Gray Dining Room Update: Benjamin Moore Steel Wool

A HOMEY, MODERN FARMHOUSE DINING ROOM

I love change. And what’s the best way to change your home? MOVE! Just joking (kind of, as this is our old home and we’ve since moved). Seriously though, paint is the best way to update any space in your home, especially when you’re on a budget.

When we bought our house in 2016 (which is my passive-aggressive disclaimer that this is not my decorating or personal style), the dark colors weighed down what was a bright, south-facing open-concept space…

And it wasn’t just the paint color. Notice the dark brown curtains hanging just above the window trim. These further weighed down the room, making the ceiling feel lower than it already was, at 8 feet. If the drapes were hung closer to the ceiling (they would also need to be longer to do that), the ceiling would look taller, although the dark brown would still make this space look heavy.

OUR DINING ROOM UPDATE

While I DO love changing colors, I feel like this one will stick (famous last words)…

I can’t tell you how painful it was to edit these photos and see that cobweb on the light. I have some decent editing skills, but not that good…(about as good as my dusting skills, so it seems).

The space between the two windows isn’t big enough for a traditional sideboard or buffet/hutch – it would look squeezed in and visually weigh the room down. However, I still needed to create some focal point, either with artwork or furniture.

Instead, I found this perfect little buffet-style cabinet at Home Sense, and my favorite mirror, EVAH, was on clearance for $77 – BAM! Several items in this one photo have sentimental value. Sure, you might see them as ‘decor,’ but I know where the heart is.

THE PAINT COLOR ON THE WALLS

This time, I stepped slightly out of my comfort zone and committed to a bit of color. Don’t get me wrong; I am far from a color-phobe; however, when it comes to my walls, I usually gravitate toward warmer, simpler neutrals. This time, Momma wanted some depth.

The color I chose was Benjamin Moore Steel Wool. Steel Wool is a medium charcoal paint color with a pretty skookum (it’s a technical term) undertone of blue and purple. I felt it was just a smidge dense for my space, so I had them lighten it by 1/4. You can see it in our entryway as well.

Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF STEEL WOOL

The trim and cabinets are Benjamin Moore Cloud White. I also chose the darker version of Steel Wool, Gray 2121-10, for the accent area in our family room.

FURNITURE, LIGHTING, & ACCESSORIES

The dining room furniture is from a local, budget-friendly store and has a leaf that’s super handy for guests. It’s not solid wood but shows WAY fewer crumbs and marks than many solid wood dining tables I’ve had, thanks to the textured finish of the veneer top.

I also love its shape. Did you know that round or oval dining room tables tend to look more inviting than square or rectangular ones? It’s a psychological thing.

As for the chandelier, I don’t love it (but have seen worse). Sure, the shape is great, and I love that it’s not hanging from a chain. And while I’m a sucker for texture (and Ryan Reynolds), the warmth of the shade gives off too warm of a glow. Sure, it’s intimate, but a room like this needs more light – cleaner light.

The view from the living room to the dining room (we have an open-concept living/dining/kitchen)

It would be impossible to tell you how IN LOVE I am with my area rug and how it connects with the dining room paint color. So, instead of telling you, I’ll drool on the keyboard for a second…okay, I’m done now.

Lastly, let’s take a close look at the texture in my home decor – while colors may come and go, I will NEVER tire of texture (and Tim.)

I also love how the warmth in the accessories balances the cool tone of the paint color/buffet. I also pulled this look through the entire open-concept space by repeating colors and wood tones for a sense of continuity. You will really see this come into play if you check out our Kitchen Makeover, which I just finished a post about!

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, UPDATED FOR GRAMMAR N’ STUFF IN 2023