Easy RV Shower Remodel with 9 DIY Makeover Ideas
I updated our ugly RV shower for less than $50! These easy DIY RV shower remodel ideas will turn your camper bathroom from boring to beautiful.
As part of my hybrid camper renovation, I wanted to completely change the look of the bathroom. I decided to reuse the main components like the cabinet, toilet, and bathtub/shower pan but give everything else a makeover.
One of my favorite DIY projects in the RV bathroom remodel was my shower makeover. In this post, I’ll give you a full step by step tutorial on how I created faux subway tile in the shower. Plus, I’ll share eight other ways to update your camper shower without spending a lot of money.
In this post you’ll find:
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RV Shower Makeover with “Subway Tile”
One of the main ways I changed the look of the bathroom was by “tiling” the shower. I’ve seen people use regular tile in campers which works, but adds a lot of extra weight to your RV.
Others have used peel and stick tile, but this option can be expensive and I’m also not convinced peel and stick tile would stand up to extreme temperature fluctuations well either. If I had used peel and stick subway tile in my RV shower, it would have cost more than $150.
Instead, I created the look of classic subway tile for less than $20!
How to Make Faux Subway Tile
Faux tile is a great idea for updating an RV shower because it adds no weight to the camper, costs almost nothing, and is an easy DIY project that still looks pretty. Here are the steps on how to draw a tile pattern on your camper shower walls.
Video Tutorial
1. Prime the Shower Stall
The first step is to prime and paint the shower stall. RVs are notorious for having a slick wallpaper on all of the walls, so priming is an important step whenever you paint any wall surface in your camper.
A traditional primer should work fine, unless you’re covering up water or smoke stains, in which case you’ll need a stain-blocking primer like a shellac based primer or an oil-enriched primer.
2. Paint the Shower Stall
After the primer has dried, give the walls a fresh coat of paint with a water-resistant paint. I used a white oil-based paint I had leftover from painting the exterior of my pop-up camper. However, if I didn’t have this laying around, I would have used an exterior house paint which is made to withstand water.
3. Choose the Tile Pattern
I chose to create a herringbone pattern on the back wall and a classic running bond (also called offset) subway pattern. You could definitely do one pattern on all of the walls as well.
To be honest, it was easier to make the classic pattern than to use the stencil, so if you’re looking for the easiest, quickest project, I would do the whole shower in an offset subway tile pattern. Or, make it even easier by creating a stacked subway tile pattern!
4. Stencil the Herringbone Pattern
To use the herringbone stencil, use a couple of pieces of painter’s tape to attach the stencil to the wall. Painter’s tape works best here so it doesn’t pull any of the fresh paint off your walls.
Use a Sharpie Pro permanent marker or a black paint pen to trace in the lines of the stencil.
Another option when stenciling is to use paint. Sometimes, paint can easily bleed under stencils, unless you take an extra step to stop bleed through. I’ve stenciled quite a few different walls and surfaces, and I’ll say, I think using a permanent marker is easier if you’re doing a simple, straight line pattern like this one!
If you use paint or a paint pen, allow the paint to dry slightly before moving the stencil to the next spot on the wall to avoid smearing. If you use a permanent marker, there’s no need to wait to allow it to dry.
After stenciling the wall, connect any of the lines that didn’t join together during the stenciling process so they look like complete tiles.
5. Draw the Offset Subway Pattern
On the side walls, I created the look of traditional subway tile in a running bond pattern.
First, measure the height of one of the “tiles” on the back wall from the stencil. Use this measurement as the distance to space out the horizontal lines.
Then, measure the width of a “tile” and use that as a guide to measure out the first row of tiles. Use these measurements as the guide for every other row of tiles, all the way down the wall.
It helps to mark these measurements right on your ruler, and then to move across the wall putting a small dot at each measurement on the wall. Then, use a straightedge to draw the tile lines on every other row.
To create the offset pattern on the second row, halfway under the previous tile, just make the tiles spaced halfway under the first row. Then, use the same technique to mark and draw the tiles on every other row all the way down the wall.
All in all, I love the way the “tile” turned out and I think it makes a huge difference in the look of this small RV bathroom. I think it gives the space a clean, more modern look. Although, it’s actually only my second favorite project in my full RV bathroom makeover.
8 More Ideas to Give your RV Shower a Makeover
Often, it’s the small changes that make the biggest impact in any RV remodel project, but it’s especially true in a tiny RV bathroom! Here are some of the easiest ways to update the look of your RV shower, even on a tiny budget.
1. Paint your Shower Walls
If you don’t want to go through the steps to draw tile on your RV shower walls, you can also easily just paint the walls to totally change the look of your shower.
If your shower walls are traditional RV wallpaper (which I think is more common in older rigs), just prime them and then use an exterior grade paint in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish to paint the walls of the shower stall.
If your shower walls are a plastic shower surround, the best way to paint them is to use a paint that adheres to plastic. Of course, you could also just choose to purchase a new shower surround if yours is beyond repairable.
