What is the best furniture for your caravan or mobile home? Robert Price, Managing Director of Trent Furniture, shows the right way to furnish caravans and mobile homes, making the best use of space with comfortable and stylish caravan furniture.
With many of us choosing to holiday closer to home this year, caravans and mobile homes have become increasingly popular. In fact, more than 2 million people take holidays in caravans and motorhomes every year with this figure only set to rise.
Whether you already have a caravan that you want to spruce up, or you’re looking to buy your dream motorhome, these furnishing tips will help you create a comfy home away from home.
Practical furniture is key
Let’s be realistic, the caravans and motorhomes you find in the UK tend to be on the smaller side. This makes for a delightfully cosy space to spend time with friends and family, but it is something to bear in mind when shopping for furniture. You will need to ensure that it not only fits within the space you have, but also does not make the space feel overcrowded or hard to navigate.
Keep it compact
One of the best ways to ensure your furniture isn’t too bulky for your space is to choose compact items. Where you might normally use a dining chair, a small compact stool that can be pushed under the table when not in use is the ideal replacement. Whilst you can still incorporate pieces like a coffee table in your living area, you may want to opt for a small round or square style instead of the traditional rectangular design.
Folding furniture is your friend
For furniture where full size is necessary, such as dining tables and seating to be used for longer periods, folding furniture is ideal. This can either be fixed in place, to be folded out when needed, or standalone so it can be packed away for journeys. Our Banqueting Folding Table is the perfect choice as the legs fold up completely, and the plywood top offers a lightweight but spacious surface. Pair it with a folding plastic chair and you have the perfect spot to dine, socialise and of course play board games if you get caught in that UK holiday drizzle!
Go lightweight
There are a couple of reasons for keeping your furniture lightweight in a caravan or motorhome. Firstly, you are likely to move it around more – whether it’s storing it when you hit the road, or just making space on a daily basis. Secondly, a caravan is a vehicle after all, so if you do intend to drive it around, having a lot of heavy pieces will only lead to higher fuel consumption.
Choosing compact or folding furniture will help reduce weight, but you can also pick materials which are a little lighter. Try to avoid heavy metal bases and instead opt for thinner legs and where possible a thinner tabletop. You may also find some wood effect pieces weigh less than their solid wood counterparts.
Choose outdoor-friendly pieces
One of the wonderful things about caravan holidays is that you can spend so much time outdoors! If you have room, a set of stacking or folding chairs is great for sitting out and enjoying the sun (and of course a BBQ!) Our Monaco Natural Wicker Stacking Chair is made from lightweight aluminium and finished with a great looking wicker seat.
If you want more inspiration, check out our guide to outdoor furniture for your static caravan.