How can we camouflage the siding in our add-on room?

We live in a mobile and have an add-on room where a covered patio used to be. Now it's part of our living space and we would like to cover or camouflage the exposed aluminum siding.
The siding takes away from the decor.
I need the natural light to flow into the window, so I'm hanging sheers. But what about that ugly siding?
  56 answers
  • Jeanine Hardin Jeanine Hardin on Mar 25, 2015
    remove it or put sheetrock over it!
    • See 2 previous
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 28, 2015
      I could do a little at a time to spread out the cost, since it's 40 feet and will be both sides in some areas.
  • Moxie Moxie on Mar 25, 2015
    U could take off the siding and put up drywall...u could build a wall in front of the sided wall and have drywall retruns at the windows...you could hand curtains or make room divider panels of some sort...you could add the insulation nsde to fit on siding with same profile and add drywall on top of that fir acreal room feel.....be interested to see the end result!
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 25, 2015
      I like the panel idea and I could put Victorian fabric on the panels. Plus that would allow me to do a little at a time. This would help on the cost. Also hanging fabric is another, and maybe cheaper, solution. Thank you! I will post the final look!
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Mar 25, 2015
    Diamnondvalleygirl, perhaps you could do some hangings - may take time to collect the stuff but the look could be interesting and unique. Shutters is one thing that comes to mind - old window with pictures on the reverse side. You could also paint the siding to a colour you would like in that room. Curtains is also a great idea, especially around the window you have - just pulled back to expose the window. You have created a very cozy space, maybe just hang stuff on the walls - mirrors, candle sconces etc. Here is the search I did on shutter projects - http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=shutters Do update us with pics - thanks for posting, I love these challenges and really like to see the creativity people pull from all of the comments when they post the updates.
    • See 3 previous
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 25, 2015
      Sorry.. I meant, I'm not sure about painting shutters
  • Susan-Amber Springer Susan-Amber Springer on Mar 25, 2015
    What is under the siding? We have an enclosed porch on our clapboard house; the house wall had the same wood clapboards. Hubster sadly removed them when we put in new windows, and put up drywall. The clapboard would have been a lot more attractive IMHO. Perhaps board and batten instead of the siding? Just an idea...
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 26, 2015
    Hi diamondvalleygirl! Since you don't want to spend any money to build over it or remove it right now, then the best thing to do would be to disguise it. So what if you painted it to look like distressed horizontal planking-that look is pretty hot right now. Then just add some flat wood trim around the windows so they have a little more weight to them.
  • Carol Ann Carol Ann on Mar 26, 2015
    Definitely need curtains of some type. Maybe just texture, paint, and put up wall decor. Shelves and framed art.
  • Vetinia gorman Vetinia gorman on Mar 26, 2015
    Mirrors to reflect what little light there is already.
  • I agree with Sue - Paint it! It's the cheapest option and a great color will tie the room together and the wall will disappear.
  • Sylvia Sylvia on Mar 26, 2015
    Loving the paint idea - perhaps pick two tones of pink since I see a lot of pink in the decor, and do alternating stripes for a subtle look, then simple sheer curtains to disguise the window frames. Economical and simple, and then later do the refinishing ;-)
  • Miss Daria Miss Daria on Mar 26, 2015
    Install copper pipe and hang painters drop cloth as drapes
  • Janet Janet on Mar 26, 2015
    Find recycled wood, remove the siding and replace with the wood. It can either be painted a light color or left as is for a rustc look.
  • Trudy Trudy on Mar 26, 2015
    I like that idea Miss Daria's idea. The pipe would n't have to be expensive copper since it would be under the drop cloths. You can stencil those, lots of ideas on the internet about that.
  • Rhonda Relyea Rhonda Relyea on Mar 26, 2015
    I love lattice. 4x8 sheets are inexpensive and could be painted or left Woodhaven. You can also buy plastic lattice that is white or deep green. They can easily be used for hanging pics or silk ivy vines or other decor. I always love bringing the outdoors inside. My mind is racing with ideas! Good luck.
