This blog post is written by Paul, a House Hacks Tips writer and real estate agent, dog dad, and lover of a fresh coat of paint.
I need to get something off my chest: I hate my home office.
As a writer here at House Hacks Tips, I must preface this by sharing that I in no way hate the work that I do at home. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I’m an avid HGTV watcher, a DIYer, a home project enthusiast – how couldn’t I love what I do? What I don’t love, however, is spending my working hours in the empty, blank space of a room that I’m embarrassed to call my home office.
It wasn’t until a few months ago, when I caught myself admiring a co-worker’s office in the background of her Zoom camera, that I realized it was time to make a change. I would create an at-home office space I was proud to call my own. A space I could openly show off to others in place of my current go-to, blurred backgrounds I throw on during calls to mask the empty space behind me.
But I couldn’t just dive right into a renovation. Like any House Hacks Tips reader, I know to do proper research and preparation first. So, I began thinking back to value-driving projects that I could do on my own. Ruminating on an article I wrote a while back. I knew just where to start to bring about a design change so uplifting that you might go as far as to say it was life changing.
And it’s a fresh coat of paint.
The Value of a Coat of Veri Peri Paint
Photo Credit: Pantone Color of the Year
If you’ve been a longtime reader we don’t have to tell you about the value a fresh coat of paint can add to your home (over $5,000, in case you missed it!). But what I didn’t know was how much color mattered!
Cool, neutral tones, like light gray or blue, can increase the value of your home by up to $5,440! So, you can only imagine my excitement when I realized Pantone’s color of the year – Veri Peri, a dynamic ‘periwinkle blue’ – was right in line.
All It Took to Unlock My Creativity Was a Fresh Coat of Paint
After a trip to the hardware store to mix up a fresh can of Veri Peri, I got to painting. I won’t bore you with the details on how I set up the project (you can check out my post on how to paint like a pro for that!), but I will share the excitement I felt as the two coats began to dry.
My once bare, cold office now had transformed to a space with vibrancy to it. I immediately felt calm, relaxed, and creative in a room that once only inspired a severe case of writer’s block. Although I knew I had to patiently wait a day or so for the paint to dry, creative ideas were suddenly flowing through me again. I was bursting with anticipation to fill the room back up with my furniture and get to work!
When all was said and done, I spent around $50 on paint and materials (and saved 10% thanks to a coupon I had lying around!). Even better, my freshly painted office space is not only aesthetically appealing, but also gave my home’s equity a nice boost! After applying a new coat of paint to a few more interior rooms, including my bathroom, my home’s value rose by about $4,000 – not a bad return on my investment!
So, if you’ve been feeling like your space is sucking up your creative spark, or you’re just looking to boost a bit of your home’s value, take a trip to your local hardware store and find a paint color that speaks to you. It just might change your life.
