23 Van Life Design Ideas You’ll Absolutely Love
#VANLIFE DIGITAL NOMADS
van life interior ideas
If you are looking for some interior design inspiration about #vanlife then this is the page for you. We’ve looked all over the internet to find the most beautiful van life interiors so you can build the camper van of your dreams!
Scroll below to get a few visual ideas of kitchen, office and even bathroom ideas for your adventure vehicle.
We’ve gathered lots of inspiration pictures and organized them in a way that’s easy to discover from desks to kitchens and bed settings.
Whatever your style or budget, we’re showing plenty of interior van designs and ideas so you can start building your own. From super simple to damn near luxurious campervan conversions, and classic to modern and cool, we think you’ll find some interiors that feel like you in this list.
Van Kitchen Interior Ideas
This layout features a kitchen on the wall of the van where the door is with space to stand in front of the stovetop while cooking. There is also a fixed bed in the back installed width-wise across the van. We also love the tile flooring which works well with the colours of the cabinets and the top.
This layout is great for nomads who want lots of natural light in their van kitchen whilst cooking a good, natural meal.
By putting your kitchen in the middle of your van and on the wall, you can keep your van ventilate your van by keeping the door open whilst you cook.
We love this kitchen interior idea due to the use of space on the lateral wall which makes it bigger for people who love cooking and need space for the chop boards. The bed is situated at the end, just as the kitchen top ends. We also love the storage cupboards on top and below the sink. Not only do they look like in any other kitchen, but they offer plenty of storage space for the kitchen utensils and pans and pots.
This is one interesting interior kitchen setup where the kitchen is practically extended with a foldable top allowing for more space when folded.
The stove is a miniature one, allowing more space for the top so the cook can easily prepare the meals. The owners also decided to install a small oven under the miniature stove. Note how there is a window by the kitchen top, allowing natural light to come in.
This is a great minimalistic van kitchen interior.
Space Saving Van Life Storage And Organization Interior Ideas
Most Camper Vans have included one king-sized bed built on a platform and the space underneath the bed is used as the main storage compartment area of the campervan. (which is great!). However, there are many other smart ideas to organise your belongings inside the van as we’ll see below. From door hangers to hidden drawers, there’s almost no limit to creativity when it comes to finding space in your van.
Using most of your vertical living space is a key factor in the interior of the campervan. Installing shelves and mini drawers will give you additional storage space as we’ll see below.
You want to be careful with your crockery whilst on the road. Sometimes you hit bumps or drive faster than usual, so you want to keep your crockery and glasses safe. To do this, you’ve got several design options like keeping them in tight shelves which open with ropes or metal strings. Or, you could buy specially designed drawers like the one below. One thing is certain – you want to keep this important aspect in mind when you do the interior design of the van.
The backdoors of the van are massive so why not use them too? A lot of van nomads prefer to hang on them shoes or just build shelves on them for storing different personal belongings or things needed for your normal van life.
When designing your van and you need to use every single inch of space, these sliding doors and cupboards are a must-have. Therefore, try to design your van so you have the opportunity to hide and store jars, boxes and containers.
Nets are some very basic and cheap accessories that will help you keep your things safe and in place in the van between journeys.
Van Interior Desks - Office With a View
We’ve scoured the internet to find the best and craziest van life ideas for office desks inside the 4 wheel vehicle. Whether you’re starting a new build or renovating your old van, have a look at the laptop setups below for digital nomads who just love working in their vans.
@saraandalexjames are a couple that works out of their 2008 Dodge Sprinter. Work is a priority for them so having a comfortable place to set down computers is key.
They’ve made their “office desk” from a telescopic table and positioned it at the back of the van where they have 2 small sofas on each side of the van instead of chairs. Probably not the most comfortable office, but does wonders on the road.
This couple makes their money online with blogging and social media.
@ourhomeonwheels is a 2005 Freightliner Sprinter 158″. Notice how they’ve created a wooden mini-desk opposite the kitchen wall. This is to allow more light in the working area. They can also fit a comfortable chair there so that’s a pretty good setup these digital nomads have in their van.
Jace and Giddi run a jewellery fabrication shop online as they travel around the country.
These campers went for an interesting interior design. They’ve put the desk table in the middle of the galley, immediately after the bed and opposite the kitchen top. They have two sits on each side of the table. This setup looks comfortable for work, however, they have sacrificed the space for the cooking. Something got to give sometimes in the van life design.
This is an awesome desk idea which doubles as a reading spot from @tinkletravels on IG. They also added shelves at the bottom to add extra storage which is extemelly practical.
Van Life Bed Ideas
As an alternative to a fixed bed, consider a seating area that converts into a bed. There are many ways to make this idea a reality: slats that slide out from a bench seat to for a wider bed; a table that drops down between two bench seats to create the bed base; or benches that hinge open to form the bed.
No matter what systme you choose, one of these options will make the van more spacious during daytime. By having a bed that stores away, you will have much more room to play with during the day–most commonly for a large seating area with a table.
This is one of the van life ideas that could be a great option for people who are keen to compromise the fixed bed for more space.
If you’re travelling with kids then most likely you will need more beds in the van. Have you ever considered bunk beds? This is one smart idea to use the space and accomodate more people.
Bunk beds are a great space-saving solution in any house, and there’s no reason why they can’t work in a van. Just make sure that they are built strong enough to take the weight of a person, and you’re good to go.
Bunk beds can also be fun for kids and provide them with their own space, even when space is tight. Why not build on this childlike playfulness and make a feature of the bunk beds; add fairy lights or ‘stars’ to the underside of the bed or accessorise with a ladder and some storage pods for toys and books.
Bunk beds are a practical way to ensure everyone has enough space to sleep, especially if you have more than one or two people sleeping in the van. (friends, family, etc).
Another practical tip is to design your bunk beds so they can fold down and earn more space during the daytime…like most of the things in a van 🙂
van life interior - bathroom
Are you considering a full bathroom in your camper van? It’s doable, but there are a few important considerations to keep in mind upfront.
For example, the plumbing, and water systems right for a full indoor bathroom are some of the most difficult parts of a van build. There’s a lot to it – everything from framing and waterproofing to drainage, plumbing, a grey water tank, and a water heater. Also remember the trim, paint, and stick on tiles or another siding.
But on the other hand, many people who have a full shower inside their van love it and say it’s so worth it.
If you don’t want to go that far, another option is a retractable or hidden shower. This gives you the best of both worlds: a shower whenever you want one without taking up all the space. They’re showers that can easily be set up when you want, then stowed away when not in use. This is a major space saver compared to a full, permanent indoor shower.
Below, we are showing a variety of fully built-in van showers plus some very creative space-saving hidden showers that you may want to consider.
Final words
The camper van has a small living space, and that’s why it’s quite crucial for the interior design to be on point. The comfort level of the camper fan solely depends on the interior planning and appliance placement, so if you are having trouble designing the interior of you future camper van we will provide some ideas for use.
