Creating Cozy Spaces in Your Mobile Home Without Permanent Changes

Ready to turn your mobile home into a cozy space?

Decorating a mobile home feels like a series of “can’t dos.” You want to make it feel like home but drilling holes in walls and painting seems like your only option.

Don’t fret.

There are easy ways to make even a mobile home feel cozy and lived-in. Design tricks that make the space look styled by an interior decorator when really… you just followed this guide.

Let’s dig into how to decorate a mobile home minus permanent changes.

Table of contents

• Why Decorating A Mobile Home Is Unique
• Bright Idea! Invest In Area Rugs & Soft Textiles
• Try Layering Your Rugs
• How To Keep Your Space Looking Spick-And-Span

Why Decorating A Mobile Home Is Unique

Decorating a mobile home is different for several reasons:

Tiny space options. Mobile homes simply don’t have the room many people are used to decorating.

Rules against alterations. Most mobile home leases prohibit changes to the interior.

Misfit furniture. Ready-to-move furniture tends to not fit well in mobile home spaces.

…

Did you know that around 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes or mobile homes? That’s a lot of folks who could use your advice on how to decorate a mobile home.

Mobile homeowners want to add personality to their digs without damaging anything. The key is focusing on decor that you can remove later. Things that have a major visual impact. And furniture that you can take with you to your next place.

Bright Idea! Invest In Area Rugs & Soft Textiles

Area rugs are my favourite hack for decorating a mobile home.

Here’s why they rock:

Area rugs transform the way a room looks and feels. They add warmth to otherwise paper thin floors. Help define living spaces in a clutter of open floor plans. And add colour/pattern to a room without having to paint walls.

I’m partial to Oriental and Persian rugs. They add a sense of luxury that synthetic rugs can’t match. But more on that later.

Area rugs are big investments. Make sure you’re maintaining them properly to keep them looking good year after year.

Professional Persian rug cleaning services are able to expand the life of your favourite rug by decades. The last thing you want to do is toss out an antique rug because you didn’t properly maintain it.

Your residential space makes up 67.3% of the rug market. That means when people buy rugs they’re probably going for them for their home just like yours. Smart folks know that area rugs can change the way a space looks and feels.

Size Matters

Rug placement and sizing can make or break a space.

Too small and it looks like you didn’t try. Too big and it overpowers the room.

Here are a few examples to keep in mind:

In living rooms, ensure all seating furniture has at least the front leg resting on a rug. In dining rooms, make sure there is enough space for chairs to move in and out without catching on rug’s edge.

For bedrooms, aim to have rugs extend about 18 inches on each side of the bed frame. Nothing feels better than stepping onto a soft rug in bare feet.

Try Layering Your Rugs

Rug layering is a neat trick used by interior professionals.

Simply place a larger neutral rug down as your base. Add a smaller statement rug on top of it. This adds depth and visual interest to your space without having to glue it there.

Benefits of rug layering:

• You’re protecting your larger bottom rug from the wear & tear of high traffic.
• Easily change the style of your space by swapping out the top rug.
• It just looks dang expensive.
• You can do this in every room of your mobile home. Bedrooms. Living room. Dining room. You name it.

Mix up textures to take this technique to the next level. Lay a flat-weave rug down with a fuzzy rug on top. Or jute on top of wool. Contrasting textures create a richer feel to the room.

Add Other Blankets & Soft Textiles To Your Space

Rugs aren’t the only soft things that can help style your mobile home.

Look at things like curtains, throw pillows and blankets.

When hanging curtains, start at the ceiling and pull down wider than your window. This will make your window appear larger. If you can’t drill holes use tension rods.

Mix throw pillow sizes and textures but keep within 3-4 colours. You can easily switch these out with the changing seasons for a fresh update at little cost.

Blankets hung over furniture are always inviting. They’re a great way to add softness and function to a room.

How To Keep Your Space Looking Spick-And-Span

Investing in high-quality rugs means you should maintain them.

Commit to vacuuming your rugs on a regular basis. High traffic areas may need to be vacuumed twice a week. Rugs in low traffic spaces can be longer in between vacuuming.

Rotate your rugs every few months. Moving a rug to a different spot in your home allows for more even distribution of wear. Sun can also fade rugs if they sit in the same place for too long.

Schedule professional cleaning once a year. Most rugs benefit from professional cleaning annually. Heavily trafficked rugs like the Persian and Oriental may need more frequent care. Check with your oriental rug cleaning professionals to find out what’s best for your space.

Spills happen. Act quickly by blotting the spill instead of rubbing it. Rubbing can spread the spill or damage rug fibres.

Have a gentle DIY rug cleaning solution on hand for when accidents occur.

Pro tip: Store Your Off-Season Items Correctly

Storage is at a premium in most mobile homes. Rotate your decor seasonally by storing items correctly.

Use vacuum seal storage bags for off-season textiles. This not only saves you space but protects your fabrics from dust and pests. Make sure to label everything so you know where stuff goes when it’s time to rotate back in.

Once everything is neatly stored. Take the time to wash all fabrics. Dirt and spills left on clothing attract pests. Mildew and mould can set, making them impossible to clean.

Pulling It All Together

Making your mobile home feel cozy doesn’t have to involve permanent changes or expensive renovations.

Invest in a quality rug that can act as the anchor piece for your main living space. Build out from there with layered textiles and well-placed accessories. Maintain your fabrics so they look nice year after year.

Remember, a home is more about how it makes you feel versus what type of foundation it’s built on. Any mobile home can feel like a cozy retreat with the right mentality.

Quick recap of the essentials:

• Always choose area rugs that are correctly sized for each room.
• Layer rugs and textiles for depth and texture.
• Mix different textures to add interest.
• Use tension rods and other removable hanging solutions.
• Vacuum and clean your textiles regularly.
• Rotate your furniture and textiles to avoid uneven wear.