It was a crisp January day when our dining room walls received their initial trio of gray test swatches, a hopeful prelude to a long-awaited transformation. Little did we know, this seemingly simple decision would kick off a four-month saga of anticipation, procrastination, and ultimately, immense satisfaction.
The choice of the perfect soft gray paint color itself took mere days. However, the actual act of painting the dining room? That, my friends, stretched into an impressive, or perhaps embarrassing, four-month delay. Such is the unpredictable rhythm of home improvement projects, often punctuated by bursts of activity followed by periods of quiet contemplation (or outright laziness, let’s be honest).
The Great Dining Room Painting Delay: A Common DIY Dilemma
One might wonder what could possibly cause such a significant delay in a home decor project. Was it sheer procrastination, or a series of well-intentioned distractions? Perhaps a combination of both. In January, we were deeply immersed in painting the living room and hallway with the same unifying gray hue, a project that consumed our energy and evenings. February brought the joyous anticipation of Sherry’s mom’s visit, prompting us to focus on completing the guest room – a worthy cause, no doubt. Then, as spring arrived, our attention shifted outdoors, consumed by patio and party preparations for Clara’s birthday celebrations. Each project, while fulfilling in its own right, pushed the dining room further down the priority list.
It’s a pattern familiar to many DIY enthusiasts: a spontaneous bounce from one project to the next, often leaving certain spaces in a state of ‘dormancy’ for months. This dining room became a prime example of that particular habit. But finally, something clicked. A renewed burst of energy, perhaps guilt, or simply the desire for a truly finished space, spurred us into action. The transformation, though subtle, was impactful. The room transitioned from its pre-paint state, marked by those lingering test swatches, to a beautifully cohesive space.
To this:
Discovering the Perfect Soft Gray: Benjamin Moore’s Moonshine
For those viewing online, the difference might not leap off the screen. But in person, the impact of this soft gray paint is undeniable. It elevates the room, lending a polished and sophisticated air that was previously missing. And yes, the lingering test swatches, those silent reminders of our procrastination, are finally gone! The chosen color, Benjamin Moore’s Moonshine, is a shade we’ve come to adore. We specifically color-matched it to Olympic Premium No-VOC paint for its eco-friendly properties, having stocked up three gallons in anticipation months ago. This beautiful, versatile gray has already proven its worth in our living room and hallway, seamlessly adapting to various lighting conditions and proving its perfection time and again.
Why Choose a Soft Gray for Your Dining Room?
Soft gray paint colors, like Moonshine, offer a myriad of benefits for any home decor project, especially in high-traffic areas like a dining room. They act as a sophisticated neutral backdrop, allowing furniture, artwork, and decorative accents to truly shine. Moonshine, in particular, possesses an inherent ability to create a calming, inviting atmosphere without feeling cold or sterile. It has just enough warmth to avoid being a stark gray, making it incredibly adaptable to different design styles, from modern minimalist to cozy traditional.
One of our primary goals was to create a cohesive flow throughout these interconnected spaces. By using the same soft gray in the dining room, living room, and hallway, we’ve achieved a sense of continuity and unity. The kitchen, strategically positioned in the middle of these areas, will eventually introduce a slightly bolder color to provide a pop of interest and a focal point within the neutral canvas.
The subtle yet profound transformation wrought by a fresh coat of paint becomes even more apparent when viewing the unpainted and painted room shots side-by-side. Notice how the simple addition of color brings definition, allowing architectural details like crown molding and trim to stand out with greater emphasis. The room now boasts a crispness and an intentional design aesthetic that was absent before. It’s truly amazing how a single shade of paint can uplift an entire space, making it feel complete and thoughtfully designed.
The power of paint to transform a room from “forgotten” to “finished” never ceases to amaze us. This is particularly true when it comes to finally covering up those persistent test swatches that had become such a part of the wall, we barely noticed them anymore. It often took friends asking, “Which color did you pick?” for us to even remember their presence. (For the record, it was the bottom swatch that won our hearts.)
