5 DIY Wood Countertop Ideas for RVs, Skoolies, and Camper Vans

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1. Butcher Block Countertop

Butcher block is by far the most common wood countertop material I've seen used in RV renovations, and with good reason, as it is both beautiful and practical: if it becomes too scratched or nicked, you can just sand it down and re-stain it.  A piece of solid butcher block can be pricey, but you could go with a wood veneer instead (like these from Ikea), or if you really want solid wood but at a cheaper price, you can make it yourself by gluing together smaller strips of wood.

2. Stained Plywood Counters

You might be thinking, “A plywood countertop?  No thanks!” but you would be surprised how beautiful plywood can look after it's been stained and sealed!  Take a look at these RV's with plywood counters:

Here's a video that details the process of staining, sealing, and installing a countertop made from 3/4″ plywood.

Here's another plywood countertop, but the owners of this RV glued 1″x2″ spruce boards around the edges to give the appearance of a thicker countertop.

3. Pine Boards

A beautiful, solid wood countertop doesn't have to be expensive.  Just look at how gorgeous this countertop turned out:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Detach & Roam, Simplify Life (@kateandkeegan) on Dec 18, 2018 at 8:13pm PST

In the video below, vanlife YouTuber Eric a.k.a. DualEx demonstrates the process of using plain old lumber to assemble a gorgeous wood countertop in his camper van.

To add extra character to your kitchen, you could use reclaimed wood or even free pallet wood.

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4. Hardwood Flooring

Eric and Katie of Mountain Modern Life chose to use hardwood flooring to create beautiful wood countertops when they gave their motorhome a rustic modern makeover.  You can read their extremely detailed blog post about the process here, and in this video they talk about how their countertops have held up over time and how they feel about them two years later.

5. Live Edge Wood

I'm obsessed with the rustic look of live edge lumber, as seen in this gorgeous camper van, which you can read more about at the Brown Bird & Co. blog:

I also love how live edge countertops look when you cover them with clear epoxy, as seen in this bathroom makeover photo:

Bonus: Peel-and-Stick Faux Wood Vinyl Plank Flooring

I've got one last option for you…and no, it's not real wood, but if you don't want to have to use power tools, or want a temporary makeover until you can save up for a more expensive upgrade, you could try covering an existing RV countertop with peel-and-stick vinyl flooring.  I know it sounds crazy, but I found this picture on Pinterest of a residential kitchen with peel-and-stick countertops, and they actually look pretty good I think:

For more DIY countertop ideas, check out this related article I've written: RV Countertop Ideas and Options  In it you'll find ideas for beautiful countertops to fit any budget!

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