After a refreshing week spent soaking up the sun and enjoying the tranquil beaches of Destin, we’re thrilled to be back and diving headfirst into our next home renovation project! Our beach escape was truly wonderful, filled with perfect weather, a little window shopping, and even a successful thrift store treasure hunt – but mostly, it was about being full-time beach and pool bums. Of course, keeping it real with three little ones under four, there were moments of toddler meltdowns and even a cookie-tossing incident, yet it was an unforgettable trip. Destin captivated us, and we returned feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle our living room’s much-needed transformation.
Out With the Old: Saying Goodbye to Salmon Walls
Stepping back into our home, our thoughts immediately turned to the living room, specifically those salmon living room walls that have now become a thing of the past. For the last couple of months, these walls, with their rather assertive pinkish hue, dominated the space in a way we no longer found appealing. While vibrant colors can certainly make a statement, we realized this particular shade was making the room feel smaller and less serene than we desired. It was time for a change, a significant shift towards a more inviting, spacious, and neutral aesthetic that would serve as a versatile backdrop for our evolving home décor.
The Essential First Step: Meticulous Wall Preparation
Any seasoned DIY enthusiast will tell you that the secret to a flawless paint job lies in meticulous preparation, and we wholeheartedly agree. Our first order of business was to protect the surrounding areas. We carefully rolled back the carpet and draped drop cloths over furniture and flooring to shield them from any potential paint splatters. While we usually pride ourselves on neat painting, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to flying paint! Following this, we embarked on the surprisingly extensive task of spackling every single hole in the walls. It turns out, over time, a multitude of picture frames, decor items, and general wear and tear had left their mark. We opted for Dap Crackshot, a reliable choice for filling imperfections, applying it generously to each blemish. Once dry, we smoothly sanded each spackled area with a sanding block, ensuring a perfectly even surface. The final, crucial step before moving forward was thoroughly wiping and vacuuming up all the fine dust, guaranteeing a clean canvas for the primer.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Priming for a Flawless Finish
With our walls prepped, it was time for the next critical phase: priming. As is tradition for our painting duo, John and Sherry, I took on the detailed task of cutting in around all the crown molding, trim, windows, and door frames. This involves using a brush to meticulously paint the edges, ensuring sharp, clean lines where the wall meets other surfaces. Meanwhile, John expertly handled the rolling, covering the larger wall expanses efficiently. And yes, for maximum comfort and protection, we were both sporting our inside-out painting clothes! This primer coat is more than just an extra layer; it creates a uniform surface, helps the new paint adhere better, and ensures the true color of our chosen shade will shine through without being influenced by the old salmon hue.
Since we were merely transitioning from one colored wall to a lighter, more neutral tone, we didn’t require any heavy-duty primer. There was no need for stain-blocking properties or an oil-based formula, as we weren’t dealing with issues like potential wood bleed or stubborn stains. This allowed us to utilize what we already had on hand – leftover primer from a previous project where we tackled some blue and mauve doors and trim upstairs. This approach not only saved us a trip to the hardware store but also kept the project incredibly cost-effective. Choosing the right primer for your specific wall condition is key, and in our case, a general-purpose primer was more than sufficient to achieve the smooth, uniform base we needed for our fresh new look.
The Perfect Hue: Embracing Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
Remarkably, this entire living room update turned out to be a $0 project, which is always a pleasant surprise in the world of home renovations! This was possible because we decided to use the same elegant paint color that we had previously applied in our foyer: Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore. This shade is often categorized as gray, but it truly reveals itself as more of a creamy greige tone – a beautiful blend of beige and gray that offers incredible warmth and versatility. We were fortunate to have enough leftover paint to comfortably complete the living room, negating the need for any new purchases. The decision to replicate the foyer’s color was a deliberate one, designed to create a cohesive flow between spaces and amplify the sense of calm and sophistication throughout our home. We’ll delve deeper into the specific reasons behind this choice in just a moment.
Thanks to the exceptional coverage provided by the primer coat, we only needed a single coat of the Edgecomb Gray paint. This efficiency was also aided by the fact that we were only painting the upper portion of the room, as well as the numerous doors, windows, and built-ins that naturally break up the total “wall area” in this space. This combination meant our existing leftover paint was more than sufficient, allowing us to complete a significant transformation without incurring any additional expenses. It’s a testament to the power of proper preparation and smart material usage in DIY projects.
The Stunning Transformation: A Breath of Fresh Air
While choosing a neutral color like Edgecomb Gray might not be considered a “risky” design choice, its impact on our living room is nothing short of transformative. After living with those assertive salmon walls for the past two months, seeing this pleasant, serene neutral shade on our walls is truly a breath of fresh air. The room immediately feels calmer, more sophisticated, and incredibly inviting. The oppressive feeling that the vibrant pink tone once created has vanished, replaced by an atmosphere of subtle elegance that we absolutely adore. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the most profound changes come from the simplest, most thoughtful decisions in interior design.
