When I was a kid, nothing confused me more than my parents’ obsession with home projects. Doorknobs, baseboards, wood finishes, paint colors—these things seemed, to me, like adult forms of punishment. I remember the long hours in the paint aisle at Home Depot, my parents standing still, holding up cards with names like Swiss Coffee and Chantilly Lace, squinting, comparing, holding them to the light, then back again.

I was convinced they had lost their minds.

“They’re all the same!” I’d protest, flopping dramatically onto the nearest shelf. In return, I’d get a slow, expressionless stare—the kind only a parent can give, equal parts patience and pity.

Back then, I didn’t understand how small choices could shape a space. How something as subtle as the shade of a wall could alter the entire feeling of a room.

But things change.

Now, I can’t walk past a painted surface without noticing the tone, the texture, the way it carries the light. Paint, I’ve realized, is more than color—it’s atmosphere. It’s mood. It’s the backdrop to your morning coffee, your late-night pacing, your gatherings and quiet hours. It’s what makes a space feel soft, or expansive, or grounded.

It’s not just aesthetic. It’s emotional.

The shade matters, yes—but so does the finish. Matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss—they each do something different. A flat paint softens the light. A satin finish gives a subtle glow. Even the sheen can change how a room holds time, how it shifts from day to night.

And like most things that seem simple at first glance, it’s the nuance that makes it worthwhile.

After much trial and error (and more paint swatches than I care to admit), we’ve landed on a go-to shade of white (a thought my childhood self would roll her eyes at): Alabaster SW 7008 by Sherwin-Williams (pictured above). It’s the kind of white that holds warmth without going yellow, soft without feeling gray. It feels calm, lived-in, quietly bright. Exactly how we want our home to feel.

If you’re in the U.S. and considering a paint refresh, you can text ANNA10 to 27579 for $10 off a $50 purchase (valid for first-time Sherwin-Williams text subscribers).

Because in the end, paint isn’t just about color—it’s about how you want your space to feel!