5 Tips for Painting your Camper Walls

Hello, campers and interior design enthusiasts! If you're here reading this I'm sure your feeling scared but excited to give your beloved camper a stunning makeover. Whether you're a seasoned DIYer or a first-time painter, we've got you covered. Painting your camper is a fantastic way to infuse your personality and create a space that truly feels like home on wheels. So, grab your paintbrush, and let's dive into our top five tips for a successful camper painting project. Get ready to roll with style!

1.Plan Like a Pro:

Before you unleash your artistic talents on your camper, take some time to plan and visualize your dream camper. Consider the overall theme, functionality, colors, and style you want to achieve. Are you going for a rustic cabin vibe, a vibrant boho haven, or a minimalist oasis? Gather inspiration from Instagram, magazines, websites, and your favorite vacation spots. Create a mood board or a Pinterest collection to help you stay focused and motivated throughout the process. With your design plan narrowed down select a paint color(s) to go with your mood boards. Pick up a paint sample chip from the hardware store and bring it into your camper to see how it looks in the space with the natural light before fully committing to it. Sometimes we struggle with commitment, picking the wrong paint color is a fear many people have. So invite a trusted friend or ask a designer for help, no shame in that!

Remember, it's your camper, so don't be afraid to think outside the box. Let your imagination run wild, and have fun envisioning the incredible transformation that awaits!

2. Prep the space:

Now, it's time to prep your canvas – or in this case, your camper. If your camper has an ugly wallpaper border, you will want to remove that first, you can do that by mixing warm water and laundry softener in a spray bottle. Spray the wallpaper and scrap off with a plastic scraper. Once that is gone begin by thoroughly cleaning your interior walls to remove any dirt, grime, or residue that could interfere with the paint's adhesion. I used a TSP wall cleaner that can be found at any paint store.

Once it's squeaky clean, protect any areas you don't want to paint, such as windows, doors, or handles, with painter's tape and plastic sheets. Trust us; your camper will thank you for the prep work. A painter's work looks best when the paint is only on the places that you wanted to paint!

3. Camper temperature is important:

I started my camper renovation when there was still snow on the ground and the camper was parked outside. For your paint to adhere properly to your camper walls you need a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius inside the camper – but make sure you check your paint can before you start painting as sometimes this temperature can vary based on the brand and type of paint you are using. To keep my camper warm while I painted in what I thought was springtime in Alberta I used an electric heater plugged in that had a temperature regulator on it to keep it at a consistent temperature of 16 degrees but your camper furnace would do the job it's in working condition! 

It can be freezing outside and still paint your camper. A tip would be to touch your camper walls and make sure they are warm to the touch and not ice cold to know if the camper is warm enough if you are painting your camper when the weather is colder.Also important that it's not too hot in the camper either. If it's too hot for you to physically paint in your camper it's likely too hot for the paint as well. Open windows, turn the A/C on or use fans to get your camper to comforable tempature.

4. Primer is required:

Now that your camper walls are clean and your camper is warm it is ready for primer. Primer is an important step in helping your paint adhere to your camper walls. Choose a good quality primer that will stick to anything. Remember your camper walls are not regular interior drywall walls that you have in your home so they will need primer. I used Go Primer by SICO paints. I used this primer on everything I painted in our camper.

With the walls primed you will already start to see the transformation that's taking place and it will feel so good and help you stay motivated to finish the project! Well, it does for us anyways!

5. Paint it:

Finally, the step you have been waiting for, the step that gives you the most satisfaction seeing all your hard work and vision come to life, Paint! With your color(s) already selected in step one, confirm you have not yet changed your mind and still love your design plan and the paint color(s). I repeat, Do not cheap out on the brand of paint you use, quality paint is important. I used the SICO Muse collection color Freezing Rain. This is the second summer in our renovated camper now and I have washed mud and sticky fingers off the walls many times and am very pleased with the durability of this brand.

Invest a good quality paint brush and roller. Apply the paint in thin, even coats, allowing ample drying time between layers. I did two coats of paint and found it covered well. Depending on what color your camper walls started and what color you are painting them you may need two coats or three, use your judgment. Take your time when you paint and watch out for any paint drips, the only drips you want are the ones from your morning coffee. As you paint, throw in a few dance moves or your favorite karaoke tunes. Who said painting can't be a party?

Painting a camper is a labor of love, so remember to pace yourself and practice patience. Rome wasn't painted in a day, and neither will your camper be. Flash back to when I started my camper renovation and thinking to myself, my camper is small, it shouldn't take long to paint it, I was very wrong about that. So whatever time you estimated to do this painting project be sure to double that! And hey if you're done sooner than your extended timeline you are winning!! Cause it's hard to take a camper camping when it's in mid reno state! Remember when renovating your camper that the journey is just as important as the destination!

Once your masterpiece is complete, step back, and take a moment to appreciate your hard work. You've transformed your camper into a personalized sanctuary on wheels, filled with your creativity and love. Now, it's time to hit the open road and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Bon voyage!

I hope you feel confident in yourself with these 5 simple steps to transform your camper with paint! Now after reading this it doesn't sound so scary, does it, or if it still does, know it's so worth it!

Check out my camper update to see how it is holding up after a full summer of camping in it and parked over the winter.

Check out more of my Camper Before and After projects on Instagram.

How long it took me to do my camper renovation.

Camper dinning area before and after.

A safety tip when camping with young children.