Can you put laminate flooring in a caravan? Absolutely. If you’re looking for new RV flooring, here are a few reasons why laminate is a really good choice.
Here’s a little rundown of why we decided to replace caravan flooring with laminate. Plus, some before and after pictures.
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Is Carpet The Best Caravan or RV Flooring?
I’ve never really understood the trend for carpets in a caravan. I know that people like the warmth and grip of carpet — over hard flooring. But the dirt element really puts me off! RV flooring should be practical and easy to clean. Not a mud/dust trap!
Vinyl flooring — even the cheap self-adhesive floor tiles — would be a much better option for caravan flooring.
As our caravan is often parked in festival fields or on grassy campsites, it made no sense to me to replace it with more carpet.
The best solution to muddy boots and grass is hard-flooring. Something that can easily be mopped down and wiped clean at the end of the day.
This was pre the brilliant Bosch cordless vacuum that we take everywhere now.
And —as electric hook-up is not available in a festival field (for normal folk anyway) — vacuuming the floor when we were camping was nigh on impossible back then. It’s definitely something that had to be done when you’re back home.
A dustpan and brush, followed by a mopping down is the best way to keep a caravan floor clean when you’re off adventuring.
But not when there’s carpet on the floor.
Changing Carpet To Laminate Flooring
I’ve previously written about Dolly II — our second caravan. And how we had performed a caravan makeover, on quite a grand scale.
I’ve painted the caravan cupboards and walls and I have also painted the exterior of the caravan.
In this post I talk about changing the carpet to laminate flooring.
We’d bought Dolly II over the summer to replace our original van; also named Dolly. (This was due to the fact that it was impossible to convince our babies that a caravan could possibly have another name).
When we bought Dolly II home, she was in a sorry state.
Ugly, brown wooden cabinetry, beige walls but the worst offender — in my mind anyway — was the caravan flooring.
I’m not sure whether it was original but the van floor was swathed in the most revolting red carpet.
The kind of carpet that, no matter how may times you vacuum — or VAX it — still looks dirty. A petri-dish for heaven’s knows what — and I’d really rather not dwell on this — the only solution was to replace it.
What Flooring is Used in Caravans?
So — apart from carpet — what flooring is used in caravans? Lino? Vinyl?
Laminate flooring in a caravan is definitely my favourite choice. I wanted something light in colour and easy to maintain. Cue a swift trip to Carpetright.
Despite what their name may suggest, Carpetright also sell a fantastic range of hard-flooring; everything from laminate to on-the-roll vinyl flooring and luxury vinyl tiles.
We decided on a hard-wearing lightweight laminate flooring and after much deliberation, went for Supernatural Classic Aspen Oak; a cool white/grey which would lighten up the van and compliment the fab yellow wallpaper we’d already chosen.
It’s not dissimilar to the laminate that I put in my she-shed.
How To Lay Laminate Flooring in a Caravan
For those of you who have not fitted laminate before, it needs basic DIY skills.
Mr D laid it over a couple of weekends and we decided to use the original underlay — and carpet — as a sub-base, to give good insulation and keep warmth in the van.
‘Proper’ floor fitter would probably balk at that! But it worked for us.
You cut the lengths, as needed, and simply slot them together — a little like grown up Lego — really simple and very gratifying too, as you can cover a decent space in quite a short space of time.
Once the floor was totally covered, the only thing left to do was add beading around the edges to hide the gaps and give a lovely finish.
We chose white —to tie in with the painted woodwork.
So Would We Recommend Putting Laminate in a Caravan?
In short yes.
One word of warning. Make sure the laminate is lightweight — make sure that it’s not too heavy for the structure of the van. Subtract the weight of the flooring from the payload.
But, for me, having a paler floor covering in the caravan makes the world of difference. The light has increased ten-fold.
And it looks so much fresher too. No longer a harborer of bacteria and dirt, it can be easily cleaned with a broom and a mop. Even after a long weekend of being stomped over with muddy boots, it looks as good as new in no time.
It just goes to show that laminate flooring doesn’t just need to be restricted to use in the home. It’s the perfect floor-covering for a caravan or motorhome. Hard-wearing and easy to clean. And it looks fabulous too.
There’s really no need to be stuck with a dated, dirty old carpet. RV flooring can be lovely and contemporary.
And — best of all — practical.
Other Caravan Flooring Ideas
If you’re considering caravan floor replacement, you’ll want something durable, easy to clean, and relatively lightweight.
