Making Your House on Wheels a Home

Regardless of your previous lifestyle, making the move to full time RVing can be a bit of an adjustment—even for us. For years, my symbiote (partner in crime, significant other) Jonathan traveled for work. Since I was a freelance writer, editor, and artist, I would accompany him. The result was that six months of the year, we paid house payments and utilities for our home, as well as hotel rooms and restaurants. We were literally doubling our expenses. Moving into an RV just made sense.

Changing our living arrangements, however, meant minimizing our possessions and setting some mutually beneficial “rules”. There were lots of things to consider.

Making It Homey

One thing I insisted on when we moved into our RV was adding my personal touch to our space. In a smaller area, especially one that needs to periodically be mobile, this took some creativity. Fortunately, there are several easy and economical adjustments you can do to make the space feel more like home.

Related Read: RV Hacks: For a Homier Home – Part 1

Throw Pillows, Candles, and Plants
Hang string lights outside or place candles inside to add illumination and ambience. Use colorful throw pillows or even throws on the seats and with the bedding, just like you would in a stationary home. Plants also make a great addition to your motorhome.

Seasonal Changes
Once you have your base décor set, make small seasonal adjustments to update the decor without cluttering the limited space. Maybe replace dish towels, tablecloths or placemats, and glassware to make a big difference without much effort or expense.

Replace your typical welcome mat with a Halloween or Christmas-themed one. You might even want to exchange your normal throws for more seasonally appropriate ones. These little changes make a big difference in how homey your space feels.

Related Read: Decorating Your RV for the Holidays

Managing Your Time While Remaining Flexible

This is a big one. The terms “8-hour day” and “40-hour work week” don’t mean much when you work from home and even less when your home is an RV. It’s easy to develop a vacation-type lifestyle that isn’t conducive to “keeping a schedule” especially if you move regularly.

Try to rise and eat at regular times each day to manage your workload, chores, and activities to efficiently use your time while at the same time remaining flexible for periodic times of relocation and occasional RV maintenance. This can decrease your stress and increase your productivity.

Manage Your Space

Allowing your space to become disorganized can do a number on your self-esteem. It takes more time to get ready each day, as well as wastes time moving belongings from one place to another in order to properly use your limited space. By minimizing your belongings, you can in fact better manage your time. So, get rid of the clutter.

Consider researching efficient organizational systems and invest in a few drawer and closet organizers to make the most of your RV and reduce the time you spend handling your belongings on a daily basis. This allows you to spend your time on things that make you happier instead of frustrated.

Taking Care of Yourself

Living on the road can be an adventure, but it can also make it difficult to maintain your health and fitness. With hours of sitting on your behind driving and eating meals bought at a convenience store, it’s easy to put on a few pounds. Once you get to your destination, you can take control of your eating and exercise.

While traveling, try to prepare healthy meals and snacks before you begin your journey. Otherwise you may find yourself purchasing fast food on the way. When making your snacks for the trip, keep them quick and easy to prepare, as well as convenient to eat on the road without mess.

Also, try to bike, walk, or run for a little while each day. Use the activity to explore your location. Using a pedometer or smartphone app can help you track your minutes of activity or miles each day.

Related Read: How to Save on Healthy Eating on the Road

In Conclusion

Although there are many things that can help you feel that home is where you park it, these are some of the main ones. Try to maintain your fitness through regular exercise and healthy food to increase your energy and confidence. Also, by managing your time and decorating your space, you can ensure you make the most of each day and ensure that you enjoy the RVing experience.