🎙️Desk in a Slide, Studio on the Side

Living full-time in an RV means learning to be creative with space. Like, “why-is-there-nothing-behind-this-TV” creative. When we bought our 2023 Newmar SuperStar 4065, it came with bunk beds—because nothing says mobile office like… bunk beds?

We turned the bunk area into a nice desk for me (Chad), which left Ann—who records audiobooks and voice-over work—stuck working at the dinette. And let me tell you, eating where you edit is not the dream.

That’s when we noticed something curious: the TV in the bedroom. Great for watching from bed, sure—but behind it? Wasted space. Glorious, magical, can-we-do-something-with-this wasted space. And that’s when the idea hit: what if we could flip a desk down from that space?

CAD: Cardboard Aided Design

First step: remove the TV. Turns out, Newmar had it mounted on a basic frame. We mocked up our swing-out idea using the finest prototyping method known to humankind—Cardboard Aided Design (CAD). After a trip to the hardware store and a night of sleeping on it, we admitted defeat. Our multi-hinge masterpiece was… not going to hinge the way we wanted.

Enter Plan B: a 55” off-the-shelf swing-arm TV mount that just so happened to be at a Best Buy down the road. We grabbed it and got to work.

Real Mounts for Unreal Walls

Mounting a TV in an RV is like trying to hang drywall on a pool noodle. We couldn’t trust the factory wall framing, so we built our own support structure inside the slide-out to hold everything securely. And wouldn’t you know it—it worked! The TV now swings beautifully out of the way and right back into place. Even the soundbar tags along for the ride.

Let’s Talk Desks

With the TV swinging, we tackled the fold-down desk. A few quick measurements and some decisive saw blade action later, we had a work surface that folds down using a piano hinge and tucks away like it was meant to be there all along. A little edge banding made it look clean, and voilà—workspace secured.

And Now… The Studio

Ann’s not just answering emails—she’s recording audiobooks and voiceovers. That meant we needed more than a cute desk—we needed a studio. First came the mic: highly directional, perfect for noisy RV parks or nearby barking dogs. Then we added stick-on felt panels to the walls for sound dampening, and the pièce de résistance: an acoustic blanket that hangs from ceiling-mounted rails and encloses the space like a cozy cocoon of quiet.

Bonus Round: The Chair

For now, Ann’s using a padded folding chair that tucks neatly under the bed when not in use. Is it perfect? No. Are we on the hunt for something better? Always. But hey, it works.

Final Verdict?

Ann now has a dedicated desk and studio space—hidden behind a swinging TV and foldable wall. It’s quiet, functional, and 100% hers. And best of all, it proves (once again) that full-time RV life doesn’t mean sacrificing function—it just means getting creative.

We love it. Ann loves it. And the dinette? It’s finally just for dinner again. Well, mostly.