Here are several other practical RV flooring options:
Vinyl Plank Flooring
This is a popular choice because it mimics the look of hardwood but is lightweight, durable, and resistant to moisture. Plus, it’s easy to install and clean.
Linoleum
Linoleum is eco-friendly, made from natural materials, and is resilient to wear and tear. It’s also anti-static and can help reduce the amount of dirt and dust in your RV.
Bamboo
This flooring option is lightweight, strong, and eco-friendly. It gives a caravan floor a contemporary look and holds up well against wear and tear. However, it can be more sensitive to moisture and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Cork
Cork flooring is another eco-friendly option. It’s naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and pests. Cork also acts as an insulator, which can help regulate the temperature inside the caravan.
Rubber
Rubber flooring is durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean. It can be ideal for certain areas of the RV, like entrances, because of its non-slip nature.
Peel and Stick Tiles
These are affordable and relatively easy to install. They come in various styles and can mimic the look of more expensive flooring options.
Sheet Vinyl
Unlike vinyl planks, sheet vinyl comes in large rolls and can cover large areas without seams. It’s water-resistant and easy to clean.
Finally, just remember, if you’re looking to replace caravan flooring, always consider the weight of the material. As I’ve already mentioned, make sure that it’s not too heavy for the structure of your van.
Check your RV’s overall weight limit. Then check the weight of the caravan flooring you’ve chosen. Make sure that the two combined don’t exceed the overall payload.
Some Other Caravan Related Posts You Might Like
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
WOW!! What a difference, it looks amazing!! Very envious you have a van, we have been looking at getting one for ages, but haven’t taken the plunge yet! Do your boys sleep well when you go away in it? Such a fantastic makeover!
#twinklytuesday
Aah DO IT! It’s one of the best decision we ever made! I used to hate them but since I realised that you can make them look however you want them to, I love them — just like a little home away from home! The boys sleep really well in the vans — I think all the excitement of ‘camping’ knocks them out!! ;)
Cool! Looks great!! Lots of family holidays for the future xx
Thanks lovely — I cannot wait!! x
How spacious and light does it make your caravan look. It goes so well with the wallpaper. Love it! #twinklytuesday xx
It’s made the world of difference, to be honest. It was SO dark to begin with!! xx
That looks a million times better! Even makes the caravan look bigger. I don’t blame you for getting rid of that carpet. I would have done so too. Looks like the makeover is coming together nicely :-)
Thanks for hosting #twinklytuesdays
It does, doesn’t it? It was SO grim beforehand!! That carpet had to go!!
Wow, that’s stunning! You have done an amazing job on it. Enjoy using it!
Aah thanks so much :) It was a labour of love but SO worth it!! Phase one almost complete — just the bathroom to do and then on to the exterior!! :)
Wow that’s quite a makeover! #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much lovely :)
LOVE it!
Amazing job there hon.
Hope you have loads of happy times away in Dolly :) xx
Aah thanks SO much Jayne!!! That’s lovely of you :) xx
It looks AMAZING! My caravan is looking seriously shabby next to your stylish creation! I need some help with mine I reckon, before it takes its maiden voyage! x
Aaah thanks lovely!! Hurry up and do yours and we can go camping!!! ;)
What an incredible transformation. It looks so lovely and bright and breezy now.
Now time to go on holidays I think!!
Thanks for hosting #twinklytuesday
Vix x
Thanks so much Vix!! Totally — roll on spring! :)
That looks gorgeous, such a cosy and inviting little space. The flooring is beautiful and so practical – great choice! #twinklytuesday
Thanks so much Robyn — she’s a beaut now! A proper little house on wheels! :)
Amazing! What a difference, and so much more practical!! #twinkletuesday
Thanks so much Naomi!
Yes, probably wouldn’t have associated laminate flooring with caravans, but it looks really great! #twinklytuesday
Yes — it’s weird that they use carpet isn’t it?! You’d think that they’d fit laminate as standard — given the fact they’re mostly being parked in fields!! :)
Oh wowed what a difference it makes, it’s so beautifully light and bright and yay for not needing to hoover with no Hoover!
Yay indeed! SO nice to get rid of that grotty old carpet! :)
Wow, that makes a tremendous difference. I’m also getting into my caravans at the moment. We’re about to have our kitchen completely red-one and we need somewhere to stay while it is done. It may very well be that we decamp to a caravan for a couple of weeks to keep the kids away from all the heavy work. I’m fascinated by the laying technique though. I’d have thought you needed to lay the floor on a hard base? For a DIY enthusiast such as myself, a very interestingpost. Thanks for hosting #twinklytuesday
Aaah it’s a slippery slope John!! Once you buy one, you’ll be hooked for life!! I used to absolutely hate them but they’ve revolutionised holidays and festivals for us!
