7 Smart Storage Solutions for Full-Time RV Living

So you’ve taken the plunge and decided to go for full-time RV living. Perhaps you lived in apartments or houses before, or this is your first residence. No matter what your lifestyle comprised before, managing your possessions with minimal square footage is one of the most challenging aspects of interior design, comfort and functionality. Here are the top tips from the most experienced minds.

Do You Have to Be a Minimalist to Embrace Full-Time RV Living?

Many people who live in an RV, by necessity, have fewer possessions. But you don’t have to get rid of everything you own to enjoy the lifestyle. There are plenty of maximalist RV families out there who have found creative ways to store their hobby tools, collectibles and more. There is always a way to adapt the space to your needs, allowing you to enjoy everything you want without feeling the need to sacrifice much.

On the other hand, you may need to adjust to the idea of having things come in and out of the space more frequently. It can be helpful to learn to borrow or rent items from friends and businesses, allowing you to own fewer things. Being experimental with ownership is one of the best ways to maximize storage space, allowing you the freedom to make room for what matters most.

1. Multipurpose Furniture With Hidden Storage

What you’ll find throughout this list is that there are so many places you can incorporate storage that you don’t even realize. When most people think of space-saving furniture, they think of things like Murphy beds. While these are great, we want to focus on the types of storage solutions that are already out and about in your RV. 

For example, you could have an ottoman in your living space. Why not get an ottoman with a removable cover, allowing you to store blankets or books inside? Some other ideas include tables with removable tops. These are great places to store everything from remotes, table settings and more.

This is great for families with pets. If you have a cat, a litter box that doubles as a cabinet for all the supplies will help keep everything tidy and organized.

2. Collapsible and Nesting Kitchenware

Any kitchen utensil that cannot fit inside another thing is a waste of space. Unfortunately, unless you have a unique mug-hanging solution with hooks, ceramic mugs are not the most practical option unless they nest. Plastic cups that stack easily with one another are ideal, allowing you to save space in your cabinet. You can also get kitchenware that rolls up, such as a flexible cutting board. 

Another option is collapsible products, like silicone food containers and bowls. You would be surprised at the number of foldable and collapsible kitchen items there are. If you need inspiration, the best place to look is the hiking community. They have to pack tons of stuff into a small backpack — they know what can and can’t collapse!

3. Magnetic and Under-Cabinet Storage

As previously mentioned, hooks are a useful way to maximize the use of your walls. If there is blank space, you can use it for something. This includes inside doors and cabinets. If you don’t have the space to screw in hooks, magnetic strips are a powerful option. They maintain their strength even when the RV is in motion. This is great for spice racks and small jars. You could even have a magnetic strip of small cleaning supplies if you’re creative enough. Feel free to place them on both the inside and outside of doors to maximize their utility.

4. Vacuum-Seal Bags and Compression Cubes

Depending on where you travel with your RV, you may encounter varying temperatures and weather conditions. Having winter and summer clothes accessible at all times is not practical, especially bulky winter coats. Vacuum sealing is the best way to shrink everything down while preserving its quality. Compression cubes are another great item for closets and drawers.

Otherwise, you could have a jacket or two taking up most of the space in your tiny closet. Fortunately, these vacuum-sealed bags and airtight containers can be stored in many places around the RV, such as under your bed or in the basement bay.

5. Concealed Floor Compartments

Just like you have tons of hidden opportunities on your walls, you have tons of storage options under your feet. For stuff you use infrequently or want to keep secure, floor compartments are great. There are tons of underutilized spaces under the main RV area. See if you can install these panels in your RV’s interior to make it even more accessible than just using the outside entry point. Here are some ideas of less commonly used items you can store in there:

• Valuables
• Emergency supplies
• Holiday decorations
• Sentimental items and memorabilia

6. DIY PVC Pipe Racks

If you have PVC pipes lying around, you can create an inexpensive and cheap storage solution for as long as you choose full-time RV living. These are perfect for holding hanging objects, including fishing rods and foldables. You could even fashion them to be a paper towel holder for the kitchen. You can also hang pots and pans off of them, so long as you’re fine with a bit of clanging when you’re on the move.

7. Sliding Cargo Trays in the RV Basement

Your RV might have a small basement, but it could be hard to access. Sliding cargo trays are a great idea to make things easier to grab, but they are also a great tip all around the RV. For the basement, avoid precariously stacking things and secure them on sliding trays. It makes navigating the bay much less frustrating, minimizing the amount of crawling and unloading to get to what you need.

Full-Time RV Living Storage Tips From the Pros

If you’re having a hard time storing everything you want in an RV, try one of these ideas. There may be a nook and cranny you haven’t utilized, or an easy container replacement that could maximize the space better. Additionally, people are always crafting and DIYing in new ways that break the boundaries. If you see your space as a constantly flexible environment, there is no limit to how you could alter it to fit your storage needs.