makes it easy to adhere to any surface and is resistant to moisture and heat. This makes it perfect for use in a camper van kitchen, where it may be subjected to splashes of water and high heat levels when cooking. Backsplashes come in various styles and colors, making it easy to find one that suits any design aesthetic.

We use this Moroccan-style peel-and-stick backsplash in our van, and we love the contrast of the faux-tile color scheme with our white walls.

For more kitchen-related inspiration, read our camper van kitchen essentials.

2. Accent Rugs

The addition of a floor rug in your van interior is a small change that can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your space. It’s incredible how something as simple as a rug can add a pop of color, create uniqueness, and transform your van into an Instagram-worthy home on wheels. Not only do rugs provide warmth and texture to your floors, but they also serve as a visual centerpiece that brings all design elements together.

A rug instantly creates a relaxing and cozy vibe, making your van a welcoming haven for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Whether you choose a bold statement piece or a subtle, neutral pattern, a rug is an essential element that can elevate the style and comfort of your van.

There’s nothing quite like discovering a true treasure during your travels. Our journey through Mexico opened up a world of colorful and expertly crafted Mexican wool rugs that left them completely enamored.

We opted for a neutral color scheme for our camper van interior, with just a few carefully chosen accent pieces that truly stand out. This way, we could incorporate all the vibrant, handmade rugs we collected from artisans across Mexico.

Also Read: Creating A Color Scheme For Your Camper Van Interior

You don’t have to travel to Mexico to pick up an accent rug! You can find lots of beautiful, handmade designs right on Etsy.com.

3. Blackout Curtains

A 100% blackout curtain is essential for a photogenic camper van because it separates and hides the front cab from the living quarters in the back. This ensures that your photos capture your camper van’s aesthetic and inviting ambiance without including any unwanted structures or colors.

Also, even though we love living in a vehicle, we sometimes like to close the curtains and pretend that the front seats, steering wheel, and windshield don’t exist.

Additionally, blackout curtains offer excellent privacy and function as extra insulation to keep the van warm during colder temperatures and cool in hotter weather. While it may not be the fanciest item on this list, blackout curtains are an essential accessory for anyone looking to elevate the look and functionality of their camper van.

4. Pillows and Throws

Throw pillows are a fantastic way to add color, texture, and style to your camper van interior. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, so you can easily find the perfect accent for your décor. Throw pillows are aesthetically pleasing for photoshoots and functional as they provide additional comfort and support when sitting or lounging on a sofa or bed, making them perfect for relaxation spaces.

They can also provide a quick and affordable way to update the look of a van’s interior without having to redecorate completely. With so many options, throw pillows are an easy and versatile addition to any interior decoration. Below, we list the exact throw pillows we use in our van.

5. Gold Wire Grid Board

Our gold wire grid board is one of the more underrated additions to our camper van interior design. The grid board lets us showcase treasured possessions, holds essential lotions and sunscreen, and even helps us store our shoes and slippers.

We also love this wire grid board because it increases the space efficiency of the van. Where we would have been stuck with a dull, white kitchen counter side without the board, we now have a solution that helps us stay more organized and looks great simultaneously!

6. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights can add a touch of magic and enchantment to even the simplest moments. They transform any space into a cozy and inviting atmosphere that helps create unforgettable memories. These tiny lights’ soft and subtle glow captures the essence of intimacy and warmth. This makes them ideal for any photo-op or small social gathering.

Their simultaneous functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic beauty are reasons why fairy lights are a must-have addition to any camper van interior. These lights consume less power using tiny LEDs than traditional light bulbs, making them exceptionally efficient for small electrical systems.

7. Handmade Wicker Baskets

Add an organic touch to your Instagram-worthy camper van interior photos by incorporating unique, handcrafted pieces. Our wicker basket is a practical storage solution for tea bags and oils and adds a touch of natural beauty to our van’s interior. It has been one of our camper van decoration favorites.

The contrast of organic shapes against the predominantly rectangular design of most camper vans will make your photos pop. Organic elements help bring harmony and tranquility to your van, making it an even more inviting and peaceful place.

For more, read our step-by-step guide on how to design a stunning camper van interior.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed reading our tips on designing your photogenic camper van. Thoughtful interior decoration is just as essential in a camper van as in a traditional home. The importance may even be more significant because of the limited space available in a camper van.

Not only can you capture an Insta-worthy van interior photo by utilizing some of our ideas, but a well-decorated interior adds personality to the space and makes it feel more comfortable, inviting, and functional.

If you feel there are other product ideas we didn’t include that should make this list, please comment below!

Happy designing!