We love seeing a DIY caravan renovation and what people have been doing to their faithful tourers.
We recently shared the story of a brilliant DIY caravan renovation and we have another one for you today.
After buying a caravan for £800, Candice Elrod and her fiancé Darren Francis were able to transform it into a stylish, modern space for only £1,500.
The renovation involved everything from painting and decorating to plumbing and upholstery, using a range of high street stores such as Aldi, IKEA, B&M and Dunelm.
Speaking to LatestDeals.co.uk, Candice said: “We bought the caravan in August 2020 and paid £800. We started work right away.”
“My fiance thought we were just going to give it a lick of paint and be away on our travels but I wanted to totally renovate it. “
Candice added: “We ripped out the bathroom unit as it was an awful yellow colour, chucked out the curtains and completely scrubbed it clean from top to bottom as the previous owners had kept it in storage and not been in use in over two years.”
“Then we sanded all the surfaces in prep for painting.”
Frenchie’s Alfresco paint was used in Dazzle Me, Dusky Blush and Blackjack, with four coats required on the cupboards and woodwork.
Seating needed to be chosen appropriately, as the couple own two dogs. As a result, they opted for a faux leather material, which would be simpler to clean, as well as creating a modern vibe.
The insert of the cupboards had stick-on wallpaper in a dotty effect, while a seamstress friend was able to alter matching curtains to make them fit the windows.
The bathroom was another area which needed attention, with the old and discoloured toilet freshened up with black paint.
Marble PVC cladding was used on the walls, which came to £115. A new stainless steel sink was also fitted, which was £40, while the mixer tap cost £35 from eBay.
The kitchen area also received a revamp, with Candice explaining: “I used heat resistant stove paint to the spray cooker and sink. I used four tins which cost £20 from ebay, and the stick-on tiles cost £15 from Home Bargains.”
New crystal door handles were another £20, while lighting came to £45
Candice added: “I bought the stick on wallpaper, curtains and bedding from Dunelm for £250, the laminate flooring from B&Q for £110 and the paint from Frenchic for £100.”
“I bought £130 of cushions from Primark, George and B&M, floor rugs from B&M for £15 each, faux sheepskin rugs from Dunelm for £13 each, a gold lamp from IKEA for £15, and the black kettle, toaster and microwave from George for £100.”
The couple also recommend Aldi Special buys as being a good place to look for bargains: “I got shatterproof glasses for £5 and inflatable sofas for £25 for the awning.”
With the renovation completed, the couple were able to set off on their first tour: “In total, we spent about £1,500 on renovating. I did try and keep costs low but I sometimes got carried away with purchases!”
“Anyone is able to give renovations a go and to just go for it,” she adds.
“It’s hard work but so rewarding knowing that you’ve done it all yourself.
“Since we’ve completed the caravan and had a few trips away, we now know what we’re doing.”
“For our first trip away we booked in overnight somewhere local so we could get used to setting up and towing. As total newbies, we forgot our water barrel so had to use bottled water. It’s all part of the learning process!”
Images courtesy of Candice Elrod
If you’re on the lookout for a new caravan, be sure to check out our buying guides – for instance, the best caravan for couples, best caravan under £15,000 and the best family caravan. You can also take a look at our round-up of the best caravans on the market.
Alternatively, if you’re on the lookout for a new towing vehicle, be sure to take a look at our best tow car guide, where we look at the best tow car for caravans. You can also take a look at our round-up of the best used tow cars too.
Or maybe you’d like to find out about the different brands out there, in which case, our guide to the best caravan manufacturers will explain all you need to know.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of practicalcaravan.com, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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It's hard work but so rewarding knowing that you've done it all yourself
