• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • All Articles

RV Inspiration

Make your RV feel like home.

  • RV Resource Library
  • Shop
    • Ultimate Guide to Painting Your RV Interior
    • Printable Wall Decor
    • Rustic Decor DIY Projects
    • RV Organization Guide
  • Downsizing Courses
  • Free Stuff
    • Quick Start RV Painting Guide
    • 99 Ideas for a Budget RV Makeover
    • Cold Weather RVing Preparation Checklist
    • Printable Wall Decor
    • Bundle of Free Remote Work Resources
    • List of Jobs You Can Do While RVing
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • RV Organization
  • RV Decor
  • RV Modifications
  • RV Renovations
  • RV Life
  • Cold Weather RVing
  • Buy/Sell Renovated RV’s

RV Window Makeover Ideas (With Pictures!)

July 5, 2017 by Ashley Mann 46 Comments

Tweet
Pin85K
Share309
85K Shares

Table of Contents

  • Upgrading RV Day / Night Window Shades
  • Replacing Original Window Treatments with Traditional Curtains
  • No-sew RV Curtains
  • Framing RV Windows with Wood
  • Non-permanent RV Window Makeovers
  • Cornice / Valance Makeover Ideas
  • DIY Shades and Blinds
  • Wood Valances
  • Other Unique Ideas

This website contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase a product after clicking my link to it.

Tons of RV window treatment ideas - get rid of (or disguise!) the factory decor in your camper, travel trailer, or motorhome!

If you're not loving the cornices, valances, or curtains in your camper or motorhome, try one of these ideas to give your RV windows a new look!

Upgrading RV Day / Night Window Shades

If you want to keep the factory-original look of your RV but upgrade the quality, a company called ShadePro offers quality day/night shades that can replace worn out shades.  You can read more about them here.

Shadepro Replacement RV Window Shades
Day/night RV window shades from Shadepro

Replacing Original Window Treatments with Traditional Curtains

Factory-installed cornices (sometimes called valances–I had to look up the difference to be sure I was using the correct term!) can be easily removed and replaced with regular curtain hardware and traditional curtains, although floor-length curtains purchased from a store may need to be cut and hemmed to be shorter.

If you're not sure how to remove your cornices, you can watch Eric of mountainmodernlife.com demonstrate how to remove them in this video.

Below you can see some traditional curtains installed in RVs.

Traditional floor to ceiling curtains in a fifth wheel RV
by Danette Head
RV Window Makeover Ideas - DIY curtains, cornices, and more for motorhomes, campers, and travel trailers | rvinspiration.com
by Connie Tinkle
Formal curtains in an RV
by Jay Clements
Sheer curtains in an RV slide
by Wendy Sullivan
White handmade curtains
by Jillian Sirriani

The white curtains in the photo above inspired me so much that I decided to make white curtains for my RV, too!  I made mine out of white twin-sized bed sheets from Walmart.

DIY RV curtains made from bed sheets
Instagram.com/OurRVAdventure

RV owner Vanessa used Command hooks to hang her lightweight curtains.  This is a good way to avoid drilling more holes in the wall and makes for easy installation.

Command hook used for hanging RV curtains
by Vanessa Sumner

I borrowed her idea and used adhesive hooks to hang my curtains, too.  However, I made a mistake in forgetting to account for the width of the drawer knob finials on my homemade curtain rods which I made by staining dowel rods, and the finials kept the hooks from reaching the wall.  I was determined to make it work, though, and ended up actually hot gluing the hooks to the tops of the day/night shades (being careful not to cover up the screws in case I need to remove them for any reason).  This created a little more space for the finial.  Works for me!

RV curtains hung with an adhesive hook

No-sew RV Curtains

If you can't sew but don't mind a DIY project, here are some curtain ideas that don't require sewing.

RV owner Danielle cut up inexpensive bedsheets from Walmart to make curtains for her whole RV.  By cutting the open the ends of the top of the sheet, a pocket was created for hanging the curtains, and to hem the raw edges, Danielle first folded and ironed them flat, then used No-Sew fabric glue to keep them folded in place.

