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Written by the Getaway Couple Rae & Jason
When Jason and I first purchased our RV, one of the main things I struggled with was making it feel more like “us”. RV modifications can transform your cookie-cutter RV into a place where you feel at home. If you also find yourself wishing you’d feel more at home in your setup, it might be time to make some RV modifications. In this article, I’ll be sharing a few RV bathroom modifications you can do to feel more comfortable while enjoying your home on wheels.
RV Modifications Change the Feeling of Your Space
Let’s face it: Even the biggest of RV bathrooms are small. While it may feel like there isn’t a lot you can do to change the feeling of the space, there is! Whether you want to keep it simple or go all in, these are modifications you can do to make it your own.
The Best RV Bathroom Modifications
If you want some RV modification inspiration for your bathroom, I’ve got you covered. My husband and I have been living full-time in our fifth wheel since 2017. Since then, we’ve made a few quick changes that have changed the feel of our bathroom. Below are a few of the best RV bathroom modifications for customizing your space.
1. Bathroom Accent Wall
An accent wall is one of the simplest ways to change a space. Thankfully, this is easy to do in an RV bathroom. People often choose to make their accent wall directly behind a toilet, but any wall will do the trick. Use a unique wallpaper to add character or be brave and use a pattern you might have otherwise overlooked.
If wallpaper isn’t your thing, stick-on tiles are all the rage right now. You could even choose a pattern like stripes or plaid to match modern trends. Personally, we chose a gray tile pattern to add under our vanity.
2. RV Toilet Upgrade
Just because most RVs come standard with a black tank set up doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. If the idea of dealing with a black tank makes you think twice about this lifestyle, a composting toilet might be a handy upgrade. A composting toilet eliminates the need for a black tank. Having a composting toilet may allow you to boondock longer if that’s something you want to do.
Another RV toilet upgrade is changing the lid that comes from the factory. Many RVers have learned that the factory toilet lid comes with many tiny grooves on the bottom that are hard to clean. One of the first upgrades we did was simply change our toilet lid to a soft close. This option is much easier to clean and is quiet when closing!
3. Upgrade Your RV Showerhead
An upgraded RV showerhead can make all the difference when showering in an RV. This RV modification gives you substantially better water pressure while simultaneously reducing water consumption. No more rinsing forever to get the shampoo out of your hair as you waste that previous freshwater!
An upgraded shower head makes a huge difference if you’ll be boondocking as well! We changed our showerhead out to an Oxygenics one. We save a gallon of water per minute with this upgrade and have six different spray options.
4. RV Sink and Vanity Upgrade
It can feel uncomfortable to rip out pieces of your new RV, but it can be worth it to open up the space. Taking off the vanity/medicine cabinet might not seem wise from a storage perspective, but you gain breathing room with what you lose in storage. Once you’ve removed the vanity, you won’t believe how much larger the space feels! We’d recommend this upgrade if you find you have an especially small RV bathroom and are feeling cramped.
You could also swap out the bathroom countertop. Due to the limited space, it’s common for the sink to take up almost all the countertop space, leaving very little room for hygiene or decorative items. By removing the original counter and replacing it with a vessel sink, you regain counter space.
If you don’t want to do any significant handiwork, you can always upgrade your sink hardware. The faucet that came from the factory was small and splashed water everywhere. We upgraded to a taller waterfall-style faucet and love it. Not only did it make our bathroom seem fancier, but it solved our splashing water problem.
5. Replace the Shower Door with a Shower Curtain for More Space
Shower doors can sometimes feel like they’re closing in on you. They give a limited range of motion and, depending on your size, could even make it difficult to shower. Additionally, the metal track that follows the shower base is impossible to clean in some areas.
Thankfully, you can easily rip out the shower doors and put in a shower curtain instead. Rounded or bendable shower rods make this an easy task. Always remember, though, when removing and placing new screws, always use silicone to prevent water damage from this RV modification.
6. Rebuild the Whole Shower
If taking off the doors isn’t enough of an RV modification for you, how about ripping out the whole thing and starting from scratch? It may sound absurd, but trust me–it can make a life-changing difference.
You can remove everything down to the wall to create a new shower. You can keep it as straightforward or as elaborate as your budget, space, and creativity allow. Know your skills before starting to avoid mistakes or a delayed job.
Be sure the new shower walls are waterproof and will not mold. Take extra care to ensure no water can leak behind your new shower walls as well!
7. Paint and Decorate
If you aren’t interested in ripping out parts of your RV, or you’re on a tight budget, don’t fret! You can still make a few RV modifications without a fuss. A bit of elbow grease, paint, and decor goes a long way.
A fresh coat of paint can work wonders. You can also spruce up your shower and sink with paint and a tub and tile epoxy. This is especially useful on yellowing surfaces.
Once you’ve given your bathroom some new paint, add your personal touch with decor. This is where your personality will shine through. If you need ideas, consider choosing a theme based on your past travels.
What RV Modifications Have You Made?
Even the smallest of RV modifications can make a significant impact for your home on wheels. It can be easy to neglect to modify your bathroom when it’s so tiny, but it can transform the space if you put these tips or others into practice!
Have you made changes to your RV bathroom? Are you happy with your modifications?
