Two gallons of Blue Fjord Pittsburgh Paint, a new roller pan and brush had lived in the corner of my utility room for about twenty hours before buyer’s remorse started to set in. That was two days after Christmas, after I had bravely marched into the store and asked a nice lady at the paint counter to help me figure out what kind of paint would work best for a bedroom. 

I was so certain I was doing the right thing at that moment. This is going to look amazing! After all, the room gets plenty of light to offset the dark color and an entire wall is covered by tall bookshelves laden with part of my book collection, I told the paint counter lady. 

And then doubt and uncertainty began to crowd in. I would wake up in the night thinking the shade would be too dark. It would be oppressive. This went on until I finally put on my big girl pants and started painting Friday night. I actually spent my lunch break moving furniture and patching nail holes before painting a large swath of one small wall to see how it looked. 

And you know something? I should have trusted my instincts. I think the results are great. In the light of day, it’s rich and bold. As the light wanes, it becomes moody and cozy – perfect for a restful night’s sleep. 

Isn’t that how things go sometimes? You make a great choice but a nagging little voice starts asking needless questions that nearly ruin the whole thing. 

So I have a new blue bedroom. Here’s a photo from last night. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a decent daytime photo so you get the night view which isn’t quite as impressive.

Since it’s still January and No Spend Challenge time, I shopped my house and found things to finish the room. I may eventually buy some curtains but, for now, I’m happy with my old curtains. They’re actually turquoise but they look blue against the wall, lending a nice monochromatic feel to the room. They’re also blackout curtains and help to keep the room warm.

There are a couple of other things to buy – some rub and buff to update a couple of black picture frames and a small area rug come to mind. I have a new comforter to put on the bed when the weather warms. For now, I’ll keep out the winter plaid quilt and warm throw. I’m going to buy the rub and buff my next trip to the store. It will be useful for a variety of immediate projects and an inexpensive supply that I can justify because I have nothing on hand to use in its place.  The rug can wait till I find the right thing someday.

I’m no decorator but I like surrounding myself with things that make me happy. The walls were a light, bright creamy yellow for a lot of years. That served me well but I was ready to embrace a completely new style and a color palette that will soothe my tired mind and create a warm, peaceful retreat. 

Mission accomplished, I think. 

Unfortunately, the bathroom now looks really shabby. That will be more than a coat of paint since it’s well past time to rip out the carpet and replace the flooring. Honestly, who wants carpet in a bathroom, anyway?

For now though, I’ll focus on those pretty blue walls and hope they bring many sweet dreams.