Just because you’re on the road in an RV doesn’t mean you can’t achieve comfort. You can streamline your RV for easy living with strategic, back-to-basics tips and adjustments. Learn practical, space-saving strategies to enhance your life on the road, focusing on the kitchen, overall living space, and laundry—areas that play a significant role in any traveling home.
Optimizing Overall Space
The key to comfort in an RV, whether heading out on a short journey or preparing for full-time RV living, lies in making the most of your limited living area. You can create a sanctuary inside your portable home with multi-purpose gadgets, expandable storage options, and a few new habits.
Double-Duty Devices
Investing in innovative tech can save space and time. The EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger, for instance, not only charges your devices but can also juice up the car battery while you’re on the move, ensuring you’re never powerless.
Paired with an EcoFlow DELTA 2 portable power station and Ecoflow Portable Solar Panels like the EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel, you’ve also got a robust power source that’s both eco-friendly and compact, allowing you to power up appliances and devices with just one solar panel system.
One Charger for All
Devices mean cords, and cords can mean clutter. Avoid unnecessary tangles by utilizing portable power station models like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max or powerful EcoFlow DELTA Pro, boasting multiple charging ports for all your devices. It keeps your space neat and ensures you’re always fully powered up for the next adventure.
Expandable and Collapsible Solutions
Get creative with your storage. Look for drawers that extend out but tuck away when not in use, hanging baskets for fruit that you can put away when unneeded and save counter space, and convertible furniture like a bench that opens into a bed. Flexibility is your friend in the RV lifestyle.
Habits for a Streamlined Lifestyle
Aside from tangible solutions to integrate into your RV home, you can incorporate several habits and approaches into your daily routine to keep things tidy and organized. These include:
- Give Everything a Place: Ensure every item has its own designated space to help you find things quickly and cue you when it’s time to declutter.
- Clean Daily: A small investment of time each day in keeping things tidy pays dividends in the long run. A clean, organized space is more enjoyable to live in, so take time in the morning or before bed to reset things back to their resting places, clean the kitchen and bathroom, and sweep the floor of any debris.
- One In, One Out: Every time you buy something new, consider what item you’re willing to part with in its place. This helps keep your RV from being overrun by possessions and makes you think whether the value of an object is worth the purchase.
Clever Kitchen Storage
The kitchen is the heart of the home–even a mobile one. Getting this area right can significantly boost the quality of your RV living, so try these clever storage hacks to make the most of your tiny kitchen for prepping, cooking, and eating.
Cover Your Sink or Stove With a Cutting Board
Space could be used for something more pressing when you’re not using your sink or stove. Find cutting boards that fit over your sink or on your stove to give you extra space for food prep and feel less cramped.
Grocery Shop Every Few Days
By picking up supplies more frequently, you’ll keep your fridge and pantry stocked with fresh items and keep your limited kitchen storage neat. It’s a win-win that won’t overwhelm you with grocery trips, only going frequently enough that you’re not stockpiling items in your limited kitchen storage.
Keep Coolers in a Tow Vehicle
Need more space than your RV fridge allows? Use all the space available, especially if you’re bringing a tow vehicle. Keeping coolers loaded with drinks and snacks in your tow vehicle can free up vital refrigerator space in your RV while maintaining the freshness you expect.
Prep Food Ahead of Time
Prep meals before hitting the road to save valuable time and counter space when you’re hungry and eager to eat. That could mean preparing freezer meals at home or chopping up veggies and fruits at a campsite before the next leg of your journey. Anything you can do before filling your RV quarters will help.
Laundry Made Easy
Clean clothes are a necessity, not a luxury. But how do you handle laundry in such a confined space? You can find a flow with your RV laundry routine by using available resources and getting creative.
Pack Lean With Intention
Decide on a set number of outfits and stick to them; versatile clothes and layering can help you do more with less. Don’t bring extra items you likely won’t use, and bring things you can wear in more than one instance, like pajamas you can re-wear for a couple of nights and sweaters that double as outerwear in colder months.
Portable Washers
If you have the space, portable washers can be a game-changer. They’re relatively easy to find space for and make cleaning clothes a breeze, especially if you know you won’t have adequate access to more formal laundry services at laundromats or campground laundry facilities. A washer is much more valuable than a dryer as air drying is easy, free, and accessible, so prioritize a washer if you have to choose.
Get a Collapsible Hamper
When laundry piles up, it can become overwhelming, but you want to avoid committing to a fixed laundry hamper that will take up space even when all the clothes are clean. A collapsible hamper is a lifesaver when managing dirty clothes in a small space. It can hold all your garments when it’s time for a wash and collapse into something easy to store away when unneeded.
Pack Travel-Size Detergent
Regular-sized laundry detergent bottles take up a lot of room, and unless you’re living in your RV full-time, you likely only need a small amount at a time. Opt for smaller, travel-friendly options to save space and weight.
Use Racks or Lines for Drying
When it’s time to dry, think vertical. Use the negative space in your RV as the perfect canvas to dry your clothes. Hang dry them on lines inside the RV using Command hooks and strong string, or let them blow in the breeze outside at campsites to save space and avoid paying for clothes drying.
Use Nearby Laundromats or Campground Laundry
When all else fails, it’s time for a field trip to the local laundromat or campground laundry facility. Plan for these trips in your itinerary, looking for the nearest locations to you and prioritizing campgrounds that offer this valuable amenity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make space work for you, not the other way around. Your space will become more convenient and comfortable the more purposeful you are with possessions and layout. Use kitchen storage hacks, pack light to make laundry quick and easy, and find habits that help you declutter and stay organized.
Final Thoughts
It’s amazing how a few adjustments can make life on the road that much easier. By implementing these tips and solutions, you’ll find convenience and improved functionality in every facet of your RV lifestyle. For even greater comfort, remember to focus on minimalist living and shop EcoFlow for all your camping and RV electricity needs.