As any veteran of on-the-road living can attest, saving space is one of the most important aspects of managing life in a home on wheels. Kitchens can be tricky in this department, especially for those of us who love cooking and eating in but don’t want to sacrifice the comforts of a home kitchen. Here are some tips for saving space in your RV galley.
1.Don’t bring more than you need.
This seems obvious, but if you’re used to a conventional home, it’s easy to lose sight of how much you really need in your mobile kitchen. For example, when you packed your utensils, did you pack an entire set of four or six forks when only two people will be eating in the RV? Only bring as many sets of utensils as you have people with you. Little things like this can add up to a significant savings on space and weight. Some RVers go a step further and only pack a spork for each person. That might be a little extreme for some of us, but it’s best to scrutinize every item you bring and decide whether it’s something you really need on the road.
2. All things collapsible are your friend.
From bowls to measuring cups to dish-drying racks to dishpans, collapsible kitchen items can save a whole lot of space. Shop around online rather than at RV specialty stores for better deals on these. Nesting bowls with measuring cups and spoons are also great space-savers.
3. Simplify your spices.
Photo: Dave/Flickr
Spices can take up a lot of room, especially if you store them in the containers you bought them in, but there are several ways to save a lot of space here. First, identify which spices you are likely to use a lot. Then place them in more RV-friendly containers, which can take many forms from repurposed Tic Tac containers to tiny, magnetic containers you can affix to a metal sheet mounted on your kitchen wall. If you don’t feel like switching your spices from their original containers, you can place a space-saving spice rack on the inside a kitchen cabinet. These racks come in various shapes and sizes and are also great for storing other kitchen items such as aluminum foil and wax paper.
4. Minimize trash.
This goes for the amount of trash you generate and the size of the trash bin you use. When shopping, choose groceries and other items that come in minimal packaging whenever possible. Small trash bins can fit under the sink cabinet of most RVs, saving precious floor space. Or go bin-less with one of these over-the-cabinet-door bag hnewers, which will save you even more space. A bonus of RV trash bins and bag hnewers is that you can reuse those not-so-earth-friendly plastic grocery bags.
5. Put your walls and other surfaces to good use.
The options are endless when it comes to using wall space as a place to store kitchen items. Place hooks on the insides of your cabinet doors to hang utensils and other items. Depending on your RV’s interior design, you can hang nets like these under your cabinets to store fruit and other items, saving space in the refrigerator and/or countertops.
Got your own space-saving tips? Share them with us in the comments or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
Originally published Sept 21, 2015. Updated Jan 23, 2017.
