One of the more challenging things about RV life is storing everything in a small space. RVs are pretty remarkable in that manufacturers find free space wherever they can, adding a little bit of storage or fitting in RV components, appliances, or storage. Unfortunately, however, some of these spaces are oddly shaped, small, and incapable of holding the things we typically store at home. This storage problem is especially true in small campers, which are built with compactness in mind.
However, for years, RV owners have got creative and found ways to convert the limited space to usable space and storage. The most important thing to do is look for unused space and find a way to use it. It may not always be very obvious, but with a little creativity, you’ll be surprised at the amount of space you can find.
Some areas to look for include odd-shaped cabinets or shelves. When a space doesn’t seem big enough for traditional home-based use, it’s easy not to use it or use it inefficiently. Instead, maximize these spaces by adding unique storage solutions like baskets, hangers, or trays to get the most use out of them.
Another common area where you can find space is on the backside of doors. A plethora of hanging storage solutions slip right over a door and provides sleek storage options in a space you likely don’t use.
Next, look up. Vertical space is sometimes overlooked, but with the right storage solution, you can take advantage of this space. Hanging things on walls, like baskets, shelves, or hooks, allows unused space to become available real estate in your RV. In addition, there are slip-on-hanging solutions that work great.
You can also look at some gadgets and things you typically use at home and look for RV-friendly solutions. For example, products such as collapsible dish drying racks, nested bowls, dinnerware, compact countertop appliances, etc., are readily available for RVs and tight spaces.
Another thing to consider is that RVs are meant to be driven, which means you must also think about how storage impacts things like packing up and keeping everything safe from falling while on the road. If you don’t have them, pick up some things like magnetic strip tape and Velcro. These can keep things stationary when on the move but make life easier when camping by having items remain where you need them. With minimal effort, you can secure things like a coffee maker, baskets, decorations, etc., and provide easy access to them when needed.
Below is a great list of the Best RV storage ideas that will help you reduce clutter and make your RV more livable. These products will make RV organization a breeze, and will work in any type of RV, from a travel trailer, a larger class A motorhome, or a small camper van. Also, if you have any favorite products you use in your RV, drop a note in the comments.
Product Categories
Cabinets and Drawers
If you have a large cabinet short on shelves, you may lose valuable space by not taking advantage of the open area. If you have one of these cabinets, you can easily add a shelf and double your storage space. These expandable shelves use a tension rod to allow you to add them without the need to drill into the cabinet. In addition, they can be easily moved or adjusted to obtain the right height for your storage needs.
Most RV cabinets are smaller than a residential kitchen. As a result, storing large things can sometimes be a burden. This headache is especially true for things like cutting boards or baking trays. In many RVs, there isn't anywhere to put them, and they take up valuable counter space or are shoved somewhere that isn't convenient. This cabinet door hanger will keep these large kitchen essentials securely out of sight until you need them.
You know how valuable it is if you are lucky enough to have some space under your kitchen sink. So instead of packing in cleaning sprays, cloths, RV supplies, etc., see if one of these organizers will fit. It will enable you to store much more in this little space while keeping your items accessible when needed.
An easy way to find extra space in your RV is to use door hangers and organizers for storage. This closet door-hanging solution may be perfect if you have an RV pantry or unused space behind a door. You can easily get some narrow shelf space, which is perfect for dry goods, spices, boxes, etc. Before buying it, ensure you have enough of an opening between the door and the shelves.
I love baskets for storage in RVs. They make it easy to see what's in them and can be used in many locations. These under-shelf baskets may be a great option for your RV layout. If you have open cabinets or shelves inside closed ones, these baskets can add extra storage space in the unused area under or inside your kitchen cabinets. These baskets are also great for storing fresh fruit.
Kitchen
These stylish baskets are perfect for the kitchen counter. The best thing about these baskets is the removable bamboo top. This feature allows them to be stacked or allows you to store other small items on them. So they not only look great, but they're extremely functional.
Since most RVs won't have a dishwasher, you need a place to dry your dishes after you wash them. Unfortunately, a traditional drying rack takes up a lot of space and is hard to store when not in use. However, you can pick up one of these collapsible dish drying racks to give you the space when you need it and store it away easily when you don't. I have one, and I love it.
