Before & After: A Well-Chosen Paint Color Saves a Drab Bedroom
When we purchased our house two years ago, the only word that accurately described our bedroom was “depressing.” As you can see in the before photo, we were the proud owners of a clanking window unit, a rusty radiator, and one window shade— all contained within four drab, off-white walls. I forced a smile and tried to tell myself that it was a “blank canvas” not “utterly dreadful,” which was the phrase that really kept flitting through my mind.
My husband Mark and I decided to give the room an entirely different look. I wanted to rip out everything and start fresh— new carpet, new shades, new wall color. But budgets being very real things, I had to work within realistic parameters. Basically, we could paint the walls. So, we decided to go bold.
Because our bedroom faces north, we get very little natural light during the day and usually only in the morning. I was afraid going too pale on the walls would make the room seem yellow and dingy, a feat already accomplished by the off-white color. Instead, I wanted the room to feel cozy, warm, and sophisticated. We took a risk and chose a dark charcoal grey wall color called “Arabian Veil” by Behr Paint.
I loved the color from the first paint-stroke. The dark grey has a purple-blue undertone that shows up differently in different lights. It changes over the course of the day and works well the blue accents in the room.
The antique window (a $45 yard sale find) makes a big statement hanging above our bed and sets the mood for the entire room. It serves well as both headboard and art. The paintings are my own creation while everything else— the bedding, curtains, and furniture— just kind of came together over time. All in all, I love our master bedroom. It really encapsulates our home’s style. It’s cheerful and cozy at the same time, with lots of layered textures and bright jewel tones.
Thank you, Abigail! You can see more of Abigail’s bedroom revamp on her blog Patina & Purl.