Re the laminate over the carpet in the van — yes — if you were to lay the flooring in a house, you would definitely use proper underlay and lay it on a solid base but — in this instance — upon inspection the caravan had coach bolts coming through the floor and if we’d have lifted the original flooring, carpet and underlay, we would have had a job laying it over the bolts that were proud of the floor. Hope that makes sense! :)
That looks like a completely different van with the new flooring and white cupboards. A vaste improvement. #TwinkleTuesday
Thanks Tracey — SO much better. Can’t wait to start using it :)
Wow-wee-cup-of-tea! We are so jealous of your lovely camper van, sooooo cool. Very clever idea x
#HomeEtc
Thanks so much Kim. I used to absolutely hate caravans until we bought the original Dolly and I realised you could do them up to your own spec! I absolutely love them now!! :)
Fantastic, SUCH a huge improvement on the carpet *shudders*. Really love that colour and it will be so long-lasting/hard-wearing too. I need to send Pete over to Twinkles Daddy for some DIY tips!! Xx
Aaah it’s SO much better isn’t it? That carpet was REVOLTING. He’s pretty handy to be honest — saves a fortune on not having to get a man in!! ;)
Once again I have massive caravan envy! I love the colour you went for. It certainly is perfect for Dolly 2 and the rest of your work on the interior. Is she now ready to hit the road? x #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much lovely!! We’ve still got quite a bit to do when she comes out of storage again… I have the loo to decorate (MORE wallpaper!) and I have some ambitious plans for the exterior of the van too. Not 100% sure what I’m going to do yet but am SO excited!!! :)
It looks awesome – and I love that wallpaper! The flooring makes such a huge difference too. #HomeEtc
The wallpaper is awesome isn’t it? And I LOVE the floor :) A million miles away from that revolting carpet!! I have a wallpaper give-away next week on my blog — watch this space :) xx
That’s amazing! What a change! Well done to the Twinkles Daddy too!
Thanks so much Jen! Am SO delighted with how it turned out! :)
Well done what a transformation! Well done the twinkles daddy too!
Thanks lovely!! Yep — he’s a clever boy to have around the house, that’s for sure ;) xx
Blimey, it’s made such an amazing difference. That carpet???!!! Why would someone do that??!!! I still can’t get over the full caravan makeover. You done incredible things with it. I best you can’t wait for the next festival season.
WHY indeed? Carpets and caravans go hand in hands and I just can’t get my head around it!! SO much better now — roll on next year ;)
Wow that’s so impressive! I could never do anything like that. Must be such a nice feeling when you see it all come together! #twinklytuesday
Aaah thanks so much Sarah!! It was a bit scary in the middle — it looked worse than before we started and I began to doubt what we were doing but it all turned out really well in the end!! :)
I do think you made the right choice with white. It looks so lovely and bright and airy.
#HomeEtc
Thanks so much lovely. The white really bounces the light around… they did have a yellow vinyl — on the roll — but I figured that the white would have more longevity and go with more! :)
Oh I do LOVE your caravan updates – I still can’t quite get over how much you’ve transformed it, it’s beautiful. That close-up carpet shot gave me a little shudder I have to say! #HomeEtc xx
Aah thanks lovely. Yes — the carpet shot was uncalled for ;) It was pretty nasty but SO much better now!! Can’t wait for the warmer months to arrive :)
I cant believe how you have transformed Dolly Caro and that floor looks just fantastic, and like you say just perfect for muddy boots and festivals x
Thanks so much pet — am so delighted with how it all turned out!! Roll on festival season!! :)
What a wonderful transformation! Though it took me a while to recover from seeing Exhibits A, B and especially C first ;) Your choice of flooring makes all the difference, though the whole job is just gorgeous. Well done.
Ha! Yes — I did feel bad about Exhibit C — but really wanted to show just how awful it was!!! ;) So chuffed with how it’s turned out!
