Military housing is notorious for having white walls. My new home is in keeping with normal military housing - the walls are white, bright, and glowing. I know a lot of people think white walls are perfect, completely wonderful, and the way it should be. But not me.
I am ALL about color. I adore color (HELLO, my hair!), it brings spice to life. It makes a house feel like a home - warm, lived in, inviting. And sunglasses aren't required because there is no glow.
Here is my issue: Do we leave the walls of our new home white or do we paint them.
It's nice to have the option to paint. In fact if bright purple struck my fancy, we could paint bright purple. But no matter the color we choose, we are required to paint the walls back to white before we move.
That requirement is somewhat detrimental to me painting, indeed. I wonder if I will feel up to re-painting in the midst of moving. I really hate white walls. But do I hate them enough?
So, what do you think... paint or no paint?
Perhaps I should just decorate with REALLY LARGE PICTURES. I think I'll start with this one...Ha!
I am ALL about color. I adore color (HELLO, my hair!), it brings spice to life. It makes a house feel like a home - warm, lived in, inviting. And sunglasses aren't required because there is no glow.
Here is my issue: Do we leave the walls of our new home white or do we paint them.
It's nice to have the option to paint. In fact if bright purple struck my fancy, we could paint bright purple. But no matter the color we choose, we are required to paint the walls back to white before we move.
That requirement is somewhat detrimental to me painting, indeed. I wonder if I will feel up to re-painting in the midst of moving. I really hate white walls. But do I hate them enough?
So, what do you think... paint or no paint?
Perhaps I should just decorate with REALLY LARGE PICTURES. I think I'll start with this one...Ha!
31 Comments:
great picture! very cute.
knowing how crazy moving will be someday....i'd still say paint. isn't there a small chance that the people moving in may be there in time to like it and ask you to leave it? i'd just bank on that chance and worry about how crazy painting it back will be later. one of those "cross that bridge when we get there" things... ha... ok, easier said than done. but, if it brings your family joy, it's worth it. plus, you'll have made tons of friends by then and they can all come over to help you paint before they say goodbye.
but, yeah. painting is work...ug. it's a toss up.
Megan
I'm a new reader of your blog. We're AF too, been in the same house for 5 years and we haven't painted. I've wanted to, but it's that nagging thought of having to paint it white again before moving that is keeping me from doing it! Just my opinion.
How long will you be there? If you are going to be there longer than one year...PAINT MY DEAR. I have alway believed your bedroom is your sanctuary.....paint all of them. There isnt a room in my home white...My foyer and family room are beige..that is the lightest I have...Madison is Hot Pink.....so go ahead...you will have fun.
First off, you guys are so cute. Love the picture.
Secondly. There is not a question here - you PAINT. White walls suck the life out of you, make you think you are crazy and in an institution. But you are talking to a woman whose house looks a bit like an easter egg. I really, really like color on my walls and I like painting, so I wouldn't think twice. (And you just don't seem a white wall kinda person to me - at all.) It will really stink painting them back to white but maybe you will meet a nice neighborhood kid who you can pay to do it for you between now and when you move? How long are you going to live there anyway?
I wholeheartedly say PAINT! there is a time and a place for white walls, they can't be everywhere! Color is a necessity though... knowing from reading your blog how much you love color, you will be MUCH happier though! maybe you could leave one wall white and then when it comes time to move, smile and remember that you don't have to paint EVERY wall :)
No question for me- PAINT!!! We love a colorful home too. I had to convince my hubby of this, but once I explained with paint on the wall you don't need as much to decorate with- no "dust-ables"to make a room feel full & lived in. You could always paint one main wall in the room & leave the others white. Enjoy!!!
You and Daniel make me smile! :)
And I agree with everyone else and say paint! It'll make you happy. You might as well be happy now and worry about painting back to white later...who knows, Jesus might come back before then, and then you would've lived with white walls for nothing! Haha. :)
Paint! Even if it brightens your life for a year, it is better than compromising in a place that is supposed to be cozy and refreshing for you. Color on waLls makes a huge difference in base housing!
I like the idea of painting at least a couple of walls in a couple of rooms.
Another idea - you can invite everyone that recommends painting to visit you for a "paint it white again" party down the road when it is moving time!
