Winter Retreat:  7 Cozy Upgrades for Your RV Interior

The leaves have slipped from the trees, winter is taking over, and everything looks crisp and stark outdoors.  Whether you’re staying put during the colder months, or continue your travels, enhancing your rig’s interior can make all the difference in comfort and warmth.

Here are seven thoughtful upgrades for your RV interior that will help you make a warm and fuzzy winter retreat.

USB Heating Pads

Even when you have full hookups and the heat is blasting, you may need to knock the chill out of the air.  Upgrade to a USB heating pad.  I love having one of these at my feet whether watching TV or working.  Having a DC-powered heating pad is perfect for an RV as you can use it without draining power if you happen to be boondocking or in case of campground power outages.

USB Heating Pads are portable so you can easily move them from your RV trailer or fifth wheel to your vehicle on moving days and keep warm in the truck too.  Being warm is being cozy.

Moka Pot

Upgrade your coffee-making skills to a Moka Pot.  It is a small coffee maker.  You can percolate an Italian espresso Cuban coffee, or a regular black coffee with your coffee bean choice.  These pots are perfect because they don’t require electricity.  They work great with a gas stove. 

Bonus – while creating your craft coffee, you warm your rig with the stove heat.  And don’t just stick to coffee, go for a hot toddy, hot chocolate, or breakfast tea, adding both warmth and variety to your winter hot beverages

Winter Decor

You have limited space in an RV so make your winter décor count.  I have a wicker basket with a pine cone-scented candle in the center, surrounded by cinnamon-scented pine cones.  It is a winter decoration but also helps a closed-up rig smell nice.  Décor that serves a dual purpose, is collapsible or can be discarded are your best options. 

Another possibility would be adding twinkle lights while creating a warm ambiance in a nook.  Thoughtfully selected decorations can create a cozy atmosphere without cluttering your living space, and small enhancements mean you do not have storage issues later.

Screensavers

Do you work from your rig while you travel?  Carry a laptop or monitor?  Upgrade your screen saver.  On YouTube, look for a ‘cozy winter ambiance’.  It will give you a screen you can watch with crackling fireplaces, snowfall, candlelit rooms, and more.  Add other search words to personalize your screen upgrade to winter things you enjoy, like reading books, jazz music, steaming coffee, etc.  If you only use a phone, look for something to add as your screensaver too.  This is a great way to bring in a fireplace if you don’t have one in your RV.

Hot Water Bottle

It seems old-fashioned but those things work.  Heat water on your gas stove and fill the bottle.  Place it near your feet in bed to keep you warm all night.  No electricity is required.  You can get them with cloth covers so opt for winter, cozy seasonal colors and patterns.  You can place them around the rig like warm little pillows.  If you have a pet, these are also great to put under their blanket and keep them warm, it can be colder near the floor.

Add Plushness

Instead of buying a thick blanket for your bed, layer several cozy ones.  This way you can add and remove depending on the cold temperatures.  When you are not using a blanket on the bed, move it to other areas of the house to snuggle in.  Layer pillows on your bed or chairs for extra warmth.  Piling multiple rugs on the floor will block out the cold.  When you sink into the plush layers, you will feel very cozy.  So when you upgrade your rugs, pillows, and blankets, more is better than thicker and easier to store.

Heated Floors & Seats

Consider investing in heated floor mats or film, if your RV is always electrically powered.  You can get flooring mats custom-fitted to your rig.  A gentle warmth will surround you emanating from the floor up.   Radiant heat is very efficient in keeping your RV at a comfortable temperature because it stays at floor level.  You can walk around like summer instead of the heat rising to the ceiling and disappearing.  USB-heated warmers are available for chairs and toilets!

Considering Selling Your RV?

Creating a winter retreat in your RV goes beyond the benefit of being cozy.  If you can select the right items, you can support energy efficiency and sustainability.  These are important considerations when you own an RV. 

While these upgrades can transform your RV into a cozy winter haven, we understand that sometimes, instead of undertaking enhancements, it’s time for a change. If you prefer to sell your RV or camper instead of updating it, we can help. Visit National Vehicle’s Sell My RV page and fill out the form to start the process. Whether you’re looking to downsize or move on to new adventures, selling your RV can be a seamless and stress-free experience.