Perhaps the coolest and most unexpected benefit of this paint swap is how much wider and more expansive the room now feels. Where the salmon walls seemed to aggressively declare their presence, almost saying “hiiiiiiii!” and drawing attention to themselves, the new neutral color gracefully recedes. This subtle visual effect makes the entire space appear larger, airier, and more open. It’s a powerful illustration of how paint color can dramatically alter one’s perception of a room’s dimensions, creating an illusion of space and depth that previously wasn’t there. The difference is truly remarkable, transforming the living room into a much more comfortable and welcoming area.
Envisioning the Future: Long-Term Living Room Design Ideas
Looking at the other side of the room, our minds are already brimming with future design possibilities. We have big dreams for this space, including eventually creating a beautiful, wide doorway in the center that will seamlessly lead into the kitchen. Flanking this new opening, we envision elegant built-in cabinets, providing both storage and display opportunities. This concept is inspired by the opening between the office and dining room in our previous home, a design element we loved. We plan to introduce an accent color on the back of these future built-ins, adding a subtle pop of personality. Furthermore, with plans to whitewash the brick on the opposite side of the room, we anticipate having two distinct and lovely focal areas. This is precisely why we opted for such a serene wall color – we didn’t want the walls to compete with or overwhelm these future design elements, ensuring the space remains harmonious and not overly busy. We’ve even been debating the idea of applying a soft blue color to the ceiling, nestled between the white coffered beams, to introduce another layer of visual interest. It’s exciting to imagine where this room will take us in terms of design evolution!
A Sofa Story: Our Enduring Love for the IKEA Karlstad
Since we’re on the topic of the living room and you’re getting a little sofa shot here, I wanted to provide an update on a frequently asked question: how we’re still liking our Karlstad sofa from IKEA. The answer is simple: we still absolutely love it! After several years of enduring life with both a dog and a kid, it’s still going strong, proving its remarkable durability. While we can only speak for our specific cover (the dark sivik gray), we can confidently vouch for its incredible resilience and, crucially, its washability – a non-negotiable feature for any family with pets and children. However, a quick glance at our console table reveals another ongoing DIY project. We still need to shorten it and properly interlock its sections. Currently, it’s a bit of a makeshift arrangement, cobbled together from the extra-long version we had in our previous house, back when our sectional was configured to be much larger. This explains that rather unfortunate, “earthquake-lookin'” crack visible behind the sofa. It’s a reminder that not all projects are perfectly finished, and sometimes, life happens while you’re renovating!
Reflecting on a Rewarding Project
But let’s circle back to the living room walls, the true focus of this transformation. We are genuinely so delighted that we dedicated an entire afternoon to “de-salmoning” them just before we embarked on our road trip. It was an investment of time and leftover paint that truly paid off. Returning home to such a lighter, brighter, and more welcoming sight was an absolute joy and affirmed that every brushstroke was worth it. The instant gratification of seeing the space so dramatically improved was incredibly rewarding, making our post-vacation return even more pleasant.
The subtle yet significant change brought about by Edgecomb Gray has elevated the entire ambiance of the room. It feels more sophisticated, more serene, and far more aligned with the aesthetic we’re striving for throughout our home. This project has injected a new sense of calm and clarity into our main living space, setting a beautiful foundation for all the other design dreams we have. It’s a prime example of how a relatively simple paint update can have a profound impact on the overall feel and function of a room.
A Wider House Perspective: Progress and Future Goals
Perhaps one of the most upgraded views in the entire house is this one, showcasing just how far we’ve come in creating a cohesive and inviting living environment. While we still have a considerable amount of wood trim to paint and three different flooring types currently in play – a testament to the ongoing nature of our renovation journey – we can proudly say we’ve made significant strides. There’s now one less room adorned with outdated wallpaper, the last remnants of blue trim have vanished, and most importantly, the living room has been successfully “de-pinked.” Each completed project, no matter how small, brings us closer to our vision of a unified and beautifully designed home.
One of the most interesting observations for us is how differently Edgecomb Gray presents itself depending on its surroundings, particularly whether it’s adjacent to wood trim or white trim. In our foyer, for instance, the color appears noticeably darker due to the stark contrast with the crisp white trim. Conversely, from certain angles in the living room, particularly against the existing wood trim, it almost takes on an off-white quality. This fascinating play of light and contrast only fuels our excitement and makes us even more anxious to continue painting throughout the house, eager to see how this versatile color adapts to different spaces and finishes. Understanding how light and surrounding elements influence paint colors is a valuable lesson in any home design project.
If you’re as captivated by this beautiful greige shade as we are, we have a dedicated post offering even more insights and additional photos of Edgecomb Gray in our house, where we delve into why it has become one of our all-time favorite paint colors. For those still on the hunt for the perfect light shade, you might also find inspiration in our comprehensive round-up of experts’ favorite white paint colors, offering a curated selection of timeless and versatile options for any home.