Clever Campervan Kitchen Ideas

Cooking in a campervan offers the freedom to make the meals you love wherever you are, and having a practical campervan kitchen will really help with this.

Here, we explore some great campervan kitchen layouts, highlight must-have appliances and utensils, and take a look at the best campervan units to inspire your perfect campervan kitchen.

Campervan kitchen layout ideas

Despite having to be inventive and clever with space, there are lots of different campervan kitchen layouts to choose from depending on your requirements.

Behind the cab

A kitchen set up behind your campervan’s cab is a great space-saving option and keeps the kitchen hidden from sight. You’ll be quite limited on what you can fit into this campervan kitchen layout, but you should be able to include two hobs and a sufficient worksurface to prepare food on. Alternatively, you could design it so that you can move from the cab through to the kitchen via a door.

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Against a sidewall

Adding a kitchen that runs down the sidewall of your campervan will give you more space to cook than one situated behind the cab. You just need to be aware of how much living space it occupies. Sidewall kitchens provide plenty of options for storage, with drawers and shelves easy to include under the worktops, and they’re typically simpler to fit due to being a common choice for campervan owners. You could choose to have your kitchen against one sidewall or design one that sits on both sides and creates a galley kitchen.

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Outdoor kitchen

Of course, your campervan kitchen layout doesn’t necessarily need to be dictated by the space you have inside, as you’re free to benefit from outside space too. Two options for outdoor campervan kitchens include integrating an innovative slide-out kitchen, or creating a kitchen that remains inside but faces outwards. Outdoor kitchens are a lovely option for dry days, but you need to be confident that you won’t mind cooking under an umbrella should the weather not be suitable for al fresco dining.

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Storage kitchen

Clever storage ideas are important when designing a campervan kitchen as you want to be able to keep the space tidy and clutter-free. A kitchen layout focused on providing excellent storage options is perfect as everything can be designed around the equipment and items you’d like to have available to you. Make the most of nooks and crannies ensuring that no space is left without a use, and secure convenient spots for everything you’re hoping to travel with.

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Beautiful campervan kitchens

Although on-trend interior design might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to campervan kitchen layouts, it’s entirely possible to make your kitchen just as attractive as it is practical. Select striking tiles for your splashback, choose a sink that stands out, opt for appliances and utensils in tones that suit your campervan’s theme, and use metallic elements to create luxurious touches.

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Essential campervan kitchen appliances

When you think about the appliances you have in your kitchen at home, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide what you need and how you’re going to fit it into your campervan kitchen.

Here are some tips on which campervan kitchen appliances and utensils to choose:

Fridge

Even if you’re going to be visiting a shop for food every day during your trip, you’ll find it difficult to keep produce and ingredients fresh without a fridge. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a large option that will take up the majority of your campervan.

A small fridge just big enough for milk, butter, and other groceries is all you’ll need. Choose a fridge that has been designed for campervans so that you don’t drain your battery.

Microwave

If you can integrate a microwave into your campervan kitchen layout, you’re sure to be grateful for it when you want to make quick convenient meals, reheat leftovers, or make a warming mug of hot chocolate.

Kettle

Tea and coffee lovers will absolutely need a kettle in their campervan kitchen to ensure the best start to the day. A kettle that can be used on the hob is a great option as you won’t need to worry about plugging it in separately. You can find some really lovely designs that will add instant style to the space too.

Stackable pans

As previously mentioned, space-saving options are ideal when it comes to kitting out your campervan kitchen, and stackable pans are a great example of this. It’s unlikely that you’ll need lots of different pans for your campervan adventures, but opting for those that stack into each other will help to keep your kitchen clutter-free.

Lightweight plates and bowls

There’s no need to pack your best crockery into your campervan before you hit the road. Not only is it likely to take up precious space, but you might also find that it gets cracked or damaged away from the safety of your home. Lightweight plates and bowls, such as those made from melamine, are ideal as they’re hardwearing and will stack neatly into your campervan kitchen.

Top campervan kitchen units

When it comes to the kitchen units for your campervan, there are many options to choose from depending on the design you’ve chosen and how much space you have.

One very handy option is pull-out kitchen units which can store plenty of items and neatly slide away when not in use. These can be designed to pull out into your kitchen, or even arranged so that you pull them out when you’re outdoors as part of an outside-facing kitchen layout. This may not be ideal when it’s raining, but does mean that you don’t have to worry about factoring in space to open drawers and cupboards when designing your living space.

Specialist campervan insurance through Ripe

Ready to get busy in your campervan kitchen? With Ripe, you can protect your campervan from theft, accidental damage, fire, flood, and more.

You can also get cover for your campervan equipment and accessories, giving you complete peace of mind on the road.

Find out more about specialist campervan insurance through Ripe or get a quote online today.