What a difference the floor makes – it looks like a home, not just a caravan! Great job! xx
#HomeEtc
It’s made SUCH a difference hasn’t it? That carpet was REVOLTING!! x
Oh my goodness what a transformation. And of course yellow wallpaper- love it! I always wanted a caravan as a child, Mr F and I have said when we are older we will get one and travel together. #TwinkyTuesdays xxx
Aaah don’t wait til your older!! The Twinkles absolutely LOVE Dolly — being able to go to festivals and camping in comfort is so brilliant!! :)
Brilliant transformation! It looks so cool now. I’d love a caravan! #HomeEtc
Thanks Lizzie — I absolutely recommend them!! Buying Dolly 1 was the best move we ever made! It’s revolutionised our lives!! ;)
Euwww! That’s the before not the after ;) Of course the after is much more stylish and more practical too. Long Live Dolly 2 and thanks for hosting #homeetc lovely x
Grimmers isn’t it? I’m not a fan of carpet at the best of times to be honest — that nasty red stuff nearly tipped me over the edge!!
Wow! It looks amazing, it doesn’t look like a caravan inside at all, much more like a mini house. Love the transformation, the yellow wall paper is gorgeous, where is it from? And The flooring is perfect for you fresh style. I didn’t used to like caravans, but love them now, just need to convince the husband! :) x #Twinklytuesday
Thanks Jenny!!! All the info for the wallpaper is in the first post and **EXCITING NEWS** I have a giveaway scheduled in the next week, so if you were lucky enough to win, you could be buying some for yourself!! :) xx
Wow so light and bright now! That red one was awful!! Yuk! What a super job and amazing transformation :) Jess
#HomeEtc xx
Revolting huh? Amazing that the couple we bought it off were happy to use it/sleep in it in that condition!! Not my cup of tea at all!! xx
Haha!! I am TOTALLY obsessed too!! And I used to HATE caravans with a passion. Once I realised that you could treat them like mini houses and give the a makeover my opionion totally changed though!! ;)
Haha!! I am TOTALLY obsessed too!! And I used to HATE caravans with a passion. Once I realised that you could treat them like mini houses and give the a makeover my opinion totally changed though!! ;)
Omg this is amazing you have done a fantastic job it looks brilliant. I thought when you got rid of the van you would be hard pressed to get something as gorgeous but this is beautiful! Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday xx
Thanks lovely!! I must admit, when we sold the original Dolly, I did wonder if we’d be able to make as nice a job of the next van!! SO glad it all worked out!! :)
This looks so amazing, and what a relief to get that carpet covered up, ugh it was making me feel a bit ill over the computer, never mind in real life! Amazing makeover, you must be thrilled. Becky x #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much Becky! So pleased with how it’s turned out! And yes — that carpet HAD to go!! :)
Wow, what a makeover! So pretty!
Thanks so much lovely! It was a labour of love, that’s for sure!! Tool a LOT longer than we first anticipated! All worth it though :)
I love this van! What an awesome transformation. Did you make your own seat covers? As I’m looking to cover my caravan seats.
Great work.
Aaah thanks ever so much Stacey! :) YES! They were really simple to do too — I’m not an upholsterer by any stretch of the imagination so I made some simple loose covers that fasten with velcro so they can be easily removed and washed. MUCH cheaper than getting them professionally done and it works :)
20 Feb 2022.
We are in the process of doing this (taking up the mangy old carpet) and fitting vinyl tiles. Even simply taking out the old carpet has lightened up the mood and got rid of an underlying smell. We decided to do this because of the same reasons you say – mud, grass, dog etc.
We are going with 5mm thick, 50 x 50 tiles. I am not an expert but by taking the time and advice offered on various forums, I think I can handle it. I like the way you finished off the job with beading. Love the look of your van.
Thanks so much for your message Alun! I think old carpet is definitely responsible for a lot of underlying ‘odours’ in older vans!! Replacing it with hard flooring — or even brand new carpet (if you like something softer underfoot) — is definitely worthwhile! Good luck with your tiles. Send me a pic when you’re done — I’d love to see :)
Hey I love your flooring. Can I lay this on top of the carpet that’s already down or take it up?
Hi Danielle — we laid our laminate flooring right on top of the carpet!
Hello and thank you for your post it made brilliant reading.
I want to ask you which is best self adhesive or click and snap.
Thank you for reading my letter. Marylyn x
Hi Marylyn! I think it’s down to personal preference, to be honest. We used click and snap as I found a design/colour I really loved and it meant we didn’t have to remove the carpet. If you’ve found some lovely self adhesive tiles, I think that would work just as well. Although, I think I’d probably remove the carpet first (if there is any) as the adhesive might not stick so well to carpet.
How many packs did it take?
Hello Stuart, thanks for your message. I genuinely can’t remember off the top of my head. 7 or 8 maybe. The best way to check how many packs you need is to look at the floor area of your particular caravan — and check this against the m2 on the pack of laminate. A lots of flooring outlets have flooring calculators online.