How To Decorate Your RV For Any Holiday

Everything you need to know about decorating your RV for any holiday, including storage, budgeting and getting your kids involved.

1. What are some tips for maximizing holiday decorating in a small space?

   In a small space, a few decorations will go a long way. In our RV, there are a few simple things that we like to do to maximize our holiday decorating. Using pillow covers is a great way to add a festive pop to your space—they can be swapped out for different holidays, fold up nicely and are incredibly easy to store. Hanging string-up banners, garlands or twinkle lights is another easy way to add festive ambiance, especially in tight spaces like your RV’s slideouts. Taking ordinary items in your RV and adding fun, holiday touches is also a great way to decorate. For example, we like to wrap picture frames with holiday wrapping paper or tie ribbons and bows to chairs and above doorways. Holiday-themed hand towels add a nice, simple touch to your RV’s bathroom or kitchen. Fresh flowers are another way to add natural decorations to your RV. You can create beautiful centerpieces with roses for Valentine’s Day, small pumpkins and leaves for fall, and poinsettias or holly for Christmas. It only takes us about 20 minutes to decorate the whole RV, which allows us more time to enjoy some of our favorite holiday traditions.

2. Where is the best place to store my holiday decorations when I am not using them?

   We like to store all of our holiday decorations in the “basement,” which is the large storage compartment under our main bed. You can also utilize the bottom of any closet space or in the undercarriage of the RV. Placing decorations inside plastic storage bins with lids makes packing and unpacking easier for two reasons: it keeps the decorations dry and clean, and you can stack them on top of each other. You likely won’t have as much storage space in an RV as you would in a traditional home, so it helps to mix and match the same decorations for different holidays and really make the most of what you have. For example, you can use red-colored decorations for both Valentine’s Day and Christmas, pastels for Easter and Mother’s Day, and orange for Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

1. How can I make holidays feel big and special in the RV?

   One of the best ways to make holidays feel big and special in an RV is to connect with the local RV community! Whether it's potluck meals, get-togethers, crafting days, or movie nights, we’ve found that the RV community is really great at coming together and celebrating. That’s one of the biggest perks of the RV lifestyle—learning about other people’s traditions and cultures. You can also partake in local, holiday-themed events by searching Facebook groups, visiting libraries, even looking at your campground or RV resort’s schedule. Many campgrounds will plan special events for various holidays that guests are welcome to attend.

2. How can we easily put up and take down holiday decorations in the RV?

   One of my favorite tools for decorating in an RV are command strips. These strips come in a variety of sizes and are small enough to store anywhere. You can also find them at most hardware or convenience stores. We use command strips throughout the RV without having to worry about damaging the walls or chipping the paint. They also hold up really well during travel days. We simply keep the command strips up year-round, and then swap out the decorations for each holiday—it’s super fast and easy!

3. How can I decorate both inside and outside my RV?

   As I mentioned, things like decorative pillows, dish towels and string banners are all great ways to decorate the inside of your RV, without taking up too much space. But one of the best ways to bring holiday decor to the outside of your RV is to invest in lights. Our family actually purchased a small projector that can show various images, colors and designs based on different holidays (hearts for Valentine’s Day, ghosts for Halloween, snowflakes for Christmas). The projector is super small and compact, and the slides can easily be swapped out depending on the holiday. Another simple way to decorate the outside of the RV is to add festive tablecloths to your picnic table and put out a holiday-themed welcome mat.

1. Any advice for decorating my RV on a budget?

   The first step is to determine how much you want to spend on decorations for the year (and keep in mind that the same decoration can be used year after year). I like to spend roughly $30 on decorations for each major holiday, and one of my favorite places to find affordable, holiday decorations is at a local dollar store. There are so many charming items that can help make your RV feel festive, without breaking the bank. These stores typically put out decorations about a month before each holiday, but you can also sometimes find discounted decorations after the holiday is over. Crafting and making your own decorations is another great way to save money. For example, you can purchase ribbon and felt and make your own garland. Crafting is also a nice way to get the whole family involved and to create some fun holiday traditions. Another tip is to try and buy items in bulk. Buying bulk items is often cheaper than buying one-off items, and it’s even better if you can share the cost with a few other RV families. In the past, I’ve purchased large quantities of things like tissue and wrapping paper, and then split everything with a few other families to really maximize our savings.

2. How can I include friends and family in holiday celebrations while on the road?

   Despite being on the road and traveling around a lot, we still find ways to include our loved ones in various holiday celebrations. We like to mail our friends and families cards and gifts, and then watch them open it over FaceTime or Zoom. Utilizing this type of technology is a great way to feel close, even when you’re hundreds of miles apart. Being in an RV also allows you to be really mobile, so if we ever start to feel homesick for our friends and family, we know that we can pack up and drive to wherever they are. We always encourage our friends and family to come visit us and experience the joys of the RV lifestyle as well—and many have! It takes a little more effort to stay in touch, especially when you’re moving around a lot, but even a simple phone call or short letter can make a big difference and keep that connection strong.

1. How can I include friends and family in holiday celebrations while on the road?

   Despite being on the road and traveling around a lot, we still find ways to include our loved ones in various holiday celebrations. We like to mail our friends and families cards and gifts, and then watch them open it over FaceTime or Zoom. Utilizing this type of technology is a great way to feel close, even when you’re hundreds of miles apart. Being in an RV also allows you to be really mobile, so if we ever start to feel homesick for our friends and family, we know that we can pack up and drive to wherever they are. We always encourage our friends and family to come visit us and experience the joys of the RV lifestyle as well—and many have! It takes a little more effort to stay in touch, especially when you’re moving around a lot, but even a simple phone call or short letter can make a big difference and keep that connection strong.