You have a good idea about which base vehicle to buy to convert into your dream home on wheels. But how do you go about designing your perfect camper layout?
How do you decide what to include or what you don’t need?
What if you finish your conversion only to realise that there’s a crucial element missing?
This post is here to help! We’ve gathered up a few of our favourite camper layout ideas to give you some inspiration for your own conversion.
We’ve included layouts for small, medium and long wheelbase vans and larger vehicles.
And it’s not just us doing the talking! Each contributor to this post has shared their personal design process. They’ve revealed some of their clever and unique design features and told us what they wish they’d included in their conversion.
Our post on finding the perfect van size explains in more detail that categorising vans into short, medium, and long wheelbase can be tricky!
There’s always going to be some dovetailing because of the way different models are categorised. But, generally speaking, it looks a little like this:
We plan to keep adding to this post to bring you more and more layouts, so if you’ve got a layout not featured here, drop us a comment or a message!
And once you’ve finished gathering inspiration from this post, head over to our mammoth guide to designing your own camper layout!
So, that’s enough from us for now! We’ll pass you over to these lovelies from the #vanlife family.
Table of Contents:
Camper Layout Ideas: Short Wheelbase
A short wheelbase camper is arguably the most difficult to convert because you’ve got to cram so much stuff into a teensy space! So, you need lots of space-saving ideas and a reduced packing list.
On the positive side, short wheelbase vans are about the same size as large cars. Therefore, parking is rarely an issue, and you’re able to tackle little lanes that’d be a no go for large campers.
Usually, short wheelbase campers will have a convertible bed to make the most of the space, but as you’ll see, that’s not always the case! Who will win the battle between convertible VS permanent bed setups?
Laura Eliza @lauraeliza.vanadventures
Laura Eliza has managed an incredible feat in her Ford Transit; she’s fitted a fixed widthways bed! It provides plenty of room for her as a solo female traveller, although it’s a bit cosy if she has guests.
The Ford Transit van has an extra 2 feet in length than a VW T5. Because of this, Laura Eliza also has room for a little kitchen and storage area. But, on the other hand, she’s had to sacrifice a seating area.
We love Laura Eliza’s portable hob in her little kitchen. She is testimony that you don’t need a full fixed kitchen with all the mod cons to go out and enjoy vanlife!
Base Vehicle:
Ford Transit, short wheelbase, low roof
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
I love having the little kitchen next to the sliding door so I can pull up at beautiful locations, open the door and make a coffee on the hob whilst looking at the fabulous views!
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
I haven’t included any unique designs really, just tried to make it as functional as possible in a small area.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
I would have made a slightly bigger kitchen area with an extendable surface I could pull out for a bit more workspace!
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
I have a big loo! (A bucket with a toilet seat!) And a solar shower which I hook up at the back of the van and put a tapestry up as a shower curtain!
Is there anything that you wish you had in your camper layout?
I wish I had a bit more storage!
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
I love my bed design! It’s a little small and cosy if there’s 2 people, so I need to make a DIY bed extension. But for just me it works so well!
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
I wanted a fixed bed at the back, so I always have the convenience to just pull up somewhere for a nap! My inspiration was definitely other van life Instagram pages!
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
I’m not sure! I love everyone’s unique ideas!
Jennifer @tipsymangodreams
Another Ford Transit is Jennifer’s van Tipsy. Her rolling home is an upcycled dream! OK, so we’re supposed to be focusing on her layout, but everything is just so darn pretty!
Like Laura Eliza, Jennifer doesn’t have a fixed kitchen ( although she does have a fixed sink). Instead, she has a portable stove that stores away in one of the cupboards, making her space more adaptable.
Jennifer’s convertible seating/bed is an L shape, like Vandercamp’s. However, her layout is the other way around to ours, giving her the entire back wall as cupboard space.
Base Vehicle:
2020 Ford Transit. Short wheelbase and medium roof.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
I have 2 answers.
First, I love the corner couch because even though my van is the shortest length available for a Ford transit, it still is comfortable to have 5 people inside hanging out. It’s a social space (when I want it to be).
