The Best RV Refrigerator Makeover for Retro Inspired RV Decor (Just 5 Steps!)

RV HomeDecor DIY

Sep 15

Reveal DIY Retro Inspired RV Refrigerator Makeover 3.jpg

Are you looking for RV decorating ideas and want to tackle how to create the best RV refrigerator? You are in the right place!

Does anyone remember my last blog post where I said, and I quote “I wish I had an all-white rig with warm wicker and boho gold accents…but that it just doesn’t make sense right now because we purchased our 2020 Imagine 2670mk brand new.” Or something like that?

I also mentioned that “because of this, we agreed (aka Jen “compromised”) that for the foreseeable future (aka until either the rig or Eric starts to wear down) … we would maintain the integrity of the interior as much as possible.” You know … something like that.

Well, I am going to have this blog licensed as an official channel for manifestation because it seems like the second after I hit publish on that last blog, Eric said those magical words I had been waiting to hear … “If you think it’s a good idea to paint, I support you.”

And even though I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to paint, anyone that knows me is nodding their head like yep, she painted. Y’all. I think I was right. But then, among all of the fresh, white paint stood our brown and gray refrigerator.

You may have found yourself here while searching for RV decorating ideas, or inspiration on just what to do with that refrigerator in your RV. Can you paint it? Should you paint it? Should you have one custom-built for you because you’re super extra and nothing else will do until you have the best RV refrigerator?

Have I had every one of these thoughts? Absolutely, I have.

Like most projects, I start with a vision that usually fails midway, and then I spend more money and time on achieving a backup version of the original vision. It’s pretty much my mantra aaaand it’s pretty much unavoidable because as much as I love to plan, I am equally compulsive and the second I get the green light to do ANY-THING, I don’t think twice and just do.

Welcome to my blog.

So, staying on trend – before getting the green light from Eric to paint, I spent a lot of time on the vision. I knew that I wanted white cabinets with gold pulls in our rig and so once the project was approved, I proceeded to paint and install everything gold. (But Jen, you said you always mess up…) Here’s where the problem occurred.

Grand Design Imagine 2670mk RV Fridge.jpg

CHROME. The 2020 Grand Design Imagine’s interior is filled with light wood grain tones and chrome accents. All beautiful together on it’s own, but not so pretty mixed with gold. I had just spent two days painting over the chrome trim on the cabinets - but how would I solve for the chrome trim and handles on the RV fridge?

I needed a solution.

Here comes the compulsive Jen - stand back. I had a light bulb moment and thought - hey, if I make our fridge look vintage - retro, I could play up the chrome accents and make them intentional vs. mismatched. I did some quick searching and set off to my home away from home, Home Depot.

Supplies Needed for the RV Refrigerator Makeover Retro-Inspired

Here’s what I used:

Rust-Oleum Universal Bonding Primer
Rust-Oleum Appliance Epoxy
Rust-Oleum Lacquer, Clear Gloss

Chrome Accents:
Cowles Universal Body Molding
Assorted Chrome Letters

5 Steps to Your Best RV Refrigerator Makeover

This project was surprisingly easy! The hardest part was figuring out how to remove the panels from the refrigerator doors. If you have this same type of Dometic fridge, then this video may be helpful.

Once I removed the panels and had a safe space to spray paint, here’s what I did:

1. Clean and dry the surface of your panel door

2. Start with primer. This Rust-Oleum Universal Bonding Primer will help the actual paint adhere to the surface

3. Next, you will add your color. I decided to do white, because it would make it more complimentary to the colors I just added to our RV. But if you need color inspiration, check out this blog with some more fun ideas! I used Rust-Oleum Appliance Epoxy for this step because I wanted to attempt to recreate as much of the polished appliance surface as possible

4. You will want to seal the surface with some sort of high gloss lacquer, and I used Rust-Oleum Lacquer for this step.

I allowed the surface to dry between each of these steps, which took about 20 minutes here in the Florida heat. I removed the panels, washed them and painted with all three steps in about 2 hours total. I let them dry outside in our screened tent for about 4 hours before installing them. I’m sure the recommendation is to let them set for 24 hours, but that’s just not how I roll.

5. Add chrome! Retro refrigerators stand out for two main characteristics - their color and their chrome! I opted to add lettering to spell out I M A G I N E and then I added chrome trim details to pull it together. Be creative! I used this chrome trim and these chrome letters.

What do you think about our RV refrigerator makeover? We'd love to hear your comments and questions - drop them below!

The Results: The Good and The OK

The Good: The process that I used worked well, and I have been able to wipe the exterior clean with a damp cloth

The OK: I didn’t get the “gloss” that I was looking for, which is to be expected when spray painting such a surface – so I will be sure to share how it holds up over time. Being an inexpensive project, it really made quite an impact and was the best RV refrigerator makeover I could think to do!