This post was originally published on November 12, 2019.
~~~
I was really excited when I moved into my current apartment. It was the first space that was completely my own AND I could decorate as I wanted. Woo hoo!
The walls were a blank, white, dingy canvas that totally needed brightening. Because the windows are smallish and don’t really allow much natural light in, it was important to me to use color to add some of that sense of airiness.
So I marched off to the one store I rarely ever go in because of some leftover childhood memories of it being vast and creepy. I walked straight up to that color board and started collecting all the swatches.
I chose yellows and blues and greens and some neutrals. Then I took my hoard right back to my 3rd floor living room and you know what I did? I looked at them. Deciding to toss the greens and neutrals, I focused in on the yellows and blues.
Narrowing down even further, I marched right back to that big, overwhelming store and requested samples. After purchasing the other necessaries and skipping back home in the delight of my choices, I painted squares of each option on every wall.
I took my time deliberating because I wanted to really love the shade in every sort of light. I consulted some trusted advisors.
I settled on a cheery, sunshiney yellow.
Once all was decided, it was time to paint!
And what I discovered is that I’m not a very skilled painter. Probably because I hardly ever do it.
Mostly that like anything else, practice makes perfect. It’s just kind of too bad you figure that out by the end of the project on walls you don’t stare at while watching tv.
Ce la vie, I suppose!
Regardless of the lack of skill in putting up a lick of paint, the hue is lovely. If I do say so myself. And you know what, I can because it’s my living room.
Not a lot of sunshine comes through the high windows except for early morning, so the soft yellow offers its own sunshine, of sorts.
I find, also, that it provides the perfect backdrop for all of the house things I’ve collected over the years. Between my blue sofa, my tall, black secretary, the Stickley side tables, Ghost chairs, petite sideboard, and heirloom writing desk, the yellow allows them all to take their leading roles.
I’ve never been afraid of color. I knew when I had a space of my own, I’d want to explore using color. This soft, sunshine yellow proves that color can be dynamic without being over the top. It offers such a subtle cocoon of light while the richer hues of sofa and other accent furniture anchor it all together.
