I have written specifically about painting the exterior of an RV, but what about the interior? I receive numerous questions about this topic every week, so I figured it was about time I shared my tips! Here is everything you need to know about painting the interior walls of an old RV.
About RV Walls
The first question most people usually ask is in regards to the walls themselves. You’ve probably noticed that most older RV’s were manufactured with either a fake wood paneling or a thin wallboard that is covered in what seems to be wallpaper. First off, do not attempt to remove this wallpaper. If you are dealing with a camper that has had some water damage or there are spots where this wallpaper is bubbling or rippling, I’d suggest you inspect this for further damage before proceeding. I have seen some rippling in the wallpaper around windows, due to aging or humidity, but not necessarily water damage. If it’s minor, I suggest sanding the area down, or using a knife to cut away the rippled area. If it is really bad, you may need to cover this area with new wallpaper, paneling or trim. But like I said, don’t attempt to peel back the wallpaper or you will have created way more work for yourself.
Before painting the interior walls of your RV, the prep work is just as important. Make sure your walls are clean, free from dust and grease. In many cases, a high quality paint will have no trouble adhering to a clean, dry wall without the use of an extra chemical. But, if you are dealing with a really old RV with exceptionally dirty walls, you may want to use a TSP substitute like Krud Kutter. If, by chance, your walls are actually covered in real wood, you may want to use a liquid sander first. This will remove the glossy finish! I really like this one.
Paint and Primer
I have had great success with Behr Marquee paint and primer in one on regular walls or over wallpaper. It covers great without the use of an additional primer and almost always covers in one coat! On the other hand, I have also used a bonding primer like Stix or Gripper, and then topped with a less expensive paint. As long as your surface is clean and dull, you shouldn’t need anything fancy. If you are covering wood or plastic/fake wood or if it has any kind of gloss to it, I HIGHLY recommend using a bonding primer first. I also recommend using a low luster paint with a satin or eggshell finish. Semi-gloss will show up too many imperfections, but flat paint will not ware well in high humidity. I do not recommend using oil based paint. I tried it once thinking it would adhere better, and had problems with it flaking off.
“If you are covering wood or plastic/fake wood or if it has any kind of gloss to it, I HIGHLY recommend using a bonding primer first.
Here is the summary of what I suggest you use:
Stix or Gripper primer over wood paneling, plastic or glossy surfaces
Latex paint
Eggshell finish, not flat or semi-gloss
Clean and prep the surface with TSP substitute like Krud Kutter and allow to thoroughly dry
Sand down or cut away any wallpaper that is bubbling or rippled due to age
Check for water damage before painting
Use bonding primer like Stix or Gripper if there is any sheen to your walls or if painting over any kind of wood paneling
Other Options for Damaged Walls
If you are trying to correct an area that is badly damaged or imperfect, you may want to cover it with something other than paint. Clean the surface as best as you can and then consider covering with one of these options. Disclaimer: don’t cover damage without first correcting the issue. If there is a leak, fix the leak and remove damaged wood, don’t just cover it up and ignore the problem!
Wallpaper: I have used both peel n’ stick and pre-pasted wallpaper. I have had decent success with peel n’ stick, but it is not recommended for exterior walls that are prone to condensation due to the changes in whether. If using a peel n’ stick, it is generally recommended that you use an additional adhesive. Don’t cover every wall in wallpaper, but use it as a great accent to cover damaged walls!
Peel n’ stick tile: I love using peel n’ stick tile in my RV’s. It is inexpensive, easy to install and doesn’t add additional weight. Check out my Amazon Store for some of my favorite options!
Vinyl tile: I have used vinyl tiles as an accent in my vintage trailers. It’s lightweight and easy to cut. Find some here: Vinyl Tile
Paneling: I wouldn’t normally recommend adding a lot of paneling if weight is a concern, but there are so many great options out there to choose from! From thin wood planks, to vinyl tile panels and faux brick, create the look of a focal wall that also reinforces or covers over damage.
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About Sarah Lemp
Sarah is a second generation homeschooling mom. She lives in Metro Detroit with her husband Jay, 5 kids and dog, Edison. They love staying active as a family and going on trips in their renovated RV's. Sarah loves to sing, make pretty things and eat pizza.
