Before & After: A $2,000 Makeover Turned a Dated Camper into a Mobile Dream Home

updated Feb 19, 2021
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Before: Outdated kitchen and dining area in camper
Credit: Jenn Hines

Some campers and RVs look like they’re stuck in time — and not a good place in time. That was the case with the Keystone Outback camper that realtor and home renovator Jenn Hines bought to temporarily downsize while her family of five’s new home is being built.

Credit: Jenn Hines

“My husband and I have been wanting to move out of town and closer to family so we sold while the market is hot,” she says. “We wanted to save until we are ready to build in the spring and everything just kind of fell into place. We sold, donated, and got rid of everything we don’t want or need and it’s been extremely freeing. Plus, if we want to travel this winter we have a safe and affordable way of doing that.”

Credit: Jenn Hines

But for a family of five to live comfortably (and happily) in roughly 280 square feet, the camper needed a major redo. “My husband and I live here with our three kids and our little dog,” she says. “I wanted us to be comfortable living here through the winter and I knew I couldn’t do it with the brown interior.” So every night for about two months, Jenn and her husband, Tyler, upgraded the camper’s interior little by little after their children went to bed.

Credit: Jenn Hines

First up: getting rid of all the brown to brighten up the interior. White paint on the walls and cabinets was an instant refresher. Then, Jenn and Tyler installed a new tiled backsplash for the kitchen using leftovers from a previous renovation project, as well as new flooring.

Credit: Jenn Hines

To complete the new modern look, Jenn and Tyler swapped out the old seating area with a modern leather couch, wood dining table with metal stools, and a colorful rug. Between new furniture and project supplies, the camper facelift cost less than $2,000.

Credit: Jenn Hines

Now with a fresh new interior, the Hines family can live and travel in style, even after construction on their new home is complete. “I love that it feels fresh and clean and like home,” Jenn says. “Home is a reflection of your family and this is a place we all like and feel comfortable in.”

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This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: A $2,000 Redo Turned a Dated Camper into a Mobile Dream Home