We decided to go for it: we tested two paint colors we already owned on the bedroom walls to see if a darker tone—something John has been advocating for months—would work better.
Remember when we mocked up a version of the room a while back? Imagine that mockup shifted toward a brown-gray, more of a putty tone instead of a blue-gray. The room already has plenty of color in the rug and bedding, so we wanted a neutral that would ground everything without competing with those accents. For the test, we tried one of our favorite smoky grays, Gray Horse by Benjamin Moore (the color we used under the chair rail in the office), and a darker, moodier brown-gray, Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore (the same color used in our attached bathroom). We were surprised by how differently the swatches read in the bedroom compared with other rooms. Gray Horse looks pretty dark in the office under the chair rail—especially against the Moonshine above the rail—but it reads much lighter and less pronounced in our bedroom.
Rockport Gray, on the other hand, was an instant win. It reads like a warm putty: equal parts mocha and gray. The photo doesn’t quite capture the warmth and subtle brown undertone, but in person it felt just right. It made the swatch area look rich and textured without feeling heavy.
I painted test swatches of each color in three strategic spots to see how they behaved on different planes and in different light:
- The wall next to the bedroom door
- The wall near the bathroom doorway
- The wall behind the bed, because we wanted the headboard to pop
On the wall behind the bed, Gray Horse was almost invisible under the right half of the mirror, while Rockport Gray further to the right made the headboard sing. Imagining that darker tone applied to the entire wall convinced us instantly: Rockport Gray was the right choice.
Choosing Rockport Gray also made sense because it already exists in our adjacent bathroom. Coordinating paint between connected spaces is common in many homes and helps the suite feel cohesive. The darker wall behind the bed allows the headboard and the brighter bedding and rug accents to take center stage. Even though Rockport Gray is a neutral, it doesn’t feel boring when you view the room as a whole—there’s enough warmth and depth to keep the space interesting. Someday we might even add a very soft light-blue ceiling to complement the moody walls, which could be a fun way to introduce another subtle layer of color.
Rockport Gray is one of the darkest colors we’ve used in this house, aside from the deep teal in the guest room and the back of the dining room built-ins. That variety of tones—some light, some saturated, some neutral—helps the house feel balanced. The palette across our home intentionally mixes punches of color with softer neutrals, so each room contributes something different to the whole composition. For example, Clara’s room has a soft pink, the kitchen and laundry bring in greeny-yellow notes, the guest room uses dark teal, and living spaces often favor light gray.
We’ve found that neutral wall colors like gray actually free us up to play more with accessories. When walls are calm, you can layer in vibrant rugs, bold headboards, colorful pillows, and standout art pieces without overwhelming the space. The office illustrates this well: neutral walls let bright art and cheerful chairs pop, creating a lively but balanced feel. The living and dining rooms follow the same approach—soft wall colors paired with colorful accents produce an inviting, layered look that feels intentional and collected.
So that’s where we are: we picked a color—Rockport Gray—and we’re moving forward. We’ll post the final after photos and a time-lapse once the paint is dry and everything is back in place. Repainting is one of the quickest, most affordable ways to change a room, and usually takes us about a day. If a color doesn’t feel right, it’s easy to change, so we don’t let indecision keep us stuck. In our first house we repainted nearly every room twice to find the right fit, so it’s funny that the bedroom here is the first room we’re repainting.
We still rely on the same method we used years ago: trial and error. It can feel risky, but it’s the best way we know to learn what we truly like and to make the house feel more like home. Rather than forcing ourselves to love a color that isn’t working, we prefer to be brave, try something new, and adjust until it feels right. Fingers crossed we finish everything by the end of the day.
P.S. We took our favorite monthly picture of Clara—she’s officially gone diva. Check out her moves on Young House Life.