Replace RV Cabinets for a More Open Interior: Real RV Examples with Shelving and Storage Ideas
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If you’ve ever stepped into a renovated RV and wondered why it felt so much brighter and more spacious, there’s a good chance the owners decided to replace RV cabinets or remove some of the bulky upper storage entirely. One of the biggest trends in RV remodeling right now is creating a lighter, more open interior by taking down dated overhead cabinets and replacing them with smarter, more intentional storage.
At first, the idea can feel a little scary. RVs already have limited storage, and removing cabinets seems counterintuitive when every inch counts. But many RV owners discover they weren’t actually using all of that upper cabinet space efficiently anyway. Once the heavy wood cabinets are gone, the entire RV often feels taller, brighter, and less cramped.
This article rounds up 11 real RV examples showing different ways people replace RV cabinets with open shelving, decorative alternatives, or simply removing cabinets altogether. You’ll see kitchens, bedrooms, and living spaces that feel dramatically different after thoughtful updates, along with practical ideas for keeping everything functional and travel-friendly.
Why RV Owners Choose to Replace or Remove Upper Cabinets
One reason so many people choose to replace RV cabinets is simple: upper cabinets can make a small RV feel even smaller. Older RV interiors were often designed with dark wood cabinetry running across nearly every wall. While that added storage, it also blocked light and created a closed-in feeling.
Removing upper cabinets instantly changes the visual weight of a space. Windows suddenly look bigger. Ceilings appear higher. Natural light spreads farther through the RV, especially in kitchens and living rooms.
Many RV owners also realize their storage needs change over time. Full-timers often prefer fewer cabinets filled with rarely used items and instead focus on keeping only essentials. Weekend travelers may decide they’d rather have a more relaxing, residential feel than maximum storage.
Another reason people embrace open shelving in an RV is customization. Open shelves allow you to display plants, dishes, books, or decor that make the RV feel more personal and homey. Some people replace RV cabinets with practical upgrades like range hoods, sconces, or even larger windows.
Of course, cabinet removal isn’t for everyone. If you’re considering the project, it’s worth reading this detailed guide on how to remove RV cabinets before getting started.
You may also enjoy browsing How to Remodel an RV: A Guide for RV Owners!
Real-Life Examples: Ways to Replace RV Cabinets
Cabinets Removed Entirely for an Open Look
Retro Tiles
Instead of replacing the cabinets, the owners simply added beautiful retro tile work and left the area open. The result feels airy and modern, especially paired with light countertops! This is fun if you’re going for a bold look in your RV and don’t need the excess kitchen storage.
Ready for a load of inspiration? Check out 44 Beautiful RV Kitchen Remodels.
Open Living and Dining Area
In the slideout of this trailer, the owners removed the overhead cabinets, along with the dining booth cabinet to create an open and airy space. This allows so much natural light to flood this area and create a cohesive living space.
Sleek Fireplace Wall
The cabinets surrounding this fireplace wall were removed and replaced with sleek wood and a simple mirror to go with this camper’s modern look! This is a great way to create more space in your living room.
Cabinets Replaced With Open Shelving
Open Dining Area Remodel
The dining nook originally had bulky cabinets above the windows. Removing them and replacing them with a long shelf for decor made the seating area feel significantly larger and less enclosed.
One-Side Kitchen Cabinet
This RV kitchen feels noticeably larger after removing the cabinets above the window and replacing them with shelves! They still kept one side of the kitchen cabinets, but it feels balanced and light. A range hood like this can really make an RV kitchen look elevated and is perfect for a home chef!
Bright White Kitchen With No Upper Cabinets
This renovation completely removed the upper cabinets around the kitchen windows, allowing natural light to flood the space. The owners kept lower cabinetry for storage, which helped maintain functionality without the visual heaviness overhead. Tip: If you’re storing heavier kitchen items, make sure the shelves are secure into the wall studs and that everything is secure during transit. For more budget-friendly ideas, see 8 Low-Cost, High-Impact RV Kitchen Upgrades.
Above Bed Shelf
The RV owners removed the bulky cabinet above the bed. While it can be practical for more storage, RV bedrooms are notoriously tiny and can feel even smaller with a bulky cabinet overhead when you sleep. We love this natural wood shelf that still provides storage but feels much lighter visually!
Looking for more bedroom inspiration? Check out these smart RV remodel ideas!
Compact Open Pantry Setup
This owner replaced traditional cabinet doors with open pantry shelves, making the space feel lighter while still highly functional as a place to prepare food or drinks in the kitchen.
