When you’re living on the road, having a few smart camper storage ideas can make all the difference in keeping your van organized and clutter-free.

Even if you travel light, your tiny living space—whether it’s a van, camper, or converted bus—can quickly turn into a chaotic mess. That’s why maximizing every inch of available space is crucial. In van life, every centimeter counts, and using space wisely can make your daily routine much smoother.

Most people keep everyday essentials within easy reach and store less frequently used items—like camping chairs for outdoor meals—in harder-to-access spots. It’s a great method, and we use it too.

But you can take van storage optimization even further! By making use of unused spaces inside your camper, you can create extra storage without compromising comfort.

In this article, we’re sharing 8 brilliant camper storage ideas to help you make the most of your van, camper, or RV. If you’re looking for inspiration to stay organized on the road, you’re in the right place!

Foldable Tables – A Space-Saving Camper Storage Idea

In our article on camper bed ideas, we talked about foldable beds. Well, the same concept applies to tables!

With a simple hinge system, you can install a foldable table almost anywhere in your camper. Here are some great places to mount one:

• On the walls
• On the side door (or rear doors, if you have them)
• Inside cabinets
• On existing furniture

It’s a brilliant way to maximize your vertical space and keep your van organized.

You can install these tables both inside and outside your camper, giving you extra room for:

• Working
• Cooking
• Hosting friends for a meal

A foldable table is a must-have for any camper storage setup, helping you make the most of your compact space!

Camper Storage Ideas for Clothes – How to Keep Your Van Organized

Clothing storage is one of the trickiest aspects of van life. It’s often overlooked during the van conversion process, yet it’s something that constantly evolves—depending on the seasons, new purchases, or even clothes you sell or donate along the way.

If your clothing storage setup isn’t practical—too small, hard to reach, or inconvenient—you’ll likely end up leaving clothes scattered on your bed or even on the floor.

We won’t pretend to have the ultimate solution, but after searching Pinterest and other sources, we’ve found some great camper storage ideas to help you keep your clothes organized efficiently!

Wall Hooks – A Simple Yet Effective Camper Storage Idea

This is one of the easiest camper storage ideas to implement. Installing hooks requires no special skills, yet it can make a big difference in keeping your van tidy.

Of course, we’re not suggesting you install as many hooks as you have pairs of pants! But adding two or three well-placed hooks can seriously help you stay organized. 😉

In our camper, Hermès, we have a coat rack with three hooks, located right next to the entrance. This is where we keep all the essentials we grab before heading outside:

• Jackets
• Sweaters
• Beanies
• And more

Without this small yet incredibly useful addition, all of these items would constantly end up on our countertop, table, or bed. A simple hook system can be a game-changer for van organization!

Clothing Storage Bins – Maximize the Space Under Your Bed

If your bed is fixed, consider building storage compartments underneath to store your clothes and shoes. These bins provide easy access while making use of the often-underutilized space beneath your bed.

To keep things even more organized, we recommend using storage boxes inside these compartments. Not only do they add a neat and stylish touch to your van interior, but they also make it easier to see what’s inside without having to bend down.

This camper storage idea is both practical and space-efficient—helping you keep your van tidy while making the most of every inch!

Overhead Cabinets – A Classic Camper Storage Idea

If you prefer a more traditional wardrobe setup, installing cabinets in your van is a great option. This allows you to keep your clothes neatly stored while maintaining an organized living space.

Depending on the size of your cabinets, you might even be able to hang some of your clothes on hangers for easier access. However, hanging everything isn’t always the best way to save space—folding your clothes efficiently can often help you maximize storage.

This camper storage idea is perfect if you want a clean and structured way to organize your wardrobe on the road!

Under-Bed Storage – The Best Camper Storage Idea for Large Items

This next camper storage idea is perfect for those with a fixed bed at the back of their van.

Most of the time, these beds are built at a higher level, leaving a large unused space underneath. And the best thing about empty spaces? You can turn them into optimized storage!

(🥁 … drum roll …)

… OPTIMIZED!

In most camper vans, this area—often called the « garage »—is about 140 cm deep, 2 meters wide, and 1 meter high, giving you nearly 3 cubic meters of storage. That’s a huge amount of space!