Check out this slim utensil holder, which may be the right size for your narrow kitchen drawer. This storage tool will also allow you to free up some space, combine a drawer or two, and provide overall storage space in your RV.
If you're a coffee drinker using pods or a Keurig, you can benefit from this under-the-counter pod storage system. It will keep all of your coffee supplies accessible but won't take up any room in your cabinets or countertop. It's a great system for RVers without much room to work with.
Sometimes Kitchen appliances intended for a home kitchen just don't cut it in an RV. A good example of this is a toaster. This long slot toaster doesn't take up too much space on your counter and will free up valuable real estate needed for other appliances for food prep/
It's essential to have food storage options when you need them, but inconvenient to lug around large bowls for occasional use. So instead, you can pick up a set of collapsible storage bowls that you can use for cooking, baking, leftovers, or anything else requiring a large bowl. They are color-coded by size and collapse for storing them in a small space, out of the way from your everyday items.
Food and Refrigerator
It's essential to have food storage options when you need them, but inconvenient to lug around large bowls for occasional use. So instead, you can pick up a set of collapsible storage bowls that you can use for cooking, baking, leftovers, or anything else requiring a large bowl. They are color-coded by size and collapse for storing them in a small space, out of the way from your everyday items.
Many RV refrigerators are smaller than regular residential refrigerators. Sometimes storing all the food is difficult and requires you to remove everything to access what you need. An easy way to solve this is to use refrigerator containers. These bins will help to organize your food and make access much easier. Also, with better organization, you'll find more capacity.
If you like to cook and use spices, you already know that a good spice collection can hamper your food storage inside your cabinets. The best way to store spices, making them easily accessible for cooking, is on the wall of your cabinet door. These spice gripper kits can hold any standard spice container you'll find at the grocery store. You won't need a lot of storage space for these cooking essentials.
A great idea for packing and storing food in your RV is using food storage containers like these. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and you can configure them to fit your kitchen cabinets. Rather than dealing with large boxes of cereal, pasta, or other odd-shaped boxes or bags of food, these containers will allow you to play Jenga in your kitchen cabinets while keeping your dry food safe and fresh. Then, when you head to the grocery store, you can buy what you need without worrying about the size of the products. Just place them in a storage container, and you're all set.
Clothing, Shoes, Bedding, and Towels
One of the bulkiest items you regularly need to store is your clothes, blankets, and towels. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do to minimize their size. They take up valuable dresser or cabinet space; if you don't use them regularly, they can create a storage nightmare. However, in a convenient vacuum storage bag, you can easily store items you don't use daily, like an extra blanket, beach towels, etc. These bags will compress the items into a solid, much smaller package. They can then be put into larger storage spaces like underneath the bed, in a storage compartment, etc. Additionally, you don't have to worry about moisture or exposure to other gunk, as the bags keep everything clean and dry.
Shoes are one of the hardest things to store, especially if you have a lot of people sharing your RV space. Luckily, you can purchase some creative solutions to keep shoes off the floor and stored in an inconspicuous space. This wall-mounted shoe organizer is perfect for anyone with narrow shoes which must bring multiple pairs camping. In addition, they are easy to hang and access, two great features for an RV owner.
A great way to free up closet space is to use drawer organizers. Not only can they help keep everything organized, but you can also stack them to allow you to fit more into smaller RV closets or drawers. This solution is especially helpful if you have lots of people staying in your RV and constantly running out of space for everyone's clothes.
My RV has two large closets next to the bed. They're open, which is great for hanging clothes. However, I rarely have clothes that I need to hang out when camping. So rather than building custom shelves or piling up clothes, I can use the verticle space inside the closet to neatly store and organize my clothes. These shelves come in different sizes, so be certain to measure your space before you buy.
Dirty laundry can be a space hog in any RV, especially when using a traditional laundry basket. Rather than taking up a lot of floor space with used clothes, you can place them in this hanging laundry bag. A great place to keep this is inside the RV closet door, storage compartment, or other inconspicuous space.
