What should I do about this?
by
Tyler S
+17
This room is, the attachment on the side of my mom's mobile home. A family who used to live before us, did a terrible job. Like, ugh! It used to be porch too! We have no extra money to finish it. So, what should I do? I was thinking about organizing.. getting a love seat from goodwill. Different curtains or something. I just want it look nicer and sorry for the mess in this picture. (LOL) Please help! :)
Entry Way from when you get in
Back of entry way
Side, a door to get in.
20 answers
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I think the chairs (I really love the smaller, wood one!) are nice but a loveseat on the smaller side would be good too. Do you have a Restore nearby? They might have something good too although it can be hit or miss. An easy way to change the look would be some paint (if you wanted) on the paneling. Good luck!
Crystal - 29 Rue House
on Sep 26, 2012
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Paint paint paint! Maybe some oops paint from HD Or Lowes? We painted every inch of paneling in our MH...be sure to use primer first tho, after a good scrub. Patio furniture is very comfortable..and reasonable compared to furniture. tho if you have Craig's list you might get something decent for little.(I know we sacrificed our very good stuff for very little) But I really think some patio/lawn furniture is comfortable, good looking, and cheap to reasonable. we have a patio chair in our entry way , comfy. Others have used paint drop cloths for curtains, very cheap !I think someone said a big cloth for like 10 dollars? Not sure, but it was very little $. Tyler, sounds like you have a lotof projects started? Did you just move into this place or are you just getting the bug to redo? ps, I dont know about your Goodwill, but the stuff at our Goodwill I woudn't give to my dog , or in my case , cat! ick! Try Craig's list, explain, and make offers.
Bernice H
on Sep 27, 2012
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PS our habitat has lots of carpet remnants etc, for really cheap.Some are brand new.Another idea I did when I was poor with 2 kidlets, I took carpet samples ,( at that time they were a dollar, good stuff, mohawk, lee), I sewed them together to make a large area carpet. Cost me about 12 or 15 dollars. Now there is duct tape! haha OOps paint can be had for about 5 a gallon at HD, or habitat has paint also. Primer!
Bernice H
on Sep 27, 2012
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Form should follow function....you need to think about how this room is being used...then tailor the furnishings to meet the needs. If it is a casual sitting room then seating is No 1....if this is used as a mud room then boot and coat storage take a higher seat.
KMS Woodworks
on Sep 27, 2012
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Perfect KMS That's exactly what I'm saying....decide what you're gonna use it for....then...I'd do what Bernice says....grab some oops paint and lighten and brighten it! If you're not needing privacy....you may not even need curtains....that will keep it lighter feeling. Check out my post above on back splashes on a budget...you might like something like that too....you could always use butcher paper instead of craft paper....either way would cost very little. I've even used liquid starch to adhere fabric to walls....peels right off when you're done.
Tammy@Deja Vue Designs
on Sep 27, 2012
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I like the suggestions so far. Paint, paint, paint. Perhaps you could remove all of the things you don't like that are in the room, and only add things as you find things that you like. I prefer no curtains to curtains I don't like, and no furniture to furniture I don't like.
Anita @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
on Sep 27, 2012
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That's the truth Anita!!! Which is why we sold a perfectly good reclining Love seat, "almost like new", for 60 dollars bcause we were just tired of it taking so much room. But you see, "it was worth so much more" so why "give" it away? Finally after a few years of not using it because it took so much room, we did the deed, sold it on C-list, and what a smile..! It felt so good.Now we have a very comfortable Patio chair in the entry with another chair we had, and it looks the way we feel about it. Light and not clunky, we had so much dislike for that "almost newlike" love seat......so I totally agree...I would rather NOT have, than have something I really dislike, until "we get what we want"... like the dining table I was complaining about to @Sherrie S and @SheilaG, Plum Doodles When I got rid of that I was sooo excited to not have it any more. So Tyler I guess we are saying, EMPTY the room, then decide what you want it for, then go ahead and DO IT MAN, DO IT! We're with you on this one!
Bernice H
on Sep 27, 2012
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@Tammy K where is the post on back splashes ...cheap??? I must have missed it.
Bernice H
on Sep 27, 2012
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@Bernice H here's the link to my post http://www.dejavuedesigns.com/?p=2123
Tammy@Deja Vue Designs
on Sep 27, 2012
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Get rid of the crap furnishings you don't want, paint, paint, paint, and patiently look addictively on Kijiji Free Stuff and you could find some fabulous furnishings. I've been using Free Stuff to redo my entire backyard (1000lbs of sand, bricks, paving stones, pond stones, goldfish, pond plants, mirrors (to reflect back the garden and pond while at the same time hiding ugly spots), and the free furniture I picked up I redid for the inside of my house. Weekends are best because people need to move, get impatient and get rid of great stuff for free. It's great fun and be on the site a lot to snatch up great finds.
Pajunka
on Sep 27, 2012
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THOSE ARE TOTALLY A GREAT THINGS TO HEAR!!! I will try looking at patio furniture on C-list! The huge problem about this room, IT LEAKS! The floor is wood from the porch! This guy who used to live here did A TERRIBLE job! Like, seriously! lol.. I wanted do something to make it look better! It is all depends on my mom.. she gets worried a lot! I was thinking painting the Penal light green and the ceiling part too! Because it matches the brown so perfect.. How do I get rid of those thing on the edge of the ceiling and wall? I am thinking about getting rid of the red chair, and maybe move the yellow chair to other room, It leaks on the side where the panel is.. not too bad though, if it rains a lot.. it will... would that be bad if I paint it? What is the best paint I could use for penal? I wanted do one time layer. Maybe take curtains off... or get a nicer curtains, like green! Maybe have a nice brown patio furniture, with green pillow, would that look okay with blue carpet? LOL! At least, I should get a brown rug. Also, the light is above the bookshelf... so is there like a best way I can have some better lighting in that room? What should I do about the window? We can't afford to take the window out and put the wall there. Also, I was thinking like a picture cover it. LOL... So what do you think I should really do about this? LOL
Tyler S
on Sep 27, 2012
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@Bernice H - No, we moved here about 1 year and half ago! My mom tend to be stress about this place... so I am doing everything to change it. Just to make her feel less stress and feel more like a home. I also do this stuff because I really enjoy keeping my nose to the grinstone! lol.. so I love interior design stuff!