2. Add Removable Hooks and Shelves
It’s no secret that RV showers are packed into a small space and lack extra space for storage. To give your camper shower more storage space in the bathroom, attach removable hooks and caddies to hold your shampoo, conditioner, soap and toiletries.
I’ve used command bathroom hooks in my RV shower and they work really well to hold supplies and as towel hooks. Amazon also has some other options as well that can stick right to your shower walls.
I personally love Command Hook storage because they adhere well, but can be removed without damaging the painted wall. Command also makes metal bathroom shelves as well.
A lot of RVers have reviewed these stainless steel shelves to say they work great in the bathroom and kitchen of their rig. I’m unsure of how well they remove without damage, so be sure you are happy with where you stick it!
These silicone hooks are great for hanging just about anywhere in your camper! We personally use them for razors, but the possibilities are endless!
Using suction hooks is another great option for adding storage to your RV bathroom. IKEA has a great selection of suction hook accessories for the bathroom that are perfect for RV showers. They remove when needed, but are strong enough to hold your toiletry items.
3. Replace Old Shower Curtain (and Adjust Size)
RV showers are small, so a traditional shower curtain will likely be too large (both too wide and too tall) for the space. To create a shower curtain that fits your shower stall, you can choose to cut a fabric shower curtain and sew a new hem on the side and bottom OR cut a vinyl shower curtain that doesn’t fray if cut.
When I changed out my shower curtain, I just reused the old curtain track. However, you could also add a new shower curtain to update the look of your bathroom space even further.
Here are a few great options for decorative vinyl shower curtains for an easy RV shower upgrade. It’s amazing the big difference a new shower curtain can make on a travel trailer bathroom.
4. Replace Entire Shower Fixture
If we’re being honest, most factory installed RV shower fixtures are not very pretty. Plus, they often can begin to leak after some time as well.
Although still not as nice as residential shower fixtures, there are some replacement shower faucets that are definitely an improvement over the factory installed fixtures.
Shower Faucet Complete Set
Although this shower fixture is still made of plastic, it has a chrome finish to at least look like a home fixture.
Plus, it comes as a set with everything you need to replace your entire shower fixture instead of buying separate parts (the faucet knobs and the shower head).
Dura Faucet Shower Faucet Handles
I don’t know about you, but I think these faucet handles are so much prettier than the fixture in my RV with clear plastic knobs!
The company that manufactures this fixture, Dura Faucet, has the most 4 and 5 star reviews of any other RV fixture manufacturers on Amazon. All of their products come in multiple finish options as well.
Note: You will need to purchase the shower head fixture separately. (See below for two options)
5. Replace Only the Shower Head
Instead of replacing the handles of your RV faucet, you could also switch out only the shower head. This switch will help to increase water pressure and give a new look to the space on a lower budget.
Stainless Steel RV Shower Head by Dura Faucet
Most factory installed shower fixtures are made of plastic, but you can replace it with a stainless steel fixture.
This shower head is available in multiple finishes including brushed nickel, chrome, matte black and oil-rubbed bronze.
It also has a flow control switch which helps to conserve water while dry-camping, but will also give much better water pressure than your old fixture.
High Pressure RV Shower Head with Stop Button
This RV shower head comes in three finish options: matte black, chrome and white. Although it is made of plastic, choosing a black or chrome finish helps to make your RV shower feel more like a home fixture.
The best feature of this shower head is that is has a stop button on the handle that stops the flow of water. For anyone who has camped in a site without water hookup, you know the importance of conserving that fresh water tank water, especially when showering!
Although I love the look of all of these shower fixtures more than my own, I personally decided not to upgrade our shower knobs or showerhead. The previous owner had just replaced it, so although it’s ugly, it works well, has decent pressure and doesn’t leak.
6. Paint the Shower Pan or Bathtub
The plastic on RV shower pans and bathtubs does yellow over time, and there’s no amount of bleaching that will bring that color back.
However, it is possible to paint your RV bathtub or shower pan to bring it back to a bright white again. It’s important to use a paint that adheres well to plastic for this. I’ve also found that spray paint works the best for painting on plastic.
7. Create a Tile Border in your Shower
Save a ton of money by only using sticker tiles to create a tile border in your shower.
Instead of covering your entire shower stall with peel and stick tile, you can use certain designs to create the look of a tile border.
With these sticker tiles, you can easily cut them down to single tile rows or two-row tiles. Then, lay them next to each other lengthwise to span the length of your shower.
Install these about 5/6th of the way up the shower wall to mimic the placement of a real shower tile border.
8. Add a Small Shower Mat
Okay, I recognize this one might be a bit of a stretch, but wouldn’t you agree that stepping onto a soft bathmat is just the BEST after a nice shower? Here are a few small bathmats to give that luxury spa bathroom feeling, even in your RV.
To those of you with children, we all know that even if we put a cozy bathmat down, the kids will manage to still get water ALL OVER the bathroom floor.
Come check out my full bathroom makeover that is packed full of more easy, DIY-friendly RV bathroom ideas. I added more counter space, changed out the ugly medicine cabinet, updated the boring color pallet and make a wood slat wall that doubles as bathroom storage.