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As I said before, each RV can be quite different both in layout and furnishings. Motorhomes and fifth wheels can be quite different inside with layouts reflecting their inherent differences. The recent addition of slide-outs has added more space to the living areas of many RVs. COCKPIT We use the overhead bed for storage. In the summer we drop it down, lay our winter coats out flat and then pull it back up! Utilizes unused space and keeps the coats in a less humid environment. In front of the coats we store all our various hats (my husband, being in the construction industry, tends to collect them). The passenger seat turns to the side, providing a better view of the
television (in the dash model) from the living area. We have a very deep dash
and this area does double duty for our fax machine and DirectTV receiver. We
have a plug overhead so it works out well. Our phone connection is on the
passenger side of the RV, just behind the seat so we don't have to drape the
cord too far. We have an old-fashioned looking black oscillating fan that sits
on top of the TV area. While the dash does have two 12-volt fans built-in, they
tend to be pretty noisy and somewhat limited. Both the driver and passenger
seats are put into use as "collectors". That is, they collect
everything and anything that needs to be accessible short term and would be in
the way otherwise! Our RV came with café style curtains in all the windows with light filtering shades behind them - except the dash area. Here there are just curtains which would allow a fair amount of light during the daytime and still be somewhat see through at night. The previous owner included pre-cut sunshades (they are insulated and aluminum paper covered - you can buy them pre-cut or in bulk rolls and cut to fit) for both windshields and the back bedroom window. They are great for reflecting the sun and providing total privacy. I hope to add ones for the side windows as well because a fair amount of light comes in here, too. MAIN LIVING AREAJust behind the cockpit area is our main living area. There is a built-in sofa that makes into a bed (similar to the current day futons but more padded), a small table with a pullout leaf and two un-mounted chairs. I really like the chairs, they swivel and rock and are quite comfortable. The table has two levels. On the upper level I put a small piece (placemat sized) of non-skid liner. Here is where I have a unique glass for pens & pencils, an antique silent butler for small miscellaneous items, a candle and two built-in cup holders. The lower shelf (which becomes the support for the pullout table) holds current reading material. I found this is a great spot to sit and make phone calls to our family and friends. Tip: Getting prepaid phones can be a good idea if you're looking for a solution to long distance phone calls while you are on the road. Behind the chair closest to the door, we have a wooden magazine rack that
holds catalogs and current magazines. Since I write, I have many more magazines
than would fit here so on the floor behind the chair is a cardboard storage
container for my magazines and the various newsletters I receive. There is
storage under the top shelf but because it's inconvenient to get to I don't
store much here. It is a good place to put my various knick-knacks when we are
on the move, though. Also since the table projects from the wall about 15",
This table doubles as a work area for my laptop and when I am fully setup, my HP LaserJet sits very nicely on the upper level of the table with the laptop and mouse on the pullout leaf. I do have to use extra cushions behind my back and to sit on, though, since the chairs are fairly low. As I said in an earlier article, we use the storage space under the sofa for
extra pantry items, especially the heavy things. But we also use behind the sofa
for extra pillows.
Other storage areas are the spots between the sofa and the driver seat and between the passenger seat and the chair. We use these spaces for work boots, our 5" battery TV, my padded lapdesk, a golf-size umbrella and other hard to store items.
I have tried to make our living area somewhat ours. We don't have much space for pictures or knick-knacks but I have tried to take advantage of the space we have. The only real space for pictures is between our upper cabinets.  This
makes things a little easier since we can use real screws without worrying about
damaging the exterior of the RV. I have a cute little wooden sign that our
daughter gave us hanging over the sofa. The cabinets over the chairs have a
woven swag lamp hanging on a plant hook and I have also hung a very small wind
chine as well. I hung a couple of favorite pictures above dining area, in the
hallway and over the bed as well. I also have an antique looking thermometer in
the kitchen area, by the pantry closet.
I have the fortune of having fabric covered enclosed valances over all the
windows and the door. I have used the area over the door to store my favorite
knick-knacks - a Hummel Goose Girl figurine I gave my mother when I was ten, a
leaded crystal frog given to me as a gift, an oriental
Some images copyright www.arttoday.com
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Ours needs to be dropped down for use, unlike the Class C bed, which is always
in place. Actually, with the overhead bed, the sofa, the dining area and our
bed, we can supposedly sleep eight people. All I know is that they would have to
be small or very friendly!
I store our
one-step stool under here as well. It's handy and doubles as a footstool.
One caution, be sure to
pull them out before laying the sofa down otherwise it lays uneven and makes for
quite an uncomfortable night (just ask Mike's brother!).
The
cabinets overhead are used to store video tapes, CDs & CD player, cassettes,
toys for grandchildren and other visiting kids, books and office supplies. I try
to group like things together and make heavy use of the shoebox-size plastic
storage boxes (usually found for $1.00 in most discount stores). I keep only the
most often used office items in here with the extras (and backup supplies)
stored in a tote in the basement area.
box with two card decks
that my father brought home from the Korean war and a couple of other little
things. I don't know where I would have put them otherwise. In the kitchen I
used the valance to hang my stained glass sun-catcher and on the dining table I
have a tole-painted enamel coffee pot that holds the silk flowers from my
wedding bouquet.