4 Ways to Paint Your RV Cabinets with No Prep Work

4 Ways to Paint Your RV Cabinets with No Prep Work

by | DIY, Makeover, Renovation, RV Renovation, RV Tips

Paint Your RV Cabinets with NO Prep | If you’re on the market or just recently purchased an RV of any kind, you probably are aware of the outdated or dark interiors that have plagued RVs for years.

However, due to some very inspirational and talented individuals, renovating your RV has been a very popular task among campers.

One of the biggest renovations many choose to do is to re-paint the dark cabinets a different color.

However, many of the cabinets are actually covered in contact paper that makes it difficult for paint to stick.

I’ve heard and read horror stories of RVer’s sanding, priming, and painting their cabinets only for their hard work to peel right off. This can be extremely frustrating!

4 Ways to Paint RV Cabinets with NO Prep Work

But have no fear!

There are ways to paint your cabinets without sanding or priming. You will probably want to tape to prevent paint from places you don’t want it, but other than that you can achieve an RV cabinet paint remodel without all the hard work.

Here are 4 ways you can paint your RV cabinets in no particular order because they all are great and will get the job done!

1. Chalk Paint with a Tough Coat Sealer

One option you can use is chalk paint.

We chose to use chalk paint on our cabinets because I knew I didn’t want to do any sanding or priming. Personally, I hate all that prep work!

Plus, chalk paint is very low in VOC and is great if you’re painting on the go or renovating while also living in the space. There are plenty of color options that you can also mix to create a color of your own desire. We chose to use The Spruce Best Home Chalk Paint by KILZ in white bead board and dark grey for our bathroom and kitchen island.

Now, chalk paint is a matte finish and can chip very easily as well as not being resistant to stains. This can make it difficult if you don’t seal the paint with a tough coat. This Tough Coat by Country Chic sealer is a chalk paint lifesaver. It provides a protective layer that provides a satin sheen, is stain resistant, and makes the cabinets easy to wash off any spills or dirt.

2. Beyond Paint

Beyond paint is an all-in-one option that can be used for furniture, cabinets, and even countertops. There are 16 matte colors, 3 metallic colors, and a satin sheen sealer to keep your project beautiful for a long time.

Just like the chalk paint, you don’t need to sand or prime to prepare your RV cabinets for Beyond paint. You do want to clean them and make sure they are free from dirt, oil, or wax to make sure the paint sticks and goes on smoothly.

Beyond paint is also an eco-friendly low-VOC option just like chalk paint.

3. Nuvo Cabinet Paint Kits

Nuvo Cabinet Paint kits are another great option to choose from. It is a little cheaper than the other two and comes with the tools that you will need to paint, however, it does require some sanding for the product to adhere properly.

The Nuvo does have some advantages including no need for a topcoat sealer because it is built into the paint, 1 kit covers 100 sqft of cabinetry, has a beautiful satin finish, and comes in a variety of colors.

You can purchase these kits on Amazon and other home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot.

4. Heirloom Traditions All-In-One-Paint

Very similar to Beyond Paint, the Heirloom Traditions All-In-One-Paint is a very popular option for many DIY’ers and RV’ers to use on their cabinets remodel. There is no need to sand, prime, seal or strip the surfaces before using this paint.

The only prep work is to clean from dust or grime. There is also no need to seal the paint with a tough coat because it’s built-in. Each color has a finished satin sheen that is perfect for cabinets and other types of furniture.

Final Thoughts

Remodeling your RV can be a time-consuming task to take on, however, I hope painting the cabinets seems easier than ever before with these amazing paint options.

I know for us, removing the need to sand and prime saved us so much time! I don’t know if I will ever sand or prime cabinets ever again when I know there are great options that don’t require it and offer beautiful and durable finishes.

If you would like to see some gorgeous RV kitchen remodels for inspiration, check out our post 30 RV Kitchen Remodels That Will Inspire the Interior Designer in You!

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4 Ways to Paint RV Cabinets with NO Prep Work
4 Ways to Paint RV Cabinets
12 DIY Ways You Can Update Your RV Camper

12 DIY Ways You Can Update Your RV Camper

by | DIY, Makeover, RV Renovation, RV Tips

Update your RV and turn it from drab to fab so you can fall in love with camping again.

For years, RV manufacturers were stuck with colors and fabrics that weren’t pleasing to the modern RVer.

Therefore, it has become popular to take an older RV and renovate it to today’s standards of style and detail.

From personal experience, renovating an RV can be time-consuming, nerve-wracking, and can even feel impossible to accomplish.

However, from our own renovations that we have made in our RV, I know that the changes are worth it! I love that our RV is our own style because it feels like home!

Update your RV

So, here are 12 ways that you can update your RV for either resale purposes or making it your home on wheels.

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1. Change the Flooring

Changing out the outdated carpet that can get worn and dirty is the best way to start renovating your RV.

Starting from the bottom in your design and working your way up will make an incredible difference.

Many people are choosing vinyl floors for their increased durability and lightweight for traveling.

2. Paint the Walls and Cabinets

Updating your RV with paint is a huge transformation and the first thing we did when we purchased our RV.

The beige walls were not my personal style and I opted for white to brighten up the RV. White also makes a small space feel larger.

