Painting your walls in white might seem an extremely easy and obvious décor choice. We all agree that white is white, right? Could we think to a more neutral and universal color that goes well with everything?
Well not really, since there are so many hues and tones of white available to make this task a bit more daunting and trickier than it may seem. And I am sure you will agree if you have ever experienced the frustration of repainting your walls (or cabinets or trims) in “white” and had them turn out more yellow, more purple, or simply more “dirty looking” than what you have expected. Yes, exactly, how annoying!
To avoid costly painting mistakes, keep reading and learn some basic principles and tips on how to choose the right white paint for your home. Ready?
How to choose the right white paint for your home
#1
Understand the undertone(s) / How to choose the right white paint
This is the very basic point you should start from: understanding that even if at a naked eye all whites look similar, most of them aren’t pure white but mixed with a very light shade of color which is what give them a slightly toned appearance. This “colored appearance” is the undertone, which will definitely show up once you paint your walls.
To avoid any possible painting disaster, you need to identify the undertone – white paints have usually red, green, blue or yellow ones – and make sure it fits your house palette.
An easy trick is to hold one or more swatches up to a plain piece of printer paper or if you can to test them directly on your wall: you will immediately notice the difference and you will be so surprised seeing all those subtle undertone colors pop up! Repeat this test at various times of the day to see how each white shades reflect differently the light in the room
#2
Consider natural light / How to choose the right white paint
The amount of natural light in a space can tremendously influence the overall appearance of white paint on your walls. The general rule here is that with a lot of natural light, pure white work best, while in a darker environment, where natural light is low, toned whites – with red or yellow undertones – will maximize the overall effect of your paint.
More specifically, consider that a space with a Northern exposure won’t get direct sunlight and that the natural light coming in is cool: this will enhance any whites with blue, grey or purple undertones. Southern exposure, on the other hand, with the direct light coming in, will produce a most intense light with a warm hue.
#3
Look around you / How to choose the right white paint
Consider the room or the space you are about to repaint and assess carefully what is around you: pieces of furniture, flooring, rugs and other décor items.
Look for white tones that complement or enhance the colors ‘scheme of your space. If you have a really bold rug for example (like a Moroccan Boucherouite), you probably don’t want to paint the walls in equally strong hues. Let the rug – or any other accent item you may have – be the focal point, and keep the walls as neutral white as possible.
#4
What about the finishing? / How to choose the right white paint
Another element to take in consideration when choosing your ideal white paint is the sheen. Better a shiny or a matte finishing look?
In general, for walls it’s best to go with as little sheen as possible. Flat or matte paints will absorb most of the light, revealing the truest tones; also, they are excellent to conceal imperfections. Eggshell or satin finishing work better on living and bedrooms areas since they instantly add warmth and depth to surfaces, for an overall relaxing effect.
Paints with the highest level of shine (gloss or high gloss finishing) are more suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, trims, moldings, cabinets, doors and other architectural elements; they are highly resistant, durable and easy to clean.
#5
Matching multiple whites / How to choose the right white paint
If you plan to have multiple white elements in a single room or space, you should definitely play with different shades and tones.
If your room has trims for example, painting them in the same white as your walls will remove attention from the trim reducing drastically the transition. Using instead a contrasting tone from the trim, will add dimension and movement to the space.
|| Be inspired: 6 amazing interiors in total white
#6
Watch the bulbs! / How to choose the right white paint
Last but not least, always consider the kind of bulbs you have in your room(s), since they can dramatically change the perception of the colors you see on your walls.
Halogen and incandescent bulbs cast a yellowish light that make any tone look warmer. Led produce a blue light which will emphasize all kinds of cool whites. Bulbs that emit a white light will make your paint look as close as possible as it looks with natural daylight.
Have you found already your ideal white paint?
If you are willing to experiment with undertones and hues, have a look at the sublime Seashell, a variation of white that incorporates some of the very pale pinkish tones that are common in seashells. Find it in the “Color Trends” section of the blog!