ALSO READ:
RV Dining Booth Makeover Ideas

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

One way to hang curtains without sewing or gluing a pocket for the rod is to use drapery clips.  RV owner Kristina made the curtains for her home pictured below by hanging white twin sheets using the clips.  Excess fabric can be folded over at the top.

Cheap and DIY window idea: No-sew curtains made out of bed sheets
by Kristina Jackson

RV owner Tara Medlin used pillow cases folded to the right length to make these pretty curtains for her RV.  You can see more pictures including some close-ups of how she made them on her Instagram page.

Pillow cases used as curtains in an #RV | Window treatment idea for a #camper, #motorhome, or #traveltrailer
by Tara Medlin via Instagram.com/themobilemedlins

My mom used pillowcases as curtains in her kitchen windows, too.  These are vintage ones that were hand-embroidered by my grandma.  If you like the vintage look, you can find a lot of pretty vintage pillowcases at Etsy.com.

Cheap and DIY window idea: No-sew curtains made out of pillow cases
by Cindy Thomas

RV owner Susie Crabtree used dishtowels in the same way in her RV kitchen.

Dish towels used as RV kitchen curtains
by Susie Crabtree

These curtains were made by RV owner Brooke Seaman by using clothespins to clip burlap sack material to a piece of wire hung across her windows.  If you're worried about burlap potentially unraveling, you could glue bias tape around the raw edges.

Cheap and DIY RV window idea: No-sew curtains made out of burlap coffee or feed sacks
by Brooke Seaman
Cheap and DIY RV window idea: No-sew curtains made out of burlap coffee or feed sacks
by Brooke Seaman

Framing RV Windows with Wood

Several RV owners have covered their RV windows with real or faux wood to make them look more like windows in a house.

The first RV owners I saw do this were John and Robyn Crowhurst.  John used real oak to frame two of the windows their 1990 toy hauler, and Robyn's dream of cooling a pie on her windowsill finally came true.

RV window framed in oak
via Instagram.com/tinyhousetaylor

RV owner Brooke Seaman framed the window of her travel trailer with real wood as well.  (Believe it or not, this is the same RV as the one with the burlap curtains pictured earlier!)

Travel trailer RV with wood framed windows
by Brooke Seaman

Eric and Katie of ModernMountainLife.com wrote an excellent blog post about how they framed their RV windows (and another one about how they made their own burlap roller shades).

Motorhome RV window framed with real wood by ModernMountainLife.com
via ModernMountainLife.com

The owner of this RV, Melissa Escobar, used Timberwall brand peel and stick shiplap lumber to frame her windows.  (I just love her DIY copper pipe curtain rods!)

Painted vinyl flooring used to frame RV window
by Melissa Escobar

Non-permanent RV Window Makeovers

If you want to personalize and brighten your RV but are worried about making any changes that can't be undone, you might consider one of these ideas.

ALSO READ:
12 Beach Themed RV Decor Ideas

RV owners Kristin and Erica pinned new fabric onto their cornices.

Fabric pinned to cover RV cornice / valance
by Kristin Wissing

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

RV window idea: Fabric pinned to cover cornice / valance
by Erica Dawn

RV owner Yvette did something similar by using thumb tacks to attach a valance to her window cornice.  Upholstery tacks could be used the same way.  Then she hung curtains inside the cornice boxes using easily removable tension rods.

RV window idea: Curtains pinned over cornice / valance
by Yvette Tobin

RV blogger Heather did this as well, and to me the result looks like real curtains!  You can read about her no-sew method in this blog post.

No-sew makeover for RV window valances

RV owner Cathy pinned lace table runners to her cornices, using a butter knife to tuck the ends in at the edges.  She also used tension rods to hang the lace curtains from under the cornices.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The RV pictured below came with wood cornices, but RV owner Debbie added a ruffle hung with tension rods to give her RV a homier feel.

RV window idea: Ruffled fabric curtain added to wood cornice / valance
by Debbie Gilbert

Cornice / Valance Makeover Ideas

RV owners Jenn and Penny worked with their RV's original decor by hanging curtains from a tension rod under the original cornice.  Penny also added battery-operated lanterns on hooks, which she says she takes down while the RV is moving.