The other thing is I intentionally made it so I could go from the front to the back without getting out of the van. This was at first for my future dog (lol) but I’m so grateful because as a solo female I sometimes pull up to spots after dark and don’t feel safe getting out of the van.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
The flip up table that is also a game board is pretty great. I also really, really like my custom rooftop deck. It’s built out of aluminium fence posts and deck wood.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
I wish I would have gotten the AWD transit. They came out in 2020 and whenever I think about it I kick myself.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
No toilet but I do have a coffee can that I use for a #1 in the middle of the night when I’m somewhere I can’t go outside. For a shower I have a simple pocket solar shower that I hang from the back corner of my van. Then I open the back door, so I have a little privacy.
Is there anything that you wish you had in your camper layout?
A refrigerator. I use a cooler and it’s a pain in the butt. But a fridge pulls too much power for my solar system.
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
I love my bed. I found a great tutorial by this older guy with a golden retriever. He had so many amazing tips for making the pull-out bed function well. Also, I only pull it out all the way when I have someone with me. When I’m solo, I can just pull it out a little. This flexibility is SUPER convenient.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
@parkingonthewildside was my inspiration van. I chose my layout to maximize the hangout space and I sacrificed storage for more windows because I wanted to see out. I knew I’d be sitting inside working a lot.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
Definitely @parkingonthewildside
I also really like @project_van_rambo
Camper Layout Ideas: Medium Wheelbase
Medium wheelbase vans are generally slightly longer and slightly taller than a short wheelbase. However, as we’ve already said, there’s often a bit of dovetailing!
A medium wheelbase van will comfortably fit in a regular parking bay. Like the short wheelbase, it can tackle small roads and tight bends.
The significant advantage of a medium wheelbase is obviously the extra room you get! Having an extra few feet of length and height means that you’re not tightly cramming so much stuff in!
Lauren @ayorkshiresoul_
Lauren’s campervan is a masterclass in clever conversions! She’s got a fully built kitchen, a fixed bed, two seats, a games/dining area, an office, AND a sofa, all in a medium wheelbase van!
“But how?!” I hear you cry! Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out, won’t you?!
We love Lauren’s massive window over the kitchen, so she can cook and wash up with incredible views. Her medium wheelbase is the perfect home for her, her partner and their two dogs.
Base Vehicle:
It’s a medium wheelbase LDV Maxus (originally a school minibus).
What’s your favourite feature of your campervan layout?
I think it has to be our kitchen, everything from the décor to layout is perfect and we love it. There’s a number of special touches that stands out to us and makes it feel like home, such as our pull out spice rack.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
Yes, so we created a adaptable living area on a budget that can be transformed from a dining room, to office, to sofa in minutes. We have two fixed seats either side of the van and then a pull out wooden cabinet that fits between to create a sofa. There are also two fixings above this that we can use to slot in a table for dinners or to work from.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
I think if we were to change anything it would be having our bed layout. It would be cool to have an extendable bed to create a spacious king size. We have two dogs and the biggest dog jumps in with us every night and takes up the entire bed.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
We have a portable toilet which we strictly use for pees only. For showers, we tend to use campsite facilities or go natural and wild swim ourselves clean!
Is there anything that you wish you had in your camper layout?
I’m not going to lie; a bathroom would be so cool. It’s just one of those home comforts – a place to do your skin care routine, you know?
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
Haha, my partner is 6 foot and he does have to sleep with his feet in the window. So a bigger bed would be nice.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
We know that we needed a sofa, because I’m not going to lie – I love laying back on a sofa and watching trash tv. My partner and I are obsessed with games, so the dining table also was essential.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
Have a read of Lauren’s blog here!
Ash and Marjolein: @obie_van
Ash and M have really made the most of the available space, and managed to pack loads of features into their camper.
Two opposite facing seats and a galley kitchen means they’ve still had space to have a fixed bed.
They’ve created a tonne of storage under the bench seats and the raised platform bed, and they’ve even got a hidden toilet!
Base Vehicle:
Fiat Ducato medium wheel base. High roof.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
We love the kitchen! We have so much bench space which is great for cooking, we can really spread out. Also, having a little fold up table to eat food on is one of our favourite parts.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
It took a while to figure out how we could have our camp toilet always set up inside a seat and have the seat be able to open to use the toilet. This means we only need to move the toilet to empty it and it is neatly tucked away inside a seat!
The other feature we love is that our long surfboard has its own special storage spot. Custom surfboard storage, I’m worried to buy a new board because it might not fit!
