Peace and blessings, gang!

Nikki and Snatcher here! If you’ve been following our journey at Wherever We Land, you know we’ve been working hard to turn our van into a home. We promised you we were going camping soon, but Nikki had one request before we hit the road: storage.

Today, we’re tackling one of the most frustrating parts of a van build—installing a closet against a wall that isn’t straight. If you’ve ever tried to put a square cabinet against a curved van wall, you know the struggle is real! [00:00:08]

The Challenge: The Infamous Van Curve

Most people think you can just buy a cabinet and screw it in. But in a van, the walls slope, they bow, and they have “bumpouts” that get in the way. Our goal was to build a 6-foot tall, 16-inch wide closet that fits snug against the wall and lines up perfectly with our loveseat bench. [00:01:15]

Snatcher’s Pro-Tip: Always measure twice (or three times!) from the floor to the ceiling at different points, because the height in the front of the van isn’t always the same as the back! [00:01:31]

“Finago the Baggo”: Improvising Like a Pro

One of the highlights of this build was what Snatcher calls “finagoing the baggo.” When you don’t have fancy shop tools, you have to get creative:

• Straight Cuts without a Table Saw: Snatcher used a 4-foot straight board as a guide to keep the circular saw on track for those long 6-foot cuts. [00:05:02]
• The “Elephant” Method: We took the wall fit one “chunk” at a time. By cutting notches into the back of the wood, we slowly matched the curve of the van until it was snug. [00:07:07]
• The Screw Dilemma: We realized our pocket screws might poke through the wood. Instead of a trip to the store, we drilled from the outside and planned to use wood putty and Nikki’s painting skills to hide the evidence! [00:11:04]

Safety First (A Note from Nikki)

Gang, I had to get on Snatcher about this one—wear your goggles! [00:04:01] We’re out here building our dream, but we want to keep our eyesight to see it! To God be the glory, we got through the cuts safely, but don’t skip the PPE.

The Results: A “Mansion” on Wheels

When we finally stood the frame up, we couldn’t believe it. It was level [00:15:30], flush with the bench, and even our daughter said it’s starting to look like a mansion! [00:17:41]

Why this Closet Layout Works:

• Space Management: Even with the closet installed, we still have plenty of room to move, prep food, and relax. [00:16:49]
• Flush Design: By lining it up with the bench, the doors will sit even, giving the van a clean, professional look.
• Toilet Storage: It’s even big enough to house a portable toilet if we need it! [00:08:31]

Watch the Full Build Here:

Final Thoughts

We aren’t professional builders. Snatcher always says he doesn’t have experience, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. [00:09:49] We hope this encourages you to get out there and build your own dream, even if your walls are a little crooked!

Drop a comment below: What’s the hardest part of your DIY build? We love reading your encouragement—it keeps us motivated to keep going! [00:17:59]

Remember, God’s got us wherever we land. Heat! Heat! Heat!

— Nikki & Snatcher

Keywords: DIY Van Closet, Budget Van Conversion, Camper Van Storage, Curved Van Wall, Wherever We Land, Van Life DIY, Snatcher and Nikki, How to build van cabinets.