RV workspace and Remote Work
If you are self-employed or own a business and want to live full time in your RV, then you are going to need to find a place to work, but you’re not sure how to create a comfortable workspace in your RV, therefore you need to think about what you really need for a workspace.
RVing
RVing is the act of traveling around in recreational vehicles (RVs). There are many different types of RVs, including travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes, toy haulers, and camper vans. Some RV owners use their RVs as a second home, where they spend weeks at a time away from their permanent residence. Others live and work from the RVs for years.
Home Office
If you work remotely and live in sticks and bricks, the home office may be where you spend most of your time working. You need a comfortable place to sit down and get some work done. If you have kids, they may want to play around while you’re working. A good way to keep them out of your workspace is to set up a separate room for your home office.
When my husband and I lived in a traditional house, we put our desks just outside the main living area. Neither of us wanted to be in a separate room.
RV Home Office
Where will you work while in your RV? Do you need a separate space? Most full time RVers know everything inside an RV has to serve multiple purposes. If you have a separate space, can you justify only using it as an office? Or are you comfortable working, playing the bills and eating in the same space?
Desk
Some people think a desk is a necessity if you plan on spending any amount of time working in your home office. Many full time RVers who work in their RV do not have a dedicated desk.
Chair
Some people think you need a special desk chair that fits well and supports your back. For full time RVers who work from their RV, a dedicated desk chair may be a luxury they have to forego. We upgraded the padding in our dinette cushions and it made a huge difference.
Lighting
Lighting is important for your eyes and your productivity. The LED lighting in our RV makes our work area brighter than our home office area ever was. My favorite place to work is from the picnic table and the sun takes care of the lighting.
Dinette or Table
If you’re going to be working on your laptop for long periods of time, you’ll need a table to rest your laptop on. Your dinette or outside table may be big enough to hold your laptop and still leave room for your keyboard and mouse.
Separate RV Home Office
The Airstream Flying Cloud 30 FB Office is one of the easiest solutions. https://www.airstreamofsouthflorida.com/models/travel-trailers/flying-cloud/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrGqkO6shDjDd0DKk6PHxTycOKC9QsD8kF3yowWsHFIx6bucb00LOBEaAi4FEALw_wcB
However the garage area of a toy hauler can also be easily used as office space. RVs with a mid-bunk may already include a desk. Some class A motorhomes come with a workspace for the passenger. Grand Design Imagine 2670MK has a desk and overhead cabinet between the refrigerator and the couch.
Portable Desk
A portable desk is a great way to work anywhere. Whether you’re at home or on the road, you can easily set up a portable desk wherever you go. You may find a portable desk that collapses when you need to pack up to move to your next location.
Laptop Stand
If you want to have a laptop stand, make sure it’s one that folds up. If you plan on using it often, consider getting a sturdy one instead of a cheap one. Mine allows me to use it as a standing desk as well as from the passenger seat of my car.
Storage Basket or Bag
You can use a storage basket to organize your belongings. Make sure it’s not so big that you are tempted to over fill it.
Wall-Mounted Shelf
RVs may have wall-mounted shelves. You can set them up like a mini office when you get where you will stay for a while.
Cabinet
RV cabinet space can be a premium. If you can dedicate a cabinet for organizing paperwork and documents, then your stuff will always have a place to go when you pack up to move to the next location. To organize the cabinet, you may want to find fabric storage bags.
Working from your RV may be more challenging than working from a sticks and bricks home, but it’s not impossible.