With the new year right around the corner, you might be feeling the need for a fresh look. Out with the old, in with the new. It’s time to grab your paintbrush! Painting the exterior and interior of your home can make it look brand new inside and out. Not only will a good coat of paint cover up damages, it gives you a reason to change your mobile home colors.
A QUICK NOTE ON WALLS
Just be aware that not all mobile homes have the same type of walls. Some wall types cannot be painted as effectively so consult your local paint store before buying paint.
For example, faux wood paneling is easier to paint while vinyl on gypsum walls are trickier. But, no matter what kind of wall it is, it’s still doable!
DECIDE WHAT NEEDS TO BE PAINTED
Your house can be primarily divided into its exterior and interior. You can decide to paint only one or to redo both.
Both the exterior and interior of your home have different parts that are made from various materials, for example, windowsills. Let’s look at some other common components you should consider beforehand:
EXTERIOR
Walls.
Window panes and window sills.
Doors. This is very optional. But it’s usually a good idea to update your doors paint every once in a while.
Skirting and trim.
Beams and support structures.
Porch.
Stairs and banisters.
Eaves.
Anything that is attached to the outside of your house like gutters could also be painted or treated.
INTERIOR
Walls.
Window panes. If you paint them on the outside it’s a good idea to match the inside as well.
Skirting and trim.
Doors.
Door frames
Ceiling.
These parts might need to be treated differently from one another. You probably need a couple of smaller paintbrushes for the windows and trimming.
You can paint everything the same color but you’ll get a more stunning effect if you paint the window panes, for instance, in a different color or shade.
WHAT TYPE OF PAINT TO CHOOSE FOR THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME?
Different primers and paint are recommended for different types mobile home walls. Manufacturers usually make their recommendations available. Try to find them if you can.
PRIMERS
Mobile home walls typically need a primer coat to help the top coat of paint bond to the wall. Primers normally come in white but some hardware and paint shops will be willing to add some color to the primer so that it almost matches the top coat you are going to use. This can help you cover up darker colors. Buy enough paint so you can apply more than one coat. Painting several light coats will cover up the paint underneath and give you a smoother finish on your walls.
PAINTS
For the exterior of your home, it’s always good if you can find a weather-resistant paint that will help your paint job to last a bit longer. You can choose between flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Flat is matte and is less reflective than the other finishes. Eggshell has a bit more sheen. For mobile home walls, paint with less gloss seems to adhere better. The advantage of paint with more gloss is that they can be cleaned or wiped down more easily but, at the same time, stains or marks show more clearly on them.
You might be tempted to buy cheaper paints but, if you can, rather opt for the more expensive and better quality paint. This is especially important for the outside of your home. Luckily, you don’t paint your home, especially the exterior, that often. By buying higher quality paints you can extend this period even further. Your paint will be less likely to start peeling off, saving you money in the long run.
WHAT TYPE OF PAINT TO CHOOSE FOR THE INTERIOR?
Your interior walls should also be primed before they are painted. Again, shop smart by looking for better quality paints.
Like the outside, you need to decide whether you want to use paint with gloss finishes or not. Unlike the exterior, different walls and different parts of the interior will probably be painted with different finishes. Ceilings are, for example, mostly painted with a flat finish.
Although paints with less gloss usually work better for manufactured home walls, for the interior you will probably want something with a bit more sheen. Eggshell usually doesn’t have too much gloss but it makes cleaning easier.
Paint with a bit of gloss or shine can often handle repeated cleaning and washing better. That is why bathrooms are also usually painted with a slight sheen. This helps to prevent it being damaged by water.
Children’s rooms should also be painted in something with a bit more gloss.
If you are painting the trim inside your home the same color as the walls, you can add variation by painting them in different finishes.
BUYING YOUR PAINT
A lot of times you can create the perfect color or effect by mixing paint. This can work for your interior and exterior. Having your paint shop mix them for you will give you better results. This will make sure that they are mixed evenly.
Also, remember that you will probably not be able to get the exact same color by mixing a second time around. It might be a bit darker or lighter or just different. So, make sure you buy enough the first time around and you might want to buy extra for touch-ups.
PICKING YOUR COLOR PALETTE
EXTERIOR COLOR COMBINATIONS
It’s a good idea to stay away from painting the outside of your home in darker colors. Black and dark colors absorb sunlight and heat. This means they can make your home feel too hot inside. These shades can also make your house look smaller than it actually is.
