Clever Camper Kitchen Ideas for Van Conversions

A camper van kitchen, along with a bathroom, is what turns a day van into a fully equipped campervan. It opens up a whole new world of travel and provides that essential freedom to roam. 

Motorhome Workshop works with DIY camper converters across the country. We help with all the tricky technical stuff and can assist with fitting various parts for your van conversion. 

Campervan kitchen ideas for inspiration

Since a camper van kitchen is a fundamental component of any great van conversion, here are some of our favourite van kitchen ideas to get your creativity flowing…

Open van kitchen

This simple open van kitchen is useful if you don’t plan on doing a whole lot of cooking while on the road. It has obvious compromises but this kitchen idea is so space-efficient that it would be silly to not mention it.

It’s a simple unit with a single burner and small sink. It’s a no-nonsense option that’s cheap, easy to install and could be placed anywhere in your van.

Sliding camper kitchen

The sliding camper kitchen is a firm favourite with the camper conversions we help with. It’s a great use of space and slides seamlessly into the cabinet when not in use.

It does depend on good weather if you need a cup of tea or want to make lunch but could be ideal for those roaming in sunnier climes!

Weatherproof sliding camper kitchen

This sliding camper kitchen is a variation of the theme above and is arguably more suitable for the British climate.

Rather than sliding outwards, it slides inwards, remaining undercover. It’s a smaller version of a van kitchen but has the same practical application, with a double burner and workspace.

Unused space van kitchen

Let’s put full van kitchens aside for a minute to discuss space… Even the best-planned kitchen tends to have wasted space at the bottom, but this is a fantastic solution for that.

It’s a sliding wire drawer that maximises space for practicalities like storage. It also keeps weight down low, which is a minor, but useful advantage.

Rustic kitchen

Not everyone needs polished aluminium or English oak in their camper. Some prefer to keep it simple, cheap and lightweight, like this rustic van kitchen option.

It’s a no-frills solution that gives you the amenities you need at an affordable cost. It works well, will be cheap to run and replace and can easily be tweaked as desired.

IKEA van kitchen

Store-bought solutions are rarely as good as bespoke but they can be made to work, like this IKEA kitchen. It uses standard cabinets that have been made to fit a van.

This camper van kitchen works well although we would hate to think how much weight it added!

Full wood campervan kitchen

This is one of our favourite campervan kitchens. It’s ideal for those van lifers who want to cook while away and have the space to spare.

It’s an L-shaped kitchen with a lot of workspace and storage. The handmade worktop is rustic and makes it stand out for all the right reasons.

Out the back

If you’ve maxed out your van interior and still need to squeeze in somewhere to cook, perhaps this van kitchen might work. It’s another fair-weather option but is about as lean on space as it’s possible to get.

Everything is on a slider and it even includes a mini grill/oven. It’s an option if you can’t fit a kitchen inside your camper van!

Inspirational van kitchen ideas

If you’ve found inspiration from any of these van kitchen ideas but are wondering about the technicalities of installing one in your DIY van conversion, don’t forget that Motorhome Workshop is here to help.

We assist hundreds of people with the technical parts of their van conversions every year. From plumbing to electrics, suspension upgrades to reversing cameras, our team is here to help!