Caravans are more than just a vehicle. They are more than just accommodation, or just a place to kip for the night. If your caravan is doing what it should be, then it should feel like a home.
Now, perhaps the only time you want to be in your caravan is when you are chilling out and enjoying the holidays, but spare some consideration for how much better your experience could be were it to feel like a cosy, personalised home space.
There is, of course, a stereotypical image of somewhat shabby and uninspiring 70s decorated caravans. On the other end of the scale, there are also the modern caravans which are rolled off the production lines in their 1000s with virtually no individuality. The limited space which most caravans have to contend with does always mean that minimal and space-saving designs are preferable, but this doesn’t always need to be at the expense of personality.
It may seem like a strange concept, but if you happen to own either of these styles of caravans – or for that matter, pretty much any caravan inbetween – then interior design could turn your caravan from failing bedsit into luxurious homestead.
One of the worst style offenders are carpets. Indeed, you may like a bit of carpet in your caravan, but invariably it causes hassle, dirt and unsightly marks once you’ve trudged in from the rain. Ripping up the carpets and replacing them with contemporary, bright, vinyl flooring can liven the feel of the space and make cleaning a doddle. Still need the carpeting? Bring along a really fluffy rug for warming your feet in the mornings!
Other furnishings are often even more easy to adjust. Patterned walls do little for increasing feelings of spaciousness, and are best replaced with lighter colours (although avoid white, because that can become clinical.) If you are pushed for wall space to inject colour, replacing those tired and fraying curtains with some newly-made alternatives is another handy tip. In addition, make sure to get some thick blackout blinds to ensure the early morning sun doesn’t inflict itself upon your lie-in.
Mirrors are always the ultimate in maximising perceived space. No matter how small your living quarters may actually be, placing a few extra mirrors on doors, panels and cupboards can add extensively to the spaciousness of your caravan. Just make sure not to overdo it and find yourself living in a fairground attraction.
Finally, no interior design makeover would be complete without extensive personal touches. For the ultimate home-from-home feel, transfer a few key items from your home to your caravan and back again each trip. Perhaps a clock, some important photographs or a set of kitchenware; these can be all you need to feel fully comfortable and relaxed, rather than needing to take a couple of days slipping back into the caravanning lifestyle.
You’ll want to use your caravan for escaping home on many levels, but keeping homely touches can really improve your holiday. Just as you’d keep good care of your home itself, make sure to always take out caravan insurance to keep yourself covered.
