Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (2024)

Before I purchased our pop up camper, I scoured the Internet for ideas. In fact, my initial idea was to buy a vintage trailer and fix that up. The ideaof buying, remodeling, and storing a trailer in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association and no RV parking allowed was daunting. I couldn’t imagine the complaints we’d get if we were storing a beat up old trailer in our front yard and working on it every weekend, and the idea of paying for storage somewhere and dragging the thing out every weekend was even worse. I was initially resistant to the idea of a pop up camper, but then I started seeing all these cute pop up makeovers “popping” up all over Pinterest. 🙂

There are some amazing people out there, I tell ya! Some of those pop ups were so cute, I couldn’t even stand it. It took about a year of searching, but we finally found our Santa Fe. When it was in my garage {safely hidden from the HOA}at last, I was referring back to all the inspiration I’d found in the makeovers I’d seen on Pinterest. Here are five of my favorites…

Because I’m Me

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (2)

One of the first pop up camper makeovers I ever found was Jody’s over at Because I’m Me. I was initially attracted to the white cabinets and darker floors and countertops, but I loved the bright colors, too. One of my favorite things about her makeover is that it was all done with kids in mind. White curtains aren’t a problem when there is a bright patterned border to keep little fingerprints hidden. And those cushions! Jody was smart about her cushion covers, too, and made them with an envelope style back. They slip on and off easily for washing. How ingenious is that?

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (3)

Jody has loaded up the camper and taken her kids on several trips, including one all the way across the country to my neck of the woods! She’s my kind of girl. While you areon her blog admiringher amazing makeover, be sure to check out some of her fun adventures, too.

Inspiration Liberation

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (4)

This is another pop up camper makeover that I pinned way back when. When Krissy over at Inspiration Liberation posted the reveal pictures of her pop up camper, I was floored. She took just the right amount of color and paired it with a neutral gray for a stunning end result. I probably stared at these pictures every day for a month. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (5)

I loooove the red cabinets with all the vintage accessories. It makes me want to curl up in the camper with a cup of coffee… and I don’t even drink coffee! 🙂 Make sure to check out Krissy’s amazing pop up camper makeover, and check out her new project, too! A 1986Airstream! Swoon!

Sweet Meas

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I think everyone who has ever searched for a pop up camper makeover has come across this awesome one by Sarah at Sweet Meas. It so pretty — there is no way I’d want to let mykids step foot in it. I love the beachy feel it has going on with all the light colors and calming blues. And look at all those chalkboard surfaces! What a fun way to keep track of what each cabinet holds. But it didn’t always look this way. When you see the BEFOREpictures of Sarah’s camper, it makes the AFTERSeven more amazing. Seriously. Go check it out… I’ll wait.

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (7)

My favorite thing about this remodel is the bed area. I love the valance Sarah made with scraps of fabric and trim. What a neat way to use up all those leftover scraps and add beauty to the bunkend. As soon as my kids saw the lights wrapped around the shepherd’s poles, we were scouring every Dollar Tree in our neighborhood to find them. Sarah is also crafty! She used more of those Dollar Tree lights to make a fun tabletop light jarfor the camper, too. You’re going to want to head over to her blog to find out how she made all the amazing items she used in her makeover.

Life With 4 Boys

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (8)

Next up is Kathleen from Life With 4 Boys. Kathleen’s pop up camper was one of those makeovers that popped up on Pinterest after I’d already started my own camper, but I was so “wowwed” that I pinned it immediately. I loved that she had chosen a theme, Route 66, for her camper and planned her fabric and decor choices around that. The BEFOREpictures of her camper were pretty standard for a pop up camper, but look at that AFTER! Gorgeous!

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (9)

The most amazing part of Kathleen’s makeover is that she doesn’t sew! She used alternate methods — like hemming tape and an iron — to get the job done with her curtains and cushions. You simply have to see how she did everything. It’s pretty awesome. Kathleen is another one of those brave moms who packed up pop up camper and her kids for a cross country road trip — a 70 day road trip to be exact. What a woman! Make sure you check out her 70 Day Roadtrip adventures on her blog, Life With 4 Boys.

Deliver Love

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (10)Oh, how I love this one! Sarah over at Deliver Love has done a wonderful job with herlittle pop up camper. Have you ever seen such an amazing backsplash? She and her husband, Michael,did all the work themselves. I love that the general color scheme of the camper is pretty neutral — Mr. TypeTwoFun isn’t a fan of wild colors — but Sarah dressed everything up with pops of color in her pillows, curtain tie-backs, and hand towels. So cute!

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (11)

Those colorful Anthropologie knobs are pretty sweet, too, but look at those cabinet doors. Yup! Michael made them. I love bead-board, and what a great way to incorporate it in your camper. Once Sarah and Michael got their pop up camper all finished up, they took it on an extended road trip, too — and she visited some of the very same places we did. What is it about pop up camper families? We love our road trips! Be sure to stop by and check out all their fun adventures.

That about wraps up my inspiration round-up. I hope you are as inspired {& motivated} by these amazing makeovers as I am. The weather in Arizona has been pretty hot and muggy, so we haven’t really been excited to pop up the camper and get to work, but looking at all these gorgeous pictures has got me going again. I’m itching to reupholster my cushions and get some AFTERpictures of my own up!

