A New Look for the Living Room

A huge thank you to Behr for providing the paint for this transformation! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. 🙂 For more information, see my disclosures here.

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Friends, I have been waiting to do this project for a LONG time, and I am so excited that the day is finally here! This past weekend we finally repainted our main living area! Woohoo! You see, when we bought our house five years ago, we painted almost every room the “in” color at the time, a darkish tan. The problem was that we are in a townhouse, and even being an end unit, we still only have windows in the front and back, none on the sides. Darkish paint + limited light = cave-like dwelling. And since I stay at home with the Cs, I spent a LOT of time in that cave-like dwelling.

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Cave.

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Christmas Cave.

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Cave when We Used to Have Carpet.

So this weekend with the help of my awesome parents, Donnie and I set about painting the main living space in the house, which is made up of the dining room, the Cs’ toy area, and the living room. {Wasn’t it so nice of me to let my dad and husband help me paint my house for Father’s Day? Best daughter/wife ever. 😉 }

I was excited to get to work with Behr’s new line of Marquee paint, and since the color we chose was going to be covering a large part of our home, I tested out a lot of samples to make sure we found the perfect one. We ended up going with Gray Shimmer in an eggshell finish, and (spoiler alert!) I LOVE the way it turned out!

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Oh yes, that’s a five gallon bucket! We needed a ton of paint for this job!! Since I was paranoid about messing up the baseboards I had spent so much time painting, I used Tape ‘n Drape to cover them so I didn’t have to worry as much if I dripped.

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

We had a little system going– the men (my dad and Donnie) went around with brushes and worked on the trim while the women (my mom and I) used the rollers to paint the rest of the wall. My all time favorite tip for using rollers to paint is to line the tray with foil– it makes cleanup SO much easier!

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

It didn’t take long to be able to tell that the new color was going to make a world of difference in the room. The space felt lighter and brighter right away, and I knew we had made the right choice!

Want to see?

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Our once-dark and dingy living room is now light, bright, and happy!

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

{Hey! How did that picture from tomorrow’s summer home tour sneak in there?! 😉 }

The Cs’ toys once lived in a dreary cave, but now it’s more like a heavenly playroom oasis!

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

And the dining room which once seemed small and closed-in now feels open and spacious!

Painting the Living Room at JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

So much better, right?! It’s amazing what a little bit of {super awesome} paint can do! I’m excited to announce that this is my first post as one of Behr’s DIY Experts, which means that I will be bringing you a new stunning transformation with Behr Marquee paint each month. And if this month is any indication, it’s going to be pretty incredible!

Behr DIY Expert

Be sure to pop back in tomorrow to see even more pictures of the transformation as part of my summer house tour! A lot has changed since the spring tour, so you won’t want to miss it! See you then!

Delightful Sign Off

I link up at these fun parties!

A huge thank you to Behr for providing the paint for this transformation! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. 🙂 For more information, see my disclosures here.

 

47 Comments

  1. Karen @ a house full of sunshine says:

    I love it! What a transformation. Feels so light and airy, and so much happier!

  2. Holly @ Coconutheadsurvivalguide says:

    HI Abby – You have such beautiful taste! I love the transformation and you are right, it really does brighten your home. New office… new paint… new book… you are a rocking it lady! Hugs, Holly

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aww, thank you so much, friend! You are the best! <3

      ~Abby =)

  3. Katie @ Little House of Four says:

    What a transformation! I love the color and it does really brighten up the space! Isn’t it amazing how a little paint can make your house seem so much larger?

    1. justagirlabby says:

      YES! I never realized how cramped I was feeling until we put on the new color and it was like I could breathe a deep breath again or something! Crazy! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Katie!

      ~Abby =)

  4. Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says:

    What a difference! So much brighter and fresher! Love it 🙂

  5. Emily @ My Love for Words says:

    I LOVE it!! So pretty.

  6. Christine says:

    I’m in LOVE!!!!!

  7. Oh my goodness Abby. This is SUCH an amazing transformation. Love the brighter look and the color you chose is perfection!

  8. Selene Galindo says:

    What a fabulous difference!!! Love your new paint color! Your spaces now look brighter, bigger and more you! That’s so sweet of your parents to help out! Can’t wait for your Summer Home Tour!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Yes, my parents are awesome about that kind of stuff. Actually, Donnie’s are too, so we’re spoiled! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, friend!

      ~Abby =)

  9. I just love the new color! Makes me want to repaint our bedroom.

  10. Ariean @OneKriegerChick says:

    Looks great Abby! I’m amazed at how quickly you did it! Love the brightness it creates!
    ~Ariean

  11. Elizabeth {Real Inspired} says:

    Great transformation! Our living room is our current cave and I so want to paint it something light now that I’m out of my brownish wall phase. Just biding my time until hubby’s on board! Can’t wait to see your home tour!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Oh those hubbies! Mine is often hesitant about my ideas until I find something similar online and show him what I mean. Once he sees it for himself, he’s all about it! Silly guys– don’t they know to trust us by now? 😉 Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  12. Abby,
    I love the new color! When we moved into our house all the walls were a medium country blue. We painted over them with a color similar to yours and we absolutely love it. Good choice in color. You’ll be able to do a lot with it.
    Hugs & Blessings …
    Lani

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thanks so much, Lani! Good to know you’re loving the similar color in your home, too! Hopefully I’ll stick with this one for a while! 😉 Have a great week!

