What do you do when you work from home, but don't really have the space, and don't really have the money for a whole room addition to your house? Renovate a camper trailer of course!
My husband works about 3 days a week from home instead of going to the office. It saves time and money from commuting, plus income tax from not working in Oregon on those days. It's great!
But he used to have just one small corner of our bedroom set up as his office. It meant trying to keep Asher out of there all day, having to check if he was on the phone before I could go put laundry away, stuff like that was a little annoying to each of us.
Then he got this crazy idea to buy a camper to set up in the backyard and work from there--and it's ended up being the best idea!
You should probably know that our backyard is kind of foresty-and not really manicured, so it was no big deal to set it up out there (and certainly no HOA around here that would care) And he gets to watch the goats all day.
Here's a before picture of the inside. (We had already taken the drawers out--remember one got used in my porch makeover as a planter)
and here's how it looks after our handyman did some magic in there (we did do the painting ourselves.) It got new framing, new insulation, vinyl on the floor, beadboard on the walls, and panelling on the ceiling.
Panoramic view of the inside:
We recently had our electrical panel replaced and in the process had a new outside outlet installed on its own circut. That way if I turn on the hair dryer I won't trip the breaker that's powering his computer.
I have to admit, when my husband first proposed the idea I wasn't really sure if it would work. We both love the set up though, and with a small heater and portable a/c unit, he's comfortable through all seasons out there!
So be honest--what do you think? What would you turn a camper into in your backyard?
Sharing at Under the Table and Dreaming, Today's Creative Blog



Wow!! That is such a neat idea, I bet your husband loves working in there :)
ReplyDeleteThat is seriously so cool!
ReplyDeleteThis is a hit...it's an awesome idea and I can see this exploding over bloggyland!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors you've used in the space too!
LOL that's awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! -Marci
ReplyDeleteWow! This must be one of the brightest ideas I have seen!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo clever, cool and practical! Too bad my bacyard is not that big, otherwise
I could "see" ...craft room!!!!!!!
Cheers
andrea
Steph, this is an amazing idea. And the execution is amazing. I LOVE it.
ReplyDeletewow....how inspiring is this...I have an old, very old camper about that same size...oh what a great idea for a craft room on my own...heehee ... just might have to remember this...thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteThis is so great Steph! This is upcycling to the extreme :) LOVE IT!!! You guys did an amazing job.
ReplyDeleteIt would for sure be a craft room for me!! But here in my state it would have to be liscensed every year or the code enforcement police would get me! lol
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from Sew Chatty's link up!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, it's a home office without all of the distractions of actually in your house... like laundry and dirty dishes!
What a neat idea! The new office looks great!
ReplyDeleteSO COOL! What a great idea! It wouldn't work where I live, the temperatures are too extreme but I love your results!
ReplyDeleteI did a very similar thing with our camper when I worked from home. But I wasn't able to redo the camper as my very own. I just used our camping camper and took my laptop out anytime I needed some quiet. But your camper looks awesome! Wish I could make permenant changes to mine!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, & yes. What a great idea. Just as long as one is not associated with an HOA. Heaven forbid. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy Sweetheart uses our camper as an office, too! When it gets too noisy in the house...he can just go outside and study! Yeah! We live in the mountains, no HOA. Glad your husbands idea worked!
ReplyDeletewhat do i think?
ReplyDeletebrilliant
what a perfect solution!
alison
That turned out fabulous! Such a great idea!!!
ReplyDeleteThis blows me away - what an ingenious idea - I would love to have this!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely your newest follower - would love to have you come by for a
visit and follow back when you can
Hugs
Suzan
love this...and I saw the coolest idea for a camper...ironing board...paint it to match...folded up takes up no more floor space...need a place to serve ....or in your case...a place for sorting papers ect....and you can make them fun....
ReplyDeletewe love this! you did a great job. we have always wanted to make a guest house from a camper!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. Our friends are getting ready to set up a camper on their property for Grandma to move into. This will be inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLove link ups. Gives me some great new blogs to read. That's how I found yours. Such a cute idea and getting the creative juices flowing. Would be great if you got others to link to you on other's ideas for offices/studios that are not "typical". Personally looking for ideas because I'd love to have a studio outside. Was thinking the other day that if I could go "away" to work on my art, I'd get more done. It would be great if "away" was the back yard. With a retired to early husband it would be nice ot get away!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very creative solution! Love it.
