Despite their limited space, campervans have a way of making life simpler. Your kitchen, wardrobe, and gear all come with you, and they’re often literally within arm’s length.
There lies the rub. With such a compact space, what would have been a tolerable eyesore in a house could become an ugly, potentially hazardous mess in short order. A jacket left on the seat, a few snacks forgotten in a cupboard, or a handful of items that never quite make it back to their proper spot can slowly turn a campervan into a cramped box. Leave the mess alone long enough, and it might even start interfering with the van’s functionality.
This phenomenon is what some campers like to call “campervan clutter creep.” The good news is that a few simple habits can keep your space comfortable, functional, and ready for whatever your roadie brings. If you’re planning a summer campervan trip in NZ, starting with a well-organised approach will make all your other experiences much more enjoyable. Be sure to read these road-tested tips before you set out:
1) Give Every Item a Permanent Home
Given enough time, loose items in an active space will eventually create a disorganised mass of clutter. If something does not have a clear place to go, it will usually end up on a bench, seat, or floor, becoming a nuisance every time someone needs to do something in the van.
Before setting off, take a few minutes to decide where your essentials will live. In particular, torches, charging cables, cooking utensils, and outdoor gear should all have their own spots. Once everyone knows where things belong, tidying up easily becomes part of the routine.
2) Invest in Practical Storage
Giving everything a spot is a good start, but having adequate storage makes it easier to keep things organised. Even something as simple as a bin will keep items from sprawling out unnecessarily.
3) Pack for the Trip You Are Actually Taking
Overpacking is a rookie error, but one that isn’t necessarily based on unfounded fears. The weather can change quickly throughout much of New Zealand, so it is tempting to want to prepare for every possible situation. However, too much gear will make a small space feel even more crowded, no matter how well you organise things.
Experienced campers will focus on versatile items that work across different conditions. Unless you’ve already been on multiple campervan trips and know exactly what you want to bring, start your first journey with multi-purpose equipment and practical clothing that could be layered or stripped down as your needs dictate.
Photo by Los Muertos Crew
4) Keep Benches and Tables Clear
A clear surface can make a compact campervan feel surprisingly spacious. A cluttered bench, on the other hand, can make simple tasks like preparing breakfast or making coffee feel much more annoying than it would otherwise be.
For that reason, you’ll want to start a habit of resetting these areas after use. Put ingredients away after cooking, clear dishes once meals are finished, and never let everyday items permanently occupy valuable workspace.
5) Do a Five-Minute Evening Reset
Before settling in for the night, take a few minutes to return items to their places and clear any unnecessary mess. Make sure to put away clothes, organise tomorrow’s essentials, and make sure the dishes and cooking equipment are all ready for the next meal. Waking up to a tidy van makes the entire morning routine smoother and gives you more time to enjoy the road ahead.
6) Be Extra Strategic with Food Storage
Food, food waste, and packaging can quickly take over a campervan if it is not organised carefully. As much as possible, you’ll want to plan simple meals, group similar ingredients together, and remove unnecessary packaging where practical. Knowing exactly what you have makes cooking easier and stops your cupboards and fridge becoming a cluttered mess during longer trips.
7) Keep Wet Weather Gear Easy to Reach
New Zealand weather can change quickly, especially along alpine areas and exposed coastal roads. Without planning, the inevitable wet jackets, muddy shoes, and damp towels can create clutter surprisingly fast. A dedicated spot for wet-weather items means you can handle rainy days without turning the entire interior into a drying area.
8) Accept a Little Everyday Chaos
Finally, remember that your campervan is a travel space as well as a home. If you’re going to be using it regularly, it’s not going to look like it did in the showroom. A few crumbs on the bench or an unfolded blanket will not ruin your holiday. Keeping things organised is good, but the end of this organisation should be to create a practical, easy-to-enjoy living space. Once you spend more time managing your belongings than time enjoying the outside, then you may want to step back a little.
Keep The Clutter Out to Let the Adventure In
Campervans mean freedom, but that freedom is best enjoyed with a good measure of responsibility. Committing to a few simple routines lets you stop (or at least, limit) clutter creep before it starts to cramp your enjoyment on the road. If anything, keeping the inside organised gives you more freedom to enjoy the unexpected stops waiting beyond the door.
