Expanding the livable area around your caravan is something that can be done with relative ease. There are a number of ways that you can go about this and they don’t necessarily require any extensive skills. In this article, I will look at some simple ways to make the outdoor area around your caravan more livable, without spending thousands.

Increasing the Livable Space of Your Caravan

1. Annex matting – Also known as annex flooring, this is a simple way to add an extra layer of protection from the elements as well as giving you more space to walk around your caravan without having to step onto muddy ground. This can be purchased in various colours and materials, but I recommend aluminium for its lightness and durability.
2. Fence matting – Just like annex matting but with added privacy. Can be made from wood or aluminium and comes in many different colours. Some common colours for doors are white, black, brown, and natural wood.
3. Privacy screens – If you want to make sure that your annex or fence is not visible from the road, then you might want to consider installing some privacy screens around your caravan. You can make them from bamboo, which is quite cheap and grows naturally in Australia. Or you could purchase steel fencing panels that come in a variety of colours.
4. Lighting – If you are going for an outdoor living feel, then lighting can really help set the mood. There are many different ways to go about this but I think solar-powered lights in particular are a great option because they are very economical and don’t require any installation. You can simply place the lights around your caravan or on the fence matting to create an inviting atmosphere at night time.

What to Consider When Buying These Caravan Accessories

However, you can’t just pick any annex flooring or privacy screen and expect it to fit your caravan. For that reason, it’s important to take the following considerations into mind:

1. Measurements – You want to make sure that whatever you are purchasing will fit around your caravan without any gaps. This is especially important if you intend on installing matting or screens around the sides of your caravan as well.
2. Weight – If you have a lightweight caravan then it’s probably not a good idea to go for something that is very heavy because this can cause stress and strain on your vehicle.
3. Stability – The area around your caravan is likely fairly uneven so it’s best to go for something that is as stable as possible. If you are installing matting, then check the thickness because this will give you an idea of how sturdy it is. The thicker it is, the more stable it will be.
4. Price – It’s always a good idea to look at the prices of various annex flooring and privacy screens because some are lower than others. You can sometimes get better deals online or in discount stores but if you have time to wait, then shop around as prices can change.
5. Colour – This is something that I think a lot of people tend to forget about but it’s actually very important because it helps to create an outdoor living feel. If you want the inside of your caravan to be light and bright, then make sure that your matting or privacy screens are white or some other light colour. However, if you want to go for a more natural look, then try browns, blacks or greys instead.

How to Install Annex Matting and Privacy Screens

You can install an annex matting and privacy screen yourself in the span of a few hours at most. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Measure the area around your caravan. This is important so that you know how much matting or fencing panels to buy. It’s also good to measure the areas that you intend on putting them in.
2. Cut your annex flooring or privacy screen material to size, according to your measurements. You can use a hacksaw for this but it might be easier if you have an electric saw because it will make things faster.
3. Install the matting or screen by placing it around your caravan and securing it with nails or screws. If you are installing a privacy screen, then do this on all sides except for the front where there should be no annex matting because you don’t want people to see inside of your caravan.

As I said before, these steps should take you no more than an hour or two at most if you have some experience in DIY. For extra information about how to install various types of matting or screens, check out online videos or find an experienced friend to help you out.