The sofa bed was originally a small dinette
I had previously posted pictures showing how I turned my Casita Spirit Deluxe into a twin bed model. But since those photos are buried in my blog archives, I am reposting them as a permanent web page.
I removed the large dinette table and replaced the full size bed with another twin. That gave me room to add a small dinette. Click on photo to enlarge.
I love the way this arrangement gives me extra space for plastic drawers under the sofa bed for canned and packaged foods. There’s also room for a bag of dog food to the right of the drawers.
Our shorts, jeans and shirts are stored in baskets underneath the rear twin bed.
We can take the glass top off the table, lay it on a cushions, then move the table base out of our way to give us more walk space. In transit, the table base goes up on the bed and the glass top goes on a dinette cushion with pillows wedged around it.
The coffee shelf that Rob built for me.
The only thing that bothered me about my new bed arrangement was that there was no place for me to put a coffee cup when I was propped up in bed. I couldn’t quite reach the ledge of the refrigerator across the aisle.
I asked a member of the Casita Forums, who is a master at working with wood, for ideas on how to build a coffee shelf. Rob stunned me by offering to design and build one for me! It is designed so the shelf slides onto a separate base and is locked on by a window latch. It can be removed and placed in the overhead storage compartment when it is not needed.
The coffee shelf that Rob built for me that has turned into an indispensable all-purpose shelf.
This is my favorite mod and I end up leaving it up almost all the time now! I used it as a flower shelf for birthday flowers when I was home last May. It also serves as a cellphone holder, tatting holder, eyeglass holder… I can’t imagine being without it now.
Probably my most practical mod was adding a towel rack for dish cloths and dish towels. It has an added bonus. When a towel is hanging there, it keeps anyone outside from seeing inside through the gap between the blinds and the wall. Without a towel hanging there, you can see the head of my bed through that crack at night.
Note: Due to a request from a reader about how we organize our little camper, I’m adding a link to an earlier post, How We Pack Our Casita.
Towel holder accommodates 5 dish cloths and towels. Paper towel mod is to the right of the vent hood.
Tinycamper's Blog 
ldsiebs
/ September 3, 2012How many can your Casita sleep? I think we are considering purchasing a camper for those summer months in Texas so we aren’t limited to fall and spring when it comes to camping here. I am strongly considering the Casita. Also love the Teardrops and the Airstream Bambi. I would love your input for a family of 4!
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tinycamper
/ September 3, 2012While I am crazy about my little Casita and think it is the greatest little camper there is, I couldn’t recommend it for a family of 4.
You could sleep two people in the double bed and configure the small dinette for a bed for one. But unless one slept on the floor (and got stepped on and over) I don’t see how you could get 4 in there.
However, if you got the Liberty Deluxe, it can be made up into a king size bed and if you were VERY friendly, you might could sleep 4 that way.
For a family of four, I’d suggest you check out other options, though. 🙂
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cozygirl
/ September 11, 2012GORGEOUS…..The beds are beautiful! Did you get mattresses and have bedding made?
Love the handy towel holder….!!
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tinycamper
/ September 11, 2012cozygirl, I bought a queen sized 6″ Spa Sensations mattress from Walmart and cut two Casita twin size beds out of it with an electric knife. I used plywood as a base, placed the foam on it, then cut up a mattress cover to cover each bed and stapled that over the foam to the plywood. Then I found the upholstery material at a discount fabric warehouse and stapled that over the foam and mattress cover to the plywood base.
It was not a complicated project at all.
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cozygirl
/ September 11, 2012PS – I’d love to know what is behind every cabinet door in your unit…I know, sorry that’s asking too much. I’m probably over thinking our organization too much…sure I’ll find the perfect home for each piece eventually :O)
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tinycamper
/ September 11, 2012No problem at all. I did a blog post on it.
https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/how-we-pack-our-casita/
A gentle tip for making life in a Casita pleasant is get rid of as much clutter as you can. Don’t take anything “nice to have.” Take essentials only, and try to find items that will do double duty. For instance, a pot can double as a mixing bowl. Some body washes double as shampoo. Take only one plate, one bowl, one cup, one spoon, fork, etc. for each of you. If you have company, you can use disposable plates. Anything you can do to reduce the number of items you take and still have what you need will help a lot with organization.
