Posted: April 15, 2021
It’s amazing what you can do with caravan interiors. With a little bit of elbow grease, a pinch of creativity and bags full of imagination, you can transform your run-down space into a vintage, modern, or unique haven for your next UK family holiday.
Caravan design offers you the opportunity to truly express yourself through your space. Like home interiors, caravan interiors come in endless different combinations – the only major difference is the amount of space you have to work with. Creating a cosy but airy caravan design is a challenge, but that’s exactly what makesit so fun!
Here atAllens Caravans, we’ve seen countless caravan interiors, some contemporary, some vintage and some just outright unusual!
From humble beginnings as nothing more than sheds on wheels, caravans have evolved over time to become the impressive and innovative creations they are today. Anything goes when it comes tocaravan holidays; retro Airstream trailers, tiny teardrop trailers, iconic Volkswagen campers and luxurystatic caravans,or anything in between. These timeless classics are firm favourites, acting as a testament to the caravan’s history and demonstrating the extent to which we can’t get enough of caravans – whatever their shape and size. However, in recent years it has been the new kids on the block stealing the spotlight.
The 21stcentury generation of caravans are something else; they epitomise luxury living, they are architectural masterpieces and they are innovatively designed to be eco-friendly and awe-inspiring in equal part. Here are three of the best high-end, hi-tech and highly desirable caravans the 21stcentury has to offer:
The iHouse
When you see iSomething, you tend to think of the Apple empire and all of the hi-tech gadgets and gizmos it encompasses. However, the iHouse is named thus because it stands forinnovation,inspiration,intelligence andintegration. The iHouse was designed with the future in mind, being a luxury park home on the surface and an ingenious medley of comfort, creativity and eco-friendliness beneath. The iHouse weighs a staggering 52,000 lbs and boasts a spacious interior complete with bamboo floors and top quality luxurious features. Outside, there is a separate guest room, solar panels and a contemporary v-shaped roof. The iHouse costs more than £100 per square foot but thanks to all of its eco-friendly fixtures and energy-efficient ways it costs less than £1 a day to run its heating and electricity. This clever, contemporary design is most definitely the caravan of the future.
The Sunset Breeze House
The Sunset Breeze House is a prefabricated park home that is totally eco-oriented, right from its construction to the preparations made for its future energy-efficiency. Designed by eco-architect Michelle Kaufmann, the Breeze House is flexible in its structure, eco-friendly, and light and airy. The two-bed two-bath home is 1750 square feet and feels much larger than it actually is because it “borrows” outdoor space. The Breeze Room in the heart of the house is the home’s most distinctive feature, a glass-enclosed porch beneath a butterfly-shaped roof that acts as the main living space between the more private areas of the home. The outdoor terrace and deck space is equally impressive and just as unlike what you’d normally expect from a prefabricated park home. This contemporary, comfortable and green home is set to be a game-changer in park home design.
The Escape Cabin
When we think of caravans and park homes we tend to think of static caravans, log cabins or touring caravans. Very rarely (if ever) do we think of all three rolled into one and yet that is exactly what we have to look forward to seeing more of. Architect and artist Kelly Davis have designed the Escape cabin which is both a quaint cabin and road-worthy RV. The luxury cabin was inspired by the recent Tiny House phenomenon which has seen more and more people choose simpler, more mobile lives and homes. The theme behind the Escape is freedom, function and luxury. It has an area of 400 square feet and high-quality fittings, including a working fireplace that is 90% more efficient than its standard counterparts. Originally designed to be a high-end cottage rather than an RV, the Escape oozes luxury but gives its owners the freedom to explore the open road without having to leave home. This looks to be the future of the full-works mobile home.
If these styles aren’t quite to your taste, we’ve put together a list of touring and static caravan interior ideas to help give you a little inspiration on your mission for the perfect caravan design. Each design idea is from Pinterest, so you can be sure that they’re easy to access and save. We hope this helps!
