How to Decorate an Older Single-Wide Mobile Home
When you decorate an older single-wide mobile home, you face a few challenges. Besides an update, you will also want to enhance the natural lighting inside the mobile and expand the visual size of the home both inside and out.
![](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/65/142/fotolia_9415695_XS.jpg)
Start with a clean slate by ridding the space of dirt and dust, then approach decorating with efforts to lighten and brighten the space throughout. If you are on a tight budget, you can re-purpose items in your home or purchase inexpensive items from garage sales or resale shops to get your project started.
Things You Will Need
- Power washer
- Detergent
- Underpinning
- Plants
- Paint
- Brushes
- Mirror
- Two-pane windows
- Pleated shades
- Slipcovers
- Accent pillows
- Area rugs
- Indirect lighting
Tip
Choose a color theme for the whole mobile home. A cohesive color theme that you carry from room to room will make the spaces flow naturally and make the single-wide feel more spacious. Control the clutter. Place some of your favorite collectibles on shelves to display but limit all paper clutter and keep everything organized to make your single-wide appear adequate for your needs.
Warning
Check town ordinances before purchasing new underpinning. Some towns forbid some types of underpinning such as brick or stone.
Exterior
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Brighten up siding on your mobile home by using a power washer and soapy detergent to clean off dirt and debris from the exterior of your single-wide. Work your way all the way around the home.
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Update your underpinning. Repair, paint or replace your existing mobile home skirting and make your single-wide look more substantial and modern.
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Plant a curved garden in the front of the mobile to make your single-wide look larger. Add a few bushes and flowering plants to both the front and sides of the mobile to visually expand the size.
![A clean exterior lets visitors know you care about your home.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/25/155/fotolia_9415950_XS.jpg)
![Underpinning or](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/227/10/fotolia_9415673_XS.jpg)
![Plant colorful flowers of various heights to build your outdoor landscaping.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/44/98/fotolia_2350451_XS.jpg)
Interior
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Brighten up your walls with paint to make your single-wide mobile look larger. Use bright whites in the kitchen and paint wood-colored paneling a white or whitewash to visually expand the area.
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Invest in one large mirror to place in a living room space or bedroom to add a focal point, reflect light and make the room feel larger.
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Replace louvered windows with more modern two-pane windows to increase the natural light and modernize an older single-wide.
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Use pleated shades in a light oatmeal color over windows to brighten the interior and give the room a clean appearance.
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Add color to your single-wide by using a neutral-colored slipcover over older furniture and add some colorful occasional pillows on the seating areas for an updated look.
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Define seating areas and add comfort by placing thick area rugs on the floors to create a cozy feel to the space.
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Add indirect lighting wherever you can. Install under-cabinet lights in the kitchen and place table lights throughout the living areas to soften the look of the home at night and create a warm glow throughout.
![A fresh coat of paint can refresh the look of paneling .](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/172/100/fotolia_853495_XS.jpg)
![A large mirror can add depth and style to any room.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/186/245/fotolia_206412_XS.jpg)
![Updating to two-pane windows may be necessary in an older mobile home.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/60/130/fotolia_2950945_XS.jpg)
![Stylish and colorful pillows can brighten your living room.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/146/49/fotolia_591572_XS.jpg)
![Area rugs are a good alternative to installing new wall-to-wall carpeting.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/92/14/fotolia_14222776_XS.jpg)
![Indirect lighting can soften the look of an older-styled living space.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/90/100/fotolia_7102563_XS.jpg)
The Drip Cap
- When you decorate an older single-wide mobile home, you face a few challenges.
- Brighten up siding on your mobile home by using a power washer and soapy detergent to clean off dirt and debris from the exterior of your single-wide.
- Add indirect lighting wherever you can.
- Install under-cabinet lights in the kitchen and place table lights throughout the living areas to soften the look of the home at night and create a warm glow throughout.
References
Resources
Photo Credits
- Camping – Mobilhome image by albillottet from Fotolia.com
- Camping – Mobilhome image by albillottet from Fotolia.com
- Camping – Mobilhome image by albillottet from Fotolia.com
- Camping – Mobilhome image by albillottet from Fotolia.com
- garden image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
- brush in paint image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
- the mirror image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com
- woman walking her horses in snow image by monamakela.com from Fotolia.com
- small pillows, oriental style image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
- Rug image by fotoedgaras from Fotolia.com
- Light Bulb image by Sujit Mahapatra from Fotolia.com
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