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
We used real kitchen tiles for the kitchen and a heavy backboard to attach them to, this looks awesome but we realised that it probably would have been just as easy and look just as good to use a more lightweight and easier stick on tiles.
Do you have a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
We don’t have a shower, we just use public ones such as at beaches or ones at campsites.
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
We love it! It’s a fixed bed position, so we can leave it setup, we chose to buy a Fiat Ducato because they are wide, and even Marjolein (a tall Dutchie) can sleep across the van, which maximises space.
We used to have a camp mattress, but recently bought a proper mattress and it’s next level, it makes it so comfortable having a good mattress.
Under the bed we have lots of storage space and the fridge so it works well having it fixed.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
Our starting point was having the bed go across the van, we wanted to do this to give us extra space to play with, the other thing we started with was that a very specific surfboard had to fit underneath with ease, so we worked the rest around those two things.
We also wanted to be able to have a little table to sit and eat opposite each other so we didn’t bump elbows while eating.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
Camper Layout Ideas: Long Wheelbase
With a long wheelbase, there are so many possibilities with your camper layout. There’s the potential to include so many different things!
If you’re super savvy with space, you could have a fixed bed, separate seating area, kitchen and still have plenty of room for a shower and toilet cubicle.
The downside to a long wheelbase is that they’re not as nifty at city driving, and you might find you struggle to fit it into an average car parking space.
Sophie and Jake @sun_fluur
We love the spacious feel in Sophie and Jake’s van. Having a square of open floor makes their van look minimal and uncluttered. However, there are some elements that Sophie and Jake wish they had in their conversion.
Like Laura Eliza and Jennifer’s conversions, Sophie and Jake don’t have a fixed cooker and have a pretty minimal kitchen.
We’re impressed at how much storage space they’ve created while still holding on to a simple, minimal feel. Again, I know we’re focused on layout, but the autumnal colours look so cosy!
Base Vehicle:
Citroën Relay, Mk 2, 2005. Long wheelbase and medium/high top
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
Our kitchen which we made from reclaimed wood. The drawers and cupboard doors were made from old elm, the worktop is oak floorboards, and the spice rack was handmade from an old pine dresser.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
The white walls and side door window make it nice and light inside, but we’d still love more windows. We opted not to include back windows by the bed for stealthy City camping but it would be lovely to wake up to a view.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
Yes, we have a compost toilet that doubles up as a seat. This is a lifesaver and something we wouldn’t want to live without. We based ours on the one showed on @theindieprojects which we thought was great.
We don’t have a shower but made sure to have a large sink for washing. We have been known to wash under waterfalls, and we check into a campsite every now and then to get super clean!
Is there anything that you wish you had in your camper layout?
A table to have a more solid place to eat and work. We did have a go at a pull-out one, also on runners, but it never got past the prototype stage – next time!!
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
The bed works well for me (Sophie 5ft 3) but is a bit cramped for Jake (6ft 2). We manage fine but have friends who have extendable beds which might have been an option to consider in the planning stage.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
We wanted to utilise the space we had. Originally, we were going to have the kitchen along the side wall. Although, we wanted to include a seat and instead put that against the side wall with a view out of the window. The kitchen sits against our front seats.
Design wise, we really wanted a cosy space inspired by log cabins. Our wooden kitchen, cladding around the bed, gate hinges and autumnal textiles were all fitting with the cabin vibe.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
Jo and Jack (and their dog Frank): @thesewildjourneys
Jo and Jack have created a master class of space efficiency in their Sprinter van!
Firstly, they’ve created enough sleeping space for the super tall Jack. They’ve also got a seating area, a good-sized kitchen, lots of storage space AND a separate shower/toilet cubicle.
We’re particularly fond of their galley kitchen. Half of it faces the sliding door, meaning they get to enjoy fabulous views while they’re cooking.
Base Vehicle:
Long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter with a high roof.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
We love the fact that our sofa opens up to the wide, open door of our van.
And that we also have our kitchen there too. It means while working or cooking we get to gaze outside at an awesome view. And it also means food smells and moisture are quickly whisked out the door!
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
We’re not giants by any means, but sleeping sideways as many people do in vans was just not going to happen with Jack being 6ft 3. We knew we wanted a platform bed, for storage underneath, but if we were going to sleep lengthways, the bed would be huge and take up too much space in the van.