A Glass of Wine for the Lady…
Instead of disposing of your old, vintage wine boxes, why not do what this clever camper has done and turn them into custom-made drawers and cupboard fronts? Not only do these curious additions contrast fabulously with the sleek, bright red stove, but they also introduce a lovely blend of light-coloured wood that looks incredible when matched with the yellow outline surrounding the cupboards and drawers. An A* for this interior project!
‘There’s a Vintage Which Comes with Age and Experience’
A famous quote from none other than Jon Bon Jovi, this delightfully delicate caravan retreat comes complete with classic black and white checked flooring and, of course, a dash of floral that looks beautiful matched against the light yellow furniture.
Yellow is a challenging colour to use in all forms of interior decorating, but this caravan owner has got the balance just right, taking a yellow that isn’t too bright and breaking it up with strips of white. Complete with floral bunting, curtains, a tablecloth and even a splash of floral design on the pillows, it does well to avoid dominating the view and is a true picture of vintage perfection.
Vintage interiors are becoming increasingly popular, not just in holiday homes, but in properties and caravans all across the country. It’s a great style to choose as a lot of its features are cheap and cheerful, making this particular interior style ideal for those on a tighter budget. In addition, quite a lot of vintage-esque items can be made yourself; this will also help to save money and make your holiday home just that little bit more personal – it’s also a great way to get the kids involved in something new!
If you want to do little things to achieve the vintage style you can:
- Save a few jam jars, wash them out and pop a few small flowers inside. You can also tie a ribbon of your favourite colour around the top of the jar to give it that special something
- Turn an old mug into a bathroom soap holder – you can also paint the mug beforehand to make it a little more personal
- Use an old record as a side tabletop
- Use old novels and books to make a collage of your favourite quotes, pages and pictures
- Find an old tree branch and turn it into a mini shelf (note: you may not be able to overload the shelf with weight)
- Hang fairy lights around the door frames
- For a seasonal idea, you could purchase a few sprigs of holly and pop them in frosted glass jars for a Christmassy effect
- Use mismatched teacups to create a mini herb garden for your holiday home’s kitchen
- Create a lace dream-catcher and hang it above your bed
These are just a few ways you can incorporate the vintage style into your holiday home without going overboard.
Map of the World
This is definitely one of our favourites. Pasting maps of the world onto the interior walls is a great idea that shows off the passions and interests of this caravan owner. Plus, you can even use the maps to document where you’ve travelled, immortalising the memories of your journeys so that they stay with you forever.
This idea works particularly well as a touring caravan interior idea because you can change the maps that you use depending on where you’re travelling and what you’re doing. It’s unique, it’s interesting and it’s practical, what’s not to love?
All the Little Lights
If you’re the type of person who loves to mix and match colours, patterns and designs then you’ll love this camper’s room adaptation! Complete with gorgeous mix-match pillows and floral duvet with a patched underside, this room is perfect for the little ones or even a guest. For us, the lights really make this little room special and help to add a touch of comfort and nostalgia.
Home is Where the Heart is
This interior is very different from the others we’ve listed so far, however, it’s gorgeous nonetheless and its unique personal touch makes it all the more special. With a homey, rustic feel, this interior is complete with a dark-coloured rug, bucolic cupboards and drawers and dark yellow walls. This owner really is in the camping spirit! Comfortable and cute, who wouldn’t want to spend a night in this beautifully designed caravan?
Gypsy Wagon
We’ve changed the tone again with this one and it definitely won’t be for everyone, but you simply can’t deny the inventiveness and uniqueness of this caravan interior. Described as a ‘Gypsy Wagon’, this caravan space is intricately adorned and furnished, making it incredibly impactful and unique. We like to imagine that this is how medieval royalty would have travelled!
Modern and Contemporary
If you like to mix clean colours with interesting patterns, this static caravan interior idea is guaranteed to get you inspired. By combininga predominantly monochrome colour scheme with a variety of curious pieces and textures, this caravan interior is able to be both elegant and modern at the same time. The use of the pillows, the drawer handles and the small plants are also a tiny but necessary addition, helping to add just enough colour to make sure that you don’t feelas though you’re in a black and white film. This is perfect for the modern caravan owner!
