We all know that staying in an RV is not as luxurious as getting to spend your time in a well-built house with all of the space that you desire. Actually, the biggest challenge that most people experience while staying in an RV is the space. It is usually too small to accommodate all of the things that you are hoping to put in it. So, if you are currently staying in an RV or plan to stay in an RV, you need to consider these 8 camper storage ideas that I will be sharing on how to efficiently use such a limited space.
8 Useful and Easy Camper Storage Ideas
- Take Stock
- Get Rid of Useless Items
- Ensure You Have a Place for Everything
- If You Bring a New Item into the RV, Remove the Old
- Get a Door-Mounted Trash Can
- Use Storage Bins on Your Shelves
- Replace Your Tea Kettle with a Foldable One
- Use a Magnetic Spice Holder
1. Take Stock
This is an extremely tedious task, but it helps a great deal. You will need to make a list of everything you have. This will help you understand how well you can utilize the little space you have in your RV without making the place feel congested.
Taking stock also helps you keep tabs on everything you have in your RV, and this will assist you in deciding which items you need. Sometimes we have so many belongings and duplicate items that our place becomes cluttered, mainly because much of what we have is not even in use.
You can make it easier by lisitng down on a simple journal or logbook to keep track of everything you have.
2. Get Rid of Useless Items
Imagine that there are only two of you in an RV, yet you have dishes and utensils for more than 20 people. It would be wise to dispose of those items that are no longer in use or to give them away to people who may need them more than you do. Getting rid of the clutter will free up some space for items that you really need or will give you more space to move around.
It is difficult, of course, to get rid of certain items that you hold dear, even if you do not use them at any point. This is why it is important to give away some items rather than disposing of them, so you know that they are being taken care of and used by others. Salvation Army makes it easy for you to do this by providing a pickup service anywhere in the country; which is perfect for us traveling on RVs.
All the same, these unnecessary items need to be removed from your RV if you are really going to get the extra space that you need.
3. Ensure You Have a Place for Everything
To achieve more space in a small RV, you need to ensure that every single item is kept in a space or place of its own. This not only helps to create more room for other items but also helps to make your RV look neat. Misplaced items are the greatest cause of loss of space.
Keeping everything in its designated place refers, of course, to large items—like bags, bedding for your RV mattress, or furniture—but it also includes the smallest items, such as your keys and even your RV trash can.
Think about it. If you ever need to tidy up your RV, you have to try your level best to create a unique storage space for every single item.
4. If You Bring a New Item into the RV, Remove the Old
We understand that what you have in your RV is not garbage, but the “one in and one out” rule should definitely apply if you are hoping to open up just a little space in your RV. If, for instance, you purchase a new pair of shoes, make sure that you then get rid of the old pair in your RV so that the new pair will have a storage space.
When you overlap old items with the new, your RV becomes not only disorganized but also congested, and you no longer have the space to do things you enjoy.
5. Get a Door-Mounted Trash Can
Any item placed on the floor uses its fair share of space, and this is no exception for the RV trash can. In order to save a little space on the floor of your RV, consider getting an over-the-door trash can. You will realize that this kind of RV trash can is a great space saver, especially when mounted on the cabinet door beneath the kitchen sink. Any door-mounted trash can would work but the one I would highly recommend is the trash can by SimpleHuman.
SimpleHuman In-Cabinet Kitchen Trash Can

- Super durable heavy-duty steel frame
- 5 years manufacturer warranty
- 900+ 5 star reviews by customers
- Easy to clean with removable bin
6. Use Storage Bins on Your Shelves
When storing anything on your shelves, be sure to use storage bins. You can place them on top of each other so that they do not use up too much space on the shelves of your RV.
Even when working with dozens of storage bins, they will not at any point interfere with your storage space. However, you need to ensure that every bin is properly labelled so that you will not get confused whenever you need to find an item that is stored in them.
7. Replace Your Tea Kettle with a Foldable One
When you look through the internet, you will realize that you can replace most of your kitchen items, such as pots and kettles, with collapsible ones to open up space. You are able to fold these items after use and store them in one place. Gourmia Foldable Kettle is the one that should be in every RVs.
Gourmia GK320 Travel Foldable Electric Kettle

- Made of lightweight & durable food-grade silicone
- Multiple safety features like dry boil protection
- 700+ 5 star reviews by customers
- TUV certified and BPA free
8. Use a Magnetic Spice Holder
All you need to do with a magnetic spice holder is to ensure that it is properly secured on the side of the fridge or on a magnetic wall plate so that the spices do not fall and spill all over the floor. Having this spice holder helps create more space on the kitchen counter or in the cupboard. You can easily buy them on Amazon.
Maximize Your RV Storage Space Now
So there you have it. My top 8 tips on how to save space in your camper while creating extra storage space at the same time. These camper storage ideas are easy to implement and can give you quick wins. For more tips on storage, check it out here.
Never EVER hang keys above the trash can. Attach a full set of keys to you as you dress in the morning; you’ll never be locked out.