6 Best Storage Solutions For Small RVs That Maximize Every Inch
Maximize your small RV with 6 clever storage solutions. Our guide covers vertical organizers and multi-use items to help you use every inch effectively.
You’ve packed the essentials, but the RV door barely closes and you haven’t even touched the camping chairs or the extra bedding. This is the moment every small rig owner faces, where the dream of open-road freedom collides with the reality of four hundred square feet. Smart storage isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about making your mobile life functional, comfortable, and sustainable for the long haul.
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Maximizing Storage in Your Small RV’s Space
Living in a small RV requires a fundamental shift in how you see space. Forget thinking room-by-room; you need to think inch-by-inch. Every vertical surface, the back of every door, and the empty air inside a deep cabinet is an opportunity. This isn’t about minimalism or getting rid of your favorite things. It’s about creating intelligent systems so everything has a designated home.
The goal is to reduce friction in your daily life. When you know exactly where the headlamps are, you can grab them and go. When your pantry isn’t a jumble of half-empty bags, making dinner is a joy, not a chore. We’re moving beyond simply "putting things away" and into the realm of designing a space that actively works for you, even when it’s bouncing down a forest service road.
Simple Houseware Over-Door Hanging Organizers
Organize shoes and more with this over-the-door organizer. It features 24 clear pockets and easily hangs on standard doors, protecting items from dust and damage.
The back of a door is one of the most underutilized surfaces in any small space. A simple, clear-pocket shoe organizer is one of the most versatile tools in my arsenal. Forget shoes—these are perfect for creating a vertical pantry on your bathroom or closet door. Think spices, small condiment bottles, packets of oatmeal, and tea bags.
In the bathroom, one of these can hold all your toiletries, from toothbrushes to sunscreen, freeing up precious counter and cabinet space. I keep one near the entry door for small, essential items: dog leashes, flashlights, bug spray, and keys. This single item turns a flat, useless panel into 24 individual storage pockets. Just be sure to choose a sturdy one; the cheap, flimsy versions won’t survive the rigors of travel.
mDesign Under Shelf Baskets for Cabinet Space
Maximize kitchen and pantry space with this 2-pack of mDesign under-shelf baskets. The durable wire construction slides easily for convenient access to food, drinks, and snacks.
Look inside any standard RV cabinet and you’ll see it: a huge pocket of wasted air above your stack of plates or folded clothes. Under-shelf baskets are the answer. These simple wire baskets slide directly onto your existing shelf, instantly creating a second level of storage without any drilling or permanent modification.
Imagine doubling your dish storage. You can keep plates on the main shelf and bowls or mugs in the basket above them, making everything accessible without unstacking the entire pile. I use them for clothes, separating socks and underwear from shirts in the same cabinet. Before you buy, measure the thickness of your shelves and the depth of your cabinet. A basket that’s too deep will prevent the cabinet door from closing, a classic rookie mistake.
Command Hooks: Damage-Free Wall Organization
In an RV, drilling a hole is a big commitment. It can void warranties, create a potential leak point, and is a pain to patch if you change your mind. This is where Command Hooks become your best friend. They allow you to leverage vertical wall space for lightweight storage without leaving a trace.
Don’t just think of them for hanging towels or jackets, though they are great for that. Use smaller hooks inside cabinet doors to hang measuring spoons, cooking utensils, or pot holders. Place a hook by the door for your keys so you never lose them. Use the water-resistant versions inside your shower to hang loofahs and razors.
The key is to create a system. By giving every small, frequently used item a dedicated hook, you eliminate surface clutter. Your counters stay clear and your mind stays clearer. Just be realistic about weight limits; these are for your kitchen utensils, not your cast iron skillet.
OXO POP Containers for Secure Pantry Stacking
Keep food fresh and your pantry organized with the OXO Good Grips POP Container. Its airtight seal and stackable design maximize space, while the fill line helps you store staples like flour and sugar.
An RV pantry is a hostile environment during travel. Bumps, turns, and sudden stops can turn a bag of flour or a box of crackers into a powdery mess. Original food packaging is flimsy, inefficient, and prone to spills. This is where investing in a set of quality airtight containers pays for itself.
OXO POP containers are a popular choice for a reason: they are modular, stackable, and truly airtight. The square and rectangular shapes mean there is no wasted space between them, unlike round containers. You can see exactly what’s inside and how much is left, which simplifies meal planning and grocery runs.
Yes, they are an upfront investment. But consider the cost of replacing a bag of expensive almond flour that spilled all over your cabinet or throwing out stale chips. Secure, stackable containers transform a chaotic pantry into a reliable, organized system that protects your food and your sanity.
Sea to Summit X-Series for Collapsible Cookware
Kitchen items are notoriously bulky. A pot, a kettle, and a few bowls can easily consume an entire cabinet. For small RVs where every inch counts, collapsible cookware is a game-changer. The Sea to Summit X-Series, designed for backpacking but perfect for RVs, uses a rigid metal base with flexible, food-grade silicone walls.
This means a 1.3-liter pot collapses down to just over an inch thick. A full-size kettle can flatten to the size of a small frisbee. You can store an entire set of cookware—pots, pans, bowls, and cups—in the space a single traditional saucepan would occupy.
The tradeoff is that you need to be mindful of flame height on a gas stove to avoid damaging the silicone walls, and they aren’t ideal for high-heat searing. But for boiling water, making pasta, or simmering a sauce, they are a brilliant solution that can free up an astonishing amount of kitchen storage.
Thule Rooftop Cargo Boxes for Bulky Gear
Add 16 cubic feet of secure storage to your vehicle with the Thule 615 Pulse cargo box. Its FastGrip mounting system allows for quick installation, and the central locking system ensures maximum security.
There are some things that just don’t belong inside your living space. We’re talking about the bulky, awkward, and often dirty gear: camp chairs, outdoor rugs, leveling blocks, and extra sewer hoses. Storing these items inside eats up valuable living space and tracks dirt into your home. A rooftop cargo box is the definitive solution.
By moving all of your outdoor gear to the roof, you free up entire exterior bays or interior closets for more important items. This creates a clean separation between your living space and your "garage." It keeps the grit and grime outside where it belongs.
Of course, there are considerations. A rooftop box will affect your fuel economy and add to your vehicle’s total height, which is critical to track for tunnels and low-clearance obstacles. But for those who carry a lot of recreational gear, the benefit of reclaiming your interior space is almost always worth the tradeoff. It’s the single biggest move you can make to make a small RV feel larger.
Combining Solutions for Ultimate RV Organization
The most organized RVs don’t rely on a single magic product. They use a layered system where different solutions work together to create a cohesive whole. The real transformation happens when you start combining these ideas.
Think about it this way: The rooftop cargo box holds your camp chairs, which frees up the large pass-through storage bay. Now that bay can hold your tools and emergency supplies, which were previously taking up a cabinet inside. That newly empty cabinet can now be fitted with an under-shelf basket to neatly store your OXO containers full of pantry staples. On the inside of that cabinet door, you’ve placed Command Hooks to hang your can opener and measuring cups.
See how it works? Each solution creates a new opportunity. It’s a cascading effect of smart organization. Start by identifying your biggest pain point—whether it’s kitchen clutter or bulky gear—and implement one solution. Then see what new space that opens up, and tackle the next challenge from there.
Ultimately, mastering storage in a small RV is less about finding the perfect bin and more about cultivating a mindset of efficiency. By using these tools to create systems, you’re not just organizing your stuff; you’re designing a more functional and enjoyable life on the road. Now you can spend less time searching for things and more time enjoying the view.