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cozygirl
/ September 11, 2012An ELECTRIC KNIFE….I’m so going home and tell Jerry!! It is just stunning! You have been so helpful….I’m just going to love my sweet Casita when I get all the bells and whistles worked out :O)
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tinycamper
/ September 11, 2012Our Casita has enriched our life, improved our marriage, and made our retirement years so much richer and happier. I think you’ll probably discover that yours does the same for you!!!
I am so happy for you!
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cozygirl
/ September 12, 2012One more question if I might ask…where are your sheets and blankets stored…in one of those pillow cases? Jerry is going to look at that set up in our unit…I better there is so much more feeling of space! “Richer and happier”…I’m feeling it and can’t wait!
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tinycamper
/ September 12, 2012cozygirl, if you follow the above link to How We Pack Our Casita, the first photo shows our blanket/sheet storage in the big cabinet over the bed. I went back and added that link to the article above, too.
Since I have a twin bed back there, it is very easy for us to access. I have read that some people with the full size bed find that space inconvenient because they have to get up on the bed to access it.
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cozygirl
/ September 12, 2012Oh perfect…Jerry is at Menards looking at materials for the closet redo right now. I’m so excited I found your re-do…it is so so beautiful!
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tinycamper
/ September 12, 2012cozygirl, it feels more like a tiny condo than a trailer now. The only thing more fun than redecorating it is getting a Casita in the first place!
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Gary
/ November 2, 2012We have a Casita also and This is totally ideal. We are going to copy you. Love the tan and white. Thanks for the pictures. Somey
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tinycamper
/ November 2, 2012So glad it’s an idea you can use! Hope it works as well for you as it does for us! 🙂
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Connie
/ March 8, 2013I wanted to thank you for your ideas. I just got a 17ft. Casita and I wanted to put a bed where the small dinette is. And I love how you fixed your lg Dinette into a twin bed/ sm. dinette. Your a genius! Gotta say- I’m going to copy.. Connie
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tinycamper
/ March 8, 2013Connie, sometimes I do miss the permanent dinette. But this was the best use of space I could figure out. So glad it’s helpful to you…. and feel free to copy away! 🙂
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Mary Lou
/ June 22, 2013You inspired me. I just did twin beds in my 17′ Liberty. It is fabulous having beds all set up so you don’t have to keep putting up and taking down, storing, stashing, etc. etc. If I could figure out how to do it I’d post the photos here. Since I can’t if you want to see them just go to the Casita Forum and look up “Glamping in a Casita.”
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tinycamper
/ June 22, 2013Mary Lou, I just checked out those photos. WOW!!!! Glamping is right. That is a gorgeous makeover!
Also, by keeping the liberty twins made up that way, you get a whole lot more floor space which gives the feeling of a larger trailer.
Fantastic job! I would post the pictures here in the comments if I could, but I don’t know how to do it either.
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Mary Lou
/ June 22, 2013Thanks. Hey, as an aside, once you’ve read Eysenck you will see that these colors are ones that an extravert would pick out. Neutral is more my style but was shopping with a true extravert and got carried away. Glad I did because I really like it.
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tinycamper
/ June 22, 2013Next time I go shopping for fabric, I’m taking an extrovert friend along! 🙂
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Mary Lou
/ June 25, 2013Be prepared! You’ll have a good time though. We had all the salespeople involved and hopping around. It was a party.
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Patricia
/ July 11, 2013Like it! How wide are the two twins?
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tinycamper
/ July 11, 2013Patricia, the rear bed is 29″ wide. It is plenty wide for my husband. The dinette bed is 27″ wide. It is a little narrow, but it could be 28″ and still allow the bathroom door to open.
