It's Only Paint

“It’s only paint. If you don’t like it or it doesn’t work, just paint over it and start again.”

It was such a simple truth. I wish I had spoken the words. I hadn’t. The voice belonged to the homeowner of a house on a Christmas Tour of Homes. She’d taken an older home and turned it into a vibrant gem. There were stripes on the master bedroom accept wall. There were polka dots on the attic bedroom ceiling.

The question came from an older woman. She was simply amazed at it all. She’d probably been taught that stepping outside the lines was only for decorators and designers and those with a known artistic flair. The homeowner had learned to give it a try.

I should note that her colors weren’t really that unusual. The stripes were shapes of blues and browns. The polka dots were muted pastels. And it all worked for her, matching her personality with that extra oomph that sets us apart from each other.

I am known for color. Bold, vibrant color. Think fuchsia, lime green, turquoise and lemon yellow. They are happy colors and are guaranteed to make me smile. Others would cringe at the thought of living with wild colors. It doesn’t matter what your color palette is. What matters is that you step outside the lines and let your personality be more than a carbon copy of everyone else.

How do you find what works for you? Start small. An accent wall. A colorful piece of furniture. Even throw pillows in patterns or fabrics you’ve never tried before. You’ll know if it works for you if it makes you smile. And if it doesn’t? It’s only paint. Repaint the wall. Repaint the furniture. Return the pillows. And start again. Have courage. Take a chance. Live a colorful life!