A 1968 Serro Scotty Restoration: How to Put the Glam in Glamping

By Beth Cronin

Owning a camper or RV can be a lot of fun to restore yourself. One of the best parts of buying a used camper is the ability to completely redo the interior and add your style. Brand-new travel trailers with a customized interior can cost a pretty penny but there are endless possibilities if you are able to renovate a camper of your own. For us, that was taking apart and renovating a 1968 Serro Scotty vintage camper!

Before & After: It’s no secret that renovations of any kind usually come with a number of challenges, and we had our fair share of them tackling a 50-year-old travel trailer renovation. Initially, the camper came with all original fixtures, including a full stove/oven, propane heater, and light fixtures, even the original black tar linoleum floor, so to say we were in for a challenge would be an understatement. With needing to replace all of that, we were able to make every inch of the space our own and with our unique style and taste which included up-to-date appliances, light fixtures, new flooring, and upholstery.

1968 Serro Scotty " Before" Renovation

Paint: You may not be gutting a camper and doing a complete overhaul as we did but there are some simple things you can do to give your home on wheels a new look. Changing the paint is a simple and attainable refresh if you don’t know where to start. Whether it’s the walls, the trim, or the cabinetry, a little paint can make a huge difference when it comes to transforming a space. We chose to paint all of the walls and most of the cabinets white. Light colors make a small space such as ours feel bright and airy, as well as give the impression that it’s larger than it really is.

Sticky Tile: Peel and stick tiles are another simple way for you to upgrade your camper. You can find a wide selection of them online. This can be a great option for elevating your kitchen and bathroom spaces. They are very easy to apply and can be put over just about any surface, including existing tiles, so there is no need to demo existing tiles! A great feature of the peel and stick option is that it can withstand bumpy roads and for us being in New England, they also withstand the cold winters and hot summers without peeling off! We put peel and stick tiles as the backsplash in our kitchen area as well as on the walls of our tiny bathroom. With only a utility knife, these tiles can easily be cut and in my opinion, you don’t need to have any DIY experience to install!

Curtains: One of my favorite interior projects would have to be our custom window treatments. Made from drop cloth you find at Home Depot, small wooden dowels, and leather curtain holdbacks, these curtains were not only budget-friendly but beautiful. A piece of white vinyl flat trim was slid into the sleeve at the top of the curtain and then screwed to the wall above the window to hold the curtain in place. We placed the dowl in another sleeve along the bottom of the curtain so that it would be heavier while the curtain was down and easier to roll up. When we want to let the sunlight in, the leather holdbacks keep the curtain up. With some basic sewing experience (or knowing someone who does) these curtains are practical for travel and are a simple way you can give your camper a polished look.

Keep in mind that even simple touches such as pillows, rugs, and bedding can completely transform your space without spending a lot of money or exerting too much effort!

Whether it’s to match our personal style or to make it more functional, we are constantly improving the interior of our camper. In the end, you want your camper to be your happy place, so whatever you decide to do, just enjoy the space you’re in! ■

Follow Beth on Instagram @vintageglampers