Having grown up in rural southern Illinois, and having seen every season of the incredibly disgusting yet ultimately hilarious show, Trailer Park Boys, I consider myself to be something of an expert on trailer park style. It's only in recent years, though, that trailer parks have started to become almost cool, in a sketchy sort of way.
Hipsters all over the country have embraced things like PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) and pink flamingos as if to say, "I'm so cool that I've gone all the way around the "cool spectrum" and come out on the other end." In terms of pretentiousness, they're somewhere just above hard-core Mac fanboys and just below people who pronounce "vase" by saying "vahhz".
It recently came to my attention that these hipsters have created a "Trailer Park Lounge" in New York.
Unfortunately, they completely missed the mark. As you can see above, the place is basically a warehouse of tiki bar cast-offs and retro kitsch. With the possible exception of the toilet planter, it really doesn't look much like a trailer park. For that reason, I've decided to put together a true guide to trailer park style, designed for those who strive for a bit of tacky without actually packing up and moving to the park.
Rule #1: That which is inside should be placed outside, and that which is outside should enter the home. To achieve an authentic trailer park look, you must apply this rule to at least one item from the inside and one item from the outside. The most common, of course, would be a couch on the lawn or the patio furniture inside the home. Refer to the pictures below for examples:
Rule #2: Thou shalt have windchimes. This is a great place to really explore the freedom afforded to you by trailer park decor. A few examples:
Empty Beer Cans - The Redneck Windchime...
Seashells...
The American Flag...
Rule #3: A couch should never cost more than $50. With the number of used couches in the world, there's absolutely no reason to ever pay more than $50 for a couch. If you read free local classifieds or get up early on garbage pickup day, you could be lucky enough to find pieces like these. In a pinch, it's also acceptable to rent a couch, so long as the rental fees are less than $50/month at the local rent-to-own store.
Rule #4: Window treatments are vital. With no central heating and cooling in most trailers, it's important to shade windows to keep out heat in the summer and keep in warmth in the winter. Use these for inspiration:
Photo credit: taberandrew
Photo credit: tigerluxe
Rule #5: Thou shalt have art. If it's Jesus art, even better. Other acceptable pieces include beer ads, black light sensitive posters, dogs playing poker, and lascivious variations on classical works, such as a surgically enhanced Mona Lisa.
Rule #6: The waterbed is the highest of all sleeping experiences. Chicks (and dudes) dig the motion of the ocean. In the parks, if you can't give it to them it's just a short walk over to someone who can. If you want to evoke images of true trailer park kings, this round variation is ideal.
Budget Tip: If you can't swing a waterbed on your budget, opt for a regular bed with a faded floral comforter. A large fleece NASCAR or sports team blanket may also be acceptable.
Rule #7: Make your own private retreat. You may have seen fancy patio renovations on HGTV where they add in flowers, creeks, bird houses, and grilling areas. This is not what we're talking about. You can't do that kind of work on $6.25 an hour. Heck, you can't actually live on $6.25 an hour, not even when your fabulous wheeled home costs less than the average automobile.
What I'm talking about is creating a barrier around your porch or front steps. This ensures that you'll have some brief respite from Two-Ton TondaBeth's gurgling spider-veined cleavage on the back porch of the place next door. In an urban apartment setting, you could accomplish a similar effect by placing bamboo screens around your balcony.
By implementing these simple and affordable tips, you'll be trailer park chic in no time!
ROFL I love the waterbed.