by Jemma Pearson Get some extra living space at home with a permanent caravan in the backyard.

If your home office paperwork is cluttering the kitchen bench, move it to the caravan. Vans make great studies or home offices. They also work well as guest accommodation for extended family or mates, or for the teenage kids as a retreat.

The type of van you buy is critical to the success of the project, inside and out. If you have the time and energy to carry out a refurbishment, it’s worth tracking down an old caravan that has good bones and a great shape, but has seen better days. There are plenty of caravan retailers selling secondhand vans, and original or refurbished retro and vintage vans can be bought online. You can strip out your caravan and give it a complete refurbishment, either DIY or get a caravan repair place to help you. A repairer can update and replace the kitchen, benchtops, upholstery, bathrooms, cupboards and even walls, or you can source your own cabinetry and furniture to make the interior completely unique.

Some newer caravans don’t have the character of the older varieties and if you are planning to gut the van it might be more cost-effective to buy a cheap used one. But if you can afford it, nothing looks cooler than the classic American Airstream trailer. These aren’t easily bought in Australia – you’ll probably have to buy one from the US and ship it over. Which will cost you. Visit the website airstreamtrailers.com – it’s a good place to start.

Once you’ve chosen a van you’ll need to prepare your spot for it. Getting a builder in to lay a slab for the caravan to sit on is a good idea. It will give it a permanence and offer level ground for your van and any outdoor furniture you have around it. If you want to run electricity to the van and get it plumbed in, you’ll need to get some trades in to help. Most vans get power from a 15-amp powerpoint. If you don’t have one of these installed at home, a licensed electrician can fit one for you. And a plumber can connect the caravan to running water and sewerage.

Vans make great studies or home offices. They also work well as guest accommodation for extended family or mates, or for the teenage kids as a retreat

As far as council regulations on the Sunshine Coast go, a Sunshine Coast Council spokesman tells MPP, “A caravan is not deemed to be a permanent structure, therefore would not be described as a building under the Building Act and would thus not require council approval.” Still, if you are making other changes to your property to prepare it for the caravan, it’s a good idea to check with the council to find out if you need permission.

If you’re planning to use your van as an office, fit it out with a large desk, a comfy chair, some bookshelves and a bar fridge. For a teenage retreat, keep it simple with a couple of beanbags, a TV and a bench seat with storage. For guest accommodation, a comfy mattress on the bed is a must, and a bar fridge, some sturdy seating and ambient lighting will make it warm and inviting.

But it’s how you style in on the outside that will dictate how well your caravan settles in to its new home and works against your existing abode. Choose a simple outdoor table and two chairs that match your home’s outdoor furniture and pop it by the caravan’s door. Underneath the caravan’s window, place a few pots filled with the same flowers that grow in your front garden. Choose the same stone pavers that surround the pool for the path from your back deck to the caravan’s front door. Plant a creeper vine and a tropical species or two by the wheels and you’re done.