Creating the perfect layout for your campervan - A guide for the first time builder

Find Your Style – Which Design Suits Your Campervan Best?

So, you've decided to transform a van into a campervan. Exciting! But now comes the question that may leave you standing around with a cup of coffee in hand: "Which design should I choose?" And honestly, it’s no easy question.

There are so many styles and layouts that it feels a bit like choosing wallpaper for an entire mansion – but on wheels. Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you through the design jungle, and together we’ll find the perfect style for you.

Maybe you want something classic? Or why not something that feels like sand between your toes and a sea breeze? Or if you’re the adventurous type, why not something rugged, ready for mountaintops and woodland trails?

Whatever your preference, we have some suggestions, and the best part is that you can put your personal stamp on the whole thing. So, let’s take a look at some of the most popular campervan styles – and hopefully spark your imagination and inspiration.

Ocean Beach – For the Beach Lover

Dreaming of sea breezes in your hair and sand between your toes? Then the Ocean Beach style is for you. Inspired by sunny days at the coast, this design offers a light and airy feel with beach house vibes. Perfect if you want a relaxed, bohemian style but still keep things chic and functional.

Advantages:

• Beach house vibes all year round, no matter where you park.

• Light and bright interior that maximises the holiday feel.

• Extra storage options for surfboards or beach chairs.
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Disadvantages:

• If you don’t love sand, it might feel like a bit too much.

• The light interior can be harder to keep clean if you’re an adventurer with muddy boots.

The Classic Campervan Style – For Those Who Love Timeless Design

“El Classico!” This classic campervan style has stood the test of time. Picture wooden accents, clever storage, and a layout that works just as well for sunny beach days as for chilly mountain nights. But don’t think classic has to mean boring! With today’s technology and materials, you can add a modern twist to this timeless look.

Advantages:

• A timeless design that never goes out of style.

• Suitable for most adventures – from weekend trips to longer expeditions.

• Flexibility in materials and interior design.
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Disadvantages:

• If you’re after something truly unique, it might feel a bit “ordinary.”

• Often requires a certain budget to get those luxurious, custom-made details.

Modern Minimalist – For the Sleek and Simple Look

Modern Minimalist combines the best of both worlds – sleek, modern surfaces with a rustic touch for a style that feels trendy and fresh. It’s a style that suits anyone looking for a campervan that belongs on an Instagram feed, yet is functional and comfortable. This category includes many modern factory-built campervans, like the Fiat Coast, Karmann, and VW Grand California.

Advantages:

• Stylish and modern, with trendy materials and colours.

• Easy to keep clean and fresh, thanks to the minimalist design.

• Adaptable for both urban and nature settings.
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Disadvantages:

• Perhaps not as personal as other styles, especially if you like lots of details and a personal touch.

• Requires more planning to fit everything essential into a compact, sleek design.

Rustic – For the Nature Lover

If you love the cosy feeling of a cabin in the woods, then the Rustic style might be right for you. With touches of wood, warm tones, and maybe even a copper pan, your campervan will feel like a rolling forest retreat. It’s the perfect style if you want to feel at home in nature, whether you’re camping in a meadow or deep in the woods.

Advantages:

• Incredibly cosy and homely atmosphere.

• Ideal for cold winter trips with a cup of hot chocolate in hand.

• Wooden details and rustic decor that are both durable and beautiful.
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Disadvantages:

• Wood accents require a bit more maintenance.

• If you’re looking for a minimalist look, this might not be the right fit for you.
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Find Your Style – Which Design Suits Your Campervan Best?

Designing your adventure campervan is an exciting journey – but let’s be honest, it can feel a little daunting. With so many opinions out there on what’s “right” and “wrong,” it’s easy to get lost in all the choices. But here’s the good news: there’s no right or wrong way! It’s all about what works best for you and your needs. The best layout is the one that makes your life on the road comfortable, practical, and, above all, enjoyable.

So before you start weighing different ideas, let’s look at the most important considerations and how you can find the perfect balance between style and functionality. We’ll take it one step at a time – with a touch of humour to keep stress levels down.

1. Define Your Priorities

Before sketching out your layout, it’s essential to think about what truly matters to you. Here are some questions to consider:

• Who’s travelling with you? Are you going solo, with a partner, or with the whole family? The number of people will affect the space and sleeping arrangements you need.

• How do you travel? Do you mostly plan to stay at campsites, or will you often camp off-grid? This will impact your need for water storage, solar panels, and other systems.

• What activities do you love? Are you a surfer, cyclist, or maybe a digital nomad? Your hobbies will determine how much storage and workspace you need.

2. Sleeping Arrangements – Sweet Dreams on the Road

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential in van life. But how you sleep is entirely up to you! Here are some popular options:

• Fixed Bed: A permanent bed that’s always ready to crawl into. Saves time but takes up more space.

• Convertible Bed: A bed that can become a sofa or seating area during the day. Saves space but requires a bit of daily “assembly.”

• Bunk Beds: Ideal for families or friends. Doesn’t take much floor space but offers multiple sleeping spots.

• Murphy Bed: A bed that folds up against the wall when not in use. Maximises space, but can be a bit more complex to install.

• Electric Bed: The ultimate luxury! A bed you can raise and lower at the push of a button. Both space-saving and practical.

3. Kitchen design - what do you want to cook on the road?

Are you a master chef on the go, or just want to heat up instant noodles? Your kitchen should reflect the amount of cooking you plan to do:

• Full kitchen: Equipped with stove, sink, refrigerator and plenty of counter space. Perfect for those who love to cook.

• Compact kitchen: A smaller kitchen with a simple stove and a small refrigerator - for you who mostly cook simple meals.

• Portable kitchen: Minimalist and portable, so you can cook both indoors and outdoors.