Unexpected Discoveries and Design Accents
The application of this subtle gray also brought a few delightful surprises. We hadn’t fully appreciated the substantial nature of the crown molding in this room until it was freshly painted; it’s nearly twice as thick as any other in the house! The soft gray paint beautifully complements the built-ins on the back wall, allowing them to remain the focal point while still adding that ethereal, “in-a-cloud” vibe. It truly makes the room feel polished and complete, or at least as complete as it can be without the addition of curtains, art, and entryway furniture – all projects earmarked for the future.
A Breezy Paint Project (Compared to Others)
Compared to previous painting endeavors, this dining room project was surprisingly quick and straightforward. Unlike the living room, which involved tedious coats of white paint over pesky wood-toned molding, the dining room presented no such challenges. We were also thankful that this room didn’t require the additional effort of painting ceiling beams, a task that significantly extended the living room renovation. By comparison, this dining room was truly a piece of cake.
We tackled the first coat together during Clara’s morning nap – Sherry expertly cutting in edges while I handled the rolling. The second coat was a relaxed affair, completed in shifts after a family lunch, with one of us on Clara duty while the other continued painting. The ease of the process only served to highlight the absurdity of our four-month delay. It was so laid-back that Sherry even managed to squeeze in a phone call with her blogger BFF, Katie B, during the process.
The Unconventional Painter’s Attire
Speaking of relaxed, take a closer look at the photo above. Those white tags on Sherry’s attire tell a unique story. What appears to be an ordinary black sweatsuit (a nod to her proud New Jersey roots) is, in fact, an inside-out black sweatsuit! This ingenious choice means her actual pajamas, when worn the right way, remain pristine and paint-free. A clever, if unconventional, approach to painting attire, challenging all conventional fashion rules – and perhaps an inspiration for the show “What Not To Wear!”
We even attempted, and then swiftly deleted, a slightly more risqué, PG-13 version of the photo below. Let’s just say it involved showcasing the “moon” in “Moonshine by Benjamin Moore,” a moment where the stark contrast between my upper arms and, shall we say, other areas, became hilariously apparent. I’ll give you a moment to conjure that mental image… Okay, stop! You’re starting to creep me out.
The Blank Canvas Effect: What’s Next for the Dining Room?
All tomfoolery aside, we are incredibly relieved to finally live in a test-swatch-free home. The immediate satisfaction of crisp, clean walls is profound. But as often happens in the world of home renovation, completing one project invariably sparks ideas for the next. These beautifully painted, blank-canvas gray walls are practically begging for further embellishment. It would truly be a shame to leave them unadorned for too long.
Our minds are already buzzing with future plans for this space. Top of the list is creating a huge opening to the kitchen, which will dramatically improve flow and light. We’re also eager to hang elegant curtains, add meaningful art to personalize the space, and finally tackle dyeing those off-white chair slipcovers to better complement the new aesthetic. Each of these elements will layer onto the existing foundation, transforming the dining room into a truly unique and inviting space that reflects our style and personality.
Of course, knowing our track record, these ambitious plans might materialize in a month or two… or perhaps another four. You know how we roll! The journey of home improvement is rarely a straight line, but rather a meandering path filled with delightful detours and unexpected pauses. It’s all part of the charm, isn’t it?
Join the Conversation!
Have you embarked on any painting projects recently? Are you, like Sherry, a proponent of the inside-out pajamas-as-painting-clothes philosophy? Or have you found yourself living with test swatches on your walls for what feels like an eternity? Share your stories in the comments below – we’d love to know we’re not alone in our DIY adventures and occasional eccentricities!
Psst: For those looking for practical tips on how we approach painting a room, our detailed guides are invaluable. Check out this post on painting a room YHL-style, this guide on painting trim like a pro, and the helpful video embedded in this post about paint buckets. Happy painting!
Psst again: We’re also over on BabyCenter, sharing our creative process for making some truly swanky photo books for our moms. Because sometimes, waiting for a book to be “published” makes a late Mother’s Day gift perfectly acceptable, right?