In January we painted three gray test swatches on our dining room walls. Within days we chose the color, but somehow it took us four months to actually paint the room.
We could blame busy schedules — finishing the living room and hallway in the same color, getting the guest room ready for a family visit, patio prep for a summer party — but the truth is we tend to start projects, pause for a while, and return to them when inspiration (or free time) strikes. Either way, the dining room finally went from this:
to this:
The change is subtle, but the soft gray feels more polished and finished. We used the same gray we painted the living room and hallway in — Benjamin Moore’s Moonshine, color-matched to Olympic Premium No-VOC paint — so we already had three gallons on hand. It’s a beautiful soft gray that reads consistently well in the different lighting of each room, and it helps tie those spaces together while allowing the kitchen (which sits between them) to carry a bit more color.
Painting the dining room gave the crown molding and trim a little extra emphasis. Even a subtle wall color can make architectural details pop and make a room feel more intentional. The difference is especially noticeable when you compare the unpainted shots to the newly painted room: walls that once felt unfinished now read crisp and complete, even before adding curtains, art, or furniture.
We were surprised by a few things once the paint went up. For one, the crown molding in this room is much chunkier than in other parts of the house — about twice as substantial — and the gray gives it presence without shouting. The built-ins on the back wall look great against the soft gray: they still stand out as focal points, but the wall color adds light and a calm, “in-a-cloud” feel that completes the space.
This room didn’t require painting over dark wood-toned trim, so the job moved quickly compared to the living room, where we had to put in more effort to cover the wood and paint beams. For the dining room we knocked out one coat together during Clara’s morning nap — Sherry cut in while I rolled — and then finished the second coat after lunch in shifts while one of us watched Clara and the other painted. It was relaxed and efficient, which made us wonder why we waited so long.
And yes, there were minor wardrobe malfunctions and plenty of laughs along the way — painting clothes often double as pajamas, and inside-out sweatsuits became part of the routine — but the small chaos is part of the process. We even took a few silly photos and then deleted the ones that were too ridiculous for sharing.
All kidding aside, it’s satisfying to have a house without test swatches on the walls. Now that the room is painted, it’s tempting to keep going: we want to create a larger opening to the kitchen, hang curtains, add artwork, and update the off-white chair slipcovers. For now we’ll savor the fresh paint and let the next improvements simmer on the list — likely to be tackled in a month or two… or four. That’s how we roll.
Have you painted anything lately? Do you have paint swatches that lived on the wall for months? What do you wear when you paint — purpose-built clothes or something comfortable you don’t mind ruining? We’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips for finishing up a freshly painted room.
If you’re looking for painting tips, check posts about how we paint rooms, how to paint trim like a pro, and our tutorial video that walks through the process step by step. We also shared how we created photo books as gifts for our moms — a reminder that even projects that take time can be really worth it in the end.