Storage is the #1 struggle in camper life – and after years of RVing with three kids, I’ve learned that the difference between a chaotic trip and a smooth one usually comes down to how well you’ve used your space. Every inch counts when you’re living out of a camper!
I’ve pulled together the best RV storage hacks I’ve personally used or seen fellow RVers swear by – covering every room from the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom, living area, and exterior basement. Whether you have a small travel trailer or a full-size motorhome, there’s something here for you.
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Before we dive in – being organized is SO much easier when you also have a packing checklist! Grab my free RV camping checklists (9 printable PDFs) to use alongside these storage ideas.
Table of Contents
RV Kitchen Storage Hacks
The kitchen is where most RV storage problems start – small counters, weird cabinet depths, and a fridge that moves at 65mph. These hacks tackle all of it.
1. Mount a Labeled Spice Rack on the Wall
Cabinet space in RVs is often too deep and horizontal space is too limited for a traditional spice drawer. The fix? Mount your spices directly on the wall! @bigheartstinyspaces did this with a wall-mounted spice rack and it looks incredible – plus everything is actually findable while cooking!
2. Use Tall Clear Bins in Cabinets to Stop the Avalanche
Just because things fit in a cabinet doesn’t mean they’re organized! @girl_camper used to arrive at every campsite to find spilled, mixed-up dishes – until she switched to tall clear bins to corral everything. Now her kitchen is ready to go the second she parks. Game changer for families!
3. Store All Pantry Food in Labeled Bins
Storing pantry food in labeled bins does two things: keeps everything contained during travel AND protects against mice getting into your food. I love how @happy_rvers even keeps their liquor in an open-top bin so it can’t tip over mid-drive!
4. Add Shelves to Deep Pantry Cabinets
RV pantries are notoriously deep and tall – which sounds like a lot of space until everything piles on top of each other and you can’t find anything. Locker-style shelves fit the narrow width perfectly and instantly double your usable vertical storage. Uniform plastic containers are another great option – they stack cleanly AND keep mice out.
5. Use a Tension Bar in Shallow Cabinets
Pre-made shelving almost never fits the shallow cabinets common in RVs. Instead, install a small tension bar to use the vertical space – hang things directly or use a carabiner system for trash bags, cleaning supplies, paper towel rolls, and more. Cheap, easy, and no drilling required!
6. Hang a Fruit Basket to Free Up Counter Space
Counter space in an RV is precious – it truly takes almost nothing to look cluttered. Hanging storage solutions like these hanging fruit baskets keep produce accessible without taking up a single inch of counter. @raechel.ferguson pulled this off beautifully with a modern farmhouse look!
7. Add Under-Cabinet Drawers for Coffee and Small Items
A bit of a splurge unless you’re handy, but under-cabinet drawers keep coffee pods, utensils, and other counter clutter completely off the surface. Several Amazon reviewers specifically mention installing these in RVs – they fit well and make a huge difference!
8. Organize Your Ziploc Bag Drawer
If you have kids, you have Ziploc bags – and a drawer full of smashed, tangled boxes. A Ziploc bag organizer cuts down on the box clutter and keeps every size tidy and accessible. Measure your drawer first since RV drawers are often smaller than standard! Tracey’s drawer transformation below is satisfying to look at.
9. Use Tension Bars in the Fridge to Stop Spills
The last thing you want when you roll into your campsite is to open the fridge and find everything has spilled everywhere. Tension bars in the fridge stop things from flying forward during travel – Janette’s setup below is so smart. Alternatively, store everything in open-top bins on top of Rubbermaid shelf liner so nothing can slide at all (Karyl’s method below).
RV Bathroom Storage Hacks
RV bathrooms are tiny – sometimes shockingly so. Every single inch needs a job. These hacks make the most of doors, walls, and under-sink space that usually goes to waste.
10. Hang an Over-the-Door Organizer for Toiletries
Most campers have at least a bathroom door – and it should be working harder! @taits_tiny_trailer used an over-the-door organizer to free up all her cupboard space – everything is visible, easy to grab, and easy to put back. This is probably the single highest-impact bathroom hack on this list.
11. Mount a Towel Rack on the Wall
Towels are bulky – and stuffing them into already-packed bathroom cabinets is a waste of space. A mounted towel rack keeps them accessible, frees up cabinet space, and honestly makes the bathroom look a lot nicer too. Krystal’s setup below is goals.