The solution was to design the bed with a pull out extendable slat, that takes seconds to make the bed, using two back pillows from the sofa. We can then fit our lanky frames in perfectly. And have a super comfortable sleep.
We also really like our dog – Frank’s – little den. Which fits under the sofa snugly, and gives him his own place to chill out in. It was also perfect for crate training when he was a puppy!
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
We love our van. But, as with everyone else we know who lives in a van, there’s always little improvements or changes we make, as we live, work and travel around more!
For example, we love the clean look our white walls give to the van, and the fact it makes it look so spacious. But we’re outdoors people, and have a mucky little dog, so white walls which show dirt and marks are increasingly becoming annoying! We really love the way the van looks though, so it’d take a lot of persuading to paint it a new colour.
We also should have downsized our possessions sooner. Downsizing from our flat in London, there were a few ‘house’ items that we kept hold of, thinking we’d use again.
Thankfully, after a year (!) of van living, we’ve downsized considerably more – and we’re slowly working on little storage hacks, like shelves or dividers within cupboards, to make storage a bit more workable.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
We have a separate bathroom area – with a gas heated shower and a composting toilet. For us, this was non-negotiable, as having a separate toilet and shower makes living and working on the road, and off-grid, a lot easier. No one wants to do a conference call for work while they stare at their partner on the toilet!
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
It works great for us, we genuinely don’t think we’ve ever had a bad night’s sleep, and it takes less than 10 seconds to make it into the longer length for us to sleep lengthways down the van!
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
We watched tons of videos, but also spent days mapping out layouts in our flat, before we decided to sell up!
We knew we wanted everything we had in our flat, but in a small space. So: a long sofa for us to both work from, as well as a fixed bed, as we didn’t want the faff of assembling it each night, and wanted storage for our bikes. Then it was just a case of making sure we had enough worktops and space for an oven, sink and fridge.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
We’re always a bit jealous of anyone with a Mercedes Vario, because of the space you get and all of the light from the windows. We’ve chilled out in our friends Charlie and Josh’s (@wanderinghome) and always get a bit jealous of how nice it is in there! Their shower is to die for.
We also love the creative space and use of colour and design in Jaz’s van (@slowdazestudio).
Check out their YouTube channel here!
Q: @q_chow
Q’s Promaster is officially categorised as a medium wheelbase. However, it is the same length as a Sprinter. Although Promaster also does an extra-long wheelbase, it’s categorised as a long wheelbase. (Confusing, we know.)
Q’s conversion makes fitting a lot into a small space look so easy! She has a fixed bed, a large kitchen, a long bench seat, ample storage space, and a shower.
In addition, she’s created some really clever storage compartments to keep large and bulky items hidden from view. There’s some clever stuff going on here, guys!
Base Vehicle:
I have a Promaster 2500 HR 159″ . High tide and medium length.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
Having an indoor shower! As someone who is doing vanlife fulltime and parks in big cities most of the time, staying clean has been really easy for me.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
My most clever design feature is fitting my 8ft surfboard inside the van but it is not visible when you’re inside the van! The surfboard slides in through the back doors and goes under the bed and through the kitchen cabinets.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
I think about this all the time. I think my only regret is having a 1 burner stove top versus a 2 burner stove top. It makes it hard to cook complex meals with just 1 burner.
Is there anything that you wish you had in your camper layout?
I recently got into mountain biking and now am struggling to fit my mountain bike inside the van. The height of the handle bars to the end of the fork is just slightly taller than the clearance under the bed.
I’m still trying to figure out how to fit it properly inside the van.
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
I love my bed design! It’s perfect for what I need and provides ample storage underneath. Having a fixed bed was a must have for me since I am a morning person and did not want to play Tetris with bed cushions at night when I am super tired.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
I knew I needed both an indoor shower and a fixed bed, so then the rest of the layout just flowed around those two things.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
I really like @eamonandbec‘s new van layout with the folding bed but only at the foot of the bed. That’s clever because it doesn’t really impact your sleeping since the crease is at the foot.
Dave and Jade (and dogs Bobbi and Arla): @wheelchairandwanderlust
We love the roomy design of Dave and Jade’s great camper layout!
They have a fixed lengthways bed, shower and toilet wet room, a really lovely open kitchen, a garage and loads of storage.