Say Yes to Retro
As retro slowly creeps back into fashion, now is the time to suit up your caravan like an old-school 50s diner just like this caravan owner has. The appliances, tools and finishes are perfect for that retro feel – all that’s missing is a classic Coca-Cola poster and some checked flooring. If you’re a fan of bright colours, this type of caravan design is a brilliant way to incorporate them whilst keeping the space simple and unobtrusive.
Simple Doesn’t Mean Boring
This beautiful caravan interior is a brilliant example of why simple, clean caravan designs are great. Many people feel like clean designs are boring and uninteresting, but this interior is a clear example of why that’s not the case. White walls create an airy, bright atmosphere, a lack of clutter makes the caravan feel more spacious and the dashes of mismatched colour and patterns give it a homely finish. This is easy and it looks great, so it definitely deservesa place onour list.
Kitsch Caravans are the Right Type of Loud
Kitsch designs have always been a love/hate affair. However, over recent years the kitsch way of bright, intense, clashing patterns has started to become increasingly commonplace in the world of fashion, particularly as vintage clothing and designs have become more widely praised. The same applies to interior design. This kitsch caravan interior is a huge mishmash of colours, patterns and designs. The patterns are primarily floral and even the bunting does its job of adding more colour into the room. This might have been too much in a dark room, but the stark white background of the caravan walls make it work. If you like bright, bold styles, then this is definitely the one for you!
Caravans aren’t just for holidaying in! As much as we love seeing people enjoy our parks, we appreciate how versatile the caravan is. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the weird and wonderful uses for caravans in the leisure and hospitality industry:
Eccentric Eatery
There are a million and one themed restaurants out there these days, all recreating certain eras and atmospheres. Some are popular choices centred around what’s on the menu, like the 1960s style Italian-American restaurants or the ultra-trendy Sushi bars. Others are creative concepts that have been imagined in complete isolation from the menu, decided upon purely for their effect. Nevertheless, themed and concept eateries of all shapes and sizes are popular among all ages. Yet, as nice as these purpose-built places are, they lack the same character a truly eccentric eatery can possess. This character is better achieved by the sweet eateries popping up in remodelled and reimagined caravans.
Of course, there are the beloved food carts miniature caravans that are ideal for cooking and storing tasty goods you can take away – a key feature for any public event from car boot sales to days at the beach. Then we have the ever-popular eateries housed in retro trailers like the iconic Airstream, not to mention the more niche teas shops and snack shops that are an emerging trend with the old teardrop trailers. Yes, cute and quirky caravans were simplymadefor eccentric eateries.
QuirkyCoffee Shop
All across the UK, there is a coffee shop phenomenon. Chain stores, independent cafes, high-end tea rooms and artsy coffee houses are a common sight (and smell) in towns and cities everywhere. It doesn’t matter if you like a nice herbal tea or a strong Italian espresso – there will be somewhere you can get what you want, just how you want it. However, the competitive coffee shop market is gradually seeing more mobile competition thanks to how on-trend all things cute, quirky and charming are. This competition comes in the form of innovative entrepreneurs who are thinking outside the box (or in this case, the building) and taking the lead with coffee shop caravans.
Some of these quirky coffee shops are staying true to the caravan’s roots, keeping it retro and mobile. These particular business models are increasingly seen on beaches and at quaint country events where they fit a treat. On the other hand, some of these clever coffee shops are opting for a sit-in setup, appearing in static rather than mobile caravans. These coffee shops retail the all-important quirkiness and character but they have the added bonus of permanent business premises which encourages customers to return – and let’s face it, whowouldn’twant to be a regular at a quirky caravan coffee shop?
Portable Pit Stop
Caravans have always been a good place to eat, sleep and chill out. In fact, that was their sole purpose for coming into being. However, the emergence of hotels, motels and other types of accommodation has resulted in the caravan becoming more of a novel accommodation choice than a natural one. Thankfully, recent years have seen a revival of caravans in the accommodation sector. More and more people are taking their family holidays at UK caravan parks; others are investing in their own touring caravan whilst more still are going a step further and setting up caravan hotels.
