I moved back home to WV last year and slowly started remodeling the 1978 single wide mobile home along with the detached single car garage on the property. I’m updating the mobile home because I now live here full-time but the garage is getting turned into tiny studio apartment so I can rent it out on Airbnb. This property is only 4 miles from the New River Gorge Bridge and whitewater rafting brings in a lot of tourists.
Naturally, I’ve been looking for mobile home and garage makeover ideas and thought I’d share some of my favorites with you.
The Property
This property, aka Mobile Home Living’s headquarters, is about 4 miles from the beautiful New River Gorge Bridge and the annual Bridge Day where thousands of people gather every year to watch a bunch of people jump off it.
The bridge and the wonderful whitewater rafting on the New River bring a ton of tourists here every year so I’m turning the garage into a small studio that I can rent on AirBnB.
The Garage is Full of Potential
I’m a bit obsessed with before and after remodel reveals on Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok. Naturally, I’ve been saving photos of my favorite garage makeovers so you can get an idea of what I’m going for.
This little house is on VRBO and I love it!
I’m hoping to have a art studio slash AirBnB rental or yoga den, or even a man cave. Not too fancy but not too cold either. West Virginia Coal and it’s beautiful mountains is the theme I’m using for the mobile home so it makes sense to use it for the garage makeover as well.
Related: I painted my mobile home siding black last year and here’s what I learned.
I’ve gathered some ideas and tips for a great garage makeover along with some ideas that can also work for a mobile or manufactured home too.
1. Choose the Main Function First
Whether you’re renovating your old garage or a building a new one, it’s important to know how it’s going to be used. Once the function is determined you’ll need to figure out the most optimal floor plan and storage solution for it.
Installing cabinets, for example, is a convenient way to use the space along the walls to store things while giving your garage a uniform look. Likewise, you could install a tabletop above the cabinets so that you have enough surface area to work on if you’re using the garage as a workshop.
Organizing your workshop goes further than installing cabinets, though. Outdoor enthusiasts, you could put up a bike rack to keep your bikes out of the way or holders for your rods to keep them safe.
Related: 10 Cool Retro Trailers You Can Rent on Airbnb
2. Choose the right materials for your
The garage floor is often neglected and ignored, but it can actually make a significant difference in the appearance of your garage and how it functions. Redoing the floor with a coat of paint or<a href="https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/polyaspartic-garage-floor-coating/"> polyaspartic garage floor coating</a> could give it a whole new look as well as make it a lot easier to maintain.
In addition to polyaspartic flooring, you could also use PVC floor tiles. These tiles are a super convenient option. They’re attractive and easy to install, simply interlocking when placed together. This rules out the need for mortar or adhesives when it comes to installing your floor. In both cases, maintenance will be quite easy.
If you’re building a new garage, there are so many ways you can design your custom garage to optimise storage. You can learn more about how you can design a new garage, here!
Watch the video of this great garage makeover on YouTube here.
3. Install the best storage system you can
A single car garage is pretty much the same width as a 1978 single wide but without the length so space is gonna be tough. Installing a slatwall storage system is a great way to use this space. Slatwall storage systems can be used for a variety of items. From latching your bikes to the wall to a convenient place to hang your garden tools, it’ll open up the doors to keep a variety of items off the garage floor, helping you optimise your floor space.
You could take it one step further and create a whole system to hang up all of your tools, such as your screwdrivers, spanners, and some of your power tools. This will ensure that they always have a safe place to be kept, and you’ll never lose them.
https://youtube.com/shorts/QtACa6pJk_I?si=WHFNf0qTf6wD-NdG
Another area in the garage that’s often under-utilised is the roof or ceiling space. Some garages have an open ceiling, and only the roof rafter is visible. This kind of roofing design is perfect for a storage mezzanine. If you have items like old appliance boxes that you’re keeping for the warranty or the camping stuff that you don’t often use, installing them in a mezzanine is a great way to keep them out of the way and safely stored until you need them.
Maybe a mezzanine isn’t something you’d like. We’ve seen some pretty amazing custom jobs. For example, some homeowners have designed a rail system for plastic boxes that slide onto it attached to the ceiling. Whenever they need something, they just slide the box off the rail, get what they need and slide it on again. So convenient.
Upgrade your garage door
What’s one of the first things you notice when you pull up to a house? It’s either the beautiful garden and driveway, the front door into the house, or the garage door. If you’re looking for a great way to improve your garage’s aesthetic, then installing a new door that fits the style you’re going for might be ideal.
It doesn’t make much sense to invest so much money in improving the interior of the garage while leaving the exterior looking outdated. So, consider what type of garage door would create a welcoming atmosphere in your home and increase its curb appeal.
Final Thoughts
A garage can be converted into a studio apartment at a relatively low cost. If you can do most of the work yourself you can save a ton of money. A well planned garage makeover can turn ugh into a convenient, functional, and aesthetically pleasing money maker and that’s always a plus.
Have you done a DIY garage makeover or something similar? I’d love to see it – please add your images in the comments below, tag us on social media, or use our contact form to get in touch.
As always, thank you for stopping by!