Although they only have a small seating area, they’ve created lots of wide open space. This is perfect for Dave’s wheelchair
Base Vehicle:
It’s a VW crafter Long wheel base high roof.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
How open the van feels. Having the bed and shower towards the back of the van, also next to each other, gives us so much more open space at the front of the van. Great for moving around in a wheelchair.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
Underneath our bed, we have a pull out single bed in a space of 20cm. It concertinas out and the cushions/bedding is stored underneath the main bed.
Is there anything that you wish you had in your layout?
I think we’ve got everything we need, that we can think of. This is our 2nd van and we took a really long time to decide on the layout.
Obviously it would have been lovely to fit more seating in but I don’t think that would have been possible in our size van!
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
Our fixed bed height is really high. The reason we designed it to be so high was to maximise the under bed/garage storage space. Just by lowering it by 5cm would make a massive difference getting in and out.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
We have a full wet room shower/toilet area. For us it was a must have feature in our van. I take my hat off to people who don’t have either in their vans!
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
We have a fixed bed. It’s only 110cm wide. It looks smaller than it is but we do both fit comfortably on it. We went for a lengthways bed as in our previous van we had a widthways bed.
With Dave being over 6ft tall it wasn’t comfortable, he was all cramped up!
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
We chose our layout to maximise floor space to accommodate a wheelchair. We spent months planning our layout in our living room with tape on the floor and cardboard boxes pretending to be kitchen units.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
– @i.built.a.glampervan
– @vanlifebuilds latest two vans (red interior and the Icelandic dream) two incredible layouts and use of space
– @carramello_vario_ventures – Jades dream would be to have a Vario like this.
Check out their blog: wheelchairandwanderlust.com
Camper Layout Ideas: Larger Vehicle
Anything larger than a long wheelbase (or extra-long wheelbase) we classify as a larger vehicle. Similar to a long wheelbase, city driving would be trickier, and you’re less likely to fit into an average-sized parking spot.
Also, if the vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes, you’d need to complete extra courses to have the legal thumbs-up to drive something that big!
But balancing out the downsides of having such a large vehicle, you’ve got so much room to create an incredible home on wheels! The sky’s the limit about what you can include, and you’re definitely not going to feel squashed!
Dave, Jessi, Poppy and Luna: @firetruck.family
Dave and Jessi’s fire truck conversion is immense, and they’ve got so much room for their family of four! They’ve included a seating and dining area, a good-sized kitchen with all the mod cons and a separate shower and loo area.
This family’s fire truck is totally self-contained, which is essential for them as they rarely spend any time on campsites.
We love how the beds are elevated to create a separate space from the living area. Having raised beds means they can have ample room for their sleep spaces without compromising on floor space.
Base Vehicle:
Ex fire service Iveco Zeta. Long wheelbase high top.
What’s your favourite feature of your camper layout?
The raised beds for the kids is like a snug little den above the cab whilst ours is the other end of the van. This gives the sense of the bed being separated from the living space.
Have you included any clever or unique design features?
The slide away table which can comfortably fit a family of four around l. It slides into the garage area once we are finished with it saving loads of space.
Read this post for more fabulous camper table ideas.
Is there anything that you’d change or wish you’d done differently?
The shower/loo area. We’ve replaced the shower tray twice and it needs replacing again. Next time we will scrap the tray and tile the whole lot.
Do you have a toilet or a shower? And if not, what do you do instead?
We have a composting loo, which works perfectly for us and means we don’t have to empty it too often. On board facilities like this were our main priority as we rarely use campsites.
Does your bed design work well for you, or do you wish you’d have done it differently?
Our bed design is perfect for us, the bunk we made for the kids will eventually be outgrow however our sofa area turns into a small double bed for the future.
What reasons or inspiration did you have for choosing the layout you have?
For us, we spent 2 years on our build and explored all the possibilities of the layout so we are still really happy with the layout and the choices we made along the way.
Comfort and that homely feel is important to us.
What are your favourite Instagram campervan layouts?
Read more about the fire truck family and their build!
Recap
We know it’s hard to choose, but whose layout was your favourite?!
Who will be your inspiration for your campervan conversion?
Has this post helped you to know what will be essential to include in your own build? And do you have a clearer picture of how you’re going to make it all fit?
We’ll keep updating this post with more and more layouts, so if you’ve got a unique layout you’d like to share, drop us a comment or send us an email!
We can’t wait to hear from you.
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