There isn't one perfect campervan
Choosing Your Layout
Make the space work for your days and nights.
A good layout fits the way you sleep, cook, relax and carry your kit. Start with your routines, then decide what deserves the space.
Room for
what matters.
Think about a whole day in the van — not just a showroom visit.
Step 01: Start with how you want to sleep
Your bed choice shapes much of the space around it.
Fixed bed
Ready when you are, with storage beneath. It takes up living space throughout the day.
Consider: space versus convenience
Bed made from seating
One space does two jobs. Try the full changeover and decide where bedding will live.
Consider: the nightly routine
Separate sleeping spaces
Single beds, bunks or a pop-top may suit different needs. Check access, dimensions and setup.
Consider: who sleeps where
Try the actual beds: length, width, mattress comfort and getting in and out all matter.
Step 02: One layout. Two ways to live.
During the day
- Sit comfortably — with room for everyone
- Cook a meal — check worktop and access
- Move around — with doors and drawers open
- Spend a wet afternoon inside — without feeling in the way
At night
- Make the bed — try every step
- Reach essentials — water, toilet and warm layers
- Store loose items — table, cushions and bedding
- Move without disturbing others — if someone stays asleep
Test the changeover: where does everything go when the bed is made?
Step 03: What deserves the space?
Kitchen & food
Match worktop, cooking and fridge space to your real meals. Can you reach food with the bed made?
Toilet & washing
Decide what you need on board and what you are happy to use on site. Consider privacy and access.
Storage & living
Give everyday kit a home. Include shoes, coats, bedding and somewhere for wet items.
More facilities leave less space for something else. Choose your priorities deliberately.
Step 04: Walk through it before you choose
Start with the people
Who travels, who sleeps and who needs their own space?
Check access
Try steps, seating, bed access and the aisle with furniture in use.
Pack your real kit
Imagine clothes, food, bedding, bikes or outdoor equipment.
Try everyday tasks
Make a drink, prepare a meal and find somewhere to sit.
Look beyond the furniture
Check ventilation, heating, lighting and maintenance access.
Separate travel seats from lounge seats
Confirm which seats are approved for use while travelling.
A floor plan helps, but it cannot tell you how the space feels. Try a real van or mock up the dimensions.
The best layout is the one that makes your everyday routines easier.
List three must-haves, then walk through a morning, a rainy afternoon and bedtime. Notice where the compromises appear.
My experience
My own layout story will sit here: what works, what gets in the way and what I would change.
Personal story to add
Next consideration
Your camping style
Where you stay affects how much you need on board. Connect your layout choices to the way you travel.
Explore camping styles