|
Getting Started is the Hardest Part
by Sonya Weiss
 I bought my home three years ago and the previous owners had a real love for stencils. They stenciled teapots on the dining room walls, ivy in the living room and roses in one of the bedrooms. The roses even carried over to a rose stencil on the blades of the room's ceiling fan. While I think personal touches are what make a house a home, they weren't my personal preference but I was afraid to make changes.
Why? I have Cathedral ceilings and those tall walls are a real bear to paint. If you don't hire a professional, you have to get a ladder tall enough to make you feel like you're on a skyscraper. It's hot, tiring work, not to mention not a lot of fun for someone afraid of heights. I resisted painting the dining room for three years until I couldn't stand another second of looking at the blue teapots.
I went to the home improvement store and bought a 16 foot ladder (should have bought the 24 foot one!) and two gallons of Valspar paint. When painting your home, always opt for a good quality paint. I had the paint tinted in a yellow color called Evening Sun, a much brighter paint than I would normally choose. Hubby and I and all four kids worked hard all day last weekend painting the dining room.
When we were finished painting, the difference was immediately noticeable. The room looked cheerful and welcoming, a vast improvement over the teapots. Sometimes, we put off home improvement projects like we did with painting our high walls because the task is difficult. But go ahead, get started on that project you've been putting off. You'll be glad you did.
Happy Decorating!
| 