Great article! Quick question, we have an old 1990 RV and the wallpaper is coming down in some spots. In other areas it’s stuck on tight. Do I have to completely remove all of the wallpaper or is there something I can do to cover it without noticing the imperfections the old wallpaper leaves behind?? I appreciate your response! Thank you!
You should not attempt to remove any wallpaper. If there is a spot where it is rippling or peeling back, I would cut that section off and sand down. Spackle over the top to smooth it if you need to and then paint!
My Park Model doesn’t have heat from October to May. It is located 2 hours north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. Will the paint crack in the winter? I’d love to paint my walls but the thought of dealing with cracked paint annually puts me off. Many thanks for your insights!
Due to heat peeling/cracking the wallpaper in the windowsills I painted them. The one that had peeled badly shows signs of cracks but it may just be where it had previously peeled.
I’m curious about this too. I live in southern Texas though, so I’m more concerned about the extreme heat vs. the extreme cold. Will the paint crack over time?
I bought a used trailer and the previous owner painted the doors. Its already peeling. What is the best way to tackle repainting it and/or removing the paint? Thank you!
Interior or exterior? Exterior I would start with power washing and sanding down to remove any loose paint. Prime with a high quality gripping primer before repainting with an exterior paint. If interior doors, remove them and sand everything down really well. Scrape or sand away all loose paint. Repaint with Gripper or Stix primer.
You should be able to just pull that right off. I’ve done it on two campers with no incident. But maybe start somewhere less than obvious, just to be sure!
Greetings,
We bought a 1990 RV, the previous owner painted all the cabinets & interiors white. While it is attractive when we bought it, now we discovered he painted everything with a single coat latex paint, without any sights of prep or prime. Things started to peel and scratch easily.
Q: can we go over the paint with primer, or as you mentioned, the Behr Marquee? Primer 1-2-3?
Thank you,
Minh N.
Hello,
Hope you and the family are well.
How have you dealt with painting the plastic piping between the cabinets and walls/ceiling? Also the wider plastic trim on dinette frame?
Thanks for the great info and inspiration!
Hi! I have painted right over the plastic piping using Gripper or Stix primer. The same with plastic trim, though I’m not exactly sure which type you are referring to on the dinette.
How does the paint hold up without priming or sanding the walls first?
I prefer your way of painting considering the work involved in sanding and priming first.
Painting the walls without priming and sanding has always held well for me over time. It’s the wood paneling and other surfaces that NEED sanding and priming. If it’s wall board or thin wallpaper, a paint and primer in one has worked well. You will get a different opinion on this from everyone you ask, but in my experience, paint on the walls has held up well. It’s all the other surfaces that need more prep!
Hi, just love your pictures and can’t wait to paint my interior of my travel trailer!! My concern is the cabinets – would cabinet paint be better? Have you every used cabinet pain? My concern with all the use they get will the satin behr paint hold up to wiping finger/hand prints off? I’ve used Behr Marque on all my rooms in my home and I love it. My travel trailer is 8 years old – but is dark inside.
I used BM Advanced cabinet paint on my kitchen inside my house and it has held up well. In my campers, I always sand or uses a liquid sander, gripper primer and regular paint. I’ve never had an issue! I’ve never had an issue with satin paint either, but it’s a preference. I just don’t like the look of a glossy finish on most surfaces. Semi-gloss on cabinets would not be bad though!
Hi, Katie, I just painted my motorhome wallpaper walls. I did use bonding premier and then a good paint. Do remove the boarder. Lightly sand. It turned out great! It was pretty easy and so worth it! Hope this helps.
I have followed your steps to paint our walls & cabinets in our motorhome using the same products! The primer is sticking the the walls but not the fake panels of of wood! It’s scratches off! What do I do?
Hi Lori! Did you use a deglosser or cleaner on the walls first? Hopefully they weren’t too glossy before painting. Keep in mind that paint can take up to 30 days to fully cure (temperatures and humidity can impact how long it takes). As it cures, it will harden and make it less likely to scratch off. If you are still concerned, you might try topping with a polycrylic clear coat for added protection. I like using this one: https://amzn.to/2BS40zc
Hi Sarah, I love your Roman shades! Where did you get them? We just purchased a 1970 vintage RV that we’re just starting to fix up and these would be perfect to replace the yucky curtains we inherited with the rig :) Thank you in advance!