Retro Rockets
The Brooks Guesthouse in Bristol was contacted by none-other than Retro Rockets, British caravan owners, who brought forward the idea of installing eccentric hotel caravans on the roof of the hotel.
To install, the caravans had to be placed on the roof by a crane and the hotel is said to be the only one of its kind in Europe. Unsurprisingly, due to its one-of-a-kind presence, it has generated a lot of attention and, according to theCaravan Times “has become the latest major Bristol attraction”.
The rocket caravans are kitted out with their very own flat screen, eco-heating and eco-showers.
Co-owner of Brooks Guesthouse, Carla Brooks, spoke to Caravan Times and said: “The interior of the caravans have lots of design chic like pocket sprung mattress beds, goose down duvets, designer guild curtains and cushions, Hans Grohe power showers and retro Roberts radio.”
The F1 Caravan
Got a spare £600,000 lying about? No? Then unfortunately you can’t have the luxury Formula 1–inspired caravan. This behemoth of a caravan was built in the US, constructed with carbon fibre which just so happens to be the same lightweight and durable material used for Ferrari’s Formula 1 cars and the Boeing 787.
With its sleek design, this caravan just screams top-end style from every angle inside and out. Speaking of the caravans innards, you can expect one of the most lavish interiors money can buy in any home let alone a mobile one. Chock full of tech like a wide flat-screen TV, state-of-the-art cooking facilities and an incredibly spacious shower too, the CR-1 Carbon boasts some of the most advance tech imaginable.
Freshen Up Your Caravan
Whilst the unique caravan uses above are certainly food for thought, they’re not for everyone. Perhaps a complete design overhaul isn’t what your caravan needs, but rather a little refresh?
When it comes to decorating your caravan, ideally you want to make it your own, meaning that comfort, style and practicality are at the top of your list. While a handful of caravan owners will throw their cash around to achieve extravagance, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t stick to a well-thought-out budget.
If you want to freshen up yourholiday home this summer, read our top tips below. These simple but effective methods of keeping your living space light, bright and airy will work a treat.
Herbs in The Kitchen Window
The kitchen is one spot with a seriously high concentration of different odours. Your morning bacon, elevenses coffee, fish for lunch and garlic-laden dinner can all linger for longer in the summer heat. Extractor fans can take the smells away, but you can add a subtle aroma with fresh herbs growing on your kitchen window. Use teacups, small pots, window planters and other such containers, and plant herbs with distinctive scents, such as lavender, rosemary, thyme and mint. As an added bonus, you can season your dishes with freshly cut sprigs, all within arm’s reach.
Floral Fragrances
Freshly cut flowers are a wonderful addition to any living space; the lounge windowsill, the dining room table, the bedroom dresser. With such an array of beautiful species and stunning colours, they offer a lovely decorative touch, and some fresh cut flowers are so fragrant that the air will be positively floral! Flowers like Freesias, Hyacinths, Lavender and Lilacs have distinctive scents whilst classics such as Lilies, Peonies and Sweet Peas can add aesthetic and aromatic appeal, too.
Scented Candles
A failsafe way to freshen up the air is to use scented candles, which work well at any time of day. You can have them burning in the background during the day, or use them to create a cosy or romantic ambience at night. There are endless possibilities as far as the different scents available are concerned, with everything from food-inspired scents, to floral fragrances, and even fresh cotton or “beach” inspired smells. Just place them strategically and light them up, then let them do the hard work.
DIY Caravan Décor
Sea Shell Windchimes
If you’re taking the kids away for the trip, why not head down to the beach and let them pick out the seashells themselves? Not only does it get the kids involved with something new and exciting, but it also lets you bring out your arty side.
To create one, all you need are a few tools to push through the shells to make a hole and a bit of fishing wire for the shells to hang on. For the tools, it is advised to use either scissors or a pocket knife and, of course, it’s better to leave the crafty bits to the adults. Simply choose a shell, preferably a large one and hang a few smaller ones below to create your seashell windchime!
