JOIN THE LIST

ONLINE INCOME SIGNUP

Follow us

Our Schoolbus Conversion aka "Skoolie" Layout

Our Schoolbus Conversion aka "Skoolie" Layout

The Mayes Team • Jan 11, 2018

When we initially discovered the idea of converting a school bus into a home and I went into research mode every bus I found had a center aisle floor plan. every.single.one.

I was NOT a fan of people walking in the door of our bus and seeing our bedroom so originally our plan was to put up a door but I just wasn't a fan of that idea. And then I found this image on Instagram @busnbreakfast.

And suddenly the possibilities for our bus were endless!! I went to work on a layout that would work for our family and here were some of our requirements:

  • Not being able to see the bedroom from the front door
  • A door to separate the living/kitchen area from the kids
  • A door to separate the kids area from our bedroom
  • An open plan kitchen and living area
  • A mini bathtub to bathe the baby
  • As much storage space as possible
  • Being able to eat together around a table
I pinned like a maniac and went to work trying to put together a layout that fulfilled all of our needs. You can see the board here.

And here is what we came up with:

Things didn't exactly get built to this plan but here is how each section breaks down:

Living Room
Walking in the door we have shoe storage, this has been such a blessing and has helped us to keep the bus organized. Next was the couches. Having 6 people on the bus meant that seating was IMPORTANT, originally we had one couch longer than the other but when there were some space lost in the bus (more about that later) we ended up having to shrink one of the couches. The couches come together to make a bed (a little smaller than a full) and there is storage on the inside.

Kitchen
The kitchen was probably where I spent the most time, it was such a hard balance between counter space, fridge/freezer space and storage and took FOREVER to figure out. Getting an under counter fridge/freezer was a GAME CHANGER. We willingly sacrificed space in the fridge for more counter space and we wouldn't change it for a second!

Dining
This has been the most difficult problem to solve and has caused the most frustration. I thought we had found the perfect solution having a flip up table that we could all sit around but we lost space inside the bus during the build and it has been an epic fail. We then tried a center table that we can sit at the couches and eat, it was also a fail. Our current solution is eating dinner outside at our patio table and we are loving the weather, obviously this is a fare-weather solution and we are working on something for the long-term. We will be following up with a "things we would change" post and this is 2nd on the list.

Bathroom
It was important to me that the bathroom was one area and not split up between two places (which is common for center aisle skoolies). Also, that we could bathe the baby in a mini RV tub. It all fit together pretty well until there were some changes made in the build that increased the size of the bathroom and decreased size in the living/kitchen/aisle space. If I could redo ANY part of the bus it would be the bathroom and is #1 on the "things we would change" list. We do love the amount of storage we have.

Kids Area
We decided to have the kids bunk area in the traditional center aisle way so that they could fit over the wheel wells...I had a grand idea of a four bunk corner system but there was just no way to make it work. We tried to balance size of bunk and center aisle space so they don't have normal twin size beds, but they are comfortable. We also included a hanging closet in their area because we knew that Gabriel and I would need some place to hang up clothes.

Our Bedroom
It was a struggle to figure out the best way to plan the bedroom and it changed probably 20 times throughout the build process. Originally we wanted there to be space to walk around the bed but when walls were put up and the back window was sealed in we lost a few inches which in a tiny space make a HUGE impact...every inch counts! We also downsized to a full bed which actually hasn't been as bad as we thought it would be! Because we have a rear engine, our bed sits up pretty high so we have to climb into it and we put some storage over head. We went back and forth on whether the bed should run horizontal or vertical and we went with vertical so that no one would have to climb over each other the get in and out of bed. I'm happy we did that. Then we took advantage of the space on either side of the bed so that we could have extra storage. Our bedroom has so much storage we haven't even used all of it!

As we mentioned earlier, there is a post coming that will go over the major things we would change now that we live on the bus...stay tuned!

  SHARE US ON:

PREVIOUS POSTS

By Debbie Mayes 18 Oct, 2023
Today I wanted to share a deeply personal part of my journey to clearer skin, higher energy levels, and a happier gut. It wasn't an overnight transformation, but rather a tale of exploration, trial, and ultimately, success. Let me take you along this journey, sharing not just the products, but the struggles, insecurities, and victories that came with them.
Neutral Living Room with Cozy Textiles and Modern Decor
By Debbie Mayes 01 Oct, 2023
Welcome, friends to the start of an exciting journey towards creating a modern minimalist haven infused with warmth and style. In this first part of our series, we'll unravel the power of neutral colors in transforming your living space into a cozy, serene retreat.
By Debbie Mayes 01 Feb, 2022
The new year is the perfect time for a fresh start with your home. Whether you're doing a complete overhaul or revamping your place for the new year, you must have a plan in place before you start. A plan will help you stay organized and ensure everything is done well and in good time. Here are eight things to consider when renovating your home:
Gabriel Mayes sits on a motorcycle and smiles about the best time to post on Instagram.
By The Mayes Team 21 Apr, 2021
When is the best time to post on Instagram? Every audience is different. Take these steps to find the best time to post on Instagram for your business.
MORE POSTS →
Share by: