Patina, Paint, and the Price of Sentiment

The value in antiques will vary but keeping one for its potential value while letting it spoil the beauty of your home may not be worth it.

Antiques are precious to the owner but they are likely worth very little to others. BrAt82/Shutterstock

I call it a hall tree. It’s an antique piece of furniture with hooks for coats, a lovely mirror, and two umbrella stands—each with a tin plate to catch the drips. My husband surprised me with it one Christmas morning more than 30 years ago, and I’ve loved it every day since.

Yesterday, I casually mentioned that I’m thinking about painting it. Let’s just say Harold, a quiet man who usually thinks my decorating ideas are inspired, was not thrilled.