ReplyDeleteI love ti ! I want a vintage camper :) www.bargainfun.net
ReplyDeleteI love it. I have been swooning over vintage campers. I would love a little studio / traveling shop. Found you via Gunny Sack Hop, drop by sometime I am at DearCreatives.com
ReplyDeleteA very good idea. My caravan is a great place to sit and meditate although it hasn't had a makeover, just a good clean!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I would do it, except, I'm not sure how I'd feel about that slightly wobbly sensation that a camper has. I get motion sick too easily.:(
ReplyDeleteThat is the best backyard office EVER! love love love it! great job on your parts.
ReplyDeletesmiles, alice
that's brilliant. i've grown up running a campground my whole life and i would totally do that with a small trailer! i like that you actually repurposed it and made it easy to get around inside. most people would just have left it like it was and tried to make do. it makes sense to add more insulation if he's going to use it year round. definitely big kudos to you.
ReplyDeletei forgot to add that a few years ago, there was a big mobile home that someone wanted to sell. my first thought was that my family should buy it and use it for putting together quilts and maybe it would give us incentive to buy a quilting machine and actually make some money at a hobby! it didn't happen though.
DeleteWhat a innovative idea !! Now, I want one . haha
ReplyDeleteSuper idea!! I could see a craft room also while the kids play outside.
ReplyDeleteThis is not only a fabulous idea, but you did such a great job with the re-decorating too. I loooooove this idea!! Plus my husband snores so I could send him out there to sleep at night :))
ReplyDeletexo,
Laurie @ Gallamore West
I think it was a great idea! How fun!
ReplyDeleteThis Is the neatest thing I have seen in a while!!! Nice job with the redo!! Looks like a great place to work!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. Your own space!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
Oh my gosh, I so want one! I LOVE this idea!
ReplyDeleteOh that is seriously awesome! I have been looking for a tear drop camper to make in to my own private retreat for a long time! Your's is perfect!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'm going to share this one with my hubby who also works from home. Not sure if it would work on our yard though...the neighbours might be a little put out!
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT idea! Way to think outside the house ;D Thank you for linking to Handyman, Crafty Woman's Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteI would totally make a craft studio out of one! This is just awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about doing this for a spare bedroom. This is GREAT. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB!!! My husband has this exact camper that has been his hunting camper since he was a little boy and I've been refusing to allow it at our house because it's sooo beat up and after being inside you come out smelling like mud and cigarettes and just plain ol'boy. This has given me inspiration for that ol'camper! Thank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea and execution of it.
ReplyDeleteI want one! This is just too cool to let the guy's have all by themselves! I would want my own craft camper!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I want a larger one to do a studio! Portable! Cool!
ReplyDeleteSuper awesome! My in laws were selling a totally cute on the outside not cute on the inside camper trailer. I wanted it so bad but had no real use for camping. I am kicking myself right now for letting it get away!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! I have been collecting pictures of other camper renovations. What a fun project! As a home office you can enjoy yours everyday. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very creative idea! It looks amazing. I was just checking out 14 x 48 shed/garage that comes with everything to build to use as a studio and most of them are cute and about 6,000 which isn't so bad. Thank you for sharing the cute camper/office at my link party!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I'm sharing on my facebook wall!: )
ReplyDeleteIts so cute!!! I totally would. In fact, I am a bit more redneck, I park my 21 foot motor home in my front yard, lol! It helps that so many people in the neighborhood do this with their rvs and boats, I don't feel like such an eyesore ;-). I would love, love to have an itty-bitty one like this to use as a guest room.
ReplyDeleteOh I totally love this. I would love one to turn it into a studio so I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed with my fabric being everywhere. And everything could have it's own happy little home.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, this is so cool! Love the transformation =)
ReplyDeletethis is a wicked idea. I have always thought of a yurt for an outdoor office space but this works awesome! You could totally paint it up all cute on the outside.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha!
ReplyDelete::Be honest...what would you turn a camper into?::
That gave me a chuckle. So far I've turned it into storage. Oh and let's not forget a place to keep an oversized tarp!
Hmmm...I'd love to see anymore photos you may have of the inside BEFORE. Your camper looks very similar to the one we purchase last year---before The Honey's heart attack...We have big, big plans for this camper.
Your camper/ office by the way...looks great!
I like the fact that you put 'guest seating' inside too.
Thanks for linking up to SNS #149...
I'm glad I was able to see it. ~Pat
I think that this is a fabulous remedy for a shortage of space. Thanks for sharing,
ReplyDeleteTraci
Great, great idea! I need one of those out in the yard to move one of my teenagers into! Love yours!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Homeroad.net
I love this idea! I've wanted a vintage camper forever and my husband doesn't know what I'd do with it! This is the perfect solution!! great job! Love it.
ReplyDeletedenise
I love it! I'd love to have a camper myself for my craft room! A home away from home of sorts!
ReplyDeleteThe is a fabulous idea~! Well done.