RV Bathroom
A place to hang a towel or multiple ones is necessary for an RV. Rather than hang up a row of hooks, give this 3-towel rack a try. If you have a place to install it securely, it may be a perfect addition to a bathroom, bedroom, or even entryway into an RV. If you need a non-screw option or want to hang other items, check out our Complete Guide to Hanging Anything on An RV Wall.
Bathrooms in an RV can be small, but manufacturers have been effective in using every available inch of space. However, this often means that extra space is typically limited. This storage constraint is true for things as simple as a toilet brush. Therefore, you may need to find a different solution to fit a traditional brush next to the toilet as you would at home. Luckily, this slim brush is a great option that can squeeze and be stored in a tight space next to your toilet.
RV Essentials
Extension cords and power strips are a must-have in an RV, but they can be unsightly and take up a lot of valuable living space. They aren't also convenient to place where you need the extra outlets. This creative space-saving gadget by Bestek will allow you to mount a small form factor power outlet that you can use for kitchen appliances, charging devices, or having an extra few outlets near places wherever you need them. It can be mounted in just about any configuration (upside down, horizontally, or on a shelf, coffee table, or another surface).
There are typically two things that RVs don't have enough of, shelves and power outlets. This convenient outlet cover serves as a shelf for small things like phones, TV streaming devices, or personal items. In addition, this easy storage solution adds a little horizontal space where you don't have any.
You likely have a plethora of chords and hoses stored somewhere in your RV. Unfortunately, these can be a pain if not neatly stored. These Velcro Brand straps will allow you to easily tie up extension cords, hoses, or other dangling items. Then, you can hang them inside a storage compartment or nearly pile them in a bin without worrying about them tangled together.
Other
If you have spent any time in an RV, you know you're constantly packing and unpacking as you park at the campground and then get ready to hit the road. If you haven't figured it out already, having things stored in containers makes it much easier to complete this task. The key thing is to ensure everything has a home. This 8-pack of stylish baskets makes storage a breeze by easily organizing your items into a specific space. You can have Velcro on the bottom of the baskets if you want to leave them in place while traveling, or you can stack them in a cabinet and keep them out of the way.
These slip organizers can hang on a wall or inside a door, making storage a breeze. They're great for narrow items like books, toys, gadgets, and other RVing essentials. You get a two-pack of them, which is perfect for adding lots of verticle storage space to your RV.
Somehow my TV remote goes missing multiple times per day. I can blame it on my daughter, but I could equally attribute it to poor storage. This convenient remote tray will keep all of the devices for your RV, Roku, Apple TV, etc., neatly organized near wherever you need them. This tray includes removable adhesives that stick directly to any flat surface wall. It's a great option for staying both organized and sane in your living room, bedroom, or wherever you have a TV.
It would be great if every RV had a bedside shelf, but they don't. However, you can easily add one that can easily stick to the wall in the bedroom. The shelf is perfect for smaller items like phones, books, glasses, remotes, etc. There are also five convenient hooks to hand your robe, clothes, keys, or other items to which you need quick access.
We're all used to the large rubber-made plastic bins, but unfortunately, they don't always work well in an RV. In addition to finding a place to store them, they can be a burden if you need to store something on top of them. So instead, check out these innovative bins that open from both the top and side. You may have a perfect place for these, and now you don't have to worry about tearing apart an entire RV just to get something you have stored inside it. They take up less space than other storage bins but have many more useful features.
In many situations, RV beds are not the easiest to get in and out of. Once you're in bed, you don't want to crawl back in and out of it, especially when looking for the remote. Unfortunately, there isn't always a lot of storage next to the bed. If you don't have a bedside table, you may like this bedside organizer, which conveniently slips under the mattress and keeps all essentials within easy reach. This organizer is perfect for a TV remote, cell phone, book, glasses, etc.
If you’re looking for some other storage ideas, you may appreciate the following articles. One will explain how to hang anything on an RV wall, using a bung of easy-to-acquire products like command hooks and command strips. The other article is focused on shoe storage, with some great DIY tips and products you can purchase to solve even the most complicated shoe storage dilemmas.
