In the rush back to pre-pandemic life, consumers are choosing painting their homes as the first step back to normalcy, according to this month’s survey by ECOS Paints, known for its zero VOC1, non-toxic2 paints consumers have been turning to for 35 years.
Specifically, over 50% of those surveyed chose this option as their immediate, go-to home improvement project to help them escape “home fatigue” and mentally move on from the last 14 months, as they contemplate entertaining friends and family.
The second and third choices were a single room renovation and a whole home renovation, respectfully. Many respondents specified the need to help their homes recover and appear refreshed after the excessive use over the past year while operating as home classrooms, gyms, offices, restaurants, spas, and meditation spaces.
Pamela Paul, editor of the Book Review at The New York Times, recently confirmed this sharing, “It was only inevitable that it (the pandemic) would break into the sanctuary of our homes and wreak havoc there as well. A year in, the spaces we’ve been holed up in and all they contain are falling apart, frayed at the edges, ceasing to function.”
Several shared that the long period at home made the deferred maintenance painfully obvious, resulting in long “to do” lists. Other respondents said room colors had begun to impact their moods and were looking to change things up with optimistic colors. Participants’ colors of choice were optimistic such as blues, greens and neutrals. Blues are known for serenity and stability, while greens bring to mind abundance, growth and rebirth. Lastly, neutrals provide a welcoming feel and bring a sense of peace.
“With the world beginning to emerge and mask restrictions being loosened, consumers are hopeful and looking for easy, convenient options to quickly transform their home surroundings,” said Julian Crawford, CEO, ECOS Paints. “A fresh color scheme or a color accent not only creates an entirely new environment with little effort but also, can do wonders for the heart and soul. Whether returning to life as it previously was or settling into a hybrid between the two worlds, people are looking for fresh beginnings and want to turn the page.”
Humor was not lost on survey participants sharing anecdotes including, “I am actually looking forward to watching paint dry on future projects,” and, “My house is beyond blah, I am so over it and ready to make it vibrant.”
1 Zero VOC - Conforms to CDPH 01350 (VOC emissions test taken at 11, 12, & 14 days for classroom and office use).
2 Non-Toxic - Conforms to ASTM-D4236, specifically concerning oral toxicity, skin irritation and respiratory effects.