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 26, 2015
      It was suggested to break up the 40 foot room with different finishing a. The lattice would be great for the "entry way" area by a front door that faces the street. Many of our friends pull into the drive way and use that door. So I want that area to greet our guests.
  • Judee Searle Judee Searle on Mar 26, 2015
    I think Sue has the best idea,it would look like wood,very cool!!,and cheap!!
  • April E April E on Mar 26, 2015
    What about instead of disguising it you celebrate it and do a ombre style paint job on it
    • See 1 previous
    • April E April E on Mar 27, 2015
      A smooth surface is not needed it could even enhance the blending of the colors as you stack them and you could paint the whole wall a neutral color and do the ombre with glazes in your main colors for a even more stunning effect.
  • Katherine Katherine on Mar 26, 2015
    Wallpaper or contact paper that looks like wood? Paint is def easier and you could get a wood grain effect easily to look like white washed barn/lap siding. Decoupage it? Even a folding screen. Is the siding vinyl or aluminum ?
  • Becca Becca on Mar 26, 2015
    If you like beadboard, it is inexpensive, not very heavy and easy to install. It can be painted any color as well. You could also frame around your windows with rosettes on the corners to prevent having to mitre anything and put shutters on each side. You could put a shelf with attractive corbels for supports over one of the windows.
    • See 4 previous
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 28, 2015
      This is the middle section of the room.
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Mar 26, 2015
    Paint it with Horizontal Stripes ... stay with soft neutral shades
  • Becca Becca on Mar 26, 2015
    If you like beadboard, it is inexpensive, not heavy and can be painted any color. You could also paint the aluminum window frames, frame around them with wood and put shutters on each side. You could frame them with mitred boards or,rosettes with straight cut wood.
  • B.macdowell B.macdowell on Mar 26, 2015
    We used bead board it looks great
  • Connie Phillips Connie Phillips on Mar 26, 2015
    What about a living wall of plants? I saw some inexpensive ways to use eaves troughs with plants to hide the horizontal lines. I would beef up the frames around the windows with some wide moulding and insert mirrors if the windows aren't needed for interior ventilation. If you can't cover the windows, you could solve both problems with curtains that span both windows.
  • Denise Fiore Homes Denise Fiore Homes on Mar 26, 2015
    What I'm suggesting is painting the siding to similate wood. And I would recommend Anniesloan.com "Chalk paint" Easy to use, no prep, no sanding and retailers often have workshops for you to lean how to apply it. Like the picture below, build out our repurpose a cabinet to bring out seating possibilities. Again in the picture there is the terra-cotta color wall. You can do that too. But, I would suggest making a break between painting buy building a basic post/column against the siding like the drawing below. Let me know how it goes. Alert: DO NOT be surprised by the chalk paint cost. From a former Painting Company Owner and Contractor, when you take out the labor of prep and that if you did use chalk paint you would only need to apply one coat, then apply the wax used to seal the paint and you are done! Product goes a long way too.
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 26, 2015
      I re-arrange my furniture placement often. At one time, the guest bedroom area was where the rose colored rockets are now. So I'm thinking divider "walls" on casters.
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Mar 26, 2015
    If you decide to use chalk paint, please consider buying American, like Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint.
  • Karen B Wetherill Karen B Wetherill on Mar 26, 2015
    windows are easy to remove, or you can leave them in and make a whole new false wall, use upright 2x2s and put up sheets of gyp-rock, or light wall board of some kind and paint to your choice....not too expensive.
  • Susan b Susan b on Mar 26, 2015
    I like April's idea, it is already for hombre style. Pick a color and just lighten it a little for every row or two. Like color pallet samples from a paint store
  • Susan b Susan b on Mar 26, 2015
    Sorry ombre
  • Gina Surber Gina Surber on Mar 26, 2015
    Have you thought of using a neutral fabric? Maybe use a shirred set of watermark print floral panels?
  • Jo Robinson Jo Robinson on Mar 26, 2015
    If you want to do it inexpensive i would watch at value village or salvation army kijiji and find some sheer curtains in white than if it is a sunroom i would paint the siding blue and hang mini white lites from floor to ceiling lots and lots of strands hanging down and than put up sheers would be very effective especially at nite!!even lites can be picked up cheap
  • Lee Cunningham Green Lee Cunningham Green on Mar 26, 2015
    You were talking about using sheers on your windows to allow in natural light, you could go with that idea and use curtains on that wall as well.