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
If you want your house to stand out, look at some bright colors. Bright paint colors can make any home more fun. Great colors to consider are blue, purple, yellow and red. White trim, skirting and railings on colored walls can make it all stand out even more. White window sills or panes work well with this.
If this is too much for you a pop of color like on your front door can do the trick. Here are some great examples of how this can look. Additionally, if you decide to paint your front door with a bright color you can paint your windows to match. This is great with more neutral walls.
SUBTLE AND WELCOMING
Lighter shades are always very popular for the outside of homes. These colors can help to keep your house cool inside. There are a lot of different shades that can create this effect. Avoid pure white which can be difficult to maintain and doesn’t always look equally appealing. A great alternative to this is pastel colors. Baby blue, mint green and soft pink can all be very attractive and can help your home feel welcoming. This will look beautiful with white trimming.
Different shades of cream, tan and beige can be beautiful in their simplicity. These can be very sophisticated and modern. If you love your garden and spend much time cultivating it, having a light-colored home can make it appear more striking.
BE PLAYFUL AND BE CREATIVE.
Before actually painting your exterior explore with different color combinations and don’t be too afraid to try something different. In the end, whatever color you pick is up to you! It should reflect your style and taste and help to create the vision that you want.
INTERIOR COLOR COMBINATIONS
There are two main ways to organize the decoration of the interior of your home. With the first, you can work out a color palette that ties together your whole home. Otherwise, you can decide to decorate each room in its own way.
CONSISTENT STYLE
If you want to extend one style throughout your house you can either paint all your rooms the same color or find a combination that works together. If you decide to do this, you should pick a color that you really like and that can work in different rooms.
A lighter color palette can easily work for more than one room. Beige, cream, and tan are examples of this. Grey is also popular nowadays. These neutral shades look good with a range of decor options.
Here is some more information on choosing a color palette for your whole house.
Just be careful that this color scheme doesn’t become too monotonous. So, don’t be afraid to spice it up a little. You can do this by adding unique features to each space.
UNIQUELY DIFFERENT ROOMS
If you want each room to have a completely different feel, then why not paint them different colors? Each room in your home has its own purpose and paint colors can help you emphasize this.
Colors can have an effect on your overall mood. This is especially important inside your home. Before you decide on a color, think of the effect that it will have on you. If red makes you feel energized or agitated, for instance, you probably do not want to paint your bedroom red. Red might then work better for your living room. Blue and green on the other hand usually help you to feel calm and restful so they are better choices for a bedroom.
Look at this for examples of how different colors can create a soothing effect in different rooms of your home.
Another great idea is to let different members of the household choose the paint for their own bedroom, bathroom or workspace. So, if your daughter loves yellow, help her to find a shade of yellow that will help to make her bedroom her own. This will make the room feel all the more special. It will also help to make sure that everyone is on board with the project.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Before you pick a color, you should decide whether you want your paint to match your interior decor or whether you are going to adapt your decor to match the paint color. The paint on your interior walls has a big influence on the overall atmosphere of your home.
As with the exterior of your house, it’s up to you whether you want to paint the trimming in different colors than the walls. Painting it white is usually a good option and it usually works best to paint all the trim pieces the same color.
PANELING: ALTERNATIVE TO PAINT
It might not be possible to only paint the walls of your mobile home. The paneling of your walls might be damaged and need to be repaired or even replaced. The fact that these panels can be replaced are unique to mobile homes. If you want to update your house’s appearance but do not want to paint it you can also choose to install new panels.
Replacing a mobile home’s paneling will probably cost you more than painting will. The material is more expensive and it is more likely that you will need to get help from experts. With some research and experience, you could be able to do it yourself. This will allow you to save some money.
You can look at these examples of different materials with which you can cover the walls in your mobile home. There are some really attractive panels available. They can come in different textures and can have different patterns or shapes. A good option to look at is wood or faux wood paneling.
UPDATE YOUR MOBILE HOME COLORS FOR A FRESH LOOK!
We hope that this mobile home colors guide will help you create a home that feels like your own! Color is arguably the most important aspect when it comes to any kind of home redesign, so take your time and explore your options before settling on just any old color! While you’re at it, consider adding some texture before you paint. Good luck and happy painting!
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