How to Choose a White Paint
How to choose the right white paint?
All things Considered; Undertones and Temperature, Does size matter? Coordinating with existing color palettes, Lighting & Location.
We reveal our go-to white paint colors
&
Never judge a paint color by it’s swatch! Put that swatch to the test.
And last but not least…Sheen
the “right” White paint
We are often asked what are our favorite white paint colors... But isn’t white the absence of color? Not when it comes to white paint.
Thank the heavens for all the varieties of white paint, yes it’s bit overwhelming but… oh how it can drastically transform a space. If you have ever lived in an old dark space, and then decided to pull out the wood paneling and orange carpeting to find that your space wasn’t dark, the light just needed a surface to bounce off of, then you know the power of white paint.
Did you know that it’s a basic physics fact that white surfaces reflect more light and therefore remain cooler while dark colors absorb light? That’s why dark cars get hotter in the sun than light cars.
Aren’t all white paints the same?…if you have ever gone to a paint store looking for a white paint you have probably felt that overwhelming, endlessly daunting task of having to choose the “right” white. We get Goldilocks syndrome— this one is too yellow, too gray, too creamy, too cold… too warm… to white? haha yes, we have all been there. You end up coming home with 20 white paint swatches and then discovering that they all look completely different in your home. So you head back to the store and this time you come back with the entire booklet of whites, then you start scouring the internet for interior designers advice on the best white paints.
And now you’re reading this article hoping to get some answers…well I think we have come up with a few things to consider choosing the “right” white paint.
All Things Considered
Undertones and Temperature
Consider how you want you to feel…are you wanting your space to feel airy and fresh