Despite their limited space, campervans have a way of making life simpler. Your kitchen, wardrobe, and gear all come with you, and they’re often literally within arm’s length.
There lies the rub. With such a compact space, what would have been a tolerable eyesore in a house could become an ugly, potentially hazardous mess in short order. A jacket left on the seat, a few snacks forgotten in a cupboard, or a handful of items that never quite make it back to their proper spot can slowly turn a campervan into a cramped box. Leave the mess alone long enough, and it might even start interfering with the van’s functionality.
This phenomenon is what some campers like to call “campervan clutter creep.” The good news is that a few simple habits can keep your space comfortable, functional, and ready for whatever your roadie brings. If you’re planning a summer campervan trip in NZ, starting with a well-organised approach will make all your other experiences much more enjoyable. Be sure to read these road-tested tips before you set out:
1) Give Every Item a Permanent Home
Given enough time, loose items in an active space will eventually create a disorganised mass of clutter. If something does not have a clear place to go, it will usually end up on a bench, seat, or floor, becoming a nuisance every time someone needs to do something in the van.
Before setting off, take a few minutes to decide where your essentials will live. In particular, torches, charging cables, cooking utensils, and outdoor gear should all have their own spots. Once everyone knows where things belong, tidying up easily becomes part of the routine.
2) Invest in Practical Storage
Giving everything a spot is a good start, but having adequate storage makes it easier to keep things organised. Even something as simple as a bin will keep items from sprawling out unnecessarily.
3) Pack for the Trip You Are Actually Taking
Overpacking is a rookie error, but one that isn’t necessarily based on unfounded fears. The weather can change quickly throughout much of New Zealand, so it is tempting to want to prepare for every possible situation. However, too much gear will make a small space feel even more crowded, no matter how well you organise things.
Experienced campers will focus on versatile items that work across different conditions. Unless you’ve already been on multiple campervan trips and know exactly what you want to bring, start your first journey with multi-purpose equipment and practical clothing that could be layered or stripped down as your needs dictate.
4) Keep Benches and Tables Clear
A clear surface can make a compact campervan feel surprisingly spacious. A cluttered bench, on the other hand, can make simple tasks like preparing breakfast or making coffee feel much more annoying than it would otherwise be.
For that reason, you’ll want to start a habit of resetting these areas after use. Put ingredients away after cooking, clear dishes once meals are finished, and never let everyday items permanently occupy valuable workspace.
5) Do a Five-Minute Evening Reset
Before settling in for the night, take a few minutes to return items to their places and clear any unnecessary mess. Make sure to put away clothes, organise tomorrow’s essentials, and make sure the dishes and cooking equipment are all ready for the next meal. Waking up to a tidy van makes the entire morning routine smoother and gives you more time to enjoy the road ahead.
6) Be Extra Strategic with Food Storage
Food, food waste, and packaging can quickly take over a campervan if it is not organised carefully. As much as possible, you’ll want to plan simple meals, group similar ingredients together, and remove unnecessary packaging where practical. Knowing exactly what you have makes cooking easier and stops your cupboards and fridge becoming a cluttered mess during longer trips.
7) Keep Wet Weather Gear Easy to Reach
New Zealand weather can change quickly, especially along alpine areas and exposed coastal roads. Without planning, the inevitable wet jackets, muddy shoes, and damp towels can create clutter surprisingly fast. A dedicated spot for wet-weather items means you can handle rainy days without turning the entire interior into a drying area.
8) Accept a Little Everyday Chaos
Finally, remember that your campervan is a travel space as well as a home. If you’re going to be using it regularly, it’s not going to look like it did in the showroom. A few crumbs on the bench or an unfolded blanket will not ruin your holiday. Keeping things organised is good, but the end of this organisation should be to create a practical, easy-to-enjoy living space. Once you spend more time managing your belongings than time enjoying the outside, then you may want to step back a little.
Keep The Clutter Out to Let the Adventure In
Campervans mean freedom, but that freedom is best enjoyed with a good measure of responsibility. Committing to a few simple routines lets you stop (or at least, limit) clutter creep before it starts to cramp your enjoyment on the road. If anything, keeping the inside organised gives you more freedom to enjoy the unexpected stops waiting beyond the door.
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