The Secret To Creating Mobile Homes That Look Like Houses

When you think of mobile homes, you may think of overcrowded trailer parks and the poverty-stricken. However, mobile homes of the 21st century bare little to no resemblance to their trailer park ancestors.They can be purchased at affordable prices and with some stylish additions, your mobile home can look like any other house on the market. Here because you own a mobile home or you’re thinking of purchasing one? Read on to discover the secret to creating mobile homes that look like houses.

Infrastructure

Making a few infrastructural changes can go a long way in making your mobile home appear more like a house. These can be minor construction projects such as:

• Installing new doors (interior and exterior): Whether you buy lower end or luxury model mobile homes, the standard interior doors are cheap hollow core door. In cheaper models, exterior doors are usually aluminum while more expensive models are made of steel. Upgrading you interior doors will change the whole aesthetic of your interior. Upgrading your exterior doors will allow you to increase security by adding peepholes and deadbolts.
• Installing new windows: The standard windows that come with mobile homes are lower quality than what might be desired. By upgrading your windows, you can add style and save a few dollars. Just make sure you install energy-efficient windows.

Your infrastructural changes may also include more major construction projects, such as:

• Adding a porch: Constructing a porch as an addition to your mobile home is an excellent way to destroy its mobile home look. When people see a porch, they immediately associate that with a more permanent, traditional residence.
• Installing your home above a basement foundation: This project is only for those with money to spare. You should also plan to reside in the area permanently or at least for a considerable amount of time. Alterations will have to be done to the mobile home to allow access to the basement area, so make sure you follow HUD guidelines.
• Higher-pitched roof: Increasing the pitch of your roof to at least 4 feet will make it look less like a mobile home. There are also practical benefits as rain and snow slide off easier.

Interior Touches

With your infrastructure now looking more ‘house-like’, what are some interior touches you can add to polish off the look? Some of the following can get you started on the right track:

• Install crown molding and trim: These are not features you often find in mobile homes. Since they are pricey and time-consuming to install, you will usually only find them in higher-end mobile home models. As a budget project, this is something you can try out yourself.
• Replacing fixtures: Cabinet door handles, light fixtures, faucets, etc. that come with a mobile home are standard. Replacing them with ones that are more your style can add a feeling of luxury to your home. Especially if you have invested in larger projects such as raising the pitch of the ceiling.
• Replacing blinds with curtains: This is a simple way to shake off the “manufactured” feel and add texture to your interior design. Additionally, if you’ve replaced your old windows, it’s a great way to highlight your lovely new windows.
• Replacing kitchen countertops: The plastic countertops that come with your mobile home are exactly what one would expect to find. Choose a material that is more your style and can fit your budget. They don’t have to be marble, just a material you like.
• Replace bathroom sinks, tubs and showers: This project could end up being a little pricey to execute. While the plastic sinks, tubs, and showers that come with mobile homes are durable, they don’t have the aesthetically pleasing look of those found in a stick built home.

Exterior Touches

Some small, inexpensive exterior touches can change how your mobile home looks to visitors. Some of these changes include:

• Painting your exterior walls: Just like a house, adding a coat of paint can go a long way to freshening up a building. A neutral color such as white, grey, or light brown will provide a nice background for colored-trim around windows and doors.
• Add new trim around windows and doors: Bright trim around the windows, that contrasts your exterior wall color, can add a very cozy and sophisticated charm to your mobile home.
• Install awnings: Awnings add an element of domestic whimsy to design. They’re also practical as they help to keep your home cool. If you have a garden, one way to choose an awning color is to pick a color from one of the flowers in the garden.
• Install shutters: This is another opportunity to add a design element that’s also practical. Storm shutters are meant to protect your windows against hurricanes, storm force winds, etc. Check out Home Advisor to learn about the different types of storm shutters and their average cost.
• Install skirting: While you can get lots of option in vinyl, consider other materials that are suitable for your tastes and your pocket. The skirting adds structure to your exterior design and, regardless of what material you choose to use, also adds texture.

Landscaping

The design of the land surrounding your mobile home is just as important as the design of the mobile home itself. Planting flower beds and shrubs on the land surrounding your mobile home can transform your home from a simple mobile home to a cozy cottage.

What is the secret to creating mobile homes that look like houses?

The real key to making mobile homes that look like houses is customization. When people think of mobile homes, they think of mass-produced houses. However, by tweaking the standard structure to fit your needs and tastes, you can transform your mobile home to look more like a stick built house.

Do you want to make your mobile home that looks like a house, become one legally? Check out our previous blog post about converting a mobile home to a house.