The Simple Life at Home

One week from now we will be in Knoxville, hopefully the first step on the path to moving there. In preparation for this move (because my hubby has promised me that this will be my last hurricane season) I've been reading up on selling a home. You know, things to remodel, things to re-do, ways to "stage" a home. (Speaking of which, I LOVE that show "Sell This House." I mean, when I have tv I love it.) Anyhoo, it's gotten me more anxious than ever to start working on our own home.

I know we have waaaaay too much stuff. That's the first thing they always say is to take out of the home as much as you can so the house looks bigger. But another thing they (the experts, that is) always recommend doing is painting the whole interior a neutral color..... (crickets chirping)....Um, do I really have to do that? I'm looking for answers here, people.

For those of you who haven't had the amazing opportunity to visit my little abode, let me just tell you that I like color. But I feel as though I restrained myself quite well when we decorated this house. I mean, when I bought this house, every single stinkin' wall (bathrooms, closets, laundry room, every wall in the house) was painted a bright yellow. I had to do something! My dining room (which isn't a separate room unto itself, but part of the entrance of the house and really just has one curved wall) is painted a deep red. But the other walls which adjoin it are very light, light beige so it's not overpowering. Our family room is painted kind of an olive green. It's a dark shade but the room has so much light it doesn't come across as a dark room. I think. Then there are the bedrooms. Mine is the same shade of light beige, but I let the kids each pick their own rooms - Daniel picked a fairly bright blue and Emily picked a pale green.

What do you think? Is having stronger colors a problem for you if you look at a home? Or are you able to see past that and visualize what you would do with the space?