Try a little color this Fall

In the Northwest, people often say we're "light deficient" in the Fall and Winter months due to our grey, rainy winters. What better way to bring a little color to those gloomy months than painting your homes' interior? Try www.devinecolor.com for these fantastic yellows; Devine Cream, Devine Butter (yummy!) and Devine Manilla. Not a yellow person? How about Devine Lil'Melon (a fun orange) or painting an accent wall or Dining room a warm red like Devine Saffron.

Color is one of the best and least expensive ways to change the look of your home.

Spring time is great for painting!

Spring time is a great time to paint both the inside and outside of your home. I often get asked about low VOC paints. What are those, you ask? That means the paint is low in volatile organic compounds, and thus better for your home and the environment. There are many paints that offer this. Devine paint, (one of my favorites!) Yolo Colorhouse and Benjamin Moore Aura paint are a few.

Devine paint offers packets as well as 8.5"*11" swatches for about $2.00 each. Benjamin Moore sells small sample bottle to "try on" your color selections. I always recommend painting a small patch on your walls and view it over a period of days, to see how it looks in the different lights of day. It's better to "try on" a small patch before painting the entire room-as this will save time, money and that oh so precious energy!

Invest in Your Home

This is a volitile time in the housing market and with the threat of a recession on the horizon, this is a wonderful time to stay put and invest in your home. We're finding that with many of our clients at this time. They are deciding to stay put, and upgrade their homes. We're doing a variety of things from elaborate window designs, to sumptuous bedrooms. It's a time to find comfort in your home, and that is what we always recommend-your home should be a reflection of you and should provide all the comforts to make it your own special oasis. That can be accomplished by other ways as well, new paint in fresh, lovely colors is a relatively inexpensive way to really change the look of your home. Re-arranging the furniture to reflect the immediate needs of your family is another great way. For instance, a dining room doesn't have to be used as a dining room. Maybe it would serve better to be an office or library. Or the seldom used "formal living room" that you have only because you grew up with one? Why not use that part of your home for everyday living? Re-arrange that to be your actual "living room" and really live in it. We recommend using more of your home's square footage to actaully live in on a daily basis, rather than for those once a year family get-togethers. So, in doing changes like these, you are invsting in your home and making it yours! Enjoy!