RV window treatment makeover idea: Curtains hung with tension rod
by Penny Adams
RV window treatment makeover idea: Curtains hung with tension rod
by Jenn Hogan

RV owner Juanita stapled new fabric over her cornices and tucked it in along the curved edge using a butter knife.  She started by covering each cornice with fabric cut from a cheap white bed sheet to make sure the original pattern didn't show through, then added a second layer made from a pretty tablecloth.

RV window treatment makeover idea: cornices / valances covered with tablecloth
by Juanita Reeves

Here are some other RVs with recovered cornices:

RV window treatment makeover idea for cornices / valances
by Angela Kevin

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

RV owner Lisa actually painted the fabric of her cornices using flat latex paint before adding curtains underneath.  She used the same red paint on the chair in the second picture, as well.  If you're new to the idea of painting fabric furniture, you can read this article to learn more.

Before painting:

by Lisa Braddy

After painting:

RV window treatment makeover idea: painted valances / cornices
by Lisa Braddy

RV owner Donna removed the puffy valances that came with her RV (which she described as “80's prom dress”) and made her own cornices.  She used 1″ x 4″ lumber for the ends of the cornice boxes and attached lightweight luan with a pin nailer for the top and front.  She then stapled fabric over the entire cornice and glued lace to the front.  Finally, she hung them using “L” brackets and hung curtains from tension rods inside.

RV window treatment makeover idea
by Donna Balfanz

Here is a tutorial for a similar method for building a cornice (only this tutorial uses thicker wood for the front–you could easily use luan instead for lighter weight).  If you don't plan on using tension rods, you can make a lighter weight fabric covered cornice out of foam using this tutorial, or even using recycled cardboard by following these instructions.

ALSO READ:
RV Dining Booth Makeover Ideas

Another idea is to install a cornice box like the ones added to the RV pictured below.  Here is a tutorial for making one yourself.  You could even use polystyrene foam molding to reduce weight.  If you prefer a more rustic look, these DIY aged wood cornices might be a good option.

RV window treatment makeover idea
via doityourselfrv.com

DIY Shades and Blinds

RV owner Debbie Watt covered her park model RV's cornices with fabric and turned cheap mini blinds into pretty Roman shades using this DIY method.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Here is what it looks like on the back to give you an idea of how it works:

RV window treatment makeover idea: DIY Roman shade made from mini blinds
by Debbie Watt

Another RV owner, Christina, gave the shades that came with her RV a makeover.  She has a tutorial on her blog explaining how she did it.

RV shade makeover by Christina. Visit RVLifeMilitaryStyle.com for tutorial.
by Christina via RVLifeMilitaryStyle.com

I love these DIY burlap window shades Katie and Eric of MountainModernLife.com made for their motorhome.  You can read their tutorial on how to make them here.

Burlap Window Shades by MountainModernLife.com

The wide-slat residential blinds and curtains used in this RV give the room the look and feel of a real house.

Blinds and curtains as window treatments in RV
by Lisa Dondrea

Wood Valances

RV owners Kim and Jason built this wood valance for their RV by attaching old barn wood to their RV's factory-installed cornices.  The barn wood was screwed in from the back so the screws wouldn't show.  They then hung curtains made from canvas painter's drop cloths from their RV's original curtain rods using drapery clips.

Reclaimed wood valance - DIY window treatment makeover idea for a rustic farmhouse style
by Kim Schmid & Jason Rotz

Other Unique Ideas

RV owner Brooke hung a garland made out of strips of torn fabric across this window to complement her bedroom's decor.

DIY window treatment makeover idea for a boho style
by Brooke Seaman

After painting her cornices blue and adding new curtains underneath, RV owner Yvette embellished her windows with a patriotic berry garland, star string lights, and other Americana-themed decor.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

RV owner Madeleine replaced the screens of her camper with lace, gluing the fabric to the inside of her window frames.  A similar (but easily removable) idea is to use a homemade starch mixture to paste lace to windows, resulting in a frosted privacy window effect.  Find out how here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You could also do away with window coverings altogether and apply removable privacy window film that lets light in but can't be seen through, like I did for this window in a house we rented:

Need more RV decor inspiration?  Check out these RVs with Farmhouse style decor!

