Our Complete RV Kitchen Remodel

We chose our 2005 Lance 1191 truck camper because we’ve dreamed of doing a renovation project. We knew it would be challenging, but we poured blood, sweat, and tears into our RV kitchen remodel.

Did it cost more and take longer than we expected? Absolutely. What DIY renovation project doesn’t? However, the finished product is everything we had dreamed it would be.

Today, we’re walking you through the changes we made. This is a great place to start if you’re considering an RV kitchen remodel.

Let’s dive in!

Can You Remodel the Inside of an RV?

While it may sound intimidating, remodeling the inside of an RV allows you to make the space your own. While we didn’t do any significant renovations inside our fifth wheel, it was one of the first things we did with the truck camper.

Many RV owners paint surfaces, remove furniture, and change the lighting to make the space more functional and comfortable. Some renovation projects are complete overhauls, while others may not be more than cosmetic changes.

Many of these projects can also help your rig retain its value. If you sell it someday, you’ll want to get the most bang for your buck.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start an RV Kitchen Remodel

Before starting any RV kitchen remodel, you need to ask yourself a few questions. How you answer these questions will significantly affect your decisions throughout the renovation.

What’s Your Budget?

One of the first questions you need to consider is your budget. While it would be great to have an unlimited budget, that’s typically not the situation for most owners, us included. You must decide how much money you can invest in the total project.

Once you have the total amount, you’ll want to start researching to ensure your budget is reasonable. In addition to materials and decorations, remember to factor in any tools you’ll need to purchase and unexpected expenses that always occur during these projects.

It’s also a good idea to ensure everyone involved in the project is on the same page regarding the budget. This can help avoid conflicts and frustrations when shopping or making choices throughout the renovation.

Will You Keep Appliances?

Depending on the age of your camper, it may be a good idea to replace some appliances. Modern appliances are typically more efficient and can take up less space than older models.

Additionally, there may be some appliances you’ll never use. If that’s your situation, you can free up space and weight by removing them.

Again, if you plan to replace or upgrade appliances, you’ll want to factor this into the renovation we previously mentioned. Some of these components can come with pretty hefty price tags. For example, many RVers don’t realize that RV refrigerators can cost several thousand dollars.

Should You Utilize Cupboard and Drawer Space Differently?

A significant reason for many RV owners to renovate their rigs is to make the most of every inch of space. Sometimes, we question what manufacturers thought when putting campers together. If you’re going through the effort of renovating, make the area work for you. This could mean changing the cupboard and drawer spaces.

For us, our pantry was originally a closet that had a hanging bar in it. We removed this bar during the remodel and added shelving to make it a pantry.

Additionally, the access to the sink plumbing was directly under the sink. We switched it to the side and used the original door. We covered the hole with a luan board, which was as good as new.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwF8t3vZCIY&t=241s

Our Complete RV Kitchen Remodel

One of the things that we love about RV kitchen remodels is that no two are the same.

We scrolled through social media to get inspiration and gather ideas. Here are some renovations we did that helped us create a comfortable living space for our adventures.

Countertop:

We wanted to create a residential look and feel in our truck camper. As a result, we opted for a butcher block countertop we purchased from Home Depot. It wasn’t the cheapest or lightest option, but it provided the look we wanted.

Once we got it home, we measured it more than twice before cutting it. We applied a stain to match the rest of the wood accents. This is one of our favorite features of the entire renovation.

It makes a statement and helps it to feel like a home. As a bonus, we purchased enough to use in the bathroom to create a consistent flow between the spaces.

Paint

Before installing the countertop, we painted the walls and surfaces. We used Dove white and black from Benjamin Moore because we wanted high-quality paint that would not only look good but would also be easy to clean. We know that no matter how hard we try, pieces of nature from our adventures will find their way into our living space.

This was a very time-consuming process because we took our time to do it right the first time. In addition, the insane Florida humidity didn’t help each coat to dry quickly. Make sure you take your time and spend plenty of time prepping the surfaces.