  • Brenda Webster Brenda Webster on Mar 26, 2015
    Painting the siding a distressed "shabby chic" white would look wonderful. Here's a tutorial from This Old House: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1630897,00.html.
  • Brenda Webster Brenda Webster on Mar 26, 2015
    For the windows, I would use stained glass paint or stained glass film on the larger window and build a picture frame around the window frame. For the smaller windows, I would so the same or hang a large mirror in front of them. Here's some information: http://www.craftdrawer.com/2013/05/how-to-make-you-windows-look-like.html
  • Toni Russell Toni Russell on Mar 26, 2015
    If you do plan on leaving the room as part of the mobile home then I would put up 4x8 panels of Lujan (find it at Lowe's or Home Depot) and the cost is a round $10.00 per sheet of wood, which has a nice wood grain touch to it and it can be left as is, painted or stained. Another idea is to put up old fencing and do a white wash on it for the siding part and don't forget the curtains or shades for the windows depending on what you decide to go with.
  • ShirleyB ShirleyB on Mar 26, 2015
    Make a picture frame around the window - molding like they use to upcycle bathroom mirrors and such. Bead board like many suggest, or Luan or part of the wall with each with a chair rail...
  • Danee Kaplan Danee Kaplan on Mar 26, 2015
    it will never look aright until you make the windows look like they are inside rather than outside. No matter what you do with the wall as long as the windows look like they do now it will look like an outside all. I think you just need to frame them to look like they are inside and add curtains.
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 26, 2015
      I totally agree...I'm going to work on the curtains this week then can move forward with the walls. Thanks
  • Sheila D Sheila D on Mar 26, 2015
    Do you have to keep the windows accessible? If not why not frame the wall, dry wall and paint it.
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 26, 2015
      The window are the only source of light for the rooms in the mobile. The bathroom window (smaller one) can be covered because we have a solar tube in that room.
  • Runek Runek on Mar 26, 2015
    Try wall panels to surround the windows, Lattice panels or curtains to cover the entire wall. It would change the room from mobile home siding to actually looking like a room with its own flair.
  • Millie Allen Millie Allen on Mar 26, 2015
    I'd try covering over the siding with the thinnest drywall (probably 3/8"). You could try hardboard, but it might be a challenge to keep it from buckling. In either case use Battens (1"x1", or 1"x2" wood) to space the covering away from the siding and make a straight place for the covering to hang. Liquid nails will work to keep the battens and the covering in place.
  • Kathy Kathy on Mar 27, 2015
    I was going to suggest fabric. Sometimes you can find a real bargain price per yard. Let the store mgr know you need a LG quantity and what color/pattern limitations are. Consider quilt backing or sheeting in an extra width or top sheets.Perhaps build wood frame to attach dowel to shirr on fabric, or double face tape or staples. Good Luck!
  • JustSue JustSue on Mar 27, 2015
    First of all, if the siding is asbestos, it is dangerous to remove it, so DON'T remove it without professional help!
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Mar 27, 2015
    Would frame it out and drywall so you have a permanent solution that doesn't look like disguised siding. Windows can have new trim surrounds.
  • Becca Becca on Mar 28, 2015
    diamondvalleygirl - It's looking good, love your photos!
  • Karen Karen on Mar 28, 2015
    I also live in a mobile home and closed in a covered porch. On the inside wall was 2 windows. I covered them with sheet rock and hung a mural. On the other side I covered the windows with paneling and painted it .
    • See 1 previous
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Mar 28, 2015
      You even have a nice ceiling. Ours is still the metal awning from when was a carport.
  • Karen Karen on Mar 28, 2015
    It's just a drop ceiling.
  • Wood grain it or sponge it
  • Becca Becca on Apr 05, 2015
    You could use pressed tin ceiling tiles. I've seen several people do that to cover up popcorn ceiling. Actually, you could use ceiling tiles on the wall of your new room.
