Tiny Home Makeover

Big Style in Small Spaces with a Tiny Home Makeover

by Leisel Caldwell

​Lake homes come in all sizes and price ranges, large custom-built homes, cabins, tiny homes, park model homes, RVs and campers.  Our lake home is a park model home, we have owned for 13 years. We fell in love with our tiny home before tiny homes were cool! It has 1 bedroom, 1 bath, full kitchen, small living area and a large screened in porch.

After 13 years it was time for a tiny home makeover. The plan was to create a tranquil space, and multi-functional areas for entertaining and sleeping. This was a DIY project with my husband taking on the first step of converting the porch to a sunroom. The work included new windows being installed as well as beadboard and sheetrock walls, wood ceiling, and adding a heating and air unit. It was my turn next in picking out colors and painting.  I picked out a neutral color pallet of burlap, tan and off whites and used painting techniques to create a unique look.

​The focus then changed to furniture, space planning and sleeping areas. We needed to be frugal and use much of what ​we  already owned. In our stash was an old futon frame and mattress. 

porch prior to makeover

new look for our tiny lake home

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We also designed and had built a daybed to fit a twin-size mattress.  The daybed is built by Lavoy Caldwell of Papa Built Creations. Papa builds daybeds, swing beds, farmhouse tables, benches and more.

​The challenge now was to make the multi-functioning furniture pieces used for seating and sleeping attractive.  I started searching for upholsters and online slipcover shops. This is when I found The Slipcover Shop, an online retailer for slipcovers and futon covers. They had 100’s of fabric options, I ordered sample swatches online (at no cost).  They suggested using wedge pillows on the back of the daybed to create a softer look and couch like feel. I was instructed on how to measure the twin mattress, wedge foam cushions and futon mattress so they could provide me with a custom fit. I selected my colors, provided measurements, ordered online and received my order in 7 days. The quality of the fabric and workmanship was excellent.

futon with new cover gives additional seating and sleeping

Vertical Divider

daybed with covered mattress

daybed with wedge cushions

weathered & distressed walls

The finishing touches to this part of our makeover are the art pieces for our newly renovated space. Jessica Bailey of Reclaimed Grace Art is a local artist with a lot of talent. She has a great flair for farmhouse chic, which is the look I was after for our tiny lake home. I called Jessica and ask her to look at our space.  After our meeting, I commissioned her to do 4 pieces. She had them ready in approximately 4 weeks. Let me just say, she hit it out of the park matching my color pallet of drop cloth, burlap, brown and the beautiful blues. I could not be more pleased.

​We have a way to go before we are finished with our tiny lake home makeover; the kitchen, the bathroom and bedroom.  Stay tuned, same place, same magazine but not sure what issue! 

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Sponsors of this content include:

The Slip Cover Shop: http://www.SlipCoverShop.com
Reclaimed Grace Art https://www.facebook.com/ReclaimedGraceArt
Papa Built Creations