There is a reason that most homes, apartments and condos are shown and sold in white, beige or very pale yellows. It is because it is easier to envision your own artwork, your own personal palette against the back splash of the completely neutral canvas. And while that is perfectly understandable, what is not so easy to understand are the people who are perfectly satisfied with that paint scheme forever. How can they cook spicy Italian dishes in a boring, bland beige kitchen? How do you dress yourself to the limits of fabulous in a wall flower white room? How do you not start feeling just as dull and listless as the non-color of your walls?

The colors that surround us have a direct impact on our emotional responses. We all know that this is true. Blue is supposed to have a calming effect and is often recommended for the bedroom or the bath. Pink is supposed to be soft and welcoming, and may even make us feel more loving. Red energizes. Green is serene. Color is such an important part of our lives and yet, there are the walls that we live in, all the same boring color and why? It's not that it's that expensive to paint a room, after all. And isn't it worth it to make you house feel more like a home?

A splash of paint, even on just the trim or a single wall is one of the fastest and easiest ways to update the appearance of your home. Even if you can only afford to do one room at a time, it is worth it in the long run. And the advantage of paint is the ability to repaint in a few years when you totally fall in love with another color choice. With the right paint colors, you can change a room from just a bathroom to a stunning showplace. Don't be afraid to go bold, if that is the personality that you have. Don't be afraid of paint, period.

Wallpaper is a fussy, highly technical job and for two and nothing can spell doom for a marriage like trying to paper one small room together. Paint, on the other hand can be more of a labor of love, a solitary pursuit, just hand and brush, paint and wall. It can be relaxing almost, despite the hard work involved. Throw on some music, some old clothes and let the paint set you and your room free.