Campervan lighting ideas

Taking on a DIY van conversion? Don’t forget about campervan lighting! Getting this part of your conversion perfect isn’t just about shining a light into dark corners – as well as being practical, the right lighting will set the mood for your van.

Whether you want bright lights for early starts or late-night food prep, or soft warm lights for romantic film evenings, getting the lighting right will make a big difference in how your van looks. It’s a simple way for your van to look sleek and modern, as well as an easy and affordable way to make your van attractive to potential renters too.

Not sure where to start? We’ve put together some of our favourite campervan lighting ideas, as well as tips on what to consider when choosing the right lights for your conversion.

LED campervan lighting ideas

LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, create light when an electrical current passes through them. Campervans generally use LED lighting that runs on 12V, and we suggest sticking to this combo. It’s energy-efficient, is really affordable, and lasts for a long time – around 50,000 hours for most LEDs. Finally, LEDs don’t radiate any heat, which is a serious bonus in a compact van!

Types of LED lighting

Downlights

Downlights, recessed spotlights or puck lights are small circular lights fitted into the ceiling, similar to light fittings in many houses. Remember: you’ll need to have decided on this type of lighting before you work on or finish the roof and ceiling! It’s easy to buy these types of lights specifically for vans – search for terms like “RV boat recess lights” or “RV recess downlights”.

Our pick:acegoo RV Boat Recessed Ceiling Light 4 Pack Super Slim LED Panel Light DC 12V 3W Full Aluminum Downlights, Cool White (Silver); from £51

Strip lights

Strip lights are flexible lengths of LED lights fixed in waterproof plastic – all you have to do is peel off any backing paper and use adhesive to stick the strip lighting wherever you want. And when it comes to wiring, they’re often powered with a flex and plug.

As they’re generally not as powerful as downlights or similar, it’s best to use strip lighting as supplementary rather than main lighting, for example along the bottom of cupboards or around a bed. A strip light above the sink is always a good idea.

Our pick:Orange/Amber LED Strip - Splashproof 60 LED/m 12V; from £7.25

Violet, four-berth caravan available to hire in Ipswich

Reading lights

Fairly self-explanatory, reading lights are bright enough to light up your novel yet dim enough to let your partner sleep. These mini spotlights are mounted to your wall and can be angled to shine in any direction.

Perfect for your bed or lounge area, reading lights allow you to read or work well into the night without using up too much power or taking up too much space.

Our pick:Hafele 12V LED Flexible Reading Light with USB Ports, £34.99

Other types of campervan lighting ideas

Lennie the LDV, a Devon campervan rental to suit all budgets

Fairy lights

Go old-school and drape battery-operated fairy lights all around your van. These types of lights are decorative rather than functional, so you’ll need another, main, light source alongside. They can also be a bit flimsy, so look for copper-string lights rather than plastic.

That said, we reckon fairy lights are the most atmospheric of all campervan lighting options, even if they’re not the most practical! They’re extremely affordable too, with basic versions available in most pound shops. If you want to splash out a bit, LED fairy lights are easily available too.

Our pick:Maple Leaf Micro Fairy Lights, £13.99

Solar-powered lights

The big advantage of solar lighting is that it uses sunlight to recharge, so you don’t have to rely on electricity or batteries. The big disadvantage is… that it uses sunlight to recharge, so if it’s been a dull day or you’ve forgotten to put the light outside, you can easily get caught out with weak or no light come evening. For this reason, we recommend solar lights that can also be charged via USB ports.

Our pick: BioLite PLE1002 Unisex Adult Lantern, £24.83

Portable lighting

Torches, lanterns, headlamps… take your pick from the vast range of portable lighting available for vans, camping and around the home and garden. We suggest going for a portable lighting option that fulfils two roles in one, such as this camping lantern with detachable torches, chargeable by USB and battery. If you’re going off-grid, look for a hand-cranked portable lantern/torch instead.

Our pick:Lepro Camping Lantern with 2 Detachable Torch, from £28.99

Key things to consider when choosing campervan lighting

Before you decide what type of lighting you want in your campervan conversion, you’ll need to decide the main practicalities. These are:

Purpose of your campervan lighting

For example, you might opt for brighter lights in the kitchen area and soft lights in sleeping areas. If you plan to cook outside or have a campfire in the evening, exterior lights can transform your awning area into an ambient yet practical space.

Power supply and efficiency

Most campervan conversions run on a 12V electrical supply, which is sufficient for nearly all systems of campervan lighting. Don’t discount good old-fashioned battery-powered lighting either – there’s loads of choice out there.

Unless you’re staying every night at a campsite with an electric hook-up, you’ll also want to consider how energy efficient your lights are. LED lighting is our top pick for several reasons, which we cover below.

Brightness and colour

As mentioned, you can opt for different levels of brightness for your lighting in different parts of your van. The higher the bulb wattage, the brighter the light – a living room light in a home, for example, is suitable at 40 watts, while an exterior light would be closer to 100. We recommend 40 or below for reading, bedroom and living room lights, and 100 for the kitchen or over a desk.

For warmth and colour, the temperature of bulbs and lighting is measured in kelvins. Look for lighting at around 3500K for a warm daylight vibe, and 5500k+ for a clearer cool light. The higher the “K” measurement, the colder the light.

Dobby the Ducato, available to hire in Sussex

Try out your favourite campervan lighting ideas

You can try out different campervan lighting ideas before doing them in your own van by hiring a rental. Browse ourUK vans to hire listings to get started!

What’s more, this article is just one of our many guides on campervan conversion. Check out our lowdown on campervan conversion cost, our guide to the best vans for conversion and our detailed look at van conversion ideas. There’s more inspiration in our quirky campervan conversions article… and don’t forget about campervan interior ideas.

Earn a return on your campervan lighting (and much more!)

Once you’ve installed your lighting, make your investment back by hiring out your van on Camplify when its conversion is complete! Camplify connects owners like you with local and international holidaymakers – all of whom are verified to maximise the safety when you hire out your campervan or motorhome.

Discover more of our advantages for owners below:

• It's free to list your van.

• If you don’t have all-risk insurance, we can provide you with it when you sign up.

• We give your van a 24/7 RAC breakdown cover.

• You have complete freedom to approve or reject guests interested in renting your van. Your wheels, your rules.

• We provide you with tips and step-by-step guides on how to improve your service and your vehicle to get more and more bookings!

Start sharing your campervan today

The sooner you set up your listing, the sooner it will start to receive visits and bookings! See how much you could earn if you rent out your van with ourincome calculator or sign up now to start enjoying the above advantages today.

If you still have questions, want to discuss your income potential with an expert or get more information on how to list your vehicle, call us on ☎ 0330 808 1811 or visit www.camplify.co.uk. We’ll be happy to help you with anything you need!