Happy Camping!

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (12)

Five Pop Up Camper Makeovers That Will Inspire {& Motivate} You! - The Pop Up Princess (2024)

FAQs

What makes a pop-up camper pop-up? ›

Pop-up campers have a partial canvas construction that makes them collapse down into a portable, smaller package. They are also known as tent trailers or foldout campers. These campers have a large mattress, mess area, and a functional bathroom.

What is the benefit of a pop-up camper? ›

Safer and easier to tow – being lighter means that more vehicles can tow these campers, and with better MPG than larger trailers. Most pop-up campers can be towed by the majority of cars on the road, but are also much less likely to fishtail or jackknife if hit by high winds or not loaded properly.

What is included in a pop-up camper? ›

With a pop-up camper, you can choose to go with a really basic unit or take it up a few levels and look for something much fancier. The most basic model will include a bed, dinette or small bed, an icebox, and generally a propane stovetop with two burners.

Do people like pop-up campers? ›

Pop-up campers offer the best of both tent camping and RV camping. If you love being close to nature, the collapsible walls and screen windows will let you stay as close as possible to the outdoors while still remaining protected from the elements.

Do pop-up campers get moldy? ›

After years of travel, the friction of deploying and retracting your pop-up combined with wear from the elements can leave the canvas looking pretty unsightly. Even worse, if your canvas gets stowed away while it's wet you can wind up with a mildew problem which should be treated as soon as possible.

Are pop-up campers hot? ›

Becomes cold or hot easily: The pop-up camper shields you from sunburn, but not from the heat. The outside temperatures significantly affect the inside temperature of the camper. When the outside is hot, you feel it inside too.

What are the disadvantages of a pop-up camper? ›

Cons
  • Outside Noise. Road noise… ...
  • Setup and Takedown. It takes about 15 minutes for me and one helper to setup camp, which is not bad at all. ...
  • Lack of Storage. Popups don't have a lot of built-in storage. ...
  • Foul Weather. ...
  • Where's My Recliner?
May 4, 2021

Are pop-up campers cold? ›

Pop-up campers are generally designed for fair-weather camping, and their standard insulation may not be sufficient for winter temperatures. The challenge lies in keeping the interior warm without compromising safety.

Do you get wet in a pop-up camper? ›

Since a pop up is a soft-sided RV, the canvas will get wet and will need to dry out. You can put a tarp or awning over the top to help keep the rain from hitting the camper directly. Be careful of high winds that can send branches down from surrounding trees as they can create tears in the canvas sides.

Do pop-up campers stay cool in summer? ›

Unlike travel trailers or other RVs, pop-up campers don't usually come with heating or air conditioning (thanks to their lack of insulation and extra space). You're at the mercy of nature. You can bring along a space heater for cooler months and a fan or portable AC unit for the summer.

Do pop-up campers have beds? ›

The size of the mattress in a pop-up camper is crucial for maximizing comfort and space efficiency. Pop-up camper mattresses come in a variety of sizes, typically designed to fit the unique dimensions of these compact living spaces. Common Sizes: These include twin, full, and sometimes queen sizes.

Does a pop-up camper count as an RV? ›

It's certainly not a tent. RV, a recreational vehicle, is an umbrella term for all the various types. It's up to the campground, but I'm sure most will view your pop-up camper as a travel trailer. Pragmatically, campgrounds will be looking at places to put you for the night.

Are pop-up campers easy to pull? ›

Can be Lightweight and Easy to Tow: Many pop up campers are designed to be lightweight, allowing for easy towing by a wide range of vehicles. However, many common pop up trailers, such as the popular Jayco Jay series, have a base weight of 1600 pounds and can easily exceed 2300 pounds when optioned out.

Can a pop-up camper tip over? ›

But if the canvas is getting brittle, that may not be possible. As far as the stabilizers, rest assured that your camper will not tip over if the stabilizers are down, even if they're not touching the ground. It may tip a bit and give you a scare, but it will not tip over.

Why is a pop up better than a tent? ›

Pop-up tents use flexible and/or spring-loaded frames, so the tent pops into place. Set up takes as little as 10 seconds compared to the 10-15+ minutes it may take for a traditional tent.

What is the difference between a travel trailer and a pop-up camper? ›

Space: Pop-up campers don't generally have a great deal of storage or living space inside. Weather: The openness of pop-up campers leaves you more exposed to cold, heat and weather than traditional hard-sided trailers.

Is a tent trailer a pop-up camper? ›

A Pop-Up Camper, also known as a tent trailer, is an expandable trailer. Similar to a teardrop, the Pop-Up Camper is more compact than a standard RV, but usually larger than a Teardrop Trailer. Pop-Up Campers have walls made of canvas or other sturdy materials, depending on the model you purchase.

How does a camper pop out work? ›

There are different RV slide out types, but most use electric motors or hydraulics to operate. Electric RV slide outs often use a rack and pinion system powered by an electric motor. The motor spins a shaft or pinion which moves the slide in one direction, and adding a gear allows it to slide in the opposite direction.

Is a pop-up camper the same as a travel trailer? ›

Under the travel trailer umbrella, there are also pop-up campers. These share the same bumper pull hitch, though they're generally among the smallest trailers. More specifically, they're built to be collapsible to a certain degree.

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