Moving from a three‑bedroom house into “George” our 325‑sq‑ft motorhome was a reality check for David and me. This wasn’t vacation packing anymore. This was our new reality. Efficient storage wasn’t optional, it was mission-critical.
We took it one step at a time starting with the kitchen, (see our post “Downsizing into an RV: Kitchen Space Savers”). Once food and shelter were handled, we turned our attention to the rest of the rig. The bedroom and bath area make up the rear half of the RV, giving us with roughly 150 sq-ft for all of our clothes, linens, toiletries and cleaning supplies. As with the kitchen, creativity was essential. This is the story of our RV bedroom and bathroom space-saving transformation.
RV Bedroom Storage Ideas: How to Pack for Everything
Paring down the kitchen was daunting but packing up the bedroom felt even more intimidating. David and I are active, “out-and-about” kind of people. We hike, bike, catch plays and concerts, hit up dive joints, splurge on the fancy stuff and everything in between. In other words, we needed to bring and store everything, footwear and clothing for all occasions and all seasons.
Our RV bedroom has two wardrobes, a couple of cabinets and ten small drawers. Clever organization and exploiting every last inch of storage was our strategy.
Clothing Storage Solutions
*Disclaimer:* We are not affiliated with any of the stores or brands mentioned.
The drawers were entirely too small for any sweats, tanks, or tee’s, so maximizing hanging space was essential. I added a fabric hanging shelf for folded clothes and used cascading hanger hooks to double or even triple up shorter garments, making full use of the vertical space.
To store pants, shorts, and bike gear, shallow baskets on the wardrobe floor worked wonders. I bought a set of packing cubes for socks, bike pads and outdoor gear. They stack neatly and keep everything together.
Drawer dividers turned my tiny drawers into orderly compartments for intimates and accessories.
Despite my best efforts, not everything fit. I used vacuum-sealed bags to store off-season and special-occasion clothes. They shrink volume down dramatically and fit neatly in a bin kept in the under-floor cargo bay.
Jewelry Storage in an RV
I’m the kind of girl who isn’t dressed without earrings, so leaving my jewelry behind wasn’t happening. There obviously wasn’t room for my jewelry box so l needed a way to consolidate my collection. I opted for a hanging jewelry holder with pockets on one side for earrings and smaller pieces and hangers for necklaces and bracelets on the other. It fits nicely in the closet keeping everything visible and tangle free.
RV Shoe Storage Hacks
David found this shoe hanger on Amazon that fit perfectly along the side of our short queen bed. It’s good quality with sturdy material and has 10 slots, each big enough for a pair of sandals or one boot. He fit all of his shoes. I didn’t but it definitely freed up floor space.
We also reworked my wardrobe. The two drawers under the hanging space were hard to access, so we pulled them out entirely. It’s now open storage that holds extra shoes, my packing cubes and some of David’s gear. Don’t be afraid and get rid of the parts that don’t work for you.
RV Bathroom Storage: Organizing a Small Space
With the bedroom sorted out, it was time to tackle the bath area. We needed to store toiletries, linens, and cleaning with only a medicine cabinet, vanity, wash closet and compact toilet enclosure. So every inch had to pull double duty.
Over-the-door-hooks created instant space for towels and robes and an over-cabinet hair tool organizer saved drawer and counter space. Pro tip: they even fit perfectly on shower stalls.
As for the medicine cabinet, snap-shut containers help organize toiletries vertically and we added extra shelves to utilize dead space near the top.
Laundry and Cleaning Storage Solutions
The washer/dryer cabinet became our multipurpose catchall. The trashcan, laundry bag, cordless vacuum, toolbox, step stool and a few other necessities share that space thanks to compact replacements and hanging nearly everything.
Our new favorite find? Laundry detergent sheets (we use Earth Breeze Eco sheets). They replaced the bulky jug, are ultra compact, and do a great job cleaning even in cold water.
The top cabinet holds all of our towels, linens and blankets. Once again, vacuum sealed bags let us make the most of the space. Be sure to choose ones with a snap-shut vacuum port so they stay sealed tight.
Optimizing Space Around the Toilet Stall
Our RV has a cabinet above the toilet that is perfect for cleaning products. To squeeze out even more space we used adhesive hooks mounted on the underside of the cabinet to hand the mop and broom. We made our own wall hanger to hang wet laundry.
Yes, can get a little crowded, but it’s a “get in and get out” zone. It needs to be functional. Close the door so you don’t have to look at it.
Hooks & Shelves: The RV Storage MVP’s
I keep coming back to hooks because they are a “must-have” for RV living. We use every type, magnetic, screw-in, adhesive, and S-hooks in the laundry. If there’s a sliver of unused space, a hook earns its place.
Hooks do a lot of the heavy lifting in an RV, but shelves are just as important. We’ve installed plenty of them, some store bought, others totally DIY. They’re a great way to use dead space. Every wall or cabinet is an opportunity.
We built new shelves for the medicine cabinet and a bedroom cabinet, plus two DIY shelf-and-hanger combos to make the most of unused wall space. Classic school-locker stylehooks hold David’s jacket and hoodie collection; and the top shelf is home to my hats. A second low mounted shelf provides a spot for my shoe holder, since the raised engine bay on my side of the bed made standard mounting impossible.
Don’t hesitate to tap into your own “know how” and creativity. DIY tweaks can be the key to making your rig fit your needs perfectly.
Our Bed and Bath Storage Results
We’ve made a few tweaks since we started, but our bed and bath area now holds everything we need. Admittedly, I started with too much clothing but we’ve been on the road a while and I’ve figured out what I truly need. My warm-weather wardrobe is completely dialed in: comfortable, functional and stylish. Winter still needs some work but I’m getting there.
And yes, the jewelry collection, keeps growing. It’s one of my favorite ways to support local artists. A quick shout out to Velo in a Jar (Flagstaff) for my “new favs” a pair of recycled metal and bike-tube earrings.
Stay tuned for the next post on how to carve out RV office, entertainment, and hobby space, proof that small doesn’t have to mean limiting.