Going From Dark to Bright and Light in the Dining Room

That beautiful blue paint color is called Cyberspace, and I first used it on our tall fireplace in the family room nearby. I liked the idea of continuing that color into this space. 

But for the past year or so it's felt heavy to me, and I've been looking into lighter paint colors to brighten up the room. 

I was looking for a lighter neutral color, but something with warmth to it. I considered some green colors for a bit: 

But I already have plenty of green accents throughout our main level. 

Instead, I kept going back to this "warm and welcoming" paint palette I picked up at Sherwin-Williams: 

After months of considering the different colors, I finally made a decision and went with Pachyderm by SW. 

I had it mixed in a satin finish and got started painting over the dark blue. Colby observed from the ladder, as always: 

• Clean any dust and dirt off trim and/or baseboards, even if you are going to tape them off. You'll want a clean surface for the painter's tape to stick to. 
• Use nail filler and/or caulk to fill any holes in the wall or gaps along trim. 
• If you're not going to cut in (paint along trim and ceiling without tape), use your painter's tape to tape everything off. FrogTape is my absolute favorite painter's tape!
• I cut in with a brush first, along the ceiling and trim. I like to do that first because I can cover any brush marks with the roller later. 
• By the time you're done cutting in or painting around the trim, you can start rolling the flat surfaces with your paint roller. I use these 3/8 inch nap rollers for flat (no texture) walls. 

Filling those holes and gaps makes a HUGE difference! So much better. 

It took me about five hours over two days, but the difference was immediate! It felt SO much brighter and SO MUCH more open when we walked into this space!: 

The color is so lovely and warm, especially at night. It's so soothing. 

This Pachyderm paint color would be lovely in bedrooms or bathrooms. 

It looks great against the brass accents in this room as well. I was a little worried the light console table would blend in too much, but it turned out to be a beautiful combo: 

I LOVE that tabletop picture easel I found at Michael's. They only had a brass color in stock so I spray painted it black. :) 

When I was looking at colors, I wanted to make sure it would play nicely with the wallpapered hallway off of this space. This paint looks great with the navy blue accents: 

And I just love how the lighter neutral color looks with the crisp white trim and cabinets!

For DAYS it was shocking when we walked in here, the difference was huge. The lighter color really did open up the space: 

It also gives me more options for accent colors. The change was perfect for the summer, but will look beautiful against the deep, warm colors of the fall and holidays. 

As I was painting the room, I decided on my next project in here. I'd love to add a little more character to the front of the built in window seat: 

Stay tuned for that update!

This room literally feels like a breath of fresh air now:

Do you prefer rich, darker walls or lighter and brighter rooms? I love both! What a difference a couple of coats of paint will do to a space!