Chuck is not a stranger to Mobile Home Living. He’s been kind enough to share his remodeling projects with us over the last few months. First, his Jaw-Dropping Mobile Home Kitchen Upgrade provided inspiration to many of our readers. Next, Chuck wowed us with his Mobile Home Bathroom Remodel. This time he is giving us ideas on making the most out of those small spaces in the mobile home with his guest room update. We love Chuck’s can-do attitude and positivity!
Mobile Home Guest Room Makeover
Name: Chuck
Location: Florida
Make and model of the home: 1985 Palm Harbor
The total cost of project: $1,500.00
The Project: The goal of this room was to create an inviting and comfortable retreat for our guests that was highly functional for us, too. We wanted to give guests enough room to unpack their suitcases. However, we needed enough closet space for all our boxes of Christmas decorations as well as a place to do crafts or sewing projects when needed.
Here’s the room they were working with:
Chuck sketched out his idea on paper and started taking measurements of the space:
Chuck’s Interview
Proudest DIY moment: Designing and building the Murphy bed from scratch and have the first guest comment on the comfort of sleeping (even though I was admittedly a bit worried that the bed would rise back into the wall while they slept…. Just joking!).
The last room in the house is done but now several neighbors would like me to consider building the same in their extra room. We think Chuck’s Crafty Creations is a good name for a business!
Biggest challenge: Attempting to keep the cost of the project under control – we repaired and painted the original paneling and just wallpapered the top portion to add color.
Favorite room in the home: The guest room is near the top of my list of favorite rooms because now we have a nice place for guests to stay.
Chuck made sure the room could handle his adventurous ideas by laying new subfloor down. This kept the bed’s framing straight so the mechanisms would work properly.
Here’s the room in between paint layers. The glue that mobile home builders used to adhere mirrors onto walls has to be the original Gorilla Glue!
Once the paint was dry, Chuck built small closets on both sides of the Murphy bed.
The interior entry door was replaced to match the closet doors.
Here you can see the design of the Murphy Bed (or Chuck Bed). The shelving on both sides, along with the closets create the pocket the bed sets in while in the up position.
Chuck’s design is far more than just a bed. He created a hinged desk that can be lowered easily. You’d never know there was a built-in desk included in the built-in bed! The base of the table (or leg) is trimmed out to match the trim on the bed.
The bed’s ‘feet’ can be used as a shelf in the up position, too. This is such a well-thought-out design! There’s not an inch of wasted space here.
Chuck’s Final Thoughts
Any tips or tricks you learned during the project: If you have a home with good bones you can overcome any problems with some thought and advanced planning. Planning really pays off when unexpected problems pop up and they will.
Always use a good primer before you apply the finished color. And, never ever glue a glass mirror to the paneled walls, that is why they sell hooks and hangers!
If you like Chuck’s decor, you’ll love this hip mobile home.
Making the Most of Small Spaces with a Murphy Bed of Your Own
Did you know that Murphy beds have been around since the late 19th century? An inventor by the name of William Murphy designed the bed to allow him to hide it so that he could transform his one-room apartment from a bedroom to a living room while he was courting his future bride. Murphy beds are a wonderful way to make the most of those small spaces in a mobile home.
You can follow Chuck’s lead and build a Murphy bed from scratch. Or, if you aren’t quite as handy, you can buy one from one of the many retailers that offer them. Although pricier than a traditional bed they are a great choice if you are looking to make the most of those smaller spaces.
Here are a couple of examples of Murphy beds that can be found on Amazon (affiliate links). There are also other stores that offer similar styles.
Have a remodeling project you would like to have featured on Mobile Home Living®? Visit our Get Featured Page to learn how you can be our next feature!
Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living®.
Wonderful idea!