Who knows why manufacturers believe RV interiors should be brown or dirty gray? And sometimes, you add color with pillows, new curtains or slipcovers and the brown feels less oppressing. But for thousands of people, brown doesn’t speak to them and they want a RV that feels like their unique home. And the first thing they consider is paint.
Painting an RV can seem difficult with all the woodwork and small spaces, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you may think. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Choosing the Paint
A good paint job starts with the right paint. While this seems like the easiest part of the job, it is probably the top question on our RV Renovations Facebook group. What paint should I use?
While the color choices are endless, find one that feels comfortable to you. We are seeing a lot of white or gray being used lately. Instead of following the trend, find the shade that makes you happy or produces the mood that you want in your small home.
Then, paint a small area of your wall to make sure the color remains true. A paint sample in the store can look very different from a swatch on your wall. You want to make the swatch large enough to see how it looks in the different lights of the day. The light made by the sun at noon and your LEDs at night can make the color change. Make sure you like it in all its shades.
While higher gloss paints are easier to clean, keep in mind that paint with too much gloss can be jarring in a small space. There can be too much shine. Satin is usually a good middle ground.
Prepping Your Surfaces
One of the biggest mistakes beginner painters make is not prepping the surfaces fully. This step is essential for making sure the paint adheres properly.
First, remove any wallpaper borders or ornamentation. Take down the window treatments and outlet covers then lightly sand the walls. Don’t try to remove the wall covering off a RV wall as you might remove some sheetrock. Clean the walls of any grime or grease, especially if painting around the kitchen area. Of course, cover any areas that you are not painting or want to paint a different color.
Now apply a coat of primer wherever you are painting. Let the primer cure for at least a couple of days, longer the better. If you are in wet weather conditions, this might take up to a month to fully dry. For this reason, many folks wait to paint until the spring or summer.
Painting the Walls
Now you are ready to paint. Definitely take your time and paint one wall to confirm you love the color before doing the entire rig. Be willing to change your mind or even be bold on certain walls to add color of interest to your mobile home. While it takes more time, paint light coats and let them dry completely before applying the next coat as needed. It will help you ensure you get the color and coverage that you desire.
Keep in mind these additional tips:
- Make sure your space is well ventilated
- Allow each coat to cure before adding another
- Don’t wait until the paint is completely dry before removing painter’s tape
- Avoid painting over seams that shift when you’re moving
Painting your RV takes time, but the reward is well worth it.
If you have painted your RV, give us your top tips in the comments.
One tip for cleaning around the kitchen for old grease splatters is to use mineral spirits or lighter fluid, they will remove the grease but not affect any plastics. Another tip for checking the color is to put the color chip in a sheet of white paper. That will give you a much better feel for what the color will look like once it is on the wall. Most colors look darker when you do this.
Spoken like a man who has experience! Thanks, Johnny.