Adjusting to cooking in an RV kitchen can be one of the biggest challenges for new RVers. Even seasoned travelers can feel cramped or restricted by the limited space and equipment that define most RV kitchens. Fortunately, it’s possible to significantly improve your rig’s cooking space without busting your budget. Try these eight RV kitchen upgrades that are simple, effective, and easy on the wallet.
1. Updating Your Backsplash
The backsplash is one of the first places your eyes travel when you enter the kitchen to get to work. Adding a pop of style is a surprisingly easy RV kitchen renovation if it looks faded, stained, or otherwise unattractive.
Peel-and-stick backsplash sections are available in various styles at hardware and big box stores, typically for just $10-$25 per section. As their name suggests, all RV renovators need to do is peel the protective backing off and press the adhesive side onto the wall.
They sit directly atop your current walls, avoiding any costly work to the walls themselves. You can have a new look for your kitchen in just minutes.
Ready to tackle this project? Check out 10 Beautiful (and Cheap!) DIY RV Backsplash Ideas and 27 RV Backsplash Ideas for Your Camper’s Kitchen and Bathroom.
2. Adding a Stylish Sink Cover
Space is always at a premium in RV kitchens, especially counters and prep areas. Unlock some extra space with an attractive and functional sink cover. These cover the sink basin and provide additional storage room that can quickly be stowed away when the sink is needed. It’s easy to find one that matches your style and desired size.
Some may even double as cutting boards, allowing you to use them directly as workspace without additional equipment.
3. Utilizing a Storable Dish Rack
Drying dishes is necessary, but taking up a vast swath of counter space to do it certainly isn’t. Foldable or rolling dish racks are ideal, popping up when needed and flattening down or stowing away when they’re not. Some can even sit directly over the sink, serving as an even more efficient RV kitchen upgrade.
This straightforward swap-out comes in various styles and price points, though all are typically affordable.
4. Investing in Multi-Use Appliances
It’s no secret that RV stoves and ovens aren’t always the most impressive or powerful to cook with. That’s where a few convenient and powerful appliances come in to pick up the slack. Save yourself some precious storage space by investing in a multi-cooker like the Instant Pot. These devices can pressure cook, slow cook, sear, steam, serve as a rice cooker, and take care of other more specialized tasks.
They work well paired with air fryers, which can cook various foods by blasting them with rapidly moving hot air and avoid the need for deep fryers, convection ovens, dehydrators, and many other single-use appliances.
5. Using Drawer and Cabinet Organizers
Replacing or adding new cabinets can be a major project. Those looking to significantly enhance their experience with their current ones can opt for better organization instead. Drawer organizers can help keep kitchen utensils or other gadgets contained, preventing your limited drawer space from becoming a cluttered mess.
Meanwhile, cabinet organizers can allow the stacking of dishes or cups, as well as other enhancements that provide better and more efficient storage.
A great and straightforward example is a lazy susan, which can be used to store numerous items while ensuring everything remains accessible.
Read next: 11 Clever Ideas for Organizing RV Cabinets
6. Adding Pull-Out Storage
Another RV kitchen remodel idea to dramatically improve the accessibility and usability of your cabinets is to add pull-out shelves or baskets.
Both styles work, depending on your particular cabinet sizes and kitchen gear. They allow you to stack shelves and cabinets as deep as possible without worrying about unloading all the contents to reach the equipment in the back.
Think beyond your cabinets, too. Under-cabinet storage trays can conveniently slide out to grab items and then smoothly slip back underneath, taking up only a few inches of space overall.
7. Using Magnetic Accessories
If you’re still short on storage space, try getting some commonly used items out of the drawer and off the counter by utilizing a magnetic surface, such as creating something like this magnetic spice storage wall.
Those with fridges that can hold magnets can stick things like bottle openers, utensils, kitchen towel hangars, and commonly used spices right onto the refrigerator for easy access.
Read next: 6 Spice Storage Ideas to Help You Organize Your RV Kitchen
And even though plenty of items are available in magnetic form, DIYers can quickly make their own with an ordinary magnet and some glue.
Just ensure anything stored on the fridge is secure if it’s left there while your RV is in motion. A flying corkscrew after unexpectedly hitting the brakes is no one’s idea of a good time.
8. Adding Mood Lighting
Forget harsh overhead lights or, worse, fluorescents. Some simple mood lighting can completely change the mood in your kitchen. LED strips are an excellent choice, as these slim additions can be discreetly installed under cabinets or around cabinet or window frames.
They can often light up in various colors, allowing you to shift from bright whites for prepping dinner to soft colors for a relaxing (or romantic) dinner.
Other options include string or fairy lights for a more visible, stylized lighting presence or puck lights, which can be stowed inside cabinets or drawers to boost visibility.
Plus, the open plan of most RV interior spaces means your mood light can pull double duty and enhance your time in the living room and other parts of your rig, as well.
Wrap-Up: Big RV Kitchen Ideas, Low Stress, Low Budget
Whether you’re an amateur gourmet or merely love to cook for your friends and family, don’t settle for less just because you’re living the RV life. These simple but effective RV kitchen upgrades won’t break the bank and can dramatically improve your cooking experience.
With no major work required, you’ll be enjoying your new kitchen improvements in minutes. Like many parts of RV living, making the most of your kitchen doesn’t have to cost a ton for those willing to make the extra effort.
Nick Pisano is a writer and editor covering topics ranging from travel to food to real estate for a variety of outlets. He’s an avid traveler and proud Florida Man, where he maintains an ever-growing sub-tropical garden.