Tyler S
on Sep 27, 2012
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So Tyler...if things leak, are you sure you dont have a mold problem behind the paneling? Or the ceiling? So are you concentrating on the porch ...and, also the interior of the house ? Is your mom elderly? We have resources here for an agency to come in and fix things for elderly who cannot afford it or do it themselves. And winter is coming, will she use this room in the winter? Not being nosey but it sounds like you have a lot to deal with.
Bernice H
on Sep 27, 2012
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Yes, we have a lot to deal with.. I am not totally sure if we have mold problem.. is there anyone I can contact about the molds because I wanted to know if we have it.. it just GROSS! Also there is another carpet over the other carpet. Its GROSS! LOL! My mom is 43 years old. It totally fine, you are not being nosey lol. I am focusing on the porch first and then inside, so it will be great if I have interior ideas early when I am done with the porch. :)
Tyler S
on Sep 27, 2012
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Hi... sounds like you have a lot of ideas! But I do agree with everyone. I'd wash, prime and paint the paneling a butter-yellow. It will go with the blue siding. Wash the curtains and windows and when you put them back up, open all the way to let all the light in. You could paint the wood furniture yellow or blue to match. Maybe get a drop cloth to cover the chair for now. I think it will all brighten up the area. If you can't replace the rug right now, shampoo it and it may lighten up and will smell nice. Good luck and have fun!
Pat S
on Sep 27, 2012
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I will totally think of that.. this is my project for now. I arrange it... today. Also, my dad said he is going to help me to fix the leak tomorrow.. I just looked on the roof and explain it to my dad... and he said he will buy me product I need for the roof crack.. so my mom is thrill now! lol
Tyler S
on Sep 28, 2012
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Hi Tyler, I saw your post yesterday and thought the key words were no extra money, so I gave it some thought before replying. You have many great ideas posted so far. I think you need to really establish the traffic flow before making any big decisions. As for keeping costs down, if you think you need to replace the furniture, you might try the free cycle site for your area - most major cities have them and you can pick a lot of fabulous stuff up for free - does require some searching time on a regular basis. In Ottawa, we also use kijiji, so you might try that or craig's list etc., they too often have furniture posted for free or very low cost. You can also repurpose your finds for interesting pieces - Tania has an excellent example on line here - http://www.hometalk.com/search?filter=dressers&search=&zipcode=#!/468439 I am currently doing this with a very inexpensive dresser I found, should be done today or tomorrow, but you could make some very interesting shoe/boot storage for your entry way. For paint, you can often find discounted paint that is mistinted, you could get lucky here. You can also look for covers for free furniture you find or consider fabric paint to refinish. To check for mold, perhaps you could take a quick peak behind the paneling in the affected area. Your local Health Department should be able to help you determine the best treatment to get rid of it. Hope this helps and I wish you luck and would love to see pics of your progress.
Gail Salminen
on Sep 29, 2012
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Hey Everybody! Did anyone but me find it weird that I wrote a whole shpeel on shopping off of the super cheap Free Site on Kijiji and then beside my name it lists me as living in Beverly Hills?!!! What a hoot! I have no idea how that got there....Anyway, back to Ty's problem. Have you thought of covering the window with a mirror or shelving unit on both sides of the window? In my 1928 home here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the folks we bought my1928 house from filled in the smaller kitchen door with a white Ikea tall shelf on the kitchen side, and a tall dark finish shelf with glass panel doors on the dining room side. Brilliant fix, I thought. You should paint the entire room one color, and oh, send your Mom to beauty spa so you can get everything done quickly and then surprise her like crazy when she gets back!
Pajunka
on Oct 01, 2012
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Hi I have actually seen this kind of room before, a porch converted into a room, It was improved with some simple tricks, the entire room was painted a neutral tone, and instead of hating the wall with the exterior finish/ vinyl siding/ aluminum siding it was actually treated like an accent wall, False Windows were put on it with shutters and the windows were used as shelving. It felt a bit country but inviting.
Lee Cunningham Green
on Aug 16, 2014
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First thing is get rid of that inside screen door. Move chair to not block entry. Paint entire room a nice light color. Remember paint always looks much darker than sample. Also paint the dresser, add new knobs if possible. I remember those days with husband in college and NO extra for decorating. Leave shoe storage as is. Looks kind of rustic which is a much cheaper way to decorate. Move furniture around until you find what you want. A blanket or throw will do wonders for chair until you can replace it. Oh, as far as that dresser, paint it in something that will really get attention. Bright and colorful. Be bold. It will take eyes off things you don't want to get attention. Cheap posters or thrift store pictures that are bold will help also. If frames are so-so, paint, again in bright, bold colors. Spray paint is the way to do frames. Treat it like a regular room, not an add-on. Grab thrift store or dollar store deco accessories, spray paint if needed and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Gayle Chestnut
on Aug 20, 2015
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