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Tell a keen DIYer that something’s impossible and then come back in a week. They will have done it; that’s just how these people work. If there’s a uniform way of doing something, ask a creative friend to rethink it, and they will. It’ll be brighter, bolder, and way more fun that however everyone else is doing that said thing. Now, if you’ve got a DIYer with a keen creative side, as is usually the case, crazy and wonderful things can happen, and perhaps nothing embodies this truth better than the folk who have turned old yellow school buses into beautiful and usually quite comfortable, borderline luxurious, living arrangements.

Not only are houses expensive, but they can be boring and restrictive for some folk too. If you’re the type of person who likes to travel around, then a fixed address might not appeal as much as it does to the rest of the world. In this instance an RV might appeal, but RVs and campervans can sometimes be ludicrously expensive. Sure, cheap RVs are out there, but the chances are the decor will be out of date and just past its best. Fortunately, there are always alternative solutions on hand, and that brings us to the big old yellow buses.

Not only do these buses allow their owners to travel, but they also represent the perfect blank canvas, upon which they can design and build their own dream home. For some, this is way more tempting than simply buying a pre-existing home-on-wheels and looking over some school bus conversions which have been completed, it’s easy to see why.

The trend is nothing new, in fact, it’s so popular that some businesses which specialize in bus sales are even marketing old yellow school buses directly to DIYers who are after an exciting camper project. The engines in these old school buses are perfect for covering long distances without needing too much in the way of TLC and maintenance, so it’s not just the actual size and body of the bus that makes them so appealing.

However, that definitely is the main attraction. The construction of an old school bus is so simple, just rip out the rows of seats and you’ll be left with a spacious area, tall enough to stand up in, and completely surrounded by already installed and functional windows. Already, that saves you a lot of bother and expense. The flat floors are perfect for installing kitchen cupboards, tables, bed frames, and whatever else your dream build may need. Plus, if you’re clever with how things are positioned, you may even be able to use the pre-existing mounting points which the seats were bolted down into. Oh, and the remotely controlled doors are a neat trick too and makes access at both ends of your new home a breeze.

The fun part comes in how these DIYers are able to maximize the use of the space, and checking out various builds shows that you can be as creative or as straight-forward as you like when it comes to your own unique build.

One creative by the name of Sarah Calautti had to find a base vehicle big enough to accommodate her silver smithing business, and an old yellow school bus provided her with just that. A small workbench is neatly packaged in, while essential tools hang neatly above, providing Sarah with exactly what she needs to work while on the move. Elsewhere in her bus is a vintage 1970s Coleman stove, sizeable fridge-freezer, and even a custom gel-fuel fireplace. Sarah is the perfect example of why creative DIYers love school bus conversions, as a typical RV just wouldn’t be able to fit so neatly around her work and go-anywhere lifestyle. Oh, and the bus only cost her $8,500 back in 2022. These buses are so cheap, and if you’re able to do the conversion work yourself like Sarah, then even better.

Jonathon — a skateboarder who now spends his life on the road — also transformed an old school bus into a beautiful, functional home. A 20-inch roof lift is perhaps the most inspiring modification, allowing for more room inside for moving about and storage. Plus, it helps the bus to feel more like a home, giving Jonathon room to hang artwork on the now extended walls. A pop-up TV, full-size fridge, queen-size bed, and showering facilities help the converted school bus to feel more like a blessing than an inconvenience, too. 

These are just two quick examples of creative DIYers who have not just converted an old bus for a fun summer project, but to live in full-time. There are countless more examples of folk who have done similar, and these old buses are in no short supply either.