Sink and Drain

We’ve always had an affinity for farmhouse sinks. As a result, we jumped at the opportunity to add one to our camper during our RV kitchen remodel.

We settled on the DeerValley DV-1K116 because, at 24 inches, it fits the space perfectly. In addition, it is a single bowl with a non-porous glaze that makes it easy to clean.

We paired the sink bowl with the Serene Valley Kitchen Sink Strainer Assembly to continue our black-and-white theme. Marrying these two items together gave us exactly what we wanted to achieve with the space. We have plenty of space, and it looks phenomenal.

Faucet

We chose to go with an OWOFAN Black Kitchen Faucet. We chose this model because it offered a stainless steel sprayer.

While we still needed to cut into the solid countertop to place the assembly, you should know it’s compatible with one or three-hole countertops. So, you can fit this into your space even if you’re not replacing your countertop.

Another reason we opted for this model was because of the sprayer. This allows us to fill or clean large pots or other items we use during meals. We can easily move it to complete almost any task at the sink.

Keep in Mind: Before you remodel your RV, make sure you read these RV renovation regrets!

Acuva System 

One challenge of traveling in an RV is ensuring you have clean and safe drinking water. This has always been a major priority for us, so we installed an Acuva System and the Black Smart Faucet during our RV kitchen remodel.

The device removes 99.999% of bacteria, chlorine, and lead from drinking water. No matter where you’re filling your tank, you’ll get a consistent taste and avoid smells. These last for roughly 120,000 liters or approximately seven years.

They come with a flow rate of about 0.52 gallons per minute, more than enough to fill our reusable water bottles.

Kitchen Accessories 

We knew we needed kitchen accessories to make the most of the space. However, it’s easy to be wasteful when purchasing accessories. Take your time buying these items to avoid wasting money you could spend elsewhere.

Soap Dispenser

We found the perfect soap dispenser to compliment our farmhouse sink and faucet.

The black and white colors matched our scheme. Since it’s made from glass, it’s solid and stays in place when we use it. However, the fact that it is glass also can pose a problem.

Just like on an airplane, the contents of your RV will shift during transit. One of the items on our pre-trip checklist is to ensure we put it in a safe place before hitting the road.

We don’t want to arrive at a destination to find shattered glass and soap on the floor.

Cooking Utensil Set

While we had utensils from our old rig, this was an opportunity to find utensils specific to our space. The set we chose came with 13 different utensils with wooden handles.

It also comes with a matching plastic container to organize them. However, it was cheap, and we went a different route for the holder.

The heat-resistant silicone can withstand temperatures up to 446°F. You don’t have to worry about melting or creating smoke if you get distracted while preparing your delicious meal. They don’t look out of place in our space when we place them on the counter.

Wire Utensil Holder:

As we mentioned, we weren’t fans of the cheap plastic container that came with our utensil set.

We opted to go with a wire utensil holder from iDesign. It comes in matte black and matches our faucet and drain. It weighs in at 0.78 pounds and takes up minimal space on our countertop. 

Keep in Mind: Not only did we remodel our kitchen, but we renovated our bathroom as well! Here’s how we took our RV bathroom from Dated to Dazzling

Paper Towel Holder

It seems like we’re constantly looking for a paper towel. We found a black stainless steel paper towel holder that fit our space. Again, the black steel and white paper towel match our color scheme perfectly. When we place it on the countertop, it looks like it belongs there.

Additionally, this model has a weighted base. This helps avoid it falling over as we move about our tiny home on wheels or rip off a piece of paper towel.

Something as simple as a paper towel holder can provide the perfect finishing touches on your RV kitchen remodel project.

Is It Worth It to Renovate an RV?

An RV kitchen remodel can be a great way to make the space your own. However, it’s essential to take your time during the process. You want to ensure that any changes you make improve the look or functionality.

While it may enhance the resale value, many dealerships frown upon customizations. So, make sure you consider the bigger picture and the impacts it can have.

Have you renovated your RV before? Do you have any more tips for beginners?

Last update on 2024-05-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API