Small RV Bedroom, Big Transformation: Custom Remodel for Comfort & Function

When we purchased our travel trailer, we were excited about having a king-size bed—but quickly discovered that bigger isn’t always better in a small space. The bedroom felt cramped and cave-like, with overhead cabinets pressing down and leaving little room to breathe. While the storage was generous, the comfort and layout were anything but.

So we reimagined the space. First, we removed the bulky overhead cabinets, instantly opening up the room and letting it breathe. But we didn’t waste a single scrap—we repurposed the wood into a beautiful, rustic headboard feature wall that added warmth and character. We then installed reading lights using the original wiring, keeping things practical and efficient.

With different sleep schedules, we turned our king mattress into two extra-long twin beds—giving each of us personal space without losing comfort. Custom wooden bases with built-in shelving gave us functional storage, while a clever step with shoe storage between the beds made getting in and out easier than ever.

The result? A personalized, open, and functional RV bedroom that finally fits how we live—not just how the factory imagined we should.

Before photo - The overhead and side cabinets gave this room a very claustrophobic feel.

The first thing we did was remove the overhead and side cabinets. We then reused some of the wood to build a upper decorative piece to hold the reading lights. My husband used the wiring that was in the original cabinets for the new lights. The wood panel covers up any wall damage and extra wiring.

He build an extension to the original bed base so we could gain more storage. This also prevented the mattress from dipping when you tried to scoot down to get off. I am not sure why manufacturers don't extend these in the first place. We used the wood veneer from the demo in as many places as we could to match. I also purchased a gray paint to match in places that we used plywood or trim.

This shows the front of the bed frame extension as well as a shoe storage / step that he made for the floor between the two beds. This makes it so much easier to get in and out of bed.

Overall, we are thrilled with how this room turned out. It is so much easier to get to everything as well as accommodate our different sleeping styles.

Products used or purchased:

1. Reading lights: Amazon https://amzn.to/4kDlnV9

2. Gray storage bins with handles: Amazon https://amzn.to/43YnlZ0

3. Wood used for the mattress platform was mostly scrap pieces of plywood and fur trim my husband had in his shop. A piano hinge was used on the shoe compartment.