Going Green Decorating Sense

We are making an attempt to stay with eco friendly choices as we are decorating our home. I've learned a little along the way. We can build green from the foundation up to the roof, however some choices are very expensive. I'm learning to build green on a budget.

Paint - Prices for low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint varies greatly. Sherwin Williams Harmony is an excellent paint, with good coverage, but at about $40 a gallon, it's not the most economical paint. I chose this paint for my highly visible areas of the house.

For less expensive low VOC paint, I always check the discount close out bin. A couple of our local home improvement stores and hardware stores let you return un-used paint. So if you buy 6 gallons of paint, but you only needed 4 gallons, you can take the leftover paint back to the store. This is where the bargains come in. The store marks the paint down to get it sold quickly.

When choosing paint for my laundry room, I didn't really have a set color, so when I found a gallon of low VOC paint in the bargain bin for $5.00 I decided right then and there, my laundry room is going to be a pretty granny smith green color. I have no idea what the brand name color is, but it looks like a bright green to me. I love it because it's a bright room and very inviting! When I was painting the interior of a closet, I used a pretty peach color I found in the bargain bin. I guess they figured that was a pretty unusual color so I got a super deal on the price at $2.50 a gallon!

Choosing Color for Paint Project

I walked the isles of the paint store looking at what seems like millions of different choices in paint. How am I suppose to know what color to choose? I'm not a decorator. Sure I live in this old house, and I chose the colors over the years. Colors? White, off white, white linnen, and beige, and warm beige. I've been so daring!

Now I want color. Not warm beige, but real color. Red. I think not. Cranberry? Probably. Apple green? How many shades of apple green are there? Who likes apple green? I do. Does anyone else? I am sure I can't sell a home if I paint the walls apple green or cranberry.

I've been looking at paint stores online. Behr has an informative, interactive website. Look under the 'inspiration' tab for ideas. Or look under the 'explore' tab for coloring your own room. First you need to register for the service. It isn't free, it is $4.95 one year of service. This is fun, you upload photos, then you choose colors to paint your room. What a great service.

I still haven't decided what colors to choose for my own house. Before I can make that decision I still have to figure out if we are moving or if we are staying here. No need to put out the money for my favorite colors if we have to paint again to sell.

Painting Project on Hold

We are putting off painting for now. I'm not sure when it will get done, but we ran into some problems with the project, so it's on hold.

However, not all projects are on hold. It is really beautiful outside so this is perfect for some landscaping. I've been watching some of the sell your house shows on HGTV, DIY, and Discovery Home to get some ideas. Not many of them deal with what needs done outside the house.

Anyway, it's nice so I'v been working outside today doing what I know needs done. I wish I could hire a professional landscaping company, but that isn't in the budget. We don't want to go into debt to build equity in the place. I know, if we sell, the debt would be paid off. But if we stay here, then we have to figure out how to pay it off. That doesn't make much sense to me.

Dining Room Make Over

Change is in store for my dining room. I'm looking for a dramatic change on a budget.

Paint is one of the easiest ways to make over a room in a short time and stay within a budget. I'm excited to see the end results even though I didn't go as dramatic as cranberry red, or royal purple. That would be dramatic! I'd love to have cranberry red walls!

The dining room walls are prepped and ready for a fresh coat of paint. I chose a warm shade of beige for the walls. If we stay here and I don't care for it, I can always paint another color later. If we decide to sell the house, I think this is a good basic neutral color buyers will like.