      ~Abby =)

  13. LOVE how open and airy this looks! Paint color can make such a difference, as can wood floors!

  14. That looks wonderful! Love the color. I am always amazed at what a difference paint makes.

  15. Looks great and so much brighter!! I have dark teal in my living room and dinning room right now and am kinda itching to go with a lighter color too… trends change! The dark color was really hip 6 years ago lol but I think you’ve inspired me 🙂

  16. Love the new color! It DOES look so much brighter which should make you all happier! I also love the chevron rug! 😉

  17. Let there be light!
    What a great change 🙂

  18. Yasmina @ Mina and Her Blog says:

    Abby, my eyes were hurting after seeiing the after picture(haha). What a difference ! it looks AMAZING. I have been sneaky loving BEHR paintings colors, fingers crossed whether they are also available in the UK.

    Yasmina

  19. Melissa @ A Prudent Life says:

    Wow! Even the furniture looks different, especially in the dining room! Great color choice. We picked a tan color when we built our house 2 1/2 years ago and I’ve got the bug to start covering it up room by room.

  20. It looks great!

  21. So much brighter! Love painting with lighter colors just keeps the room so open and airy. My house is the same only windows on the front and back of the house. so I understand the cave feeling : )

    Deb
    Seeking Lavender Lane

  22. Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says:

    I wish I could transform my living room. It resembles a (terribly ugly) cave, and there’s a full size drum set taking up half of it. Yeah. I want to repaint, but I don’t have a clue which color of paint would make a room seem more open, but would match with out brown couch (and rug). There aren’t any windows in the room, so it’s terribly dark and yellow (due to the light bulb) in the room. Grrrr. I have no sense of home design. Love the transformation, Abby! 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you, Margaret Anne! A lot of days I feel like I have no sense of design either, lol. I look at a lot of pictures of other spaces to figure out what works in rooms and what doesn’t. A lot of times other people will mix colors or patterns in a way I never had thought of before, and I draw inspiration from that. Sometimes I just go with something on a whim and hope it works out! 😉 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  23. Julie at Being Home says:

    Wonderful transformation! The color is perfect and adds a lighter and spacious feel to the rooms. How do you like the Marquee Paint line? How is it different from the other paints? I use the Behr paint line too, so I am curious as to the difference. 🙂

    Again, wonderful makeover! 😀

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thanks, Julie! I really love the Marquee paint! It goes on really smoothly and gives great coverage. The color palette is awesome too! I’m a fan! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  24. Love this transformation and that paint color is perfect!!

  25. Kim@NewlyWoodwards says:

    Oh my gosh, I totally just ordered a sample of this color. It looks SO good in your space. Total transformation.

    And I’m pretty sure I had that same wall color in our first house.

    Pinning.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      I really love the Gray Shimmer! I can’t wait to see how you use it! Thanks so much for your sweet words, Kim! Have a great week!

      ~Abby =)

  26. The DIY Homegirl says:

    Looks great! The gray you chose is perfect—not too pale and not too dark. It really opens up your space!

  27. Renee Beaucage says:

    I love this colour, Abby! I’ve always been a big fan of the grey palate. It really does brighten up your home!

  28. Alicia | The Dumbbelle says:

    What a difference! I absolutely love the new color – it’s perfect!

  29. the cape on the corner says:

    love the new lighter color. i have to deal with a tan beige boring color in my living room and stairs, so i was constantly changing the curtains for a more updated feel. enjoy your new space!
    b

  30. Sarah @Little Red Brick House says:

    It looks so good, Abby! All of your decor pops next to the new color! You must have some major muscles because I can’t stand rolling the paint. I always make my hubby do it while it cut-in around the trim and ceiling. 😉

    1. justagirlabby says:

      See, I do end up sore after the rolling, but I’m not patient enough to do trim work, so the rolling is the lesser of two evils. 🙂 It actually went pretty quickly this time with so much help, and the results were worth it!! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Sarah!

      ~Abby =)

  31. Amy @ Paul's Carpet Cleaning Melbourne says:

    The place looks amazing now! It’s hard to believe how just some fresh paint can completely change the outlook of the entire room. You did a great job with the painting too – the colour is even and the brush work is professional. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your new living room!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thanks so much, Amy! 🙂

      ~Abby =)

  32. Jasmin@Ozcleaningsolutions says:

    Simply Outstanding, Entire Living room looks so refreshing and with Style. ! Bravo …
    Great job with painting and design. This inspire me to do something with my daughter room.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, thanks so much! Have a wonderful weekend! <3

      ~Abby =)

  33. Carmen Curley says:

    Hello Abby you did a great job. I also have a cave like living room and dining room. I bought several samples and one of them is Gray Shimmer. Question, what color did you paint the ceiling?

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Hi, Carmen! The ceiling was already white when we moved in, so we just left it. I’m not sure what the original white paint color was. So sorry about that!

      ~Abby =)

  34. Hi. What’s the specific color of the wall? Ty

    1. Abby Lawson says:

      Hi Mae! It is Behr Marquee Gray Shimmer in an eggshell finish. Hope you have a great week!

      ~Abby =)

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