Vanlife Vision: Designing Your Perfect Mobile Adventure

Whether you are dreaming of being a digital nomad or you simply want to make the most out of your camping trips, the van life vision is something that comes to mind. Because if you are going to do it, you want to do it, and we don’t blame you. The task at hand can be a bit overwhelming but exciting so we’ve put together some of our top design tips to make this whole process as seamless as possible and take some of the planning stress away from you.

While there are a million and one videos online, if you are anything like me, you prefer to have things written down so you can easily refer back to them without having to skip and wait for a video to load. Human nature is rambling on so in times where I need a small bit of information to confirm a thought, having an article to refer back to really helps with that.

So without further ado, let’s get into how you can design your dream van life. Before we get into things, you will first need to ask yourself the following questions.

What Type Of Van Are You Converting?

This is very important, as there will be things you can and can’t do depending on the size and shape of your van. For example, my partner has a Mitsubishi Delica so while it’s got the length, it’s not got much height; therefore, this takes out the possibility for a kitchen or bathroom and only leaves enough space for storage and bed space. While this is something that was both obvious and accepted before the van was bought, it does prompt the notion that you should only buy a van knowing what design you are after and how much space you would actually need.

If you want the full rig, then buying a transporter van or any other vehicle that is tall would be a better option. Not everyone needs that space or all those facilities, especially if it’s something you are only going to camp in occasionally throughout the year.

What Kind Of Bed Do You Want?

The bed space takes up the most room in every van style and shape you buy so figuring out how exactly you want it and where it will go is crucial. You want to pick it so it not only leaves room for storage but also leaves the most space for other things.

There are a few options for you to consider, such as fixed beds, convertible beds and stowaway beds. You might only have one option available to you but if you have more room to play with, then this will take more consideration.

What Do You Need For Your Van Life?

As the saying goes, full gear and no idea can also apply to the van life; there is no point getting all the best of the best stuff and installing a fully working kitchen if you aren’t going to use it often. I mean, if you have the time and resources to get it done, then by no means let us stop you. It’s more of a tip for those who aren’t high maintenance and are wondering if you can still enjoy the van life without all of it there. I’m here to tell you that a bed and some easily accessible storage are all you need.

You can not only immerse yourself in the full experience this way but there are things you can buy to take with you, like a transportable barbecue for cooking and a fridge of some sort down the line if you are planning on camping for a long period of time.

Create Your Personal Van Life Essential List

After you’ve decided and drawn out where everything is, such as the toilet, kitchen and bed, you need to create a list of all the van life essentials you will take with you on every trip. Literally, everything you need, you need to write it down. This will give you a more in-depth view of what is needed and what can be left behind. As people, we really don’t need that much, no matter how much you think about yourself. You will likely survive without it. 

Keep your essential list short and sweet, which is key for many reasons that we will get into.

How To Design Your Perfect Mobile Home

Here are a few design tips that I would like to pass on to you now that you’ve picked out the layout and what needs to be done to make your experiences that much better when you travel. 

Draw It Out

To truly see the vision before you start building your mobile home, you must map it all out. If it helps, you could draw it on boards inside the van so you can see how much space each thing will take and how much you left behind. But this also allows you to see how it flows and if it’s comfortable. Not everything will go according to plan but it’s best to have a full idea of what works for you and what doesn’t.

Seeing it all on paper is a good point of reference when you are considering materials, weighing up prices, etc. It is also a good piece to put on your vision board if you like to manifest these sorts of things!

Weight Distribution

Once the designing elements are all done and you are happy with them, you mustn’t forget weight distribution. For example, you wouldn’t want all the weight at the back of the van and neither at the front; you need to try as best as you can to even it all out. If this means keeping your storage and heavy-duty items all spread out.

Time For The Fun Part

When it comes to adding your personal touches to your new van, you need to consider the space you’ve got and what you need to add to make you feel cosy and at home.

There are little things you can add that make your van feel like home, whether it’s artificial grass, hanging baskets or fairy lights. There are loads of ways that you can spice up your space, especially if things are on the smaller end. Adding colour and plants is a great way to make things cosy. At the end of the day, the van life is to make your life easier and give you that little extra bit of freedom with travelling so don’t be afraid to experiment and look for inspiration from others. It also doesn’t have to cost a lot if you do it all yourself; outdoor living is also thrifty living.

Final Thoughts

We hope you were inspired and happy with our simple guide to designing your very own mobile home. The first step is answering the questions about what you can fit in the space, then you can play with drawings to see where everything would fit best, and then it comes down to making sure all the little boxes are checked off, such as weight distribution but once building and crafting commence, you are basically at the finish line. Polish off all your hard work by treating yourself to quality sleepwear and a luxury cushion, because why the hell not? Enjoy your travels and we hope you love the van life as much as we do!