Van Decor & Ceramics
I was so excited to “decorate” the van when we finished our build, but I knew I had to keep it super minimal and only add a few accents here and there. We invested in a nice linen sheet set, added as many plants as we could to brighten up our space and used Velcro to attach a couple vases to our countertops so that we could have fresh flowers at all times. I had a big collection of plants, ceramics and other decorative items before we moved into the van, but I decided to sell everything to make a little extra money to put towards our build. I was also looking forward to having a completely fresh start. Most of the items listed below were collected slowly and intentionally throughout our travels during our first year in the van.
Ceramics
We have a small collection of ceramic vases, mugs, plates, bowls and serving dishes in the van. It may have been more practical to go with tableware that’s a little less breakable, but I was determined to keep a few pieces with us in the van. Below I list some of my favorite makers. The exact pieces I have are likely out of stock, but check their websites for similar items.
Mary Carroll
Mary makes some of the most beautiful and fun mugs! I have two so far and look forward to adding more in the future. I also have a strainer/fruit basket from her that is the absolute cutest. Her stuff sells out FAST so be sure to follow her on Instagram to stay updated on re-stocks!
MEHA
Super unique and cool designs! I have a couple vases from her, that I purchased from Prism Boutique in Long Beach.
Gopi Shah
I got this cute little pot from Pistils Nursery while we were on our first road trip after finishing our build. It was empty for the longest time until I found this perfect silver pothos to go in it.
Amelia Wrede Davis
Beautiful handmade ceramics! We have a couple of small serving bowls from her.
Isiko
The pretty little bud vase the sits next to our stove is from Isiko! I want everything on their site.
The Homebodies
An online shop with sustainable goods from small-batch makers! This is where I got my beloved matcha bowl that I use every single day.
Cisco and the Sun
I was first introduced to Cisco and The Sun while we were in Bali. One of our favorite cafés had an assortment of their ceramic pieces for sale and I couldn’t help but pick some up. We got two shallow bowl/plates that we use almost everyday in the van.
DayDream Surf Shop
If you’re ever in Orange County you’ve gotta stop by Daydream for the best cappuccino in town! They also have an amazing selection of ceramics and other homeware items for sale. I have a few small serving dishes made by Costa Mesa Ceramics that I got from here. They also have some items for sale on their website.
Prism Boutique
Almost all of the decorations in the van were purchased from Prism! They sell a wide variety of home goods and some really cute clothes too. It’s where we got our round whicker mirror and all of the ceramic vases we have. They have store fronts in Long Beach and Costa Mesa, CA, but you can also shop the stores on their website.
String Lights
We use our string lights most nights when we want softer light in the van. I love that they come with a little remote so we can turn them on and off without having to unplug them.
Curtains
Having curtains in the front and back of the van really makes it feel more homey! We installed sliding tracks in the front and back which makes it super easy to open and close them. They are great to have when we want a little privacy but don’t want to put all of our window covers on.
Sheets
I frequently get asked about our sheet set. This was one of the first purchases I made for the van when we first started our build. They are an investment, but I really love how durable and cozy they are. Note: French Linen is not the softest material. I’ve always had organic cotton sheets which are silky and smooth. The texture of these is a little rougher. When I first got them I was a little surprised, but now we’ve adjusted to them. I Love Linen has a bunch of dreamy colors. The ones we have are Desert Rose.
Throw Blanket & Pillow
I don’t have a link for these because I got them from a vendor at the Long Beach Antique Market. If you’re in the area I highly recommend checking it out. They have tons of great stuff for CHEAP!
Macrame
This dreamy macrame was one of the only things I brought from our apartment to the van. I’ve had it for years and I love it. Lauren makes some beautiful creations available on her Etsy shop.
Plant hangers
We have two plant hangers in the back of the van. People often ask if they swing around when we drive, but since they sit up against our curtains they stay in place pretty well. We got ours from Solabee Flowers in Portland, but I’ve also seen them at World Market for pretty cheap.
Calendar
I love this little calendar from Note and Shine. They make the CUTEST stationary too. Check them out!
Plants
I’ve picked up our plants from a lot of different places. I got two to start because I wasn’t sure if they would survive van life. I’ve only killed one so far so we’re looking good. You can find house plants at places like Lowes for pretty cheap, but I also like exploring plant stores on our road trips. I’ll list my favorite ones so far below.