From beautiful holiday parks to innovative caravan storage ideas, the team here at Allens Caravans are well-versed in every aspect of the caravan lifestyle. Read on for some of our favourite space-saving, clutter clearing caravan storage ideas and handy tips designed to help you get the most out of your holiday home away from home!
Caravan holidays are some of the most beloved British getaways, heralding nostalgia, fun, adventure and exploration. As well as this, they also present a perfect opportunity to bond with your family and loved ones, bringing everyone closer together to enjoy a special, memorable experience together. This is something that is increasingly important in today’s digital world, and for that, it’s important never to overlook the benefits of a caravan holiday.
Traditional caravans are designed and loved by those in search of a simple life with precious little to worry about. After all, the caravan lifestyle is all about relaxation, unwinding, and spending time in the great outdoors in the company of some of your favourite people in the world. The ideal caravan break requires nothing more than you, your friends and family, and the bare essentials… but some essentials are larger than others!
When you are in the process of packing your bags for a stay at one of our outstanding UK holiday parks, it’s important to carefully consider what you need and what you can afford to go without for the duration of your break.
You can find a comprehensive checklist of everything you will need to bring here, but here is a quick breakdown to cover the essentials:
Of course, not everything on the above list will be applicable for everyone, depending on whether you have your own caravan or are renting one for the duration of your holiday. This means it’s important to create your checklist with your own situation in mind to avoid bringing extra items unnecessarily.
Now, we’re well aware that this might cause a bit of controversy (especially with the younger members of the family!) but one of our best recommendations to save space and get the most out of your holiday is to consider leaving the gadgets and technology at home. Before the inevitable outcry, let us explain – there is always plenty to see and do, both on and around our parks, and we’re sure that you’ll never have a dull moment! There are plenty of ways to stay entertained throughout the day and, after all, the beauty of nature is always best experienced with your own eyes rather than through the lens of a camera.
One of the most effective ways to save space in a caravan is to invest in collapsible items that can easily be folded away and stored after use. Not only will this help to maximise the space that you do have available but storing unused items away will help the caravan seem larger and more open. You can easily buy folding and collapsible versions of everyday items like tables and chairs fairly cheaply – perfect for your next caravan adventure.
Similarly, to help keep things together, reduce packing and unpacking time, and minimise the risk of clutter creeping into your caravan, invest in small boxes and Tupperware that can be easily stored in accessible spaces. This way, you will be able to keep everything together and avoid the nightmare of rummaging through your caravan in a blind panic when you can’t find anything!
More experienced caravanners will likely be well aware of the importance of utilising every last bit of space to its fullest advantage, but if you’re still struggling, here are some great ideas and savvy storage hacks to get you started.
You might think that your cupboards are full, however, if you are only using them to store tinned food and smaller utensils then chances are, you have a ton of wasted space. You can resolve this by stacking tins or by using a multiple shelf caddy – this way, you will be able to find things easier and it will give you much more room to play with.
If you have an ever-growing amalgamation of various different plugs it can be quite challenging to figure out which one is for what. Simply labelling them can make it so much easier for you to plug in what you need – not to mention how tidy it will look, too.
If your bedroom always looks cluttered due to your vast collection of clothes (or your not-so-well hidden shopping addiction) it may be beneficial to introduce some drawer dividers. You can buy these or even make them out of cardboard and they can instantly revolutionise the way in which you store your garments. You will be able to fit much more in, find things a lot quicker and feel a lot more organised, too! Result.
If you’re an avid reader with stacks of books, you might often find yourself taking an absolute age to find a particular one amidst the mass. Reorganising your bookshelf and placing your literature in some form of order can do wonders for you next time you fancy a quick read – not to mention how therapeutic the whole exercise can be, too.
Having dedicated folders for various documents is quite common in most households today – but we can often end up with several different folders for various different things which can get quite confusing – labelling your files is a great way to allow you to identify its contents without having to rifle through each and every file first.
It can often be difficult to place the bin somewhere convenient whilst also out of the way. An easy solution for this is to place some hooks on the inside of a cabinet door and attach two bags to it; one for general waste and the other for recycling – a surefire way to ensure that you stay organised even when getting rid of rubbish.
Along the same lines, if you have your own caravan, adding sticky-back hooks to walls, cupboards and the backs of doors can make a great way to hang items such as coats, bags, towels and dog leads neatly out of the way. Similarly, if you have an out-of-the-way area to put a hanging shoe rack, this can make a great way to keep shoes together and avoid getting muddy footprints on the caravan floor!
In the kitchen, stackable crockery and tiered baskets are the way to go. Food like fruit and vegetables can be easily stored in baskets, along with dry goods, to maximise the space you have available. For cooking essentials, it may be an idea to decant larger pots or jars into smaller travel-friendly alternatives. Cooking oil, herbs and spices are all great options for this – and the same method can be applied to toiletries, too!
Storage boxes designed specifically for mobile homes have always been firm favourites among caravan owners. These secure boxes can be placed outside the caravan or park home and allow for simple, easy storage of items both big and small – depending on the size of your chosen unit.
Good quality outdoor storage boxes are secure, waterproof and weatherproof, ensuring that your items can be safely locked away without the need to worry about any damage being sustained. Another bonus of this storage method is that a lot more space will be freed up inside your caravan, allowing for a clearer, cleaner interior while ensuring you make full use of the available outdoor space instead.
To put it simply – anything that you don’t need or use any more, get it gone! Space is precious and clutter is bad enough at home, never mind in the caravan. All the caravan storage ideas and space-saving tips in the world won’t be much use to you if your caravan is filled with unnecessary clutter – all the more reason to be harsh and unforgiving. Form a list of everything you need (including the essentials) and don’t be tempted to pack things you know you won’t use!
By following our handy advice and caravan storage ideas to help maximise the space you have available, your stay at one of our parks is sure to be a great one. For more information on our range of holiday caravan parks, please don’t hesitate to browse our parks or give us a call today on 01564 792323.
Allens Caravans Estates Ltd is registered in England and Wales - Reg No. 525635
