Campervan lighting ideas

Looking for campervan lighting ideas? Getting this part of your conversion perfect isn’t just about shining a light into dark corners – lighting is a simple and affordable way to take your van’s interior decor to the next level, setting the vibe for your adventure.

Whether you want bright lights for early starts and late-night food prep, or soft warm lights for cosy evenings inside, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover our favourite campervan lighting ideas, as well as tips on what to consider when choosing the perfect lights for your conversion!

5 campervan lighting ideas to illuminate your living space

1. Downlights

Downlights, recessed spotlights or puck lights, are small circular lights fitted into the ceiling, similar to light fittings in many houses. With an almost-unnoticeable design that blends into the ceiling, these lights are favoured for their sleek subtlety.

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 lights specifically for vans, too – just search for terms like “RV boat recess lights” or “RV recessed downlights”.

Our pick: 5 Pack Leisure LED RV Boat Recessed Ceiling Light, from $49

2. 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! Strip lights with wiring are often powered with a simple 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: LED Slim Strip Light , from $39.99

3. 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: Wall Mounted LED Task Light, from $114

4. Fairy lights

Now for one of the most timeless campervan lighting ideas! Drape battery-operated fairy lights all around your van to create an instant rosy glow.

Remember that these 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 discount shops.

Our pick : Lytworx 400 LED Warm White Connectable Party Fairy Lights, from $42

5. Portable lighting

Torches, lanterns, headlamps… take your pick from the vast range of portable lighting that can be seriously useful for van life. Of course, these shouldn’t be used as your main source of light, but they can make digging for supplies after sunset and late-night bathroom trips a whole lot easier!

We suggest going for a portable lighting option that fulfils two roles in one, such as the below camping lantern with detachable torches, chargeable by USB and battery.

Our pick: Kiwi Camping Hub LED Lantern With Power Bank, from $84.99

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 consider some practicalities.

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 fixed to your campervan’s tailgate or awning can transform your camping 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. And 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. In this sense, both LED and solar-powered lights are a great option!

LED lighting

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, 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!

Solar power

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.

Want to power your van with solar energy? Check out our campervan solar setupguide!

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.

Try out your favourite campervan lighting ideas

You can try out different campervan lighting ideas before installing them in your own van by hiring a rental. Browse campervans to hire across New Zealand to get started!

What’s more, this article is just one of our many guides for campervan owners. Head over to our campervan conversion guide to get more tips and tricks on transforming your van!

Earn a return on your campervan conversion

Once you’ve installed your favourite campervan lighting ideas, make your investment back by hiring out your van 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.

Why Camplify?

Each year, heaps of Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their campervan through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance.

• 24/7 AA nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

See how much you could earn if you rent out your van with our**income 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 ☎ 0800 779 779. We’ll be happy to help you with anything you need!