Do you camp? If you own a camper, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or an RV, you may be looking for ways to make it feel more like a home away from home. This is especially important if you have small children, and familiarity is the key. Bring along a few well-loved items from home, special toys, a blanket, or other items that will help your child feel more comfortable.
I also had one mom ask about decorating a camper or other recreational vehicle. She and her husband have been shopping around for a used one, and while she’s found several clean, nice models that are in good shape and reasonably priced, the decorating leaves something to be desired. The older ones tend to have dated paneling on the walls, and most people find that “style” to be outside their tastes, so if you own or are buying an older model, read on for tips.
Painting and Wallpapering Paneling
The good news is that you can treat paneling. You can paint paneling or you can even apply wallpaper. The most important thing to keep in mind is doing the prep work properly.
To wallpaper over paneling follow these steps:
- Fill the grooves with joint compound
- Allow to dry
- Sand the entire surface
- Wipe away sanding residue
- Apply stain-blocking primer
- Allow to dry at least overnight, and preferably 24 hours
- Apply the desired wallpaper
Carpets and Flooring
Many recreational vehicles have smooth flooring but some have carpets. If the carpet is worn, stained, damaged, or just ugly, you can remove it. Wear a mask over your mouth and nose when doing so. You should be able to replace the flooring inexpensively due to the size of the area. Ask about remnants of carpet and vinyl flooring at your local flooring or carpet store or a nearby home improvement center.
For a quicker, easier method, simply clean the existing flooring thoroughly and “hide” as much of it as possible with area rugs, accent rugs, or runners.