When we moved into our townhouse ten years ago, the living room was our very first DIY project—and it transformed the whole space. I’m revisiting this story now because I’m refreshing those same walls (still using Simply White by Benjamin Moore), so it felt like the perfect time to share how it began.
Paint color dramatically changes how a room feels. Before we moved in, I told myself I’d live with the existing color for a while before choosing anything new. That resolve lasted about five minutes.
The first thing I tackled was an odd 1990s ceiling detail around the perimeter. We jokingly called it “the racing stripe.”
Although it was painted neatly, that stripe made the room feel compressed, like the walls were closing in.
With boxes still stacked everywhere, we grabbed leftover ceiling paint (White Heron by Benjamin Moore) and painted over the stripe. Visually, the room immediately felt bigger.
Even after removing the stripe, a larger problem remained: the space was very dark. That was true even on rare sunny winter days here on the rainy West Coast.
There’s no overhead lighting in the living room, so evenings were especially gloomy despite every lamp we owned being switched on. We decided the room needed to be white—but finding the right white proved surprisingly difficult.
I made multiple trips to the paint store to collect samples that looked pretty and bright under store lighting. Each one seemed different once taped to our own walls.
At one point I borrowed large paint swatches from a friend and taped them in several spots around the room. I watched how each shade changed throughout the day and compared them against an inspiration pillow to see how they coordinated with fabrics and furnishings.
Choosing a white was more challenging than I expected. I wanted something warm and inviting, not sterile, but not beige or muddy either. After a lot of testing, I settled on Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
Simply White felt warm without leaning too yellow or too cool, and it read consistently across the different parts of the room.
Once we had the paint, we pushed furniture together and began the makeover. Painting a small space brought its own logistical headaches—furniture moved around all day and we kept tripping over things—but the effort paid off.
The new color brightened the room and made it feel more open and welcoming. It’s a paint we still love years later.
Here’s a simple comparison to show the difference:
Before (Benjamin Moore Natural Linen):
After (Simply White by Benjamin Moore):
Simply White brightens the room without feeling cold or clinical, which works especially well in a small, darker space.
This project was part of a One Room Challenge. If you want to follow the series, look for the earlier One Room Challenge posts and the original reveal of our townhouse living and dining room.
One Room Challenge To Do List:
- Change out light fixtures.
(One done, one to go.) Paint the bizarre brown racing stripe around the perimeter of the room’s ceiling out.Paint out the dreadfully dark builder’s beige color.- Add feature walls of interest in the dining area.
- Develop smarter storage solutions.
- Reconfigure the entryway closet for better function and style.
- Hang artwork.
- Improve lighting to brighten the room during day and night.
- Shop for a new sofa and chairs (maybe a long-term goal).
- Consider a new rug.
Update: The One Room Challenge is long finished. The space has since been updated and decorated for different seasons; you can look for subsequent tours and seasonal updates from the original project series.
More Paint Color Tips
After choosing paint colors for many rooms over the years, I’ve learned what matters: view swatches on your actual walls, observe color at different times of day, compare samples to your textiles and furniture, and test large swatches rather than tiny chips. These steps make it easier to choose a paint color you’ll love long term.
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