As the sunshine beckons and summer festivals tempt us to party in the great outdoors, who doesn’t daydream about a fun road trip in a cool camper? And as the cost of holidays abroad soar, it’s no surprise that tiny homes on wheels have had a huge boom in popularity.
‘There is a van for everyone’s budget – big or small, old or new – and the option to customise one to your specifications is very appealing,’ says interior designer and author Dee Campling.
Not only has Dee ‘pimped up’ her own camper, but she’s written a book, called Camper Heaven, featuring some of the funkiest conversions on the planet as inspiration.
‘A well-designed, self-built camper offers so many possibilities. You can create a personal, aesthetically pleasing yet functional space for living, sleeping, working and eating. And parked up on your drive at home, it’s also a great spare room, office or just somewhere to escape to for some peace and quiet.’
Here, Dee treats readers to a peek at her own Scandi van makeover and shares some camper conversion ideas to suit every interior style.
Scandi Style: Dee’s Volkswagen Conversion
Dee chose this VW Crafter for its reliable reputation and spacious size. It’s also good for security as it doesn’t look like a camper from the outside.
Inside, it’s pure Scandi. ‘My dream was to be able to sit on the bed without having to unfold it, with a cup of tea in hand and a dog looking out at a beautiful view,’ says Dee.
‘Scandinavian interiors are about making a space feel as light and spacious as possible and connecting the inside with nature. It’s also big on neat storage solutions, so perfect for a camper van. So we tried to balance form and function by building in as much hidden storage as possible.’
Dee installed a fixed bed, a trendy self-built birch kitchen and enough space for four passengers. ‘The fixed bed also allows for a roomy storage area underneath to house the electrics, water tank, folding chairs, a hammock, bikes and paddleboards.’
But she didn’t want the van to look like a kitchen on wheels, so while the three ‘rooms’ were designed using the same materials, they are clearly zoned with partitions.
‘I’ve always been drawn to the freshness of white paint and pale wood. Any visible storage has the same colours, textures and form as the other furnishings. This neutral base also means that I can add and change accent colours using bedding, cushions and pillows, tableware and rugs.’
Industrial Interior: A Revived 20-year-old Ambulance
DIY expert Max McMurdo bought this 20-year-old ambulance over lockdown for just £1,500 – and gave it the feel of a luxury boutique apartment with all mod-cons.
The removable, industrial-style furniture modules are fabricated from eco oriented strand board and aluminium frames, which make up the modern kitchen, fixed bed and pullout table. There is also a full-size shower.
‘Painting the wall cladding white has lightened the space and makes the van appear wider. And the shadow-lined wooden battens on the ceiling and side walls soften the look,’ says Dee.
‘Chrome rails with ‘S’ hooks hold utensils and offer interchangeable storage options such as canvas pockets, a plant pot and string bags.
‘The curtains zone the bedroom and cushions, and a combination of baskets and grey felt boxes add texture. The red cross on the medicine cabinet next to the shower is a nice nod to the van’s past life as an ambulance.’
Rustic Charm: Converted Horsebox
The Rustic approach:
The rustic approach is a great choice for camper vans as the organic palette sits harmoniously with the colours of nature, says Dee.
‘This helps to blur the boundaries between inside and out to make you feel immersed in your surroundings. Plus the hard-wearing qualities of rustic fittings mean the inevitable knocks and bumps of van life will not spoil the look of your interior. Great if you have kids or pets!’
Joseph and Sian Orpen used mostly reclaimed materials to imbue this 1987 Mercedes 811D horsebox with rustic charm – complete with a hand-built kitchen and full-size bathroom with a copper pipe shower. ‘Joseph made the kitchen from scratch using reclaimed wood – the worktop is an old door, and an antique French copper jam pan has been repurposed as a sink.’ There are full-size original French doors at the back to open up the living space. And they’ve fitted a wood-burning stove to keep the place toasty in colder climes. A vintage porthole takes pride of place in the sleeping cabin at the front.
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‘The French antique shutters and skylight are framed with the wood cladding that Joseph made from old ammunition boxes, tying in the rustic theme. Modern touches adding extra warmth include calico curtains, hemp rope and macramé storage hammocks – all of which are inexpensive and will compliment wood and stone.’
Camper Heaven by Dee Campling is published by CICO Books (£25).
See more on Instagram: @deecampling, @rural.crafts.by.joseph and @maxreestore
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