Manufactured Homes and Outdoor Living Trends: Maximize Your Patio Functionality
Manufactured homes are increasingly incorporating outdoor living spaces into their designs. Patios offer valuable square footage for relaxation, entertaining, and enjoying the outdoors. But with limited space, optimizing your manufactured home patio for functionality is key. Here’s a guide to help you create a usable and enjoyable outdoor haven:
Plan for Success:
- Measure and Define: Accurately measure your patio, noting the distance between your manufactured home’s door(s) and the perimeter. This ensures furniture placement allows for easy entry and exit without feeling cramped. A common manufactured home patio size is 10′ x 10′, but this can vary.
- Consider Your Needs: Do you prioritize outdoor dining, lounging, or entertaining? Knowing how you’ll use the space helps plan your layout. If entertaining is a must, prioritize a designated dining area with an expandable table and comfortable chairs.
Maximize Functionality:
- Multifunctional Furniture: Invest in furniture that serves multiple purposes. Ottomans with built-in storage can hold blankets, pillows, or gardening supplies. Expandable dining tables adjust to seat more guests. Folding chairs offer flexible seating and easy storage.
- Vertical Space Matters: Utilize wall space with hanging planters, vertical herb gardens, or decorative wall panels. Hanging planters free up floor space and add greenery. Vertical herb gardens are perfect for fresh herbs. Decorative wall panels add personality and privacy.
- Area Rugs Define Zones: Area rugs add pops of color and texture, and visually define designated areas for dining, lounging, or grilling. Choose outdoor rugs designed for weather resistance and fading. Opt for a low-pile rug for easy cleaning and to avoid tripping hazards.
Create Ambiance:
- String Lights: Fairy lights, lanterns, or festoon lights instantly create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Choose solar-powered options for eco-friendly lighting and easy installation. Solar string lights require no electrical outlet and charge throughout the day, automatically turning on at dusk.
- Privacy Matters: Consider privacy screens or climbing vines to block unwanted views and create a sense of enclosure. Freestanding lattice panels or folding privacy screens offer temporary solutions. Climbing vines like clematis or morning glories provide a more permanent and natural solution, but take time to establish.
- Cozy Up with Textiles: Weather-resistant outdoor throw pillows and blankets add comfort and style. Choose materials like weather-resistant polyester or acrylic that dry quickly after rain. Consider storing throw pillows and blankets inside when not in use to prevent mildew growth.
The Finishing Touches:
- Natural Elements: Container plants, potted trees, or a small herb garden add life and color to your patio. Choose plants that thrive in your climate and require minimal maintenance. Select a variety of heights and textures for visual interest. Herbs like basil, oregano, and mint are easy to grow in containers and add fresh flavor to your meals.
- Water Feature Option: A tabletop fountain or small water feature adds a calming sound and visual element, creating a more serene atmosphere. Tabletop fountains are compact and easy to set up, requiring only a power outlet or battery power.
- Outdoor Art: A birdbath, wind chime, or sculpture personalizes your space and reflects your style. A birdbath can attract feathered friends, while a wind chime adds sound and movement. Choose outdoor art made from weather-resistant materials like metal or ceramic.
Beyond the Basics:
- Vertical Gardening: Vertical gardens allow you to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers on walls or fences, maximizing space and adding greenery. Vertical garden kits come in various sizes and styles, making it easy to find one that fits your needs and aesthetic.
- Outdoor Movie Nights: Project a movie onto a sheet hung between two posts or on a retractable projector screen for a fun and budget-friendly entertainment experience. Projector screens come in various sizes and can be mounted on a wall or freestanding.
Customize Your Mobile Home to Your Style
Manufactured homes with patios can be functional and stylish extensions of your living space. By following these tips and incorporating these space-saving ideas, you can maximize your enjoyment of the outdoors and create a personal retreat right outside your door.