ReplyDeleteLove this! What a great idea. I'd love a little escape like that. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd totally do that and use it as a crafting space and a home office.
ReplyDeleteI have been drooling over these old camp trailers but I want one for a portable shoppe instead of having a bricks and mortar store. I thought it would be fun to go to the different shows around the US or even just in Calif. A very nice job. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat's soooo cool and its really creative ideas..Bet your husband very happy about this....Thanks for awesome sharing!
ReplyDeleteI would do this in a heartbeat! This turned out really cute. Does the outside look all made over as well?
ReplyDeleteOh that is amazing i think this might end up being what i do some day thanks for sharing :D
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a vintage camper to turn into a guest room. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. Erin above mentioned a yurt, I had thought of doing that for a studio, but this is cooler, and moveable! Love it.
ReplyDeleteGenius!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea...brilliant, really. Thanks for sharing on Show & Tell at SNAP! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea! My sister's husband works from home 3-4 days a week, I'm totally showing them this! We'd love for you to link up to our party! http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/08/riverton-housewives-round-up-30.html
ReplyDeleteFabulous. Don't be surprised if this goes viral. Or starts a trend. Who wouldn't love this set up? It's what most of us crave -- a place of our own. Really Nice job!
ReplyDeleteIf my HOA wouldn't totally have a fit, I would love to do this - not necessarily as a home office, but it would be awesome as a crafting get-away. Thanks for sharing, it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGREAT IDEA!! Soooo it could be many things at our house. A man cave, a workout room, storage building, craft room, but most practical for me would be a music space.... for my drummer/guitar playing son and the other that plays the piano.
ReplyDeleteLove the Idea! I would even consider using one as a guest room!!
ReplyDeleteSteph...how did I just see this?! This is awesome! What an amazing transformation!!
ReplyDeleteI have an Etsy friend who has done two of these trailers and they are even prettier than any room in my home! This is a big trend right now and it is a great way to gain extra square footage for all sorts of reasons. I am so glad this worked out as an office for your hubby, you guys did a great job remodeling it.
ReplyDeleteWow that is just amazing, and something I would not have thought to do! I'm officially inspired!
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower! Feel free to pop on over to my blog @ mysweetlittlesteinerfamily.blogspot.com !
Have a great weekend!!
-Amanda
We caught the vintage camper bug "Aluminitis", the only cure is to buy one...3 years ago we bought Belle, our 1966 Airstream. Read about her here: www.sproutbabysprout.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, I have a link to it on my blog on the left hand side (in the blogroll), keep up the good work!
Incredible, incredible, incredible Steph! What a transformation! I've been wanting to renovate an old camper trailer for a few years now and hope when the time comes it will look even half as a good as yours. Thanks, Angela @ Mrs. White Twig and Tea
ReplyDeleteSweet! We once owned a silver one ... like an Airstream... it was a bumper hitch and when a dump truck pulled into our vehicle & we went off the road, it was the end of that camper... unhitched and rolled and rolled. :(
ReplyDeleteReally love the reuse of old camping trailers. I've seen a room built onto boat trailers online also. Great job!
Wow! This setup is incredible, this transformation is a work of a true professional.
ReplyDeleteFrom the looks of the office, the trailer was given a lot of effort. Keep up the good work!
This is AWESOME!!! I would love to have a camper as a cute, cozy retreat:)
ReplyDeleteI love it!My husband and I recently refinished an old Winnebago; now it sits in our driveway Jan-Aug and we use it as "overflow" space: guest room, retreat, etc. The other four months it is a hunting cabin at our hunting site. And we only have to insure it two weeks out of the year!
ReplyDeleteForgot to say, there are pics of my redo on my pinterest board here http://pinterest.com/morningstararts/camper-ideas/, (the ones that were "uploaded by user"), as well as many other camper redo pics and ideas.
ReplyDeletei would so like to have something similar or a bit larger to keep the crafting,sewing,knitting machine etc home office out of my house. it should be easy to convince my hasb since he hates all the stuff that goes with a home office and a crafty wife.
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing blog! More power to you!
ReplyDeletesuper fantastic!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am really curious about using a camper as an office in winter...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I am in love with this! Would you please link up this post to our hop? I think our readers would adore it as much as I do:)
ReplyDeletexoxo, Jordan.
www.lilywhite-designs.com
Wow! Turned out awesome!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it!
ReplyDeleteHi - I have been looking for a vintage camper to use as an office in my backyard because I work from home full time. This is awesome. Are you able to use this during cold and snow. I live in Massachusetts. How do you keep it warm in the winter? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a FANTASTIC IDEA!! I want one :) Michelle
ReplyDelete