We finally painted the guest room, and Burger is clearly thrilled with the result.
No more overspray marks from door painting forming an unintended “accent wall” above the bed. Huzzah!
The color is Sparrow by Benjamin Moore. We’ve admired this shade for a while— it was even one of our whole-house palette guesses last year— and the guest room felt like the perfect place to try it. The room benefits from a large triple window along the back wall, so it gets plenty of natural light.
Because Sparrow is a deeper hue, we started with a tinted primer, then cut in the edges while John rolled the walls. We also painted the ceiling first—Simply White, the same as the trim, but in a flat finish instead of semi-gloss—since the room was cleared for painting. Sparrow reads more like a warm brown with gray undertones rather than a cool flat gray. You can see how the tinted primer had a cooler gray cast underneath when the first coats went on.
Once the painting was finished, we were ready to tackle the blank walls. We pulled some frames and a mirror from the storage room to complement the new color. A grid of old Ikea frames ended up over the chairs across from the bed.
Those frames had previously hung over our sofa in the old house and now hold a few favorite Instagram photos. We added linen-like fabric mats behind the pictures to bring in some texture.
To the left of the bed, we hung another Ikea frame above the bookcase. We attached one of our picture-hanging knobs and some gold ribbon to tie in with a gold mirror we placed over the bed.
Here’s a wider shot. The left wall looks a touch yellow in this photo because sunlight is reflecting green from the trees outside—other photos show the color more accurately.
The gold mirror is a yard-sale find that used to hang in our old laundry room. When John held it up over the bed, we both agreed it looked great against the Sparrow walls. We considered flanking it with sconces or small pieces of art, but the mirror’s simple presence feels just right for now.
We also swapped out the luggage-tray-turned-side-table for a sturdier table with a drawer and an open cubby for books and magazines. We found two of these tables at a yard sale for $11 years ago, and it’s nice to have one back in rotation. The larger table let us add a more substantial lamp that feels better scaled to the bed than the tiny lamp that sat on the luggage rack before.
The bouquet on the table is a leftover grocery-store bunch from Clara’s party—alstroemeria are the best for longevity; they often last three to four weeks.
We still have a few projects planned for this room: adding crown molding, converting the seating area into a sewing nook so the room gets more use, and making a new, more substantial headboard with an interesting shape. Over time we’ll likely update other elements like the art, bedding, rug, and curtains. For now, with just a gallon of primer and paint and a few items pulled from storage, the room has a refreshed, cohesive vibe we really like.
The guest room sits at the top of the stairs, so we both do a little “ooh!” when we head upstairs now. It’s surprising how you can stop noticing certain eyesores over time, but fixing them feels like a breath of fresh air.
What did you do this weekend? We balanced work and family time and spent the holiday reflecting on what Memorial Day means. Hope you had a peaceful and meaningful one.
MORE PAINT COLORS WE LOVE
If you want more paint inspiration, check the paint colors we use around our home. We’ve also written detailed guides and roundups about favored paints and neutrals that are helpful when choosing colors for your own spaces.
- THE 12 BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS
- Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin-Williams Pure White
- Sherwin-Williams Extra White
Psst— Want to know where something in our house came from? Check our shop-our-house section for sources and details.
