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Our Guide to Maximising Space and Comfort in Your Motorhome with Fixed Beds

Motorhomes are the ultimate way to explore the open road but still enjoy your creature comforts. Among the various options available, fixed beds are a popular choice for layouts – probably because they offer a permanent sleeping area (thereby eliminating the hassle of setting up and putting away a bed every day). However, fixed beds do tend to occupy a significant area of your motorhome’s floorplan, making it very important to make the most of the space without compromising on the usability of the living area.

In this edition of the Coachman blog, we’ll explore practical things you can do to optimise space around the fixed bed in your motorhome, we’ll offer up some tips on storage solutions you can use, and we’ll also suggest layout ideas to enhance comfort and functionality, transforming your fixed bed motorhome into a more spacious and welcoming home on wheels!

What is the right fixed bed layout?

There isn’t really a ‘right’ answer. The most common fixed bed layouts include French beds, island beds and transverse beds, with each style having its own benefits and drawbacks.

• French bed: Positioned along one side of the motorhome, French beds tend to be slightly smaller than a standard double bed. They usually feature a cut-off corner, which means there’s more room for a hallway or bathroom access. This type of bed is ideal for maximising the motorhome’s floor space without sacrificing too much sleeping area.
• Island bed: An island bed is centrally positioned in the motorhome, with access on either (both) sides. This offers excellent ease of movement, as well as a more traditional bedroom feel. Island beds can also accommodate storage under the bed.
• Transverse bed: This type of bed is placed across the width of the motorhome, often at the rear. Transverse beds can be larger than French beds, and they’re particularly great for couples or people who need a bit more sleeping space.
• Twin singles: Convenient for ensuring total rest on the road, fixed twin singles can be the perfect  option. Positioned at the rear, either side of the central walkway, twin singles offer easy access when it’s time to go to bed.

It’s worth noting that some motorhomes also feature a ‘drop down’ double bed towards the front which conveniently ‘disappears’ when not in use and therefore, in itself, offers some intelligent use of the interior (i.e. more room for day-to-day living). Picking the ‘right’ motorhome bed layout means ‘the right for you’. It will depend on your personal preference, based on preferred aesthetics and your practicalities. For instance, if you travel solo or as a couple, a French or transverse bed can free up space for other amenities, though an island bed offers a much more traditional feel.

Make Use of Smart Storage Solutions

Making the most of the available space in a motorhome with fixed bed(s) is often largely about smart storage – often including the space underneath the bed.

• Under-bed storage: Many fixed beds are built with a lift-up mechanism, which means you can easily get access to the storage space beneath the mattress. This is perfect for stowing bulky items like outdoor gear, folding chairs or seasonal clothing. To organise the space, use plastic boxes, vacuum storage bags or drawer units and categorise items.
• Overhead lockers: Most motorhomes come with overhead lockers – i.e. lockers above the bed. This space is ideal for storing lighter items such as bedding, clothes and books. Use fabric boxes or organisers in these spaces to keep everything tidy, and to prevent items from shifting around during travel.
• Bedside: If your motorhome has room for a bedside table or a small shelf, this can be the perfect place to keep personal items like a water bottle, your glasses, a reading lamp and that new potboiler you’re enjoying reading while you’re on holiday. Slimline shelving can also be added to walls near the bed to hold items such as phones, chargers, earphones and small gadgets.
• Fold-downs: Add fold-down shelves on either side of the bed to serve as temporary storage or additional surface area when needed. The benefit of doing this is that they can be folded away when they’re not in use, increasing your usable space for moving around, and reducing visual clutter.

Multi-functional furniture

Choosing multi-functional furniture is one of the cleverest ways you can make the most of the limited space available in your motorhome. Where almost every square inch of space counts, pieces of furniture that serve multiple purposes will help to keep your living area much more open and spacious.

• Ottomans: Positioning a small ottoman at the foot of the bed can double as a seat as well as storage for shoes, books or other small items. Ottomans are compact and can be easily moved around though having one at the foot of the bed in a motorhome only really works if the bed is a fixed bed (i.e. not transverse).
• Folding workspace: If you like to read or work in bed, consider a fold-down desk mounted to the wall. This can also serve as a workspace or nightstand, with the added benefit that it can be stored flat against the wall when it’s not in use.
• Bed extension: Some fixed beds feature drop-down or extendable sections, meaning a little more space for sleeping when needed and allowing the bed to be shortened during the day. This type of addition to your motorhome can increase floor space without compromising comfort.

Optimise the bed

Creating a comfortable sleeping area involved more than just having a soft mattress (or mattresses if your motorhome has twin singles). There are various other ways you can ensure a restful night’s sleep.

• Toppers: If your fixed bed mattress is firm or lacks support, a mattress topper can improve comfort without taking up much room. If it’s necessary to store the topper during the day, you can buy a foldable version.
• Lighting: Install LED strip lights under overhead cabinets or along the bed frame to create a soft ambient glow. This will make the bedroom space feel warmer and more inviting without taking the extra space a lamp or lantern would use.
• Blackout: Using insulated curtains or blackout blinds around the bed area will help to regulate temperature as well as reduce the light getting in from the, therefore making the space much more private and enhancing the quality of your sleep.

Use visual tricks

Making your motorhome feel more spacious is not only about physical changes but also about the way you use visual design. There are certain design tricks that can make your motorhome appear larger and more open.

• Light colours: Using light and neutral colours on the walls, bedding and furniture can make the space in the motorhome feel more expansive. Consider using shades of white, beige or light grey as these will create an airy feel.
• Mirrors: Positioning a mirror near the fixed bed can create an illusion of depth. Mirrors reflect light around a space, the effect being that they make a room feel larger than it is – especially helpful in compact motorhomes.
• Avoid clutter: Keep the area around the bed as free from clutter as you possibly can. Use the under-bed storage (if available) and employ wall-mounted options to keep floors and surfaces clear. This will all ensure the motorhome looks and feels more open.

Flexible zones

The living, sleeping, washing and dining areas are within close proximity in a motorhome. To make the space around your fixed bed feel bigger, there are tactics you can use to create flexible zones that can be adapted, depending on the time of day:

• Dividers: Consider using curtains or sliding partitions around the bed to create a dedicated sleeping area. During the day, these can be opened up to expand the living space. Bear in mind that some modern motorhomes do already have ‘room dividers’ built in for this purpose.
• Lighting: Use dimmable lights or different light sources to change the mood and functionality of the zones within your motorhome. Brighter lights will energise the space when they’re used during the day and make it feel more open, while soft lights at night will create a more intimate and relaxing atmosphere.

Using the things we’ve mentioned in this blog to make the most of the space in a fixed bed motorhome will give you a vehicle that’s both functional and comfortable. Coachman prides itself on manufacturing high quality vehicles including the Travel Master motorhome series, all of which provide impressive living spaces – and developing strategies for making the most of those spaces is up to you!

Jackie Shipley

Sales & Marketing

Jackie Shipley, who works in the sales and marketing department at Coachman.

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