The Campervan Interior Design Process: How We Help You Create a Home on Wheels
- Sable Rhodes
- Jul 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 3
By Sable Rhodes, for Drifter Vans
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Campervan Interior Design Process
Before the first cabinet is built or fabric chosen, the journey of creating a beautiful campervan begins with something deeper—a conversation.
For this piece, I spoke with Stephanie, one of our interior designers here at Drifter Vans. She walked me through the thoughtful, personalized process we use to design campervan interiors that are not only beautiful, but functional, durable, and uniquely yours.
To help illustrate this process, Stephanie will walk us through the design journey of the 2025 Drifter Show Van, showing how we bring a client’s vision to life from concept to finished build.
Because designing a campervan isn’t just about making it look good—it’s about making it feel like home.
Step 1: Pre-Design – Dreaming Up Your Campervan Lifestyle
Before the design meeting, we ask clients to pause and reflect:How will you live in your campervan?
Will you be full-time on the road, visiting family, traveling as a couple, or parking off-grid for weeks at a time? This insight shapes every design decision that follows.
For the 2025 Drifter Show Van, we embraced a palette of dark greens, gold accents, and rich browns with interesting textures. These colors and finishes are carefully chosen to create a sense of warmth and luxury, while still remaining grounded in nature. These design choices reflect the spirit of adventure and comfort we want to bring to our clients' homes on wheels.
We also encourage clients to gather inspiration photos—whether they’re drawn to warm wood tones, minimalist whites, or natural textiles—these images help us understand the vibe you want for your van interior.
Step 2: The Design Consultation
Each client begins the campervan interior design process with a Video consultation with their dedicated designer. During this meeting, we:
Get to know your personal style, preferences, and goals
Introduce you to the Drifter Vans process and what sets us apart
Talk through how you’ll use your van and what you need it to do
Explore materials, finishes, and the overall look and feel you're after
“We spend time getting to know you—but just as importantly, you get to know us,” says Stephanie. “Our methods, our approach, and how design can shape the way your van actually feels to live in.”
Step 3: Mood Boards & Material Curation
After the consultation, your designer creates two complete design concepts, also known as mood boards. Each one reflects a different visual direction based on your feedback and lifestyle needs.
Mood boards typically include:
Cabinet finishes
Flooring materials
Upholstery textiles
Hardware styles
Lighting accents and decor accessories
Once the mood boards are presented, you and your designer will review them together and choose the one that best reflects your vision—or blend elements from both.
“My favorite part of the process,” Stephanie shared, “is discovering those little personal touches that make a van feel truly one-of-a-kind.”
Step 4: Optional Design Add-Ons
Some clients want to take things further with even more customization. We offer additional design services at an hourly rate for those who want:
Extra mood boards or iterations
Deeper material research or specialty products
More consultation time to refine layout and design decisions
This is especially helpful for clients with unique design needs or specific lifestyle requirements in their campervan build.
Final Advice from Our Interior Designers
As exciting as vanlife visuals can be, it’s important to remember that function matters just as much as aesthetics—especially in a compact living space like a campervan.
“You have to think practically and efficiently,” Stephanie says. “We put a lot of research into materials, durability, and flow—so you’re not just in a pretty space, but a livable one that works for the real world.”
The best campervan interiors balance beauty with intention. Every drawer, every finish, every detail is chosen with the journey in mind.
Creating Your Custom Campervan Interior
At Drifter Vans, we believe the campervan interior design process should feel personal, inspiring, and grounded in how you’ll live on the road. Whether you’re starting over, chasing a dream, or simply choosing freedom, our goal is to help you build a space that holds it all—with beauty, care, and purpose.
Let’s Get You Moving in the Right Direction
Kick tires. Ask questions. Drift awhile.
🎥 Explore Our YouTube Channel
Watch van tours, build reveals, and behind-the-scenes footage straight from our shop.
👥 Join Our The Drift Facebook Group
The Drift Facebook group is a community where you can ask questions directly to the builders and designers at Drifter Vans, gaining insights and advice about campervan builds and design.
📜 Checkout The Drift — Our Vanlife Blog
Created by builders. Filled with vanlife tips, design inspiration, product reviews, and real client stories from the road.
🖼️ Check Out The Clients Gallery
Browse layout inspiration, interior finishes, and the creative details that make each Drifter Van unique.
Contact Drifter Vans Today
If you’re ready to start exploring, click below. There’s no pressure—just a starting point.This isn’t a commitment. It’s a door opening.
Not prefab.
Not mass-made.
Just soul and wheels—built to drive your dreams.