12. Use White Matching Bins for a Clean Look
In a tiny bathroom, visual clutter makes the space feel even smaller. @tidbitsandcompany uses matching white bins throughout her camper bathroom – the uniformity makes the space look tidier AND bigger. Solid white bins (vs. clear) in some areas actually helps reduce visible clutter, like with toothbrush cups. Need more ideas? Check out this full guide to small RV bathroom organization!
13. Replace Bulky Shampoo Bottles with a Wall Dispenser
Big shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles take up a surprising amount of room in a tiny RV shower. A 3-chamber wall-mounted soap dispenser replaces all three bottles with one slim unit that mounts directly to the shower wall. No tools needed, won’t rust, and nothing to tip over mid-drive.
14. Store Hair Tools in an Over-Cabinet-Door Organizer
Hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons are bulky and awkward to store. A hair tool organizer that hangs over a cabinet door keeps them out of bins and counter space while still being totally accessible. Always measure your cabinet door first – RV doors are often narrower than standard.
15. Add Command Wire Hooks Everywhere
Command wire hooks are one of the most versatile tools in an RV – use them in the bathroom for small toiletries, near the door for jackets and hats, in the kitchen for utensils, or really anywhere you need a quick grab spot. No drilling, no damage, and completely renter-friendly for rental RVs too.
16. Use Clear Stackable Drawers Under the Sink
The under-sink area in an RV bathroom is always an odd shape – but stackable clear cosmetic drawers fit surprisingly well and make everything visible and organized. Add a small piece of velcro to the back so they don’t spill out when you open the cabinet after a drive.
RV Bedroom and Closet Storage Hacks
Clothes are one of the biggest space challenges in an RV – especially with a family. These hacks make the most of closets, under-bed space, and every awkward nook in between.
17. Roll Your Clothes Instead of Folding
Rolling clothes instead of folding them is a total game changer in an RV – rolled clothes can be stored vertically, you can see everything at once, and grabbing one item doesn’t mess up the whole pile. @happy_rvers even found a way to use a super shallow awkward storage space for rolled clothes by adding a bungee cord to keep them from falling out!
18. Use Large Bins Under the Bed Platform
Most RV main beds have a lift-up platform with storage underneath – but without dividers it turns into one giant junk pile fast. David’s solution is brilliant: 4 large bins that create instant compartments for different categories of clothes. Packing and unpacking is so much easier when everything has a designated bin.
19. Mount Shoe Storage Near the Bed or Entrance
Shoes on the floor = constant tripping hazard, especially in a small RV with kids. Mount shoe storage on the wall near the entrance or off the side of the bed platform. Options include hanging pocket storage that mounts to the mattress platform, or bins with lids that double as hidden storage (my personal setup!). See even more ideas in this dedicated RV shoe storage ideas article!
20. Add a Bedside Pocket Organizer
RV bedrooms rarely have room for a nightstand – a hanging bedside pocket organizer solves this perfectly. It tucks under the mattress and holds your phone, book, glasses, remote, and anything else you want within reach at night. Takes up zero floor space and works in any size RV or camper van.
RV Living Area Storage Hacks
21. Use Furniture with Hidden Storage
Every piece of furniture in an RV should earn its space. @abigailsikma found pretty footrests tall enough to store wicker baskets underneath – she uses them to hide her family’s gaming consoles. You would never know they were there! The same principle works with ottomans, bench seating, and any lift-top furniture.
22. Use Tension Rods in Bunk Areas
Tension rods aren’t just for cabinets – in bunk areas they work great for holding stuffed animals, lightweight bags, or any soft items that would otherwise pile up on the floor. Run a tension rod across the wall of a bunk and hang a few carabiners or small baskets to instantly create organized kid storage. Works in the bathroom too for holding toilet paper rolls or a small towel basket.
RV Exterior and Basement Storage Hacks
The basement and exterior compartments of an RV are prime real estate – but without a system, they turn into a black hole where everything gets buried. These hacks keep everything accessible and visible.
23. Mount a Pegboard in Your Basement Compartment
A pegboard is one of the most versatile basement storage solutions you can install. Mount a custom mix of hooks, bins, and wire storage and suddenly everything has a visible, accessible home instead of getting buried. This is especially great for tools, cords, and anything you reach for often at the campsite.
24. Frame In Your Generator and Heavy Equipment
Generators are awesome until they tip over mid-trip and damage everything around them. A couple of 2x4s framed around your basement storage area keeps heavy equipment secure and upright for the whole drive. Simple, cheap, and a genuine game changer if you carry a generator.