Cabinets Replaced With Functional Alternatives
Dining Cabinet Replacement
This owner removed the built-in dining booth and the cabinets above it, opening up the space for a more versatile living area. The furniture isn’t bolted to the floor, so everything can be moved around or even folded up for different uses of the space. This is great for families who need more floor space in their RV!
Vanity Cabinet Replacement
In this very impressive RV bathroom, the owners removed the bulky cabinet over the vanity, replacing it with a backlit mirror. The mirror bounces light around the small bathroom, making it feel lighter and larger. This is great if you have no natural light in your bathroom, or if multiple people need to use the sink at the same time!
Bed Feature Wall
Sometimes it’s nice just to have a wall that is decorative—and that’s what these RV owners did in this bedroom. The cabinets were removed above the bed, and replaced with blank wood, sconce lighting, and simple decor. This is a great and stylish option if you don’t need the extra storage above the bed.
Replacing RV Cabinets with Open Shelving: Design and Travel Tips
When you replace RV cabinets with open shelving, it can create a beautiful and open look—especially when everything is stationary and set up. However, when you have open shelving in an RV, you have to consider travel and design a bit more than if they were shelves hung in a sticks and bricks home.
One simple way to corral items is to use baskets. This solution is both practical and can fit almost any style! Baskets are great for kids’ toys, pet supplies and just about anything that fits. You can easily secure baskets with bungee cords during transit, or simply pull the baskets down and set them in a safe area when you’re on the move!
If you want to be practical and aesthetic, you can add a lip or rail to the front edge of the shelf, which can help keep things in place, especially picture frames and smaller items.
If you are storing larger items, like dinner plates, then make sure you’re installing deep and sturdy shelves made out of a thick and durable material. However, we suggest that most shelves only hold lighter and less fragile items—not only will this cut down the time you spend taking things down before moving, but it will make the DIY simpler when installing shelves (a shelf built for 5 lbs and one built for 20 lbs need very different installation methods.) For a step-by-step walkthrough, DoItYourselfRV has a helpful guide on how to add DIY floating shelves to your RV kitchen.
One great compromise you’ll see in almost every RV with open shelving is mixing open shelves on the top, for things like spices, mugs, coffee items, etc., with cabinets on the bottom.
Alternative Ways to Replace RV Cabinets
Are you looking for something a little different than the bulky upper cabinets your RV has? We have ideas! Many RV kitchens rival the look of traditional home kitchens by including items you’d see in any beautiful kitchen! You can replace the cabinet above the stove with a range hood, or even a faux one like the item above (it opens up to reveal secret storage!)
If you are big on cooking in your RV kitchen, how about replacing the cabinet that would hold all the pots and pans with a pot rack? This would make for easy access and if you have a beautiful pot collection, it could feel extra homey to show it off.
We, of course, love open shelving because it’s very versatile for whatever you need to store on it, but you can always replace cabinets with statement lighting. Ambient lighting can add a beautiful high-end feel to any space, and sometimes the only thing in the way are unneeded cabinets!
Who says you have to do anything drastic in place of the RV cabinets you just removed? You could simply hang your favorite piece of art! It’s truly up to you.
Choosing the Right Approach for Your RV
The most important question when removing anything from your RV is “Do we need this?” Storage is arguably one of the most important elements in a home, especially an RV, so before you replace RV cabinets and give up that storage, make sure you really don’t need it.
If a cabinet is in bad shape from wear and tear or water damage, then that can be an easy decision to remove it, but remember that the wall behind it may not be in great shape. It can take some TLC to make it something you want to look at, or at least functional.
Open shelving in place of a cabinet can be a great alternative if you need to regularly access something, especially plates and cups in a kitchen, or kids’ toys at their level. It can also be great for things that need airflow, like electronics. Perhaps you leave your RV stationary most of the time, and in this case, moving things for transit won’t be a huge concern, and open shelving can be an aesthetic no-brainer.
While open shelving is beautiful and convenient, it can also look cluttered fast (you can’t just shove things in a cabinet and shut the door!), so ensure that your space is balanced. Some things you might not always want to look at – like wires and dog toys, but other things you may want to see every day, like family photos on an open shelf!
Final Thoughts on How to Replace RV Cabinets
One sure way to drastically change the look of your RV is to replace RV cabinets! It can open a space, modernize it, and make it feel more like a home on wheels. We encourage you to consider testing changes in one area before ripping cabinets out in every space. Starting small is always wise when it comes to DIY and renovations!
Browse these ideas, gather inspiration, and consider what works well for you in your space versus what just looks good online.
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Katherine Bitner spent a year full-time RVing with her husband and dog around the US. As a former interior designer, her favorite thing was budget-friendly ways to make her home on wheels feel luxurious and Pinterest-worthy! She is now a full-time writer and author.
