Van Life Storage Hacks!

When you essentially live in a cube, you come to appreciate the importance of SPACE!  Tiny living conditions require a little ingenuity in order to Tetris your way to a convenient living environment.  These simple storage hacks can help in any living space to make life more organized, giving you the freedom to worry less about the small things and more about the big things, like moving mountains.

1.) PILLOW CASES

This may be my favorite hack, because it beautifies the space while making life easier.  All the decorative pillow cases I throw onto my bed are actually filled with extra sweaters and hoodies.  They’re not everyday items, but when I need them, they’re right there hidden in a pretty aesthetic package! As long as they have a zipper or enclosure, they can double as handy storage spaces.   I even fashioned my own “zipper” out of velcro on one particular pillow cover I loved that didn’t have an opening.  Great patterns and designs can be found at flea markets, antique shops, or online.

2.) HANGING BASKETS

A simple way to increase your space and have ready-made compartments is to use hanging baskets.  You can get creative with this one.  I didn’t want to put more holes in my wall, so with some adhesive hooks, I was able to hang some pretty rope baskets by simply sliding wire hooks through the material.  I keep my journals and books in one, and extra gym towels in the other.

A different type of hanging basket is the one I have over my cabinet door.  Officially made as an “over-the-cabinet storage container”, the basket I found doubles as a small waste basket that’s out of view and leaves room for other items inside the cupboard.

Over-The-Cabinet Storage Basket: https://amzn.to/3m1MIT0

3.) PACKING CUBES

I used Packing Cubes in my suitcase religiously when I was living in hotels and airports.  If you’re not familiar with them, they’re zippered fabric cases that keep items organized and in separate compartments.  I use them inside the drawers of my van to keep things neat.  For example, my tank tops in one, my t-shirts in another.  I also use them in my above-head storage to organize my scarves and accessories. A life changer!

4.) QUICK-DRY TRAVEL TOWELS

One concern I had when starting this journey was the question of where I’d store my towels.  Thankfully, I stumbled across some quick-dry travel towels that roll up tightly to fit into any space.  Even though I’m a fan of big fluffy towels, the thought of hanging them to dry and the quandry of where to store them forced me to look in another direction.  There are multiple brands available, and can be found online, at camping stores, or even in the camping section of your nearest Walmart!  Trust me on this one, you don’t want to lug around oversized sopping towels in such a confined space.  

Youphoria Quick Dry Travel Towel: https://amzn.to/333N6Ye

5.) MULTI-USE PRODUCTS AND AVOIDING MULTIPLES

We’ve been brainwashed to believe that we need different types of soap for the dishes, our clothes, countertops, floors, bathrooms, kitchens, hair, hands, and body.  I have vastly cut down on space (and spending!) by keeping one great multi-use soap in the van.  There are many great options to choose from, depending on your preference of feel, smell, and quality.  I personally love Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap because of its organic integrity.  They have a wide variety of fragrances ranging from almond, to tea-tree, to lavender, and more, but I love the hemp-peppermint because I get energized from the fragrance. 

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Hemp-Peppermint Soap: https://amzn.to/3jN8SGr

Soap’s not the only multi-use product I have…my pot doubles as a bowl, my sink-cover is also a cutting board, my pillow-cases are storage units, my table is a work-space and a dining room table…the most useful items are ones that can serve more than one purpose.  Take a hard look at the things you own and try to determine which things are truly necessary.  Avoid multiples.  How many pair of scissors do you have in your home? How many coffee mugs?  Are your possessions weighing you down, both literally and figuratively?  Avoid the clutter and free up your space and mind for what’s to come.

6.) FIXED BED

This isn’t necessarily a hack, but having a fixed elevated bed has given me a wonderfully spacious “garage” underneath it.  Opening the back doors, I feel as though I’m entering a completely separate world..  There’s an abundance of space where I can keep extra shoes, bedding, winter clothes, a heater, suitcase for emergency airplane travel, workout necessities, cat bed, litter, tools, outdoor chair and table, and surplus kitchen and cleaning supplies.  My garage is organized in such a way that everything is easy to grab depending on its importance in my day-to-day life.  It’s a fantastic way to carry the extra things I need. 

Another thing that’s helped me save space in the van itself is having large-sized products in the garage that I transfer to smaller bottles or containers inside the living space, such as soap or conditioner.  Some van builds have a convertible table/seating area that converts into a bed for sleeping.  I’m so glad I went the “fixed bed” route for many reasons, but especially for the massive out-of-sight garage space. 

 7.) HOOKS!

You can never have too many hooks, and  I keep an extra supply of them in a drawer.  Within the small cupboard for kitchen items, hooks hung higher up give a home for my mugs.  I have a hook for the place I always hang my keys, towels, or baskets.  The adhesive “Command Hooks” have proven to be sturdy and reliable.  Depending on your aesthetic and purpose, they come in plastic, metal, or wire, and varying sizes.  

8.) COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS

Some ingenious design has allowed for the invent of collapsible cups, bowls, strainers, buckets, and Tupperware.  I personally use a collapsible cup and bucket that “accordion” doe. To almost nothing!

9.) PET BACKPACK

This one is for all the pet-lovers who travel with their animal (or just want to take their pet to an outdoor cafe for a Pupaccino!).  Cookie probably owns more things than I do, between her dishes, brushes, toys, and stilettos (she’s fancy).  I use one carrying case as a shoe container that I store in the garage, but for our daily life I have an awesome backpack that she absolutely adores!  The best thing about this backpack? It folds up completely flat, making for easy storage.  It has ample ventilation and useful side pockets.  I looked at all different types of carrying cases, and I took a shot at ordering tis one. I’m so glad i did! It has added so many cool experiences to my life by having Cookie there with me.  

Cat Backpack: 🐈🎒 https://amzn.to/2QTi289

10.) HANGING SHOE RACKS

I have a couple cosmetic cases that I fill with toiletries and make-up, but I quickly realized that for daily life, I don’t want to take down a bag, unzip it, and rustle through it each day to reach the things I need.  This is where the shoe racks come in so handy!  I have 2; one is hanging over the passenger seat and one is attached to the lower half of a back door, accessible when I open the garage.  The one over the passenger seat has 16 separate compartments that keep my daily necessities in an easy-to-grab spot.  Everything from cleaning spray to slippers to perfume, toothpaste, skin care items, shampoo, and sunscreen are organized and easy to grab.  This shoe rack has made my life so incredibly simple!  I highly recommend it so you’re not constantly opening drawers or unpacking cases to get to the things you use every day.

As for the one in my garage, I use it for bug spray, rope, tape, tools, and training shoes, i.e. things that I tend to use frequently that don’t already have a designated spot.  

Thanks for reading! Here’s a link to a video on the same subject if you prefer to see things that way. Until next time, thanks for riding with me!