Paint has a magical quality that can help us transform any space or object into something new – even when the item being painted is not changed other than in the way it looks and makes us feel.
Ever notice how a fresh coat of paint on a wall or on a piece of furniture can really help? It freshens, adds new life to that surface or object, hides whatever the paint can cover, and makes us feel better about the object or our living space – in the case of walls.
It’s amazing that something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can make old things new – in appearance and in our attitude about them. This is why paint is such a great aging in place tool.
As we move into new space that we intend to occupy for the foreseeable future, or as we have been living in a home or apartment for several months or even years, we often add paint as a way of making the walls, doors, and trim look fresher. It might be the same color reapplied, or it could be a radical difference from what was there previously.
Paint comes in so many hues that we can use it change our mood and attitude or use it to brighten a space or complement a color choice in our furnishings or flooring.
As the springtime is upon us (or soon will be), this is a great time to consider paint the inside or outside of our homes – or both. Because we can have the windows open now, the fresh air and springtime breezes will make us feel good about contributing to that airy feel, and it will help the paint to dry and cure.
It doesn’t matter how many times a wall, ceiling, or piece of furniture has been painted before, new paint makes the object or space come alive. All of the stains, old memories, and color associated with a different furnishing plan can be covered with fresh paint. The room or furniture takes on a new, clean look and helps us to look at it differently and to be more comfortable in our space.
Paint is often an individual expression. It can be neutral, bright, bold, subtle, muted, or dark. Even white – if that is the choice – comes in a variety of colors and sheen. The other colors do as well. The new color can be an exact match to what has been there (just fresher and something new), it can be a shade lighter or darker, or it can be a very different look.
As we continue living in our homes and apartments, an occasional painting – or even a very frequent one – has the ability to make our space seem more relevant to us.
