Calling all wayfarers, sightseers, nature-lovers, and adventure-seeking retirees! Here’s how to make your travel trailer dreams come true. For our three-day Airstream makeover challenge, owner Heidi Byerly of Atlanta, GA, gamely handed over the keys to her trailer and gave us a weekend to give it an overhaul. Here’s what Heidi’s travel trailer looked like before:.
1. Replace Carpeting with Vinyl Flooring
We swapped the dingy shag carpet with a custom (and easy-to-clean) floor by Graphic Image, a company that will turn any design or photograph into vinyl flooring.
2. Choose Durable Seating
Zippered cushion covers, made from an indoor/outdoor fabric in a timeless herringbone pattern by Sunbrella, are easy to toss in the wash.
3. A Fresh Coat of Paint Freshens Any Space
White paint (Silver Lining by Pratt & Lambert) on the overhead lockers and a sky blue (In Your Eyes by Benjamin Moore) on the walls create an airy vibe.
4. Use Throw Pillows to Create Visual Interest
Army-green picks from All Souls Mercantile, made from military surplus, along with a feather-motif pillow from Pendleton add some edge.
5. Install Stylish Lighting Fixtures
This whimsical 18″ ceramic fixture by Fabby casts a starry glow come dusk.
6. Cafe Curtains Add Privacy
Lightweight navy pinstripe window treatments, with fabric by Kravet, hang on a looped track and allow just enough light to shine through.
7. Wood Countertops are a Classic Choice
Goodbye, avocado green! The new butcher block surface adds warmth to the space.
8. Refresh the Kitchen with Cute Accessories
In addition to the updated countertops, the trailer’s original appliances boast a spiffy new paint job. A 3-foot-wide wooden moose found on Etsy anchors the petite kitchenette; backed with LED battery-operated votives, it casts a warm glow over the cook space at night. A moose- and bear-adorned wallpaper adds a camp, but not campy, touch!
9. Don’t Forget the Exterior
A galvanized window box displays sunny tickseed flowers; equipped with hooks, it can easily be moved inside. A new 15-foot awning (seen above) doubles the trailer’s square footage by creating a shady outdoor living area. The striped indoor/outdoor fabric by Sunbrella also appears on the spare tire cover.
