If you’ve read my round-ups from the October and February NEC Shows, you may have noticed that one thing I highlighted was the increasing amount of leisure vehicles that are coming with white upholstery.
In fact, as I walked around the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show last week, I actually found myself thinking there seem to be more motorhomes with this interior styling than ever before, and I’m going to be honest – I’m a big fan. Ok, I’ll admit, I’m a bit biased, as in day-to-day life, I quite like a minimalist, clean vibe and making my space feel as airy as possible. But why would I not want the same effect in a motorhome?
Step inside a leisure vehicle with this type of styling, and you will notice its bold and attention-grabbing look straight away, but I think such a colour scheme offers a lot more than that to the touring lifestyle.
Even the best motorhomes can sometimes feel small and compact, and such bright upholstery works wonders in making the interior feel significantly bigger and more spacious, which, in the confines of a leisure vehicle, can only be a good thing, particularly if your layout includes a drop-down bed.
Recent NEC Shows have highlighted some brands that I think are doing this particularly well, one of which is Mobilvetta.
At the Motorhome and Caravan Show in October, I noticed how it was evident in the Mobilvetta Kea Kompact 55. As the name implies, this is a narrow motorhome which is only 2.15m wide, and as a result, you might be expecting its interior to feel compact.
However, I didn’t think that was the case at all, with the natural lighting working in combination with the bright white upholstery to create an airy interior. Frankly, I just don’t think a darker shade would achieve a similar effect in the ‘van we named the best motorhome under 7m at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2026.
The Italian brand was able to repeat the trick with two new launches at the recent February NEC Show as well, through its coachbuilt Kea 80 and A-class K Yacht 80.
Both motorhomes have drop-down beds over the rear lounge and by the cab, but neither feels dark or cramped, as can sometimes be an issue with such an arrangement.
Instead, that creamy white upholstery works in sync with the sunroof and Heki, coming up trumps for those who want a rear lounge motorhome that is bright and airy.
And talking of spacious interiors, let’s take a second to appreciate Rapido’s efforts in its new C66 Optimum Line. This is another compact ‘van, with a width of only 2.17m, yet I thought that creamy seating in the lounge, in combination with the shade of wood used, really worked wonders at the front of the motorhome.
It’s generously specced too, coming with a coffee machine, an inverter, a vacuum cleaner, 16-inch alloy rims, all-season tyres and more, while at the rear, fixed single beds can be found.
And finally, I couldn’t draw attention to this type of upholstery without mentioning Rimor, who have genuinely impressed me with the spacious interiors they are creating. Most recently, it was the Super Brig Suite which genuinely wowed me.
It may not be a brand new model, but it was the first time I’d seen one. It only has a length of 6.97m, yet upon stepping inside, I thought the headroom was amazing, and again, the rear lounge with that white upholstery felt incredibly airy.
Ok, I’ll add a caveat here. This look may not be quite so suited to those who are motorhoming with a dog (you could find yourself constantly cleaning muddy pawprints off, otherwise), or more adventure-loving motorhomers. But for those of you who, like me, enjoy a feeling of space and a modern interior, it could be ideal. You could turn around and say it will most likely need cleaning on a more regular basis than a darker grey, for instance, which is true. However, for me, the pros far outweigh the cons, and it’s a trade-off which I think is very much worth it.
All of the models I’ve mentioned here have one thing in common, that goes beyond the colour of the upholstery, too – an impressive feeling of space, even in some which are compact. Personally, I find it harder to relax when things feel dingy and badly lit, and that is something this trend very much helps to combat.
I know it’s not going to be for everyone, and for those of you who aren’t a fan, the good news is this probably be the last time you ever have to read the words “creamy white upholstery”!
On a separate note, if you’re getting ready to spruce your ‘van up for the new season, don’t miss our tips on how to clean a motorhome so it will be back to its sparkling best when you set off on your next tour.
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