PHOTO SOURCE: WWW.LAZYMEADOW.COM
The following article was provided by Rover Pass.
If you’re lucky enough to own an Airstream, you might be thinking about giving it a bit of make over but are worried about the time and expense associated with a restoration. Working on an Airstream is often times a long, crazy adventure that never quite ends. But don’t sweat it, with our 20 brilliant hacks you can beautify,winter-proof, or maximize storage and utility with ease!
Be sure to leave your own favorite hacks in the comments section.
1. Liven Up The Flooring With Vinyl
One of the perks of Airstreams is being able to haul your home with you wherever you go. In order to stay mobile you have to be mindful of the total weight of your trailer, especially for those of us who don’t have a Dodge Ram 3500 at our disposal for towing. One way you can be conscious of your Airstream’s weight while also revamping the style and overall feel of your home is with vinyl plank flooring. These days you can find tons of different styles at varying prices to match your budget and your ideal look.
PHOTO SOURCE: GILBERTCONSTRUCT.COM
2. Lighten The Walls With Paint
Modern Airstreams differ from classic Airstreams by having an airy open feel. Lighten up your small space with bright vibrant wall paint. Painting over stripped aluminum is a project in itself but well worth the results.Apartmenttherapy.com shows us the astonishing difference wall paint makes! Bright whites, sunny pastels, and vivid tints can make all the difference in a small space!
3. Give A Counter Top Face-lift
There are several routes to revamping your counter tops. Instead of going the traditional vinyl route, why not mix it up with stainless steel panels, wooden butcher blocks, or even concrete! I know what you’re thinking, “Concrete?! Isn’t that a little too heavy for the weight conscious?” vintagerevivals.com describes in detail how to create a smooth glass like counter top out of concrete only 1/8th of an inch thick which makes it light weight, durable, and stylish!
PHOTO SOURCE: SUBLIME-DECOR.COM
4. Add A Drop-Leaf Counter Top Cutting Board
While we’re talking about counter tops let’s discuss drop-leafs. Airstreams are all about maximizing your space and using what little of it you have to the best of your abilities. Andybaird.com incorporates a cutting board into the drop-leaf counter top idea for even more brilliant space utilization!
5. Add A Drop-Leaf Table
I don’t know about you but every now and then I need to dance. I’ll move my furniture out of the way, turn up my tunes, and dance until I just can’t anymore. Littlethings.com is a fantastic example of a bohemian drop-leaf dinette that easily folds out of the way so you can get your groove on! BluemoonAistream.co achieves a heavy duty small drop-leaf table and incorporates the drop-leaf counter top cutting board above!
6. Install A Folding Couch-Bed with Underfoot Storage
My college freshman dorm room, a 10ft x 12ft box of a room, was only livable because my roommate and I had two pullout couch beds with storage bins underneath. Maybe we insulated the storage bins with trash bags and used them as beer coolers. Maybe we didn’t realize our couches were in fact slide out beds until mid semester, but they were some of the comfiest couch beds a college freshman could ask for. IamSamtheVan.com has a wonderful step by step tutorial for constructing your own folding couch bed with underfoot storage.
7. Organize Utensils With Magnets
If your Airstream is aluminum paneled then you should make the most of magnets. Bluemoonairstream.co found magnetic strips with glued backing ready to adhere to your walls from The Container Store. These strips are great for the curved walls of your Airstream.
8. Use More Wall Space With Suction Cups
Hang shower caddies, hooks, shoe organizers, and more with suction cups- they work great with aluminum interiors and will hold your odds and ends all over the house!
PHOTO SOURCE: JUST5MOREMINUTES.COM
9. Install A Fashionable Wall Splash
Create a unique kitchen wall splash with laminate, chalkboard paint, or fancy tile. Not only will this small tweak make a huge aesthetic difference but it also makes cleanup easier.
PHOTO SOURCE: ANCHOREDHOMEBLOG.COM
10. Use A Wine Rack For Pot Lids
Use those nifty wine glass holder racks to hang your pot lids. Organization at its most resourceful!
PHOTO SOURCE: ANDYBAIRD.COM
11. Use A Shoe Organizer For More Than Shoes
Snip a shoe organizer and use the compartments with suction cup hooks to maximize storage anywhere.
PHOTO SOURCE: MOTORHOME.COM
12. Warm The Bed With Insulation
Insulate the underside of your bed with cushioned floor mats from ruggedtimes.com. Who doesn’t want a warm cushy bed for the winter?
13. Create A Counter Top Desk Nook
If you’re doing an overhaul of your counter space and happen to earn your living from home then a desk is essential! Reorganize your counter area to configure a small desk space with a backless stool that easily stows away!
PHOTO SOURCE: LUCY CALL AT WWW.HOUZZ.COM
14. Add A Stove Shelf
If you have a hinged stove top, install a small chain link to prop it up and you have an extra shelf in the kitchen whenever you need it!
PHOTO SOURCE: ANDYBAIRD.COM
15. Restore Order With A Shoe Cubby
I don’t know about you but in our mobile home our shoes pile up next to the door. Create a shoe cubby in the open space to keep organized and clean!
PHOTO SOURCE: LIVINGLIGHTLY.COM
16. Brighten The Space With Ikea LED Cabinet Lights
Install Ikea LED lights under cabinets to enhance mood lighting and brighten counter space. Get the instructionslivinglightly.com!
17. Install Bubble Wrap Window Insulation
Airstreams aren’t just for summertime glamping! If you’re spending the winter in your Airstream, insulate the windows with bubble wrap to keep it warm and toasty! Tutorial at builditsolar.com
18. Prevent Heat Loss With Vent Cushions
Insulate your vents and keep your mobile home warm during colder months. Use these vent cushions fromcampingworld.com to prevent heat loss.
19. Use Badge Holders To Hang Lights
Use these little clips to hang string lights from your awning, no matter what time of the year it is string lights are an Airstream essential! I adore these from lights.com.
PHOTO SOURCE: RVCOUTDOORS.COM
20. Use Over The Door Hooks For Extra Storage
Found for 99 cents at BigLots, these over the door hooks fit over cabinets and doors!
PHOTO SOURCE: JUST5MOREMINUTES.COM
0 Responses
I wanted to make sure that these hacks were not specific to Airstreams because I have a Fleetwood Flair! When I picked my RV up from my Fleetwood dealer I wanted to make sure that these hacks weren't specific to Airstreams only because that's not the kind of RV that I have! Thankfully they aren't and I guess there is no real way to have hacks good for only one type of RV! haha!
My own personal hack is to put a water dish at the under where all of the condensation forms. Once that fills I will water my window plants and keep them alive while being clever about it! HAHA!