This storage area is ideal for bulky items, such as:

• Bicycles
• Musical instruments
• Tools
• Gas bottles
• Camping gear
• Batteries

(We keep our batteries under the passenger seat, but that’s up to you—there’s usually some extra space there too! 😉)

If you need a practical way to store large essentials, utilizing the space under your bed is one of the best camper storage solutions out there!

Use Storage Bins to Keep Your Camper Organized

This is something we didn’t think of right away. But when you’re driving, everything inside your cabinets tends to shift around.

And then… you have to reorganize everything. Again.

So, why not optimize it from the start?

A simple yet effective camper storage idea is to use small storage bins or baskets inside your cabinets.

Not only does this keep things from moving while you drive, but it also helps you stay organized by sorting items into different bins. It’s an easy and practical way to make van life tidier and more efficient!

The Lagun Swivel Table – A Smart Camper Storage Idea to Save Space

In a camper van or RV, every piece of furniture should have multiple uses, be easy to store, or serve a clear purpose.

A fixed table isn’t always the best option for van life—especially since, after the bed, the table is often the second-largest space-consuming item.

To optimize space, you have a few options:

• A foldable table (like the one we discussed earlier)
• A sliding table that moves to the side of a fixed bed
• A swivel table, like the Lagun table

There are many more options, but let’s focus on the Lagun table, as it’s one of the most practical and popular choices.

If you buy a factory-built camper, you’ll often find this type of swivel table included. But why is the Lagun table so popular? 🤔

Because it’s incredibly versatile:

• It moves up and down vertically
• Its arm swivels in any direction
• The tabletop also rotates freely

This makes it perfect as a workspace, dining table, coffee table, or even an extra counter for meal prep.

And the best part? It disappears when you don’t need it!

Smart Storage Solutions for Bulky Items in Your Camper

Hiking boots, everyday shoes, a small broom—these are just a few examples of what we call « bulky items » in van life.

When you step into your van, you might not know where to put them, so they end up cluttering the floor. The more things pile up, the higher the chances of tripping over them or wasting time searching for them when you need them most.

Above, we’ve shared two great camper storage ideas for organizing your shoes.

We personally love the second option because it’s easy to set up, budget-friendly, and adaptable to small spaces. Plus, using bungee cords helps keep your items securely in place while driving.

And if you’re looking for affordable van storage solutions, don’t miss our tips on budget-friendly van conversions!

Make the Most of Small Spaces with Sliding Shelves

When designing your camper van layout, you’ll likely come across tiny, awkward gaps—the kind of narrow spaces where dust tends to collect.

One of the best camper storage ideas is to put these small spaces to good use instead of letting them go to waste.

With a sliding shelf system, you can store a surprising number of items, such as:

• Jars
• Spices
• Cables
• Kitchen tools
• Cleaning supplies
• And more

Individually, these items don’t take up much space, but… (to be continued 👀)

And hey, it even rhymes! You can make it your mantra! 😉

Install a Spice Rack for a Practical and Stylish Kitchen

Not only does a spice rack look great, but it’s also incredibly practical!

Why is it a great camper storage idea?

• It gives you quick and easy access to all your spices.
• It adds a nice aesthetic touch to your kitchen.
• Most importantly, it prevents glass jars from rattling and taking up valuable cabinet space.

The concept is simple: securely attach the lids of glass jars to a surface in your kitchen.

Then, fill the jars with spices, pasta, or even granola, and screw them into their fixed lids. A smart and space-saving solution for any camper kitchen!

Add a Sink Cover to Maximize Your Van’s Kitchen Space

In a camper van, counter space is often limited, making meal prep a challenge.

Luckily, we’ve got a great trick for you!

Well… actually, Pinterest has a great trick for you (seriously, what a genius platform—join us there! 🙄).

The idea? Install a sink cover, just like the ones shown above.

With this simple addition, you can:

• Use it as a cutting board
• Turn it into extra counter space for placing items when the sink isn’t in use
• Or even enjoy a cozy breakfast in bed 😉

A small but clever upgrade that makes a big difference in van life!

Camper Storage Ideas – Final Thoughts

It’s easy for clutter to pile up when traveling in a van.

And that’s especially true if you’re not making the most of your available storage space.

We hope these camper storage ideas have given you some inspiration for organizing your own setup!

Want even more clever storage solutions? Follow us on Pinterest.