Living life on the road in an RV comes with a sense of freedom and adventure that few experiences can rival. However, space is often limited, so staying organized is key to making the most of your RV lifestyle. Whether you’re a full-time RVer or just hitting the road for an extended vacation, clever storage and organization ideas can transform your RV into a comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable living space. In this post, we’ll explore smart RV organization ideas that can help you maximize every square inch of your home on wheels.
- Maximizing Vertical Space
- Collapsible and Multi-Purpose Items
- Multi-Purpose Items
- Under-Bed and Under-Furniture Storage
- Organizing the Kitchen Area
- Securing Items During Travel
- Efficient Bathroom Organization
- Closet Management Solutions
- Outdoor Gear Storage
- Tech and Entertainment Organization
- Child and Pet-Friendly Organizing Tips
- Seasonal Storage Solutions
- Conclusion
Maximizing Vertical Space

One of the most underutilized areas in any RV is vertical space. The walls in your RV hold tremendous potential for organization. By using them creatively, you can free up precious floor and cabinet space, making your RV feel more spacious and organized.
Wall-Mounted Storage Solutions
Opt for lightweight shelves, hooks, and hanging organizers to create extra storage. These solutions work especially well in areas where countertops are limited, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Consider installing floating shelves or wall-mounted spice racks in the kitchen, or a small shelf in the bedroom for storing books or small electronics when not in motion.
Hooks, Magnetic Strips, and Hanging Baskets
Hooks can be your best friend in an RV. Use them to hang coats, hats, bags, towels, or even kitchen utensils. Adhesive and over-the-door hooks are a great option if you’re looking to avoid drilling into walls.
Magnetic strips are another lifesaver, especially in the kitchen for holding knives or metal utensils, keeping them easily accessible while saving drawer space.
Hanging baskets are ideal for holding items like fruit, toiletries, or cleaning supplies, while also keeping your surfaces clutter-free.
Collapsible and Multi-Purpose Items

In the world of RV organization, items that can serve more than one function are gold. Investing in collapsible and multi-purpose products will save space and reduce clutter in your limited living area.
Collapsible Kitchenware, Furniture, and Storage Containers
Collapsible kitchenware, such as bowls, measuring cups, and even colanders, can be flattened to take up less space in drawers and cabinets. Foldable chairs and tables can also be stowed away when not in use, making them perfect for easy set-up in an outdoor space. Likewise, collapsible storage bins can be stored under furniture or in tight spaces and expanded when needed.
Multi-Purpose Items
Often, RVs have furniture that offers hidden storage under dinette bench seats or under the sofa. However, you can add side tables with removeable tops, ottomans, or footstools that can double as storage bins for blankets, pillows, or shoes.
A dining table that can serve as a workspace during the day is another example of how multi-functional items can enhance the efficiency of your RV. These dual-purpose pieces of furniture keep your RV organized without compromising on functionality.
Under-Bed and Under-Furniture Storage
The space under your bed or furniture can be a goldmine for extra storage. Utilizing this area effectively can help you store everything from off-season clothing to extra linens.
Boxes, Drawers, and Organizers for Small Spaces
Invest in low-profile storage boxes that can easily slide under sofas or into under-bed storage areas. These containers are ideal for storing out-of-season clothing, shoes, or extra linens. Some RV beds come with built-in drawers that make accessing stored items easy. If yours doesn’t, consider using soft, collapsible storage bins that can be tucked into the space and pulled out when needed.
For a more organized system, use under-bed organizers with separate compartments to keep your items neatly sorted. Dividers can help you find what you need quickly without having to dig through piles of stuff.
Organizing the Kitchen Area

Kitchens in RVs are often tiny, but with a few smart organizational hacks, you can make even the smallest kitchen functional and clutter-free.
Spice Racks, Cabinet Organizers, and Pantry Management
Place low-profile, magnetic spice containers on your range hood or install a wall-mounted spice rack near your stovetop to keep seasonings within reach while saving counter space. For those of you who use many spices while cooking, you can even add a metal panel to the front of your refrigerator where you can attach magnetic spice containers, keeping your spices neatly organized but off the kitchen counter.
Cabinet organizers such as shelf risers and pull-out bins, can help you maximize vertical space inside cupboards, making room for plates, cups, and pantry staples.
Stackable bins are also a great way to make the most of your pantry space, allowing you to store food and kitchen items efficiently and will keep them from falling out when you open the pantry door after traveling.
Securing Items During Travel
One challenge unique to RVs is securing everything before hitting the road. Invest in non-slip shelf liner for your cabinets and drawers to keep items from shifting while in motion. Velcro strips or bungee cords can be used to secure larger items like coffee makers or kitchen appliances, ensuring that they stay in place during travel.
Small tension rods placed at the front of each shelf in your refrigerator will keep items from falling out of the refrigerator when you open the door after each RV trip.
Efficient Bathroom Organization

