Organizing Small Spaces: Tips for RV Living

By Gwendolyn Call

AS A FULL-TIME RVer and a mom to three kids under the age of 7, I take organization seriously.

Organization is key in any household, but it’s especially essential if you want to keep your sanity while living in an RV! I truly believe this can make or break your RV experience.

My golden rule of organizing any space is that everything needs a home. This rule is especially crucial when space is limited—an RV can quickly become a disaster if you don’t know where to put every item. One trip to the grocery store with 10 bags can turn a clean and organized RV into a dumping ground.

How do we solve this? We create spaces for everything! Your keys, shoes, handbags, jackets, dog leashes, paper products, and even your cleaning supplies all need a set home.

It doesn’t matter how organized you are if the other people sharing your home aren’t following suit. That’s the other great thing about my golden rule—it helps your family as well. If every item has a home, things will naturally go back to their original place, and you will stay happy and organized!

Now let’s get real about how you can accomplish organization with my top tips for organizing small spaces. Before you dive in, remember that you will need patience. You will not, however, need a large amount of money, or fancy custom designs.

Sorting is the key to getting started! Gather similar items and create their “home.” During this process, please remember, you are organizing, not decluttering or cleaning. Start with sorting and leave cleaning and purging for the next day, or I guarantee you’ll lose track of what you’re doing.

My GOLDEN RULE of organizing any space is that everything needs A HOME.

Organizing can be really overwhelming, so slow and steady wins the race. Begin with one room or area at a time. Smaller areas will help you stay focused and keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

Bins and baskets will quickly become your best friends. Clear bins can save you time when looking for specific items.

Think vertical! Most RV spaces have a great amount of vertical storage. Bins that are able to stack together really help with this.

Labeling is huge, and helps everyone know exactly where items belong. A P-Touch Label Maker can make your life so much easier!

Get creative—in a small space, everything may not be able to live in the room you would typically use it in. For example, sometimes larger and bulkier kitchen items may live in storage underneath your RV, or tucked in a closet. This is okay! Remember you are in a unique space, so you have to think outside the box.

Lastly, less is more in a smaller space! Think about what you really need. This goes for paper supplies, food, clothing, kitchen items, and even linens. Buying in bulk is not your best option for a tiny space. Reducing what you’re bringing in helps to limit the amount of things you have to organize.

I hope these tips help you keep your RV organized and your sanity intact. Happy organizing, and happy camping!

For more tips, follow Gwendolyn on Instagram @chaoskiddosandharmony