Help! I want to decorate my RV for Christmas! But I can hear it now: My husband wondering aloud, “How do you intend to fit Christmas decorations into our small RV? We’re tripping over things as it is!” I have a few ideas and tips for RV holiday décor, and to address my husband’s concerns, some of these decoration ideas take up zero floor space!
RV too small to decorate for Christmas?
We all need a little Christmas, even in our RVs, and no RV is too small for at least some decor. Because all RVs differ in layout, wall space, etc., I encourage you to pick and choose the ideas that will work best in your RV.
Clear clutter
No matter the season, whenever I add holiday decorations to our fifth wheel, I always begin by clearing the clutter. Maps, tour brochures, hobby equipment, and whatever else—all needs to find its own dedicated space. If I can’t figure out a spot to store something, I consider tossing it out altogether.
Remember to take visual space into account, as well. If you already have things hanging on your RV walls, placed on your sofa, or taking up visual space on the floor (e.g., rugs, dog toys), try to consolidate, reposition, or remove them for the season, if possible. This will give your eye much needed negative space. Negative space is important because it will balance the decorated areas and prevent visual clutter. This will allow you to focus on the Christmas items you will bring into the space.
Switch it out
Perhaps the easiest way to decorate your RV for Christmas is to replace everyday wall decor with Christmas-themed photos or artwork. Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Marshalls, and many other stores offer a wide variety of holiday items and wreaths for your wall. Just keep in mind where each item will go and be particular in the items you decide to purchase. Bonus: No need for new nail hole or Command hook when you use the existing one!
Use the same “switch it out” idea for linens. Department stores and even Walmart have holiday sofa pillows, rugs, comfy throws, towels, and bed linens that will bring lots of Christmas spirit into your rig. If you exchange the Christmas items with what you already have, you’ll retain the same physical and visual space that you’re accustomed to. Check out this Christmas RV bedding—how cute is that?!
A tree?
Is it possible to fit a Christmas tree inside a small space like an RV? Well, yes! That said, you may need to adjust your thinking a bit. Consider a pencil tree. What I like about this pop-up tree (above) is that it comes complete with decorations and lights. It even stores in its own box (the size of a personal pizza)!
If floor space is a concern, you might try a tabletop tree or a Christmas tree that hangs on the wall like this one from Amazon.
Did you know that you can buy a half tree? That’s right! You can purchase a half-shaped Christmas tree that can stand right up against a wall. This means the tree will take up half the floor area of a fully shaped tree. Check it out.
Little touches
If you have a very small RV (e.g., truck camper, mini) but still want holiday decor, all you need to do is think small. The following items take up no additional floor space and still pack a punch of Christmas joy.
LED candles. LED tea lights can sit almost anywhere to cast a pleasant glow when other lights are extinguished. Check out this Happy Camper LED candle!
Rope lights. You can hang these candy cane rope lights around the ceiling perimeter of your RV. Home Depot and Lowe’s offer a wide variety of lights, as well. Or consider twinkle lights that are easily available at local retailers or online.
Red bows. In our very first (and very small) RV, I used museum putty to hang little red bows all over our rig. I had bows on the table lamp, every cabinet handle, and anywhere else I could find to put them. The bows provided the splash of color and a good reminder of the holidays, no matter where I happened to look. Hint: The Dollar Tree often carries packs of 12 small bows for just $1.25 each.
Ceiling fan pulls.
You can find many different Christmas ceiling fan pulls like this on Amazon. Cuteness overload, right?
Clings. 
Window clings are another great way to decorate your RV without taking away any floor space. I really like this nativity set because it is double-sided. This means you can clearly see the design from both the inside and outside of your RV. You can also choose which individual pieces to display, depending on the size of your windows.
Table place mats. Check out Dollar Tree for inexpensive, colorful Christmas placemats. They can help bring a festive feel to any meal! There are, of course, a zillion options on Amazon, too.
Outdoors
Simple elements placed outside your RV can bring you joy, and also share holiday joy with other RVers.
Mats. Christmas welcome mats are a simple, and practical way to decorate outside. They invoke holiday feelings and also help keep dirt, sand, and other debris out of your RV.
Lights. (Note: no matter what kind of holiday lights you choose for your RV’s exterior, please make sure the lights are turned off before going to bed.) The great thing about lights is that they make a big impact. Also, lights won’t pose a trip hazard when strung from your awning or screened room. I like to add table lights to our picnic table, too. They are a great way to set the tone for your evenings outside.
Wreaths. Nothing says “Christmas” better than a holiday wreath. You can fasten one to your RV’s exterior door using a Command hook.
Do you decorate your RV for Christmas or the holidays? What décor items do you use? How do you store the decorations in the off-season?
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One space saving trick my wife does uses a reel of wide Christmas ribbon to band & bow the everyday throw pillows on our furniture. If the pillows have a graphic, it is generally only on one side. Simply turn to the plain back side and the ribbon brings back some color.
Wonderful idea, Jim. Thanks for sharing!
That’s a beautiful windshield scene!
Thank you, Gail! Great ideas! I especially liked the window clings. I did not know that such existed. Our inquisitive 5-month-old Aussie puppy prevents us decorating inside for Christmas, but we can hang lights outside and possibly add a window cling or two. Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your family.