    • Diamondvalleygirl Diamondvalleygirl on Apr 05, 2015
      I really like the tin tiles because it would really add to the Victorian/French atmosphere. Great idea!
  • DebLynn DebLynn on Apr 09, 2015
    I would embellish the windows with Battenberg lace or sheer drapery to add charm and cozy cottage feeling... A Lace or crocheted vintage Tablecover would be a nice addition hung sideways with Ribbon tied up both sides to create a poof or drop in the center.
  • Pat Pat on May 13, 2015
    An inexpensive thing would be to paint in a darker color and put lattice over it.
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jul 03, 2015
    I'd paint it in stripes, so it looks more tone on tone.... NOTHING BOLD.. but a soft shade of the rest of the room, then go 2-3 shades lighter of the same color on every other one.It acts more like shading than harsh stripes. this is also a designer trick they use for ceilings.. the trick is to keep it subtle. If you like a lighter softer wall color, then give the lighter one with just a hint of the same color. I have used this trick in closets, short walls hallways.. I have saved a qt of room paint for touch ups.. , added some of the remaining room color to white be sure to get the same base color, untinted,,,, to get a desired color ..I use an old measuring cup set,, so I can keep track of the amounts I add... 1/4 the strength is often a great look.., if you want more add a bit more color, test it out on a board first, as paint always dries darker.. Then I'd finish the room as you had planned.I for the windows...
  • Trixie63 Trixie63 on Jul 04, 2015
    You might consider going to ikea or thrift store and find fabric OR head to clearance at your favorite store for sheets. Using hooks, hang dowel rods from ceiling and hang curtains from the dowel rods. I think this look would compliments the vintage look you've got going. Still thinking about windows but if fabric wasn't too dense you might still get some light. Or you could always part the curtains and put your room divider in front of windows. This way you get a great look without having to mess with the siding.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jul 14, 2015
    Here's my 2 cents...This should give you an eclectic, shabby chic & vintage feel to the room & complement what you already have for furnishings. This is a DIY project & will take some time to gather the materials needed. 1st ~ Get measurements for all the sections of wall that are floor to ceiling. 2nd ~ Frame out each section w/ 2X4's & attach to the ceiling & floor if you don't want to damage the siding. 3rd ~ Add random sections of drywall. Leave some sections of the wall just the frame this will be filled in another idea. What you are going to create for the dry wall sections is this... https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532621093409115414/ You can go to Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Joanne's or online to gather vintage scrapbook paper. 4th ~ For the sections that are still open you can fill them in w/ wooden shutters all sizes they can be new, old, or vintage. They can be attached vertically or horizontally depending on the size of the area needed to be filled. Paint & distress each shutter in the color you want. What you are going to create for the shutter sections of the wall is something like this... https://www.pinterest.com/pin/200762095861059543/ Hope this help.
  • Jo Jo on Mar 10, 2016
    Use long sheer curtains to give height and camouflage the 'squatted ' window.
    • See 1 previous
    • Jo Jo on Mar 10, 2016
      Make so n e thing else your main focal point when you walk into the room the siding won't be noticed so much. Put some color to draw the eye
  • Jo Jo on Mar 10, 2016
    That would look good. Maybe do a long scarf across the top.
  • Linda Linda on Aug 08, 2016
    Go on a Mobile Home Makeover site on the internet. You'l be amazed at the pictures, how to's and ideas that address your problem. You'll be astounded at the choices you have.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 03, 2022

    Paint and Grain it to look like Timber Cladding? Paint it with a texture? Wallpaper it? Cover it with Fabric? Add a Wall of Curtain- Voile or Lace or Main.....

  • Mogie Mogie on Dec 05, 2022

    Drywall over it.

  • Janice Janice on Mar 28, 2024

    I haven't read through everyone's suggestions so this may have already been offered as an idea. I would hang a curtain rod from the ceiling as close as possible to the siding and hang draperies to cover the entire area. If you have room and want a bit of extra storage you could add shelving from floor to ceiling and place the rod further away from the wall and hang draperies.