Bathrooms in RVs are typically small, so maximizing space in this area is crucial to maintaining an organized home on wheels.
Over-the-Door Organizers, Shower Caddies, and Towel Racks An over-the-door organizer is a great way to store toiletries, cleaning supplies, or even extra toilet paper.
Shower caddies that can attach to the wall or hang from the showerhead provide additional space for shampoo, soap, and other bath essentials. Towel racks can be mounted behind the door or on an unused wall to dry bath and beach towels and keep them off the floor.
Use stackable bins under the sink or on shelves to store smaller bathroom items like toothpaste, lotion, and razors. This prevents clutter and keeps your countertops clean.
Closet Management Solutions
RV closets are often compact, so optimizing every inch of space is essential.
Closet Organizers and Hanging Shelves
Invest in hanging shelves or organizers that can be attached to the closet rod to hold folded clothing, shoes, or accessories. Using vertical space in this way will allow you to store more items than if you only relied on hangers. Adding extra hooks inside your closet can also help you store belts, scarves, or bags without taking up valuable shelf space.
For smaller closets, consider using vacuum-sealed bags for out-of-season clothing. These reduce the size of bulky items like sweaters, coats, or blankets, freeing up closet space for your everyday essentials.
Outdoor Gear Storage

Outdoor gear can quickly overrun your living space, especially if you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or biking. Keeping this equipment organized is important for both safety and convenience.
External Storage Compartment Organization Ideas Use bins or plastic totes in your RV’s external storage compartments to organize outdoor gear like camping chairs, hiking boots, or fishing equipment. Label the bins to make finding items easier when you need them.
Installing hooks or bungee cords on the inside of compartment doors can help you store smaller items like gloves or tools securely.
For larger items like bikes, invest in a hitch-mounted bike rack to keep them safely outside the RV. Don’t have a hitch receiver on your trailer? Use this adapter to help!
Tech and Entertainment Organization
Electronics and entertainment items can quickly become a tangled mess if not stored properly, but there are easy ways to keep these items in order.
Managing Cords and Devices
Use cord organizers or cable ties to manage the spaghetti-like mess of charging cables, power strips, and device cords that can easily take over a small space.
Consider using a drawer or basket dedicated to storing small electronics and their chargers. Velcro straps or rubber bands can also help keep cords from becoming tangled.
Storage for Books, Games, and Entertainment
A mounted shelf or small baskets and bins stored under the couch can serve as a dedicated space for books, board games, or DVDs.
If you want to save even more space, consider switching to digital formats for books and movies to reduce the amount of physical storage needed.
Child and Pet-Friendly Organizing Tips

Keeping your RV organized when traveling with kids or pets requires a little extra planning, but it’s completely doable with the right strategies.
Safely Storing Toys and Pet Supplies
For kids, use bins or baskets to store toys, books, and games. Consider designating a specific drawer or under-seat storage area for their items, so they know exactly where to find them and where to put them away when they’re finished using them.
For pets, use collapsible storage bins to hold food, leashes, and toys, and store them in an easily accessible location. Hooks located on the wall near the door can hold leashes, collars, and harnesses.
Creating Dedicated Spaces for Kids and Pets
Creating a small, dedicated space for your kids or pets can help keep the rest of the RV organized. For kids, a foldable table or tray can serve as a play or homework area.
For pets, designate a small corner for their bed and toys, so they have a space of their own that doesn’t interfere with the main living areas. Some RVers even turn their pet’s wire crate into a DIY space-saving table!
Seasonal Storage Solutions
Keeping track of seasonal items can be tricky, especially in an RV. However, with some strategic organization, you can easily store and access what you need when the time comes.
Seasonal Clothing and Decoration Storage
Use vacuum-sealed bags or collapsible bins to store seasonal clothing like heavy winter jackets or summer swimwear. These can be tucked away under the bed, in storage compartments, or in the back of your closet until the season changes. For holiday decorations, use small, stackable bins that can be stored in external compartments, freeing up interior space for everyday items.
Conclusion
With limited space in an RV, organization is key to a comfortable and enjoyable life on the road. By making the most of vertical space, investing in multi-purpose and collapsible items, and utilizing under-furniture storage, you can keep your RV clutter-free and functional.
Whether you’re organizing your kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor gear, these RV organization ideas will help you maximize your space and make your RV feel like home.
Happy travels!
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3 Responses
DO NOT put magnets near the electronic controls of the refrigerator (for what should be obvious reasons).
Winnebago warned against storing anything under a bed that is above the engine as that space can become very warm.
I would love links to some recommended products that other Escapees members find useful in storage and organizing. Product developers are always coming up with new things, this would be a useful ongoing segment!
I wish the photos had been more realistic. Does anyone put that much stuff on shelfs in the bathroom? They would all have to be removed during travel.