RV Living: Storage and Organization

by Fulltime RVing
(Simi Valley, CA)

When you are living in an RV permanently, there are several adjustments that you have to make. You obviously will have less room for stuff than you would in even a small house. It is important that you find a way to creatively store the things that you feel you absolutely need and to keep everything organized so that you can actually move around and live in your RV without it becoming a tangled, twisted nightmare of stuff. You also have to be aware of the safety concerns about living in an RV and all of your stuff. Anything that is not put away or anchored down could become a danger to you if there is an accident of any kind.

What You Need, What You Can Do Without

When you are about to move from a house to an RV, the first step is to decide what you really need and what you can be without. Sort through each item that you have put in the “need” pile to make sure that you are absolutely sure that you do need it and that none of them have been duplicated at all. Next, think about how you will use each item and where it could possibly be kept once you move it into the RV.

Multi Use Items are the Key

Instead of having several items that can only do one thing, the RV will make you adopt a more versatile lifestyle. Okay, in your home you had twenty different skillets of different sizes, and you used them all differently. In the world of the RV, you cannot have that- a single, medium sized skilled can make any of the foods that you are cooking and will take up less space. As an added bonus, you will be saving time and energy on washing dishes as well.

Other options for multi use items include using a body wash and shampoo product instead of having several different bottles in your very, small bathroom area. Make sure that you use a product that will not require a ton of water for rinsing and make sure that it is safe for the environment wherever you are.

Folding, Hanging and Rolling Clothing

Once you go through your closet and choose the clothes that will suit you the best, it is time to find a way to store them in your RV. Using the space saving hangers that are advertised on the infomercials and available virtually everywhere now can be a great solution. For items that you cannot hang up such as socks and lingerie, you can roll them up and put them in small plastic totes so that they can stay together and put away. Add in a sachet or a laundry softener sheet if you are concerned about the smell of the tote and the clothing stored inside of it.

You can make due with a single set of sheets and towels, washing them between uses when you are doing your clothing and then putting them right back where they belong.