Start with lights, add a tabletop tree, then fill in with dollar-store accents. Lights changed one RV owner’s rig the most, a small tree fits where a floor tree can’t, and a homemade pom-pom garland runs about $3 and takes about 10 minutes. Everything below is sized for a camper, trailer or motorhome where every inch of counter and wall is already taken.
Dollar-store pieces cost about $1 each in one owner’s shopping several years ago, so expect to pay more now. Camper-themed items from online sellers run roughly $5 to $20, and inflatables cost more.
Lights
Check the power before you hang anything. Add up the wattage of everything on the circuit you plan to use, decor lights included, and keep the total under the breaker rating. If a breaker trips, or a plug or cord feels warm, unplug the lights. Glancing at an outlet after plugging in one more strand tells you nothing about load. How the rig’s power and hookups work is laid out in the camping in an RV guide.
1. Ceiling-line strand. The top edge of a wall, or the strip above the dinette window, is where a strand reads best. On vinyl-covered walls, use small clips or hooks instead of tape. Any curtain that hangs over a heat source needs to stay clear of the bulbs. A sale strand cost about $4 several years ago.
2. USB kits. RV-specific sets come with a 6.6 ft light string plus hooks, ties and stakes, so the same kit works on a camper, a trailer or outside. A power bank or the vehicle’s USB port runs it, which matters when you have no hookups. A 6.6 ft strand is short, so measure the area before buying.
3. Window frames. A strand around a window shows from the dinette and from the campsite. Removable hooks or a few clips hold it. Keep the cord away from the latch and the slide-out seal, and shut the window slowly the first time to see whether the wire pinches.
4. Plug-in night lights. They suit a bathroom or a narrow hallway with no flat surface. No cord crosses the floor, but you need a free outlet.
5. Solar fairy lights. A 50-LED strand goes under the awning edge or around the picnic table, with no extension cord across the walkway. The panel needs direct sun during the day, and December in the northern states means short days, short run times and a dimmer glow.
Small trees and tabletop displays
6. A mini tabletop tree fits on the dinette or a counter corner. Nothing fits under it, so set a basket or box beside it for presents. Measure the table first and leave room for a plate.
7. A tree on a shelf or windowsill. If the table has to stay clear for meals, put a very small tree on a shelf or on the sill of a window that doesn’t open. A strip of removable adhesive putty holds the base. Don’t stand anything on a sill you open during travel.
8. A bottle-brush tree trio. Three of different heights make a row on a ledge. Lay them flat before you drive. They take a bumpy road better than glass ornaments do.
DIY garlands and crafts
9. Pom-pom garland. The cheapest project here. Thread pom-poms onto string with a needle. One owner spent about $3 total (string at $1, two bags of pom-poms at $1 each) and finished in about 10 minutes. Cut the string longer than seems necessary, because the garland hangs in loops and loses length. Pom-poms won’t scratch a wall, but they collect dust and pet hair.
10. Braided garland with a light strand. Lay two strands of inexpensive garland flat on the floor or bed with a light strand wound between them, braid, then hang. The result looks thicker than either piece alone. Read the light strand’s label first to see whether it plugs in or takes batteries, since that decides where it can go.
11. Foam snowflakes on string. Dollar stores sell foam glitter snowflakes. Hang them at different lengths from the same kind of string as the garland, near a lamp so the glitter catches light. They shed glitter, so keep them off the area above a bed or food prep.
12. Paper chains or stars. Construction paper and a stapler cost almost nothing, and kids can build a chain in an afternoon. Hang it on the opposite side of the rig from the stove and vent.
Budget finds
| Item | Where it goes | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| 13. Dollar-store wreath | Inside or outside the entry door, on an over-the-door hook (no screw hole) | Must not block the latch or screen |
| 14. Bows and small bells | Cabinet handles, the hand rail by the steps, curtain tie-backs | Bells ring on every door swing, so keep them to cabinets and use bows on the door |
| 15. Holiday hand towels and stockings | Towels over plain ones, stockings on a cabinet knob or a hook near the bunk | Wash towels first, since cheap dye can bleed |
| 16. Seasonal pillow covers | Over your regular pillows | Covers store flat; thrift-store pillows can be washed and donated after the season |
Camper-themed accents
17. Camper and campfire ornaments. Wooden camper-shaped ornaments, layered wood-and-acrylic versions and campfire keepsakes are sold mostly online, in the $5 to $20 range. Hang them from a small tree or a curtain-rod hook. Wood rides better than glass, and a wrap of paper or a sock around each one covers the rest.
18. A camper yard flag. A double-sided polyester flag around 12 x 18 inches is a standard garden-flag size, and camper designs come in it. Mount it on a stake beside the steps or in a pole holder on the awning arm. Take it down before a long drive or in strong wind so it doesn’t tear.
19. Exterior lights on the awning and steps. Outdoor-rated strands go along the awning rail and beside the steps. Use hooks and stakes, not screws, and route cords away from where people walk in the dark. Some campgrounds have rules on decorations or lighting, so ask the office before stringing anything.
20. Inflatable figures. Snowmen and Santas come in 6 ft and 7 ft sizes, many with built-in LEDs. That’s a lot of figure for a campsite and a real load on a shared outlet, so keep it off any circuit running a heater or microwave. Stakes and weights hold it down. Deflate it and take it in before strong wind is forecast, following the manufacturer’s wind guidance, rather than waiting for a gust.
Storing decor in a small rig
One container labeled “RV Christmas” holds the sentimental pieces and keeps everything findable. Some owners leave the box with family and have it shipped back each year, and others buy cheap and donate afterward. Wrap breakable ornaments in towels, and don’t leave the box where it can slide during a drive. If space is tight, decide what rides along only after the camping packing list is settled.
Candles and anything with an open flame stay out of the camper. Flameless LED candles give a similar glow in a space this small.
Frequently asked questions
How do you decorate a small RV for Christmas?
Hang things and keep the counters clear. Lights go up first because they change the room most, then one tabletop tree, then garland and stockings on removable hooks. Before plugging everything in, add up the wattage on that circuit and stay under the breaker rating.
What are some good decorations for an RV?
Anything light that hangs or lies flat: foam snowflakes on string, a dollar-store wreath on an over-the-door hook, pillow covers, stockings on a cabinet knob. Glass ornaments and heavy figurines are what break on a drive, so they need wrapping and a box if they come along at all.
What are some good Christmas ideas for a camper?
Wooden camper ornaments on a mini tree make the rig read as a camper. A pom-pom garland costs about $3 and takes about 10 minutes. Outside, outdoor-rated lights along the awning rail work if the campground allows decorations. Anchor anything outdoors with stakes and keep cords out of the walking path.
Can I store Christmas decor in an RV?
Only a little. Keep one labeled box for the pieces that matter, wrapped in towels, and secure it so it can’t slide while you drive. Don’t park it where it blocks a door or a bunk exit. Cheap pieces can be donated after the season instead of stored.