25. Hang Your Cords and Hoses
A tangled pile of cords and hoses on the basement floor means you can only ever see the top item – everything else gets buried. Hang them up instead – hooks, pegboard pegs, or even large carabiners work great. Everything stays accessible and nothing gets crushed under heavier items.
26. DIY a PVC Fishing Rod Holder
If your family fishes, you know how hard fishing rods are to store without breaking them. A few cut PVC pipes and screws mounted in your basement area makes a simple, secure fishing rod holder that keeps rods vertical and protected. Bonus tip: slit a pool noodle lengthwise and wrap it around the rods for extra padding during travel.
27. Use an RV Setup Caddy for Hookup Gear
Blocks, hoses, blackwater gear, gloves, and tools all need to live in the basement – and they all tend to get pushed around and lost over time. An RV setup caddy keeps all your hookup essentials in one portable, grab-and-go container. Mary’s caddy even has a spot for gloves and duct tape – both things you always need and can never find!
28. Check for Hidden Space Under the Stairs
If your RV has two levels, don’t overlook the space under and behind the interior stairs! Many RVers have discovered it’s surprisingly easy to lift the boards and use that space for shoes, tools, or anything else that needs a home. Check your specific RV – you might be sitting on a storage goldmine.
General RV Storage Tips That Apply Everywhere
29. Purge Before You Pack
No storage hack in the world helps if you have too much stuff. Before every trip (and especially before trying to implement any of these hacks), go through your RV and pull out anything you haven’t used in 2+ trips. Being ruthless about what actually needs to live in the camper is the single biggest storage improvement you can make.
30. Choose Multi-Use Items Whenever Possible
Every item in your RV should ideally do more than one job. Collapsible colanders and nesting bowls replace multiple separate items. A cutting board that also has a built-in strainer eliminates a colander entirely. Ottomans that open for storage replace both seating and a storage bin. Think multi-use every time you’re deciding what to bring.
31. Label Everything
This sounds obvious but makes an enormous difference when you’re traveling with family. When everything is labeled, kids can actually put things back where they belong, and you stop wasting time hunting for items. A simple label maker or even masking tape and a marker does the job perfectly.
32. Think Vertical First
Most RVers use floor and horizontal shelf space first and forget about vertical space entirely. But walls, cabinet doors, the space above the bed, the backs of closet doors – all of this is usable storage. Before buying any new organizer, look up. There’s almost always unused vertical space waiting to be claimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to organize a small RV?
Start by purging anything you don’t actually use, then tackle one area at a time. The biggest wins usually come from using vertical space (wall hooks, over-door organizers, pegboards) and containing loose items in labeled bins so everything has a home. The kitchen and bathroom typically offer the most storage gain for the least effort.
How do you maximize storage in a travel trailer?
Use every hidden space – under the bed platform, inside the stairs, behind doors, and in the basement exterior compartments. Add shelves or tension bars to deep cabinets to double their usable space. Roll clothes instead of folding. And use bins to create compartments inside large spaces so nothing gets lost.
What should I store in my RV basement?
The basement is best for heavy or bulky items that you don’t need to access inside the RV – generators, leveling blocks, water hoses, sewer equipment, outdoor chairs, and larger tools. Use an RV caddy to keep hookup gear together, hang cords and hoses so nothing gets buried, and consider a pegboard to keep the whole space visible and organized.
What RV storage products are most worth buying?
The highest-impact, lowest-cost purchases are: command hooks (use them everywhere), tension rods (great for shallow cabinets and bunk areas), over-the-door organizers (bathroom game changer), clear labeled bins (kitchen and pantry), and a Ziploc bag organizer if you have kids. These four items alone will transform most RV storage situations.
There you have it – 32 RV storage hacks covering every inch of your camper! The biggest takeaway: think vertically, label everything, and give every item a specific home. Once you do that, the chaos gets so much more manageable.
Have an RV storage hack that works great for your family? Drop it in the comments below – I’m always looking for new ideas to try!
More RV organization resources you’ll love:
- 61 RV Organization Ideas – Kitchen, Bathroom, Storage + Real Camper Photos
- 61 RV Hacks That Make Camper Life Way Easier
- 21 Genius RV Shoe Storage Ideas
- 9 Small RV Bathroom Organization Tricks
- The Ultimate RV Camping Checklists (9 Free Printable PDFs)
- How to Actually Keep Mice Out of Your Camper