Hi Jerry, we have a 2006 Okanogan 26 ft. It has a fabric ceiling and it’s a creamy white in color. I have tried to clean it a number of times over the last 14 years. But it still has stains from the air conditioner and the stove. What can we do to paint or cover up the fabric?
I am considering purchasing a 1999 motor home. It has some upgrading, but has leakage and I was told they will put the coating on top as soon as it stops raining. I don’t know anyone to check this out, just me. How can I tell if it is water damage or old age. I kind of trust the guy selling it to me, but he is a salesman. I also really enjoyed all your information. I new I WANTED to paint in and now I know I CAN….IF I buy it. I’m also not sure what it would be worth.
Hi Jerrie!
First off, I would just assume that this camper still leaks, because ALL campers at some point will leak. Campers are known for having leaks and once you become fully aware of that, I feel like it actually helps take some of the stress and anxiety out of it. Just know that with any camper, you HAVE to stay on top of caulking and resealing things every year. With that said, you really just need to assess how bad the damage from the leak actually is. Do you have a friend that has ever owned an RV that could look at it with you? I have a post that gives a checklist of things to look for, find it here: https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/how-i-make-money-flipping-rvs-on-facebook-marketplace-tips-for-buying-and-selling/
Susannah
Great article! Quick question, we have an old 1990 RV and the wallpaper is coming down in some spots. In other areas it’s stuck on tight. Do I have to completely remove all of the wallpaper or is there something I can do to cover it without noticing the imperfections the old wallpaper leaves behind?? I appreciate your response! Thank you!
Sarah Lemp
You should not attempt to remove any wallpaper. If there is a spot where it is rippling or peeling back, I would cut that section off and sand down. Spackle over the top to smooth it if you need to and then paint!
Karen C
My Park Model doesn’t have heat from October to May. It is located 2 hours north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. Will the paint crack in the winter? I’d love to paint my walls but the thought of dealing with cracked paint annually puts me off. Many thanks for your insights!
Due to heat peeling/cracking the wallpaper in the windowsills I painted them. The one that had peeled badly shows signs of cracks but it may just be where it had previously peeled.
Meaghan
I’m curious about this too. I live in southern Texas though, so I’m more concerned about the extreme heat vs. the extreme cold. Will the paint crack over time?
Chris
I bought a used trailer and the previous owner painted the doors. Its already peeling. What is the best way to tackle repainting it and/or removing the paint? Thank you!
Sarah Lemp
Interior or exterior? Exterior I would start with power washing and sanding down to remove any loose paint. Prime with a high quality gripping primer before repainting with an exterior paint. If interior doors, remove them and sand everything down really well. Scrape or sand away all loose paint. Repaint with Gripper or Stix primer.
Carol Russell
my camper walls have a border. can that be removed or will that create a problem?
Kendra
You should be able to just pull that right off. I’ve done it on two campers with no incident. But maybe start somewhere less than obvious, just to be sure!
MINH D NGUYEN
Greetings,
We bought a 1990 RV, the previous owner painted all the cabinets & interiors white. While it is attractive when we bought it, now we discovered he painted everything with a single coat latex paint, without any sights of prep or prime. Things started to peel and scratch easily.
Q: can we go over the paint with primer, or as you mentioned, the Behr Marquee? Primer 1-2-3?
Thank you,
Minh N.
Barto
Hello,
Hope you and the family are well.
How have you dealt with painting the plastic piping between the cabinets and walls/ceiling? Also the wider plastic trim on dinette frame?
Thanks for the great info and inspiration!
Kelly Hasz
I am also wondering about the plastic piping and plastic trim…paint? replace?
Sarah Lemp
Hi! I have painted right over the plastic piping using Gripper or Stix primer. See my other reply for more :)
Sarah Lemp
Hi! I have painted right over the plastic piping using Gripper or Stix primer. The same with plastic trim, though I’m not exactly sure which type you are referring to on the dinette.
Kimberly Savoia
How does the paint hold up without priming or sanding the walls first?
I prefer your way of painting considering the work involved in sanding and priming first.
Sarah Lemp
Painting the walls without priming and sanding has always held well for me over time. It’s the wood paneling and other surfaces that NEED sanding and priming. If it’s wall board or thin wallpaper, a paint and primer in one has worked well. You will get a different opinion on this from everyone you ask, but in my experience, paint on the walls has held up well. It’s all the other surfaces that need more prep!
