Don’t believe the naysayers. Manufactured homes can be remodeled and revitalized just like conventional homes. If you have the desire and creativity, you can remodel and turn it into the mobile home of your dreams. Doing so will allow you to give a generic and sterile mobile home personality, and could increase its value and improve your Texas mobile home insurance rates. Here are nine ways to revamp the inside of your mobile home.
Walls
Revamping the walls is one of the fastest ways to transform a room in your mobile home. After sanding and priming paneled walls, paint with the color of your choice or wallpaper them. If you prefer a smooth surface, cover old walls with new Sheetrock or beadboard. Molding near the floor and ceiling adds a finishing touch.
Floors
Carpet, laminate, vinyl plank, hardwood or tile can be used in a mobile home to create warmth and character. Since not all manufactured homes have the same subfloor and construction, homeowners should consult an expert to determine which type of flooring is best.
Lighting
Fresh lighting schemes can give life to the dullest rooms. Freestanding lights are lovely, but they also take up space. Most mobile homes aren’t constructed to handle recessed lighting, so wall-mounted lights are an alternative. Sleek sconces are affordable and readily available at most home-improvement stores.
Appliances
Nothing improves the look of a kitchen like new appliances. Modern styles such as the French door refrigerator and stainless finishes are available in a variety of sizes to fit your mobile home’s specifications.
Countertops
From high-end granite to butcher block to basic laminate, your mobile home can have the countertops you want. It all depends on your budget and imagination; simply remove the old countertops and replace with the new ones. A tile or metal backsplash will complete the look.
Hardware and Sinks
Hardware updates put the finishing touches on any remodeling project. Purchase new knobs or simply refinish the old with a spray paint made to look like hammered steel. Install new or refinished toilet-paper holders, towel racks, faucets, mirrors and other fixtures to match your taste. New, shallower sinks will allow for more storage space under the cabinet while adding a fresh look.
Cabinets
If ripping out and replacing perfectly good cabinets seems like a waste of money, you can always transform the old ones. The cabinets are most likely made of wood product wrapped in vinyl, but the doors might be wood. Paint with a bonding primer and then add the paint color of your choice. Or, for a beach or country look, reface cabinet ends with beadboard and paint.
Doors
If it is within your budget, replace older looking, flat-faced doors with multi-panel doors for a more modern feel. Otherwise you can update old doors by lightly sanding them and painting them with a primer and your color of choice. Be sure to update knobs and hinges too.
Windows
Pretty curtains, blinds and shutters can transform a room. Choose fabrics that accent your furniture and hang them with decorative rods. If you have attractive older curtain rods, update them with a coat of metallic spray paint.
Now that your mobile home looks like your dream home, don’t forget to talk to your Texas mobile home insurance agent about updating your policy.