I just pull my bed out from the wall a little and it gives me the additional elbow room I need.
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steve Jones
/ September 15, 2013I love what you did to the van….Steve
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tinycamper
/ September 15, 2013Thanks, Steve. But it was my sister who redid the van with the blue interior. I redid my little Casita trailer (the one on this page). 🙂
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Susan
/ October 7, 2013We want one! Have to figure out how to actually make the purchase. We live in central Fl. Trying to figure out which model would best suit us – we will frequently be taking two young grandchildren with us. Also, we will be towing it with a Honda Pilot. Will the Pilot actually have enough power? Any advice will be very appreciated!
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tinycamper
/ October 13, 2013Susan, sorry to take so long to reply. I’ve not been well.
I have bad news for you. A Honda pilot does not have the capability to tow a 17′ Deluxe Casita. And I know of none of their models that will accommodate two grandchildren. You might call Casita and ask them if they still offer the standard Casita with no bathroom with the bunk bed option.
The 16′ Scamp with the bunk bed option would probably be a better choice for you. But understand that the weights they advertise are dry weights before any options, such as refrigerator, air conditioner, water heater, bathroom, etc. are added, and with no propane, water or cargo on board.
Also, be aware that Casita will be straight up with you about what your vehicle can and can’t tow. Scamp will probably tell you that you can tow it, but they have been known to hedge the truth a little. 🙂
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Christopher Boone
/ February 13, 2014Really like the shelf that Rob made. I would like to do something along the same lines in our RV. Could you possible give me some more information on how it attaches to the window and how the window catch is used.
Thanks in advance, Chris.
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tinycamper
/ February 13, 2014Chris, my computer got wiped out by malware. I am slowly pecking out keys on a tablet. Will try to remember to answer when the new computer arrives — probably next week due to the ice storm.
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tinycamper
/ February 27, 2014Chris, I’m sorry I’ve taken so long to reply. I found my post where I showed how the shelf was put together. It’s here.
https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/underbed-storage-shelf-winterizing-kit/
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Bonnie Borgeson
/ February 28, 2014Do you have another picture of the coffee tray? You folks have just swept me away.
________________________________
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Bonnie Borgeson
/ February 27, 2014Hi tinycamper, I am constantly going back to look at your beautiful interior and getting inspiration. I am defiantly going to change my SD to the two twin following your design. I just can’t tell you how lovely yours looks………………..but then you know, you did it. ; D. May I ask you what material/type of mattress material did you use. Obviously you are a great seamstress, another mountain I must climb. Also love your mini trays make by your husband I assume. A credit to you both. Thanks for sharing.
Bonnie
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tinycamper
/ February 27, 2014Bonnie, I bought a 6″ Spa Sensations memory foam mattress from Walmart and cut it to size with an electric knife.
The fabric is an upholstery fabric that I found at a discount fabric warehouse.
The cushions for the new dinette seats are sewn. However, the beds simply have a mattress pad over the foam, stapled to a plywood base. Then the upholstery fabric is stapled over that. It is really easy!
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Bonnie Borgeson
/ February 27, 2014thank you, I think I might be able to handle that. You really did a lovely job.
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Bonnie Borgeson
/ February 27, 2014How did you like that mattress from Wal mart? Did you get 2 twins?
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tinycamper
/ February 28, 2014Bonnie, Ron and I both really like the mattress. The mattress pad adds a little extra padding to it. I got one queen mattress and cut the two mattresses from it. The dinette one is supposed to be 28″ x 72″, and the rear one fits the curve of the Casita and is 29″ wide at its widest point. Actually, my dinette bed is a little narrower because I cut it wrong. I just pull it out away from the wall an inch or so and it gives me a little extra elbow room. It is narrow and takes some getting used to. The rear one is plenty wide — feels luxurious after sleeping on mine (the dinette bed). 🙂
A twin size would not be quite long enough for the rear bed which is why I got the queen to start with. Or you could buy a twin for it, cut an extra piece of foam and use spray adhesive to glue the end on. That is what the Foam Factory recommends. I had bought foam from the Foam Factory online before. It’s excellent quality and great prices, but the medium foam is far too hard. It feels like sleeping on a brick. I used that when I had my Aliner and had to buy a softer foam for a topper. So I do recommend the Walmart Spa Sensations 6″ mattress. I have read that the 8″ is too hard.
