Caravan Interior - What can you do?

[Kurt_374303438]

Hey all,

Firstly i would just like to say that i really don't have any experience with caravans in the slightest and just have a few questions that hopefully you guys could answer.

In the near future my Dad is moving house and my girlfriend and I will be sleeping in a Caravan in the backgarden as there isn't enough bedrooms in the new house for us to have our own room.

It's not going to be used to cooking, washing or for the toilet, it's just for sleeping in/staying in watching TV etc.. and I was wondering what kind of things are possible for me to do, without wrecking it.

It's only going to be some cheap 2nd hand Caravan and I am unsure on the size of it, I kind of want to personalise the interior as much as I possibly can as we will be staying there for atleast 6-8 months.

I know i can change the obvious things like curtains and seats but what about the carpet/flooring, am I able to take out the cooking part to maybe have some kind of storage space for clothes?

Anyone have any ideas of what we could do? to make it more of a bedroom than an inside of a Caravan.

Many thanks.

 

[Oldfogey]

I think that the first thing I would say is thatyou technically need planning permission to do this. You will have to view how to handle that based on the location, neighbours, visibility etc. You will have less trouble with a touring van than a "static".

Next question is how "handy" are you? There is a lot can be done if you are capable.

Make sure you get a van with double glazed windows, as you will be using it into the winter. Older vans may have single glass panes; very cold!

You will be a lot more comfortable if you pick a model that has a fixed bed, or where the beds can be left permanently made up, and put in a proper mattress instead of the cushions.

Removing the cooker and fridge is quite straightforward, and would allow the provision of useful extra storage space.

The loo compartment could be converted into a large storage area, but do consider whether this is wise. Chemical loos are not wonderful, but may be better on occasion than a trip over to the house in freezing rain late at night.

Permanently wire in a decent electrical supply, put in mains lighting, and electric heating. Oil filled type radiators can be left on all night, and a fan heater or halogen will give good direct heat. A kettle and toaster can make a quick breakfast easily.

Other people will doubtless have other ideas.

 

[Kurt_374303438]

Thanks a lot for your reply It's going to be a touring caravan (i assume that's what you call the ones that you tow with a car haha).

I do have another question though, once i've taken out the cooker etc.. what could i do to make it look "nice" where it was before, what do you use as the equivelent of wall paper in a house to a "wall" in a Caravan?

I hope i have worded my question in a way that makes sense, i couldn't quite find what i wanted to say.

 

[Essexeddie]

We lived in a large caravan for about a year while we built our house. You can simply paint the walls but use an oil based paint otherwise it wont stick to the plastic walls etc.

Dont forget all these alterations will likely render the van unsaleable. Also the main problem you could encounter is condensation. DONT lay the mattress on the floor, keep an air gap between the mattress and the floor.

Otherwise have fun.

Edd