4. Bathroom – Convenience or Outdoor Adventure?

Ah, the big question: should you have a bathroom in your campervan or not? Here are some popular options to consider:

• Full Wet Bathroom: A complete bathroom with a toilet and shower – incredibly convenient but requires significant space.

• Portable Toilet: A space-saving solution that can be set up when needed. And yes, there are plenty of options to choose from!

• Outdoor Shower: For the nature lovers who don’t mind showering under the stars. It saves space inside but requires a love of the outdoors.

5. 5. Storage Solutions – Finding a Place for Everything

Maximizing storage space in a small van is an art. Here are some smart ways to stay organized:

• Overhead Cabinets: Use the height to store clothes, food, and other essentials.

• Under-Bed Storage: Ideal for larger items like bikes, surfboards, or camping gear.

• Multi-Functional Furniture: Seating with built-in storage or fold-out tables can make a big difference in a small area.

6. Workspace – Working on the Road

If you’re planning to work remotely from your van, a dedicated workspace is key. Consider these options:

• Fixed Desk: A permanent workstation for those who work full-time.

• Convertible Desk: A table that folds away when not in use – perfect for saving space.

• Multi-Functional Surface: A surface that doubles as a dining area and workspace gives you flexibility.

7. Comfort and Ambience – Making Your Van Feel Like Home

To feel truly comfortable in your campervan, it needs to be both cozy and inviting. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Lighting: Use a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting to create a warm atmosphere.

• Ventilation: Ensure good air circulation with windows, roof fans, and vents to keep it cool and comfortable.

• Insulation: Proper insulation helps maintain a comfortable temperature, no matter the weather.

Final Thoughts – Your Adventure Starts Now!

Designing the perfect layout for your campervan is all about balancing functionality, style, and your own needs. Take the time to think about how you’ll use your van and what’s most important to you. Be creative, lean on the experts, and don’t let small decisions stress you – after all, it’s your van and your adventure!

Map Out the Layout in Full Scale

To get a realistic feel for the layout, we started by measuring and drawing up different design ideas. However, we quickly realized that sketches only go so far – nothing is completely straight in a campervan! What looks good on paper may not work in reality. For instance, vans are often wider at the floor and narrower at the top, making those centimeters crucial.

So, after drafting a few ideas, we taped the layouts to scale on the van’s floor and stacked boxes and other items to represent furniture. This was a fantastic way to see how things would feel and function.

Safety and Functionality in the Layout

Safety is the top priority! Everything should be securely attached so nothing risks coming loose during sudden braking or, in the worst case, an accident. Also, think about how you’ll access storage. In our first van, we had to open both kitchen doors to access the drawers behind – not very practical. Lesson learned! In our next van, we skipped cabinet doors in favor of open drawers, so we only need to pull out the one we actually want to access. Small details like this can save a lot of hassle.

Guide to Campervan Layout:
How to Design Your Dream Home on Wheels

Now that we’ve gone over the basics and some main styles, what’s the next step in planning your interior? Designing a campervan layout is an adventure in itself – it can feel like a puzzle, with many ideas and needs to fit into a limited space. Here, we’ll dive into how to think about layout and interior design early on to make the most of those precious few square meters.

Bed Placement – Fixed or Convertible Solutions?

When it comes to bed solutions, you have two popular options: either a sofa that converts into a bed or a fixed bed. The choice depends on your needs. After some trial and error, we opted for a fixed bed for two main reasons. First, no need to make the bed every day. Second, it provides plenty of extra storage space under the bed – perfect for storing our kitesurfing gear, bikes, or other bulky items.

If you choose a fixed bed, consider whether you want access to the “garage” from the inside. It can be handy if you need to transport long items or if your power center or switches are located there. You might want a hatch under the mattress or an opening at the bottom of the wall between the bed and storage. And, of course, it’s a good idea to ensure you can quickly exit the van in an emergency. Our goal is to have access to both the side and rear doors directly from the sleeping area – safety first!

Campervan Kitchen Layout

When planning the kitchen in our first van, a Nissan Interstar, we placed the counter along the side behind the driver’s seat. In our current van, a Peugeot Boxer, we decided to place the kitchen by the side door. This lets us cook with a view and helps ventilate cooking odors. Our kitchen includes a countertop, sink, and faucet from IKEA – we definitely recommend a large sink if you want to avoid piles of dishes!

Water storage is also a big part of kitchen planning. In our first van, we had two 25-liter jugs under the counter for water and storage in pull-out drawers beside it. In the current setup, we have a larger 70-liter water tank in the “garage” that we also use for the shower. We keep 20-liter gray water jugs under the counter, which can be emptied from outside the side door – much easier than carrying heavy jugs through the whole van!

Seating and side door access

If you are considering partially blocking the side door with a piece of furniture, don't worry! As long as you can easily get in and out, it's not a problem. Just make sure you can handle larger items, such as water or fuel cans, without difficulty. Heavy goods such as water and batteries are good to have easily accessible, and if you have a portable toilet, you also want to be able to carry it out easily.

The seating layout in our first campervan

In our first van we didn't have swivel seats, instead we kept the three belted front seats and isolated the cab with a bulkhead, where we also put some storage. We have a thick curtain that keeps the heat in and the cold out. Don't you have a partition? Then think about extra insulation in the driver's cabin, where many windows and doors can otherwise become a "cold bridge" in winter.

We chose two fixed seats and a removable pouf that can turn the seat into a sofa, or be removed to create a third seat at the table. The seat cushions are thick and comfortable, and the height of the sitting surface is adapted to a standard dining chair (41-45 cm) for optimal comfort. Under the seats, there are also smart storage areas for living room batteries, refrigerators and other important things.