A social media user has highlighted a frequent painting blunder that can leave a room feeling overwhelmingly oppressive, but she has also revealed a remarkably straightforward solution.
The 'Suffocating' Decorating Error
Derya Berber took to Instagram to share her experience with a decorating choice that went wrong. She had painted her entire living room, including the ceiling, in a deep green shade that she initially adored. While the room photographed beautifully, creating a 'moody' aesthetic, the reality of living in the space was entirely different.
Derya found the uniformly dark room felt 'heavy' and 'closed in', to the point where she actively avoided spending time there. She described the atmosphere as 'suffocating', a stark contrast to her love for the colour itself.
The Simple and Effective Solution
Instead of undertaking a full redecoration, Derya implemented a clever and targeted fix. She repainted only the top section of the walls and the ceiling, choosing a much lighter colour. This single change had a dramatic effect, allowing light to bounce around the room more effectively and completely altering the feel of the space.
She reported that the room immediately felt 'perfect' after the adjustment and has since become one of her favourite areas in the house. Her advice to others is clear: if you are unhappy with a paint job, do not be afraid to experiment with altering specific elements before starting from scratch.
Learning from Decorating Mistakes
In her social media post, Derya reflected on the learning experience. 'We all make mistakes - especially when decorating,' she wrote. 'I love colour and experimenting, but I have to admit I got it wrong with this one. Our north-facing living room looked beautiful in photos, but living in it felt heavy and closed in. It's a good reminder - always decorate for how a space feels, not just how it looks.'
She also clarified that she has not written off the technique of 'colour drenching'—painting everything in a room one colour—entirely, but concluded it was not the right choice for that particular room.
The post resonated with many commenters, who praised her honesty and found her solution inspiring. One person noted it was helpful to see a project that did not go perfectly, while another thanked her for providing a way to salvage a room they thought was beyond saving.
In a related trend, another couple recently shared their own painting hack online, explaining they have ditched brilliant white paint for woodwork. They opted for a softer shade called 'drop cloth' by Farrow & Ball, which they say creates a gentler transition from walls to woodwork and is easier to maintain than stark white.
