6 Best Easy To Apply Wallpapers For Diy RV Projects to Maximize Space

Staring at the same drab, wood-paneled RV walls can make even the most scenic campsite feel a little uninspired. You know the ones—that sea of faux-cherry or oak that seems to absorb all the light in the room. Transforming that space feels like a massive undertaking, but it’s one of the highest-impact DIY projects you can tackle. The right wallpaper doesn’t just add personality; it can fundamentally change your perception of the space, making it feel brighter, taller, and more open.

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Prepping RV Walls for a Flawless Finish

Before you even think about unrolling that beautiful new wallpaper, you have to deal with the walls you have. Most RV walls are made of thin luan plywood covered in a vinyl or paper-like film, which isn’t an ideal surface for adhesion. Proper prep is 90% of the job and the single biggest factor in whether your project looks professional or like a DIY disaster.

Start by cleaning the walls thoroughly with a TSP (trisodium phosphate) substitute or a simple degreasing cleaner. RVs accumulate a surprising amount of grime from cooking, dust, and daily life. Any residue will prevent the wallpaper adhesive from sticking properly. After cleaning, lightly scuff the entire surface with fine-grit sandpaper (around 220-grit) to give the primer something to grip.

The non-negotiable step is priming. Use a high-quality, adhesion-promoting primer designed for slick surfaces, like Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer or Kilz Adhesion. This creates a uniform, bondable surface for your wallpaper. It also prevents the dark original wall color from showing through lighter papers and seals the wall, making future wallpaper removal much easier. Don’t skip this; you’ll regret it when your wallpaper starts peeling in the first bout of humidity.

RoomMates: Repositionable for Easy Application

For anyone new to wallpapering, especially in the tight, unforgiving quarters of an RV, RoomMates is a game-changer. Their peel-and-stick papers are genuinely repositionable. This means you can peel a section back off the wall to fix a bubble, straighten a seam, or realign a pattern without losing all the adhesive or tearing the paper. It takes the high-stakes pressure out of the application process.

This feature is invaluable when working around cabinets, windows, and the weird angles common in RVs. You can lay a sheet, make your cuts, and if you misjudge, you simply lift and try again. Traditional wallpaper gives you no such second chances. The low-stress application makes it a perfect entry point for DIYers who want a big impact without a steep learning curve.

RoomMates also offers an enormous range of patterns, from simple textures to bold botanicals. This allows you to find a style that fits your vision, whether you’re creating a calm, neutral bedroom or a vibrant, statement-making dinette. The vinyl material is also washable, a crucial feature for a space that sees a lot of living in a small footprint.

NuWallpaper Grasscloth for Textured Lightness

One of the best ways to make a small space feel more expansive is to add texture without adding visual clutter. NuWallpaper’s peel-and-stick grasscloth options are brilliant for this. They mimic the look of real woven grasscloth, bringing an organic, airy feel to the interior. This subtle texture catches light beautifully, adding depth and interest to a flat wall.

The beauty of a textured, neutral wallpaper is its ability to hide imperfections. RV walls are rarely perfectly smooth, and a grasscloth pattern is incredibly forgiving of small bumps or divots that a flat, glossy paper would highlight. It provides a sophisticated, high-end look that feels both natural and intentional.

By choosing a light color like beige, cream, or a soft gray, you get the double benefit of texture and light-reflecting color. This combination works to push the walls back visually, making the room feel larger and less boxy. It’s a perfect choice for a main living area or bedroom where you want a serene and open atmosphere.

Livelynine Vinyl: Durable for High-Traffic Areas

Let’s be realistic: an RV is a high-traffic, high-impact environment. Hallways, kitchens, and bathroom areas get bumped, scraped, and splashed constantly. This is where a product like Livelynine’s thick, durable vinyl wallpaper shines. It’s designed to take a beating.

This type of wallpaper is often marketed as countertop or cabinet contact paper, which tells you everything you need to know about its toughness. It’s significantly thicker than many decorative wallpapers, making it resistant to tearing during application and scuffing during daily use. It’s also waterproof and oil-proof, so you can wipe away kitchen splatters or bathroom condensation without a second thought.

While the primary benefit is durability, Livelynine offers a wide array of realistic finishes, like faux marble, concrete, and wood grains. This allows you to add a touch of rugged or refined style to areas that need it most. You’re trading some ease of application for long-term resilience, but for a galley kitchen backsplash or an entryway wall, that’s a smart trade to make.

