With the increased interest in RVs over the last couple of years, the trend of upgrading and personalizing these homes on wheels makes sense. Do It Yourself (DIY) RV upgrade projects can make your travels more comfortable and visually appealing for you and your family. Additionally, if you rent out your RV, such upgrades can make your RV more attractive to prospective renters. Even if you don’t have much of a budget to work with, here are five easy DIY projects you can use to improve your RV.

1. New paint

Painting is an affordable, easy way to give your RV an entirely different look. A fresh paint job can invigorate the appearance of your living spaces in the RV. You can paint the walls and ceiling along with cabinets and shelving. While white lends a clean, roomy feel, the right colors can make the interior of your RV stand out.

Want to do the painting yourself? The team at Outdoorsy suggests using chalk paint because it doesn’t need sanding. Or, if you’re short on time, you can hire professionals to do the job for you.

2. Improve the view in your RV

When you travel by RV, it’s to see the world, right? That being the case, what condition are your RV windows in?

The folks at RVshare point out that if you have plastic windows, they might be scratched up or cloudy, which impairs the view. Glass windows can collect grime and stains over some time. Now might be an excellent time to clean, repair or replace them. RV owners can also dress them up once you’re finished with curtains. Installing blackout shades will help you get good sleep at night or a nap on a bright, sunny day.

3. Update interior lighting

If the interior of your RV is darker than you’d like, it’s time to update the lighting. You can give your RV a brighter look by replacing older box lights with new fixtures and brighter LED bulbs. The team at Extra Space suggests a flush mount dinette light to brighten up your dining area. Just make sure you won’t hit your head on it. Wall sconces should be strategically placed to greatly brighten up your living spaces.

You might also consider adding a skylight to the roof. Available in a wide array of shapes and sizes, skylights are a great way to bring more natural light into your RV’s living environment. Pleated shades can help block out sunlight during peak times and add cover for better sleep at night.

4. New furniture

If your RV is relatively new, you probably have new furniture with it. However, if your RV is older, and has its original furnishings, now might be a good time to replace it to modernize your interior. 

If you’re on a budget, you can upgrade. Sofa covers can hide old patterns, prints, and stains. New furniture is a better idea if you’re renting your RV out. Outdoorsy recommends lightweight, space-saving furniture from IKEA. They recommend futons, as they can be easily converted from beds to couches and back again.

5. Clean up the RV floors

As the team at RVshare points out, if your floors are messy, the rest of your updates won’t make that big of a difference. Is the carpet in your RV worn? Are the tiles damaged and dingy? It might be time to pull up the old carpeting and replace it with hardwood-style laminate. You could also replace the tile in the bathroom and kitchen areas. Having nice new floors is an excellent foundation for a significant RV upgrade. 

It can cost you to hire professionals to come in and put in new flooring or repair what you’ve got. However, if you’re on a budget, there are numerous DIY channels on YouTube where you can learn how to do this yourself.