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Bonnie Borgeson
/ February 28, 2014Great……………..sounds just what we need. Thanks.
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judilyn
/ March 15, 2014Love your shelf! We do a simpler version of that. I put a good-sized wooden cutting board on the sofa between us when we are drinking coffee or tea. Do you use the tatting shuttles much? I’ve always wanted to learn to do that. The product is so delicate!
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014We also use a cutting board to give me extra “counter” space when I’m cooking or working in my little micro kitchen. 🙂
I go with the tatting in spurts. I had a very hard time getting the hang of the shuttles, so started with needle tatting. If you are interested, check out Youtube for how to videos.
I finally learned to use the shuttle when I ordered a book with a DVD that took you through it in slow motion step by step. When I finally understood what the thread needed to do, it just fell into place.
My main use for tatting now is for decorating hand made greeting cards. I buy little bows and such to add to it, and it makes it so special.
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judilyn
/ March 15, 2014How very personal with the lace! Sweet.
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Junie
/ March 17, 2014Hi, tinycamper: we’ve been eyeing your twin bed mod for a year or so and are now thinking more seriously about it. Now that you’ve lived with it for awhile, would you do it the same way again? We were a bit cautious about losing a dinette table, but we think we’ve designed one that will fit the area (with leaves to fold down to access the rear bed.) So, did you use a full length piece of plywood for the side bed or just fit a piece on the ledges of the bench seats? And did you reuse the side dinette seat and back cushions for the rear seating cushions…just sew new covers? Have you had any shifting of the plywood when traveling? We’re going to start collecting the materials for the mod soon…yay! a trip to both the hardware AND fabric stores!
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tinycamper
/ March 18, 2014Hi, Junie,
Yes, I would do it the same way again simply because we must have twin beds. We go to bed and get up at different times, read and do crosswords in bed, and are up several times in the night so a double bed would be torture.
I do seriously miss the dinette and wish there were a way to have a bed and a dinette there. But I really hate having to make the dinette into a bed whenever I want to take a nap or when I’m tired at night. And the 6″ mattress is way to thick for the dinette cushions. So, for us, the permanent dinette bed was the right choice.
I used a full length of plywood for the bed because it was so much easier to make than sewing a fitted cover. All I did was put the mattress on the board, put a mattress cover over it as padding and stapled it to the plywood. Then stapled the upholstery fabric over that.
You can reuse the dinette cushions in the new dinette area in the rear. They will fit perfectly if you make the rear mattress 29″ wide. I used different foam, but the new foam is harder and thicker than I like. So if I were doing it again, I would reuse the dinette cushions back there.
I did put a carpet runner under the dinette bed to keep it from sliding and scratching the fiberglass.
One thing to remember is that the dinette bed is very narrow. If you pull it out from the wall a little at night, it gives you an extra couple of inches of much needed elbow room.
Good luck! 🙂
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Dolly Akers
/ April 1, 2014I would love to have the “how to” design for the coffee table that is attached to the window. Would you be willing to share?
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tinycamper
/ April 4, 2014Dolly, I would be happy to share if I had the pattern, but Rob made it and mailed it to me, so I have no idea how he did it.
I think he may have put how he did it on the Casita Forums in response to someone’s question, but I don’t know what search terms to use to find it.
In an earlier post, I posted photos of how it is put together. https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/underbed-storage-shelf-winterizing-kit/
I do remember Rob saying that getting the angle to attach the shelf was tricky because the Casita wall has a slight inward slant at that point, so it’s not a straight 90 degree angle.
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