When in doubt, plank it out
I considered tons of options when building out the interior of my van. What was easy, quick, cheap? What looked the best, would it be expensive? Yada yada yada. I ultimately landed on cedar planks. Best decision I made! It made my 6 month van trip go from living in a small jail cell, to having my own tiny log cabin. It made ALL the difference and I loved being inside my van. It’s a Ford Transit Connect, so it’s SMALL! It made it that much more important that I enjoy the interior. I spent most of my time outside but enjoying the inside of your van is crucial to happy van living. I thought this was possibly only the case because my van was little. But other Van’s of all sizes continue to look the best when the roof (at bare minimum) is made of real wood planks. It changes the entire look of the van. IMO planks are the best way to go if you want to fall in love with the inside of your van.