I think there is something a bit ugly about caravanning. I don’t mean that there’s a dark underbelly in this outdoors lifestyle that’s yet to be uncovered. What I mean is: caravans are a little ugly. I’m sorry, but there are no two ways about it – they are just not that aesthetically pleasing.
The same can be said for motorhomes, of course, and even campervans – though some van-lifers (and those with caravans) have managed to make their homes on wheels look a little less functional and more fashionable with cool paint jobs and on-trend, contemporary interiors.
The beauty of bunting
I say this as an avid caravanner. I adore my caravan as much as you love yours, and I have deep respect for any fellow caravanner who tows their holiday home across the country. The best caravans make fantastic bases for making memories, after all.
I just wish it were all a bit prettier. I’m a big believer in the mantra ‘beautiful home, beautiful mind’ – something my late mother taught me, whose house was indeed beautiful and always pristine – and so I’ve tried to bring a little of that along with me on my caravan trips.
For example, I have exceptionally silly bunting with tiny caravans on it, handmade by a brilliant woman on Instagram, @shellellcreations2, and more colourful, fluffy cushions than anyone could ever truly need in a two-by-four-metre box.
I’ve even accessorised my bathroom trips with a leopard print hanging washbag, which combines cuteness and clever storage and makes my visit to the otherwise drab shower blocks feel a little more chic.
Even my choice of caravan was swayed by aesthetics – the retro rounded corners and adorable pop-top were the deal sealer when I saw my first Eriba, and I am not ashamed to tell you that I feel a certain amount of pride when people compliment my little caravan. I’ve even tried to solve the problem of the ugly awning – many of which I think are often more unsightly than the caravans themselves.
Adding a Glawning
A little dissatisfied with the rather functional options on the market, I got hold of a Glawning – a glamping-tent-come-awning – to see how it would fare on my caravan. After battling for two and a half hours with video instructions and a very stiff zip, it finally went up and completely dwarfed my small caravan.
For my 30-year-old Eriba tourer, it was perhaps overkill, but it did look quite cool and certainly turned some heads on the campsite (not just because I made a spectacle of myself trying to put it up – awnings are always tricky, even at the best of times).
Of course, not all caravans are uncool or ugly. There are the gorgeous little Barefoot caravans, such as the Bothy, (and there’s even a Country Living edition with cutesy interiors), and the Dub Box which has the same aesthetic as those retro VW campers.
The ultimate dream for me would be an Airstream – a silvery bullet of a caravan that’s both delightfully retro and futuristic all at once – but most of these cooler caravans come with a less cool price tag, some even starting at £74,000, and that’s without the extra bells and whistles. For instance, the Airstream Tourer 534 Practical Caravan reviewed in 2022 was priced at £85,000 at the time.
I think that the majority of caravans on the market feel a bit like they’re a little stuck in another age, and their lack of aesthetic plays into a fuddy-duddy reputation that led me to write a piece for The Telegraph in 2025 exploring whether or not caravans could, like campervans, ever be ‘cool’.
My conclusion, despite fighting our corner hard, was that they probably won’t ever be as appealing or aesthetic as a campervan – but it’s still worth a try!
Insta transformations
And plenty of people have tried – my own attempts notwithstanding. Cleverer-than-me content creator Hayley Rubery (@hayleyrubery on Instagram) bought her own rather ugly, moss-covered caravan on Facebook Marketplace for £500 and subsequently made it beautiful both inside and out, with some dedicated cleaning, pretty printed wallpaper, stick-on tiles behind the sink, seat covers and a lick of paint on its kitchen cupboards.
Similarly, around five years ago, amateur caravanner Bex Ambler bought an £800 van riddled with damp and decided to carry out a DIY caravan renovation herself, as was reported in this very magazine. It now has a Scandi-style interior that feels decidedly contemporary for a 2002 tourer.
So yes, caravans can be cool. You just need plenty of time, patience, a little DIY know-how and some interior nous. Or £74,000.
For those of you who are touring with your pet, don’t miss my seven must-have accessories for caravanning with a dog.
You can follow Lottie on Instagram at @lottiegross
Images: Lottie Gross
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