Table Centre Piece
If you’re someone who absolutely loves centrepieces and little decorations around the home or caravan, then you’ll love a beach-themed centrepiece for sure and the best part is, you can even pop a little candle in the middle to get the full effect! All you need is a big rounded jar and a trip down the beach to collect some seashells, sand and if you’re lucky, maybe even a collectable starfish shell (top tip: if you can’t find this shell, maybe pop down to the local beach gift shop and see if you can find one!).
After you have your sand and shells, half fill your bowl with the sand and place the shells however you want them; remember you’ll need a bit of space in the middle to place your candle. Next, purchase a glass candle holder that covers all or most of the candle. Then, place the candle in the bowl and voila! You have yourself a miniature beach centrepiece! Alternatively, you can fill an edged plate with sand; place the seashells in the middle and the candles around the edge for a pretty table piece!
Signs
Pretty much any art and crafts or furniture shop you walk into will offer a variety of summer signs to hang on your door or caravan wall, or even the chance to make your own! Cute logos and beach-inspired sayings can look fantastic in a caravan and can make your home away from home look and feel more inviting and comfortable. Also, they’re affordable so if you can’t pick between your favourites, why not get them both! Chances are you’ll find a place for them in your caravan. For cute signs, check out sites likeThe Range,John LewisandPinterestfor ideas.
Eco-Makeover for your Holiday Home
As more and more individuals switch to green living, we should all be making a conscious effort to at least trial a couple of eco-friendly practices. On top of saving the planet, one of the best parts is that there is so much variety in terms of what you can do to help.
Thismeans you don’t have to stick to the conventional ways of turning your home into a green hub; there is plenty you can try and do if you want to do your part for Mother Nature.
However, we shouldn’t just be limiting our efforts to our properties; ourAllens Caravans holiday homesdeserve an eco-friendly makeover, too. This will help to stretch your alternative green living to your travels and make your home away from home even more comfortable.
So, to help you decide on how to switch to eco-living, this article will take a look at just two ways to implement an eco-makeover for your holiday home.
Bamboo Furniture
Bamboo is a durable, sustainable material that can be used for just about anything, including furniture. What makes it eco-friendly is that it is one of the fastest-growing plants to date.
Although we utilise bamboo for numerous purposes, this ensures there is still plenty to go around for both humans and animals alike.
In addition, not only is bamboo furniture a perfect choice as part of a green lifestyle, but it is also incredibly attractive and will fit almost any décor, making it ideal for interior-conscious holiday homeowners.
There are plenty of places online where you can purchase bamboo furniture includingGreeningtonand second-hand marketplaces, such asGumtreeandPrelovedto name a couple.
You may find the price of bamboo furniture is a little more than you would usually pay, however, bearing quality and eco-living in mind, the cost is nothing in comparison to the price our environment pays.
Eco-Friendly Products
As well as bamboo furniture, there are also plenty of eco-friendly products available in today’s market. From washing powder to tableware and everything in between, you have a chance to give your holiday home a complete green overhaul. This is great, as it means you can implement eco-friendly living into every nook and cranny of your holiday home and life.
Like bamboo furniture, these products may be slightly more expensive than your standard essentials, but it is well worth it in the long-run.
Recycle Old Things
All of us love a good car boot sale and it may surprise you to know that they are the perfect place to find vintage-looking furniture that is both fashionable and sustainable! The whole idea of a vintage style is that you focus on the old and battered, rather than the new and luxury, and car boot sales offer an array of unwanted goods. In addition, you may end up making a real bargain at a price that suits your budget type! However, if you’re not too keen on the idea of furniture that looks as though it could do with some TLC, you can always add a floral fabric overlay to spruce it up a little!
There are other DIY projects that are eco-friendly too, including constructing your own curtains out of floral napkins or handkerchiefs; simply stitch them together in your desired pattern and voila! Alternatively, you could stick to smaller DIY projects such as tea lights and scented flower holders made out of old bent spoons on the wall or glass dessert dishes! Or, if you’d like to take it the extra mile, why not place some floral fabric on the inside of your caravan door or create a string of heart garlands?
Here at Allens Caravans, we have a range ofholiday parksandresidential parksdesigned to help our visitors feel right at home with a collection of wonderful facilities. Please feel free to browse through our parks or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate toget in touch with our customer service team today.