If Joanna Gaines were to do a makeover on a travel trailer or motorhome, I would imagine it would end up look something like these beautifully decorated RV's! Let these ladies' decor inspire your own Farmhouse style camper makeover!

RV Window Treatments Pin Image Tons of RV window treatment ideas - get rid of (or disguise!) the factory decor in your camper, travel trailer, or motorhome!

Related

Tweet
Pin85K
Share309
85K Shares

Filed Under: Decorating Your RV, Featured Post, Pinned Post, RV Decor Tagged With: cornice, curtains, DIY, sewing, valance, windows

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carole says

    April 25, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Hi First Love this post!!! Question I have we want to keep the blinds & just remove the side valance pieces. So we will need to reattach the cord to the wall. Is there any concern about the blinds swinging around when your driving to a campsite? My husband insists that the blinds be down when driving & he thinks the wood sides keep the blinds in place. Any ideas or suggestions? TY!!!

    Reply
    • Ashley Mann says

      April 27, 2021 at 4:51 pm

      Hi Carole, actually that is exactly what I did in my own RV – I removed the boxes and just left the blinds in place. Our blinds continued to function exactly the same as before even with the boxes removed, because the string is screwed to the wall at the base of the window. Here’s a photo to show you. The boxes were purely decorative.

      Reply
      • Jonia Jennings says

        July 4, 2021 at 9:40 am

        I love Floor lenght curtains & able to use where is possible. All the matching all over area is so boring. My Rv is 2008. My mate frowns when i talk about changes. HELP!

        Reply
        • Ashley Mann says

          July 4, 2021 at 11:04 pm

          My husband is more on board with changes when he can see a picture that he likes of what the changes might look like. He has trouble visualizing a space looking different or better than how it is currently, but when he sees pictures of a room that looks great, he is all for making our room look like the picture. 🙂

  2. Heather says

    June 15, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    I think my blinks are attached to the valance box. I would love to remove that valance box but keep the blinds. is this possible?

    Reply
    • Ashley Mann says

      June 15, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      Hi Heather, most RV blinds and window coverings are installed with screws. You can easily remove the screws and then put them back if you regret removing them. 🙂 In my RV, the blinds were attached directly to the wall, but I have removed them to cover the windows with plastic and then hung them back up. If your blinds are in fact attached to the valance boxes, maybe you can screw them into the wall directly instead. As long as you place the screws near the holes for the screws you removed, you shouldn’t need to worry about any issues from drilling into the wall.

      Reply
  3. Anne says

    November 30, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    I want to do a modern makeover for my 2006 aurora front window. Can you give me
    Any suggestions??

    Reply
    • Ashley Mann says

      December 6, 2021 at 11:53 am

      What kinds of ideas are you looking for?

      Reply
  4. Tami says

    March 14, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    I am in the process of redoing a class A my sis & hubby are going to live in fulltime next year. I have reupholstered the dinette & they took all the cornice boards on the windows down. The blinds they want to use again but they were attached to the cornice board. Is it an issue to attach to the wall without the cornice board ? I am going to make window treatments & she really hates the covered cornice boards but I can recover to match the other decor but then have to figure out attaching the blinds if I dont use the cornice boards. She doesn’t like the look of a curtain on rods. So trying to figure it out !
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Ashley Mann says

      March 23, 2022 at 4:14 pm

      I removed the cornices and attached the blinds directly to the wall in my own RV! It was very easy and they worked just fine! 🙂

      Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

wp-puzzle.com logo

Primary Sidebar

Follow RV Inspiration on Pinterest

Most Popular Articles

  • 11 Nifty Gadgets You'll Want for Organizing Your Camper

Where Travel Meets Community

Footer

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosures
  • Photo Use Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Contact Me

Featured by:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

RV Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made by visitors to my website who have clicked links to the Amazon website (at no additional cost to the Amazon customer).

WordPress Speed Optimization Service for rvinspiration.com Provided by WpFASTER!

Copyright © 2022

 

Loading Comments...