HaokHome Geometric Prints to Widen Your Space

The right pattern can be a powerful tool for manipulating the perception of space. HaokHome specializes in bold, modern geometric prints that can work visual magic in a small interior. The key is choosing the right scale and orientation.

To make a narrow hallway or room feel wider, look for patterns with strong horizontal lines or elements. A design with a repeating horizontal diamond or chevron pattern will draw the eye from side to side, creating an illusion of width. Conversely, avoid busy, small-scale patterns. A tiny, intricate design can feel chaotic and actually make a space feel more cluttered and closed-in.

Think of it this way: a single large-scale geometric accent wall can become a focal point, giving the room a sense of depth. It tricks the brain into perceiving more space than is actually there. By using a pattern strategically on just one or two walls, you get the expansive benefit without overwhelming the interior.

Tempaper & Co. for High-End Designer Looks

If you’re aiming for a specific, magazine-worthy aesthetic, Tempaper & Co. is the brand to look at. They collaborate with designers to create sophisticated, on-trend patterns and textures that you won’t find elsewhere. This is the choice for when you want your RV to feel less like a camper and more like a boutique hotel.

Their wallpapers often have a richer texture and more complex color palette, which can make a small space feel incredibly luxurious. An accent wall behind the bed or in the dinette using one of their metallic or textured prints can elevate the entire vehicle. It’s a perfect example of how a small amount of a high-quality material can have an outsized impact.

While Tempaper is on the pricier side, you don’t need to paper your entire rig with it. The goal here is a strategic statement. Using it on a slide-out wall or a small feature area provides that designer touch without the designer budget. It’s an investment in a focal point that makes the rest of your decor look more intentional.

NextWall Striped Patterns to Add Visual Height

Low ceilings are a universal challenge in RVs. One of the oldest tricks in the interior design book is using vertical stripes to create the illusion of height, and it’s especially effective in a camper. NextWall offers a great selection of simple, clean striped patterns that are perfect for this job.

A subtle, low-contrast stripe is often more effective than a bold, high-contrast one. A soft gray and white or a tone-on-tone beige stripe will draw the eye upward without being jarring or busy. This visual lift can make a cramped bedroom or a compact living area feel significantly more airy and spacious.

The application is also more straightforward than with complex patterns. Matching up simple stripes is far easier than aligning an intricate floral or geometric design, making it a great project for a DIYer. For maximum effect, consider running the stripes up an entire wall, from floor to ceiling, to create an unbroken vertical line.

Application Tips for Tricky Corners & Curves

RV interiors are full of challenges that you won’t find in a house. Walls curve, corners aren’t a perfect 90 degrees, and you have to work around countless built-ins. Success comes down to patience and a few key techniques. First, invest in a good toolkit: a sharp craft knife with extra blades, a felt-edged squeegee, and a measuring tape are non-negotiable.

When approaching a curved wall, like those often found in the front cap of a motorhome or fifth wheel, don’t try to force a large sheet of wallpaper to conform. Instead, hang the sheet straight and make small, vertical "relief cuts" at the top and bottom where the paper starts to bunch up. This allows the paper to lay flat against the curve. Smooth from the center out, overlapping the small cuts, which will be nearly invisible once fully smoothed down.

For inside corners, don’t try to wrap a single piece of paper tightly into the corner. It will inevitably pull away or bubble. The professional method is to run the first sheet about a half-inch past the corner onto the adjacent wall. Then, hang the next sheet directly in the corner, overlapping that half-inch flap. This creates a clean, sharp seam that won’t separate with temperature changes.

When cutting around windows or outlets, apply the full sheet of wallpaper directly over the obstacle. Use your squeegee to smooth the paper up to the edges of the opening. Then, using your sharp knife, carefully puncture the center and cut diagonally out to the corners of the opening. This creates flaps you can trim precisely against the edge of the window frame or outlet for a perfect fit.

Wallpaper is one of the most transformative and affordable tools you have for personalizing your RV. It’s not just about covering up old walls; it’s about strategically using color, texture, and pattern to make your small space work for you. Start with a small, simple wall to build your confidence, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create a home on wheels that truly feels like your own.