Cute picture :)
I say PAINT! You know you're going to be there 3 or 4 years right? I think it's soooo worth it! I'm with you, I cant stand white walls. And I cant stand living in a house that doesn't feel like my home. Maybe for 6 months, but not for years. Paint is cheap and doesn't take that much effort considering what a huge change it makes to the place once you're done. Get the whole family involved and it might even make for fun weekend! (Our boys loved helping with the paint in our kitchen. Dillon even painted his name behind our refrigerator- which is still there to this day! haha)
PS- I don't know if your housing works the same way- but here, if you choose not to repaint yourself when you leave, you can pay them a fee and they'll do it themselves once you're out. Because our house is so small they told us it would only be a couple hundred dollars, and seeing as we've painted every room in this house (including 2 bathrooms) $200 isn't so much to ask to move out with out having to do all the work again.
I vote that you paint. Go with some nice neutral colors and the next people may just want you to leave it.
Cute picture BTW. Is that a new Canon I see?
I say paint IF you're going to be there long enough to make it worth it(more than two years). If not, do not torture yourself with something like that before a move. Instead, go to an antique store or flea market, and buy some great old shutters and color them barn red or whatever color you love and hang them on the wall as a sort of focal point.
If you do paint, just make the repainting a first priority when you get new orders so that its not hanging over you right before a move. Invite a few friends over, feed them pizza and beer and make a painting party of it!
For the love of what is good and right, PAINT the place! Yes, it's extra work before you leave, but shouldn't you be happy while your there?
Or, you could just blow that picture of you and Daniel up to say...WALL SIZE, and let that be your colorful wall. Just sayin'.
I say paint away...paint it all...go crazy! Every room in our house is painted a color..except for the downstairs which will soon be mustard. I hate the fact that a color is called mustard because it sounds yucky but, it is a great color. :) BTW, cute pic of you two.
Great picture! Maybe you could "wallpaper" with all your great photos...that would certainly be lovely and colorful. : )
Seriously, I don't know how long you'll be there, but for your sanity and your love of color, I say go for it. That way your house will feel more like your home.
I found your blog through Amanda's. I say go for the pictures on the wall. That what I did for my apartment, and it makes ugly white walls seem so much less. Especially when you've got a 24x36 picture of your favorite place in the world on your living room wall.
Good luck with your new housing!
After living in apartments for WAY too long and not having the option to paint I have to agree, paint.
first i prefer to think of myself more as just oh so busy then super lazy as i say that i most certainly can see why the thought of repainting would make you think twice about the walls. that being said.... i have a three year rule. if it really looks like you'll be there for three years go for it. you can always hire some college kids to repaint when the time comes. of course the next problem is what color!
we have 82 shades of "khaki" chips on our office wall that we have been staring at for three months. soon I'll know which one is right!
I painted. I loved every minute of the four years they've been painted. And now that I'm going to move -- facing painting them (all the work!) on top of everything else, makes me cry. LOL
PAINT!! I love color!
Cute picture by the way...and why not add it to your colorful walls! ;)
Hi, I am Reasa. I have been lurking for awhile but decided to post. We will be moving into post housing next month. I thought about painting for two seconds. Then my Mom reminded me what she did when we lived in base housing. She used to by flat sheets and tack them up. The we could hang our pictures over them. She did only one wall sometimes and others she would do the whole room. With all the Kiddos I have I may stick with that. It will be easier and faster to wash sheets than the actual walls.
Love the picture of you guys! Miss you wayyyyyy too much.
And I say paint! you love color way too much, and you could always pay someone to paint before you move.
I think this comment is a bit redundant, but go on, paint!
I would SO paint. Its your HOME for however long and you will love it so much more if you don't walk in every day and think "man, I wish I had painted the walls MY color".
Love you!
I love your hair shorter like that. Do you blow it out?
I had a purple living wall in my last house. It looked GOO---OOD. In fact it is still purple and some bachelors are living there now.
I 25th the painting motion.
oh and 1:37 a.m.? Aren't you up a little late?
paint them any color you want,as long as it is MILITARY white.(sorry Mr.Henry Ford)
Paint! Paint! Paint! Bright, beautiful, cherry colors that will make your heart sing!
I've always had white walls because I don't want to have to repaint everything when it's time to move :) Could you buy just the boarders to put around to give it a splash of color, or some stenciling? Lots of pictures does help too LOL
I say Paint, but I'm all about the paint :)
Love the picture, you guys are adorable together!
I vote to paint. Most of my house is accent walls, where only one wall is painted and the others are still neutral. I always tell my husband the problem with America is white walls. LOL. I love color, too! And one accent wall is easier to paint back to white.
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