Camper Van Bed Ideas For Van Conversions | What Bed Is Best For Your Van?
When converting camper vans, your bed choice will be essential to your van build. You want something comfortable and functional that fits well in your van.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of some of the most popular camper van bed ideas for van conversions. You can break down camper bed layouts into three categories. Most campervan beds are either convertible beds, stowaway beds, or permanent beds.
When deciding on the best campervan bed designs for your campervan conversion, you must consider your budget, available space, and how many people you need to sleep.
With so many van bed ideas available, there's sure to be one that suits your needs perfectly.
In this article, we'll feature the best campervan bed ideas.
Convertible van bed ideas
Convertible beds are great for those who want to maximize their living space and versatility.
Since convertible beds are both a bed and a seating area, they allow you to get a good night's sleep when needed and easily convert into a seating space during the day.
You can turn a convertible bed from bed mode to seating in minutes. A convertible bed is an excellent solution if you don't have enough space in your van for a permanent bed and a seating area.
The L-Couch Pullout Bed
One of our favorite convertible beds is the L-shaped couch bed.
This pullout bed design is straightforward and affordable. There are many online tutorials on installing sliding slats to create a pullout bed.
The L-shape adds extra for an additional person to lounge during the day and the couch cushions create a comfy mattress for a good night's sleep.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: It can seat 2-3 people.
Mattress type: Custom campervan mattress or DIY cut-up foam mattress.
Pros:
Space efficient
Comfortable lounging
Lots of DIY tutorials available online
Cons:
You will have to convert the bed daily
Limited storage space underneath
You will need a separate table
The Dinette Bed
The dinette is a classic convertible bed. You may have seen this bed design used in RVs, boats, or caravans.
The drop-down table bed works by adjusting the table height to create a bed base or a dinette. The cushions then fold down to create a mattress space.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: It can seat 4-6 people.
Mattress type: Custom campervan mattress or DIY cut-up foam mattress.
Pros:
Space efficient as it has a bed, table, and bench seats in one
Lots of storage space underneath the seats.
Lots of DIY tutorials available online
Cons:
Have to convert bed daily
The table can get in the way when moving through the van
The Sofa bed
One of the most common beds people use when creating their vans is the sofa bed or the pullout couch. A sofa bed or pullout bed is easy and affordable to build.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: It can seat two people.
Mattress type: Custom campervan mattress or DIY cut-up foam mattress.
Pros:
Space efficient
Comfortable lounging
Lots of DIY tutorials available online
Cons:
Have to convert bed daily
Limited storage space underneath
You will need a separate table
The Rock and Roll Bed
Rock and roll beds are a great option if you also want to include extra (legal) seating space with seatbelts in your van. There is no storage underneath, but since rock and roll beds are generally relatively small, they don't take up a lot of space when they're not in bed mode.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: It can seat 2-3 people.
Mattress type: Custom campervan mattress (generally included with rock and roll bed)
Pros:
Adds seats with seatbelts so more people can travel in the van.
Space efficient
Cons:
Have to convert bed daily
No storage space underneath
You will need a separate table
Generally needs to be installed by a professional, which makes it expensive.
Stowaway bed ideas
Stowaway beds are convertible beds that don't convert into a seating area but can be easily stored when not in use.
The murphy campervan bed is the most popular stowaway bed, but there are also lifting beds that lift to the ceiling when not in use. Other examples of a more minimalistic stowaway bed are a hammock or a futon mattress that can be folded away and stored when unused.
These stowaway beds are ideal for those who want to keep using their van as a work or utility van while being able to go camping when they feel like it.
Stowaway beds are also great to use as additional beds for children or guests.
The Murphy Bed
The murphy campervan bed is the classic disappearing bed. This bed is for you if you need tons of extra floor space during the day.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: No seating
Mattress type: Regular (foam) mattress
Pros:
Space efficient when not in use
DIY tutorials available
Cons:
Have to stow bed away daily
No storage space underneath
You will need a separate table and seating
The Lifting bed
Lifting or sliding beds are a great space-saving solution if you're looking for extra storage space inside your van.
You can install lifting beds on tracks; when not used, they slide up to the ceiling so you can use the space underneath.
The lifting bed is probably the most complicated bed to build on this list, but some people have managed to DIY a lifting bed. You can also buy a lifting bed from manufacturers like Happy Jack.
Lifting beds are an excellent option if you have limited space and need to use the extra space underneath the bed when the bed is not in use.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: No seating
Mattress type: Regular mattress
Pros:
Space efficient
You don't need to make the bed daily
Cons:
Difficult to install
Expensive to build
No storage space
You will need a separate table and seating area
Fixed bed
Fixed beds or permanent beds are built-in and provide the highest level of comfort, support, and convenience. A fixed bed will take up a lot of space in the van, as the bed will permanently take up space. However, a permanent bed can be an excellent choice if you have the space. It allows for a regular comfortable mattress, and you don't have to make your bed daily.
Fixed Platform Bed
Fixed platform beds are one of the most popular camper van bed styles.
Most DIY camper builders like a platform bed because it provides lots of storage space underneath the bed for storing outdoor gear such as bikes, dirtbikes, snowboarding gear, surfboards, etc.
Van Bed Features:
Seating: No seating
Mattress type: Works with a regular mattress
Pros:
Lots of storage space underneath the bed
You don't have to make the bed daily
Easy and cheap to make, lots of DIY tutorials available online
Cons:
The bed takes up a lot of space
The bed is closer to the van's ceiling, which can feel cramped and get hot.
You will need a separate table and seating.
Additional bed ideas to sleep more than two people
You'll have to get creative when you want to sleep more than two people in a camper van.
In most situations, the extra beds are for children or occasional guests. Therefore, usually, you'll see a combination of bed layouts used to create multiple beds in a camper van.
Often a fixed bed is combined with a convertible bed or a stowaway bed like a murphy bed so that the second bed doesn't take up space during the day. But some people have two convertible or two permanent beds in their van conversion.
Bunk Beds
Who doesn't remember sleeping in bunk beds? They are excellent for housing a lot of people in a small space. Whether you want a single bunk bed for a child or two single bunk beds to sleep two friends, bunk beds are a great way to add extra sleeping spaces to a camper van.
Murphy Bunk Bed
A murphy bunk bed is a great option to add another bed to a camper build. The top bunk bed can fold away (like a murphy bed) when not in use.
Bench Seat Bed
A flip bench bed design is a great (additional) bed for a camper van. The bench seats create a seating area during the day, or they can be pulled out and flipped into a bed for sleeping.