Sue Godfrey
How do you deal with the caulking?
Debbie
Have you ever painted the ceiling? Any suggestions?
Sarah Lemp
Yes I have! I have used the same paint that I used on the walls. I also painted a CARPETED ceiling: https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/rv-problem-solving-painting-a-carpeted-ceiling/
Lynn C
Hi, just love your pictures and can’t wait to paint my interior of my travel trailer!! My concern is the cabinets – would cabinet paint be better? Have you every used cabinet pain? My concern with all the use they get will the satin behr paint hold up to wiping finger/hand prints off? I’ve used Behr Marque on all my rooms in my home and I love it. My travel trailer is 8 years old – but is dark inside.
Sarah Lemp
I used BM Advanced cabinet paint on my kitchen inside my house and it has held up well. In my campers, I always sand or uses a liquid sander, gripper primer and regular paint. I’ve never had an issue! I’ve never had an issue with satin paint either, but it’s a preference. I just don’t like the look of a glossy finish on most surfaces. Semi-gloss on cabinets would not be bad though!
Katie
If the wallpaper isn’t in bad condition do you just paint right over it?
Lori Wordell
Hi, Katie, I just painted my motorhome wallpaper walls. I did use bonding premier and then a good paint. Do remove the boarder. Lightly sand. It turned out great! It was pretty easy and so worth it! Hope this helps.
Brian Roblow
You are really amazing and great ideas in your head! Thanks for the info
Cindy
My cougar wall paper is falling off walls. Can I peel it off and redo it with peel and stick wall paper? Or paint walls?
Robin
I love the grey headboard but I can’t figure out what its made of or by what material. Can you please let me know. Thank you!
Susan B
What is a good white color for RV interiors-not too stark and not too yellow??
diane loomis
swiss coffee
Lori
I have followed your steps to paint our walls & cabinets in our motorhome using the same products! The primer is sticking the the walls but not the fake panels of of wood! It’s scratches off! What do I do?
Sarah Lemp
Hi Lori! Did you use a deglosser or cleaner on the walls first? Hopefully they weren’t too glossy before painting. Keep in mind that paint can take up to 30 days to fully cure (temperatures and humidity can impact how long it takes). As it cures, it will harden and make it less likely to scratch off. If you are still concerned, you might try topping with a polycrylic clear coat for added protection. I like using this one: https://amzn.to/2BS40zc
Erica Stock
Hi Sarah, I love your Roman shades! Where did you get them? We just purchased a 1970 vintage RV that we’re just starting to fix up and these would be perfect to replace the yucky curtains we inherited with the rig :) Thank you in advance!
Linda Hummel Marr
Hi Jerry, we have a 2006 Okanogan 26 ft. It has a fabric ceiling and it’s a creamy white in color. I have tried to clean it a number of times over the last 14 years. But it still has stains from the air conditioner and the stove. What can we do to paint or cover up the fabric?
Sarah Lemp
Hi Linda! Did you see the post I did on painting a carpeted ceiling? Maybe that would work? https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/rv-problem-solving-painting-a-carpeted-ceiling/
Jerrie
I am considering purchasing a 1999 motor home. It has some upgrading, but has leakage and I was told they will put the coating on top as soon as it stops raining. I don’t know anyone to check this out, just me. How can I tell if it is water damage or old age. I kind of trust the guy selling it to me, but he is a salesman. I also really enjoyed all your information. I new I WANTED to paint in and now I know I CAN….IF I buy it. I’m also not sure what it would be worth.
Sarah Lemp
Hi Jerrie!
First off, I would just assume that this camper still leaks, because ALL campers at some point will leak. Campers are known for having leaks and once you become fully aware of that, I feel like it actually helps take some of the stress and anxiety out of it. Just know that with any camper, you HAVE to stay on top of caulking and resealing things every year. With that said, you really just need to assess how bad the damage from the leak actually is. Do you have a friend that has ever owned an RV that could look at it with you? I have a post that gives a checklist of things to look for, find it here: https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/how-i-make-money-flipping-rvs-on-facebook-marketplace-tips-for-buying-and-selling/
Sarah
This is also so helpful! Thank you. What about the plastic trim? Did you just paint directly on top? Thank you!!