Welcome to The Village Square, the series that answers common RVing questions with tips, tricks, and camping hacks from RVillage community members just like you.
Let’s face it, some of us simply like our “stuff.” Our books, devices, tools, toys, and the worn-out college sweatshirts our spouses have been begging us to get rid of for years. And when you live in a residential, sticks-and-bricks home, storing—or in some cases, hiding—all of our favorite stuff is easy with garages, basements, closets, and other nooks and crannies the space provides. However, when you’re staying in an RV, all of that stuff tends to add up pretty quickly, with little to no place to store it.
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time RVer, figuring out where to store your belongings is a challenge. While the best solution is to minimize the things you bring along, that’s not always possible, especially if you’re traveling with kids or own a smaller rig. Thankfully, there are several rig owners within the RVing community who are willing to share the storage and organization hacks they’ve learned throughout their travels.
Here’s how you can optimize your storage space and keep your RV organized out on the road, according to the RVillage community.
RVillagers Share Their Top Storage and Organization Hacks
DJ Hansen
My husband actually built shelves for all the cabinets that had a 2-foot opening (why they did, I’m not sure). He took simple plywood and made them. I have a ton of storage now that he’s done that.
Rachael C.
Vertical storage will be your best friend. Over-the-door shoe hangers hold all kinds of stuff, and you can screw them to the walls as well. The bigger cube hangers made for closets are great too.
Organizing RVs
Join the conversationStacy M.
Roll your clothes and linens. They take up far less space that way.
The Adventures of Todd and Jayna
Use metal 3M Command hooks. They look nice, hold up to 5 pounds, and don’t involve putting holes in your RV walls. I have the brushed nickel finish that matches the other fixtures in the bathroom to add extra towel-holding capacity. Behind the door in the bedroom, I use two in the copper finish that matches the drawer pulls, to hang a couple of coats and free up a little closet storage.
Tiffany J.
We have a wine holder in our bathroom holding our towels.
Jeanette F.
I have an ottoman that has storage on the inside and the top flips over to serve as a table. It’s foldable and very sturdy. I keep it in front of the couch. It serves as extra seating too.
Why didn’t I think of that? Tips and Tricks
Join the conversationweekendwarrior
Use baskets and containers. Space is your enemy. Fill in the empty spaces with rolls of paper towels, towels, or anything. I have everything in my upper cabinets in easy-to-pull-out baskets.
Jane P.
I use vacuum sealer bags for my extra clothes and blankets, and I store them under the dinette seat.
Barbara D.
I use baskets from Dollar Tree to hold items under the sinks and in the pantry and refrigerator to keep things from sliding around.
QuaskyCampers
We use a hanging shoe organizer on the bathroom door for bathroom items and smaller items that don’t have another home like bug spray, sunscreen, can koozies, etc.
Brian Y.
If it doesn’t get used, it gets thrown out. I can’t bring anything in my RV without getting rid of something.
Kathleen H.
I started buying mostly ebooks and reading on my iPad. It saves a lot of book storage space.
V&J
We use those small, removable plastic wall hooks in most of our cupboards to hang things such as oven mitts in the kitchen, loofahs in the shower, hats in the closet, etc. I got a bunch of foldable metal stands that look like cooling racks from the dollar store and use them in almost all cupboards for extra stacking room for plates, cleaning supplies, my bathroom products, etc.
Marge L.
We go through every compartment and cabinet at least once a year and get rid of anything we haven’t used.
Thank you RVillagers for sharing your organization and storage tips with the RVing community. If you want to see your advice featured on “The Village Square,” be sure to share your favorite RVing hacks, tips, and tricks with the community, and keep an eye out for questions from RVillage Camp Hosts.
Editor’s note: Some quotes have been slightly edited for clarity.
