Can You Make an Older RV Look New Again?

RV have been and continue to be very expensive to buy. But have you considered that due to how expensive new RVs are, that you may be better off reviving your RV’s interior (flooring, paint, etc.) to make your old RV look new again? This might be an attractive alternative to breaking the bank on a brand new rig. Not only can you bring your old RV back to life with a refreshment, but minor updates could actually boost the value of your RV if you were to put it on the market. In addition to updating your RV interior, you can also buff, wash, and wax the outside and add new door and window trim. 



Think About New Paint

Painting your older RV might seem at first like a major job, it doesn’t have to be. As an example, instead of repainting all your walls, ceilings, and cabinets, perhaps just focus on just one of these three interior components. You will see that repainting your kitchen/bathroom cabinets is far less of a project than a whole trailer interior painting project. 

If a refresh of the cabinets isn’t sufficient enough to reverse the look of your aging RV, you can also think about painting the walls too. You can further minimize the work involved by adding a single accent wall in each location, rather than painting every single wall and surface. Stick with a neutral modern color and you can really make your old RV look like new again. A good alternative to painting is to add wallpaper, which can also be significantly cheeper than paint in both materials and labor.

Use Modern Flooring

A good alternative to both paint and wallpaper is to focus on updating your flooring, Older RVs, are often known for for having cheap, old fashioned flooring that’s easy to stain and/or damage. New flooring installation can be very budget friendly, as laminate flooring in rolls can cost as little as 35-60 cents per square foot. Regardless of whether you go with vinyl rolls, peel and stick tiles, laminate or tongue and groover flooring, they are all pretty easy to install for a beginner of expert alike.  

Easily Makeover Cabinets

If you would rather not repaint or replace your cabinets, you can go a long way with replacing the handles, knobs, and other hardware on your cabinet doors and drawers. If you can cover the existing holes with new hardware, there will be no need for any repairs or patches. Very often, hardware for RV cabinets and drawers are similar to residential versions. Many are interchangeable. Knobs and pulls are available on Amazon for a little as $2-5 each.

Try a Deep Cleaning 

While many RV owners are good about cleaning in-between trips and uses, Your motorhome might require a really deep cleaning. This includes washing your walls, ceilings, and cabinets and washing down your windows on the inside and outside. If you have any carpet or cloth furniture, give them a thorough cleansing with a rental carpet and upholstery cleaning machine. At the big box stores renting a shampoo vacuum can cost a little as $35 a day.

Replace Your Old Furniture

When many owners buy a used RV, the first thing many do is to replace all the furniture including couches, recliners, dining tables and chairs, etc. We suggest replacing them with updated modern furniture. Bright fabrics, cushions, and accessories will lighten up a dark older RV. You might also want to add an ottoman and some small decorations to further the updated look. Removing unused or unneeded fixtures inside your motorhome will help give your motorhome the look of a more of an open floor plan.

New Light Fixtures and Bulbs

Honestly, you don’t have to be a licensed electrician to change out older light fixtures for newer ones. Just make sure you have turned off the power and have some basic tools, and its a DIY job for sure. And, if you don’t need to replace an entire fixture, you might want to switch out incandescent light bulbs for  LED bulbs which are generally brighter than the same wattage incandescent bulbs. 

Replace Faucets and Appliances 

A major change in the look of an RV can come from replacing existing faucets and appliances with more updated models. A lot of older RVs have cheap looking, drab faucets and appliances. By adding a black, copper, or stainless steel faucet, along with updated black, white, or stainless appliances you can make a big difference in your interior space. During your RV remodel, you might want to think about replacing an old propane stove with a stainless steel induction one. This will both brighten up and cool down your kitchen and the rest of the interior. Small changes like these can really make a difference.