We finished painting the guest room. And wow—it’s bold. This room looks unlike any we’ve painted before, and we absolutely love it. The color is a deep, dark teal that feels dramatic and cozy at once. Below is the most accurate photo we have of the shade (bearing in mind monitors vary):
The hue was inspired by a fabric sample—nicknamed “Sue the Napkin” in our notes—and it leans similar to a paint called Dragonfly, which we used on the backs of built-ins in another room. After holding up swatches, we preferred this tone because it reads a touch richer and less green than Dragonfly.
The paint name is Plumage by Martha Stewart, but we had it color-matched to Olympic Premium paint, choosing that brand because it’s No-VOC (including the colorants). We selected an eggshell finish for durability and ease of cleaning; it gives a soft sheen without reflecting every imperfection, which can be an issue with glossy finishes on deep tones.
At first Lowe’s had trouble getting an exact match, but our paint specialist dialed it in and got very close. If you run into matching issues, Olympic’s Azalea Leaf is an extremely similar alternative. Of course, using Martha Stewart’s Plumage directly avoids the matching step entirely.
As soon as we started rolling the new color on, there were a few nervous moments—deep colors can look patchy until they settle in. After the second coat, coverage improved dramatically and the walls read deep, rich, and even. In low light the first coat looked thin, but the second coat gave the uniform boldness we were aiming for.
Thanks to a tinted primer we applied beforehand, the paint covered remarkably well. We finished the entire room with one gallon of paint and still had a bit left over, so two coats plus primer did the trick without wasting product.
We woke up the next morning and ran into the room to admire it in daylight. It’s amazing what a $22 paint update can do to a space. We were about to shoot final photos when the new guest bed arrived 30 minutes early, so it made it into the pictures—more on the mattress and bed later.
From the adjoining guest bathroom the space feels intimate and welcoming. From the hall, the room reads bold and collected. The off-center windows will make furniture layout a little more interesting, but we plan to experiment with different arrangements until we find the one that feels right.
We also painted over a few small wall fixtures—like vents and an old phone jack that the previous owners had already painted—so they now blend with the walls. We purposely left the unpainted outlet covers untouched for a cleaner, maintained look.
After several reader requests, I filmed a cutting-in video showing how to get a clean edge next to baseboards and trim using my favorite brush. The video walks through the edging technique step by step and demonstrates how to avoid tape while still achieving a crisp line.
Looking ahead, we’d like to add crown molding and possibly refresh or lightly tint the ceiling to better complement the walls. We’ll also likely repaint the ceiling and trim with a crisper white to balance the intensity of the teal. Those updates will wait until after a few upcoming visits from family, but they’re on our project list.
With the painting done, the remaining tasks are straightforward: hang the headboard, dress the bed, install a shower curtain and bath mat for the guest bathroom, replace an old toilet seat, and hang curtains if time allows. We still need to decide on bedside tables and lamps, so we’ll see how far we get before guests arrive.
All in all, the dark teal guest room feels intentional, fun, and welcoming. Painting with a bold color has made the room feel like a designed space rather than just a spare bedroom. We can’t wait to finish the details and share the final reveal once everything is in place.