It is an interior design trick of the trade. The lighter the colors, the larger the living space will feel.

For more tips on painting your RV’s Interior check out our post “How to easily paint your RV Interior walls”.

3. Replace or Paint your Slide Trim 

If you have an older model RV, replacing the trim and getting rid of the carved faux wood will make a huge difference.

Many people are opting to replace the trim with natural wood panels, usually pine or walnut panels. They add a simple and modern rustic character to the space.

Some also choose to paint if the details aren’t too outdated.

We painted ours white, but one day will love to replace them with a gorgeous, stained wood panel like my sister did with her RV. 

4. Wallpaper!!

Wallpaper, wallpaper, wallpaper!!RV Wallpaper

So many people are opting to use wallpaper because not only is it lightweight, the patterns and technology are better than ever before.

The simple peel and stick wallpaper options are great for RV’s because they can easily be removed for a quick change in style.

Now, there are some temperature issues that you will have to be wary of to ensure your wallpaper stays. For example, too much moisture or heat can cause the wallpaper to peel off.

For more tips and some wallpaper inspiration, check out our post, “How to use peel & stick wallpaper to transform your camper”. 

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5. Replace the Valances/Blinds

Removing our Valances and blinds was the very first update we did in our RV. I wanted to make our space feel more like a home by using curtains instead.

I chose to make my own curtains, but you can find some of the various sizes on Amazon or other stores.

Changing the valances made a great difference in removing the outdated typical RV feel and more of the cozy home on wheels vibe.

Another popular way to update your window treatments in the RV is to use new blinds like roller blinds or roman shades. Whichever you choose, I know it will look amazing!

6. Update your Seating

Modern Motorhome Renovation

Image Credit: Christy Schmidt

We all know the couches and chairs that come in RV’s do not last, especially if you live full-time. Many of the pleather couches tend to wear out quickly.

For us, our recliners broke within the first year, one recliner also began to sag which made it uncomfortable to sit.

The couch we have pulls out into a bed, but that did not last very long. The bars poke out and it is so uncomfortable to sleep on!

Therefore, updating your couches and chairs is common and you could purchase something with more durability.

For our cushion covers on the bench seat, I opted to purchase a durable fabric from ELuxury (find on Amazon) and sewed new cushion covers. This can always be an option to update your bench or chair seating as well.

7. Update your Cabinet and Door Hardware

This is by far the easiest update you can do in your RV. It’s a simple switch that can make a huge impact.

After we painted our cabinets white from a dark espresso brown, I updated the handles from silver to modern farmhouse style black.

There are so many options you can choose from to update your cabinets and door hardware.

Tip – Measure not once but twice! Make sure the cabinet’s hardware will fit the pre-existing screw holes (how far apart of the holes). I ordered so quickly that I ended up messing up the sizes twice. Instead of ordering 3 inches, I ended up ordering 5 inches the first time and 4 inches the second time. Learn from my mistake! 😊

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8. Change your Table

Changing your table out can be super easy! There are so many renovation ideas where people replaced their table for one from Amazon or Ikea.

Others have created their own with extra storage, while some have also utilized the space for a home office instead of a dining table.

Whatever works for your space, go for it! Just be sure you can secure it if you plan on traveling!

9. Change your Countertops

My sister-in-law updated her RV’s countertops with marble-style contact paper. It turned out so beautiful!

A super popular remodel for RV countertops are butcher block tops. They add in the natural wood tones and are super durable as well. I love the look of the butcher block countertops.

You can even get a countertop paint kit from a local hardware store or amazon. However you choose to update your countertops, I am sure it will turn out amazing!

10. Replace the Sinks in the bathroom and Kitchen

Let’s face it, the sinks that come in RV’s are usually plastic and they tend to discolor over the years.

Replacing your sink is a huge transformation and will add value to your RV if you ever decide to resale.

Here are a few examples of sinks that have been changed out in RV’s.

30 RV Kitchen Makeovers

Image Credit: IG – @the_simple_bits_of_life

30 RV Kitchen Makeovers

Image Credit: IG – @ashley.joyfullygrowing

11. Update your Faucets/Shower Head

If you plan on updating your sink, you may want to consider updating the faucet hardware as well.

We updated our kitchen faucet from a stainless-steel standard faucet to a gorgeous matte black one. It was one of the best decisions in our RV renovation.

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12. Change our Kitchen and Bathroom Backsplash

There are so many styles of backsplashes you can add to your RV kitchen and bathroom that will transform the area.

We first chose a peel and stick tile, but after two years, we changed our kitchen backsplash to a white shiplap.

This is an area where you can get super creative!

You can use a stencil and sharpie, a peel and stick tile, real tile (if you don’t travel much because of weight and cracking), wood pieces, or even a lightweight textured ceiling tile as a backsplash.

The possibilities are endless!

Final Thoughts

Update your RV to your own personal style and make it that home on wheels. These 12 DIY ways will transform your camper from drab to fab!

For more inspiration, check out our posts with images from other RVer’s that have remodeled their kitchens, bathrooms, and used wallpaper to transform their Campers.

As always, Thank you for stopping by! I hope you feel inspired! You can do it!!

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Update your RV
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