17 Best Camper Storage and Organization Tips
Efficiently storing and organizing items in your camper can be difficult. Storage space is valuable for those who live in their RVs full-time and those who take their camper on vacation. There never seems to be enough room to store everything you need for your trip efficiently; sometimes, storage requires creativity. These 17 practical storage solutions are easily implemented and will save you space and keep clutter to a minimum.
We do not put holes in the walls of our camper, so everything listed below can be completed with no tools and without damaging your camper.
1. Use the Microwave and Oven for Camper Storage
We do not cook in our oven or microwave. Unless the weather is bad, we always cook outside. We use the stove and the microwave for storage. Our microwave stores open foods such as bags of chips and cookies to keep them fresh longer and to prevent ants. We store cooking pans and cutting boards in the oven.
2. Storage Ottomans
One of the best purchases that we made for our camper is two ottomans with storage compartments (Check them out on Amazon). Ottomans are great because they serve multiple purposes. The top lifts off so you can store items. This is where we keep the kids’ clothes. Secondly, when you take the lid off and flip it over, it becomes a tray. Finally, we use the Ottoman to prop up our legs and relax. Ottomans make sitting on our sofa much more comfortable.
3. Purge Purge Purge
Purging items you do not use every six months is reasonable, depending on how often you camp. We often put several things in the camper, thinking they will be great to have on the road. Then we never use them. It is essential to minimize items that you do not use.
4. Nesting Bowls
Stackable (nesting) mixing bowls (Check them out on Amazon) are a great way to save room. We love this set as it includes several mixing bowls, a colander, a sifter, and measuring cups.
5. Use Storage Bins for Organization
We use storage bins throughout our camper to store and better organize supplies. We have double bunks and two pre-teens. The configuration of the beds is perfect for our kids, but the bunks take up a lot of space. There is plenty of room on each bunk for the kids to keep a storage bin (Check them out on Amazon). They keep items such as books, balls, and bicycle helmets in these bins. We also use storage containers in our outside storage to help organize materials.
6. Kitchen/Cabinet Shelf Organizers
Shelf organizers (Check them out on Amazon) will double the space on a shelf and drastically increase your camper storage. We use these in our pantry area. Pantries are great in RVs but often leave too much room (wasted space) between each shelf. We can place the organizers on a shelf, and instantly, we have double the room and have less wasted space.
7. Paper Towel Hanger
We use an adjustable spring tension curtain rod (Check it out on Amazon) as a paper towel holder. Place the rod in the vent hood and keep the paper towels on the rod. This keeps us from wasting counter space.
8. Over the Cabinet Trash Can
An over-the-cabinet trash can (Check it out on Amazon) is great if you need to save floor space. We do not use this type of trash can because our cabinet space is more important than floor space, so we leave our trash can on the floor near our door. However, we have friends with the opposite problem, and they love this over the cabinet trash can.
9. Vertical Plate Holder
A vertical plate holder (Check it out on Amazon) is a convenient way to store plates. The vertical plate holder works with paper plates or regular plates, depending on what you choose to take on your travels.
10. Command Strip Shower Caddy and Soap Dish
Previously, we had soap and other items falling off the shelf and into the shower floor in our shower. This problem was solved with the 3M Command Waterproof Soap Dish (Check it out on Amazon) and Shower Caddy (Check it out on Amazon). You can hang them in your shower and have space to set a bar of soap and a place to keep your shampoo and other bathing essentials.
11. RV Bed Lift Kit for Camper Storage
Our camper did not include bed lift struts for under-the-bed storage. The mattress can be cumbersome, thus making the area difficult to access. We purchased lifts (Check them out on Amazon) for our bed and installed them ourselves in about 30 minutes, making it simpler to access the area. Now that it is easier to access, we utilize the space under the bed for more effective camper storage. Be sure to measure the storage area under your bed before you buy, as there are different sizes.
12. Cable Clips for Holding Fishing Poles
Cable clips (Check them out on Amazon) are a great way to attach fishing poles to the sidewall of your storage compartments. The clips are easy to mount; stick them to the side of the storage compartment and slide the fishing rod through them. Two clips per rod do the trick.
13. Stackable Food Containers
Keeping food in stackable airtight containers (Check them out on Amazon) is an excellent way to save space and maximize your camper storage. Containers can be used for items such as cookies, cereal, flour, and sugar. Keeping your food in square stackable containers ensures that your food is safe from ants and takes up minimal space.
14. Under the Shelf Storage Baskets
Create space by adding shelf storage baskets (Check them out on Amazon) under your cabinet. With under-the-shelf baskets, you turn wasted space into optimal storage.
15. Velcro Your Remote Controls
Use velcro (Check it out on Amazon) to attach your remote controls to a convenient location in your camper. First, it is a great space-saving solution, and second, you always know where your remote control is located. We recommend taking the remotes down while traveling so they do not fall and get damaged.
16. Closet Organizers for Camper Storage
Hanging closet organizers (Check them out on Amazon) or shelf organizers (Check them out on Amazon) are handy in smaller travel trailers where closet space is nearly nonexistent. Hanging an organizer in your closet allows you to organize your clothes and other belongings more efficiently.
17. Get One Rid One
Do not become a hoarder. It is good practice to get rid of an item every time you add something new to the camper. This practice will keep the camper from overflowing with things that you do not use and keep your camper storage areas organized.
Most campers do not have much living space, so it is essential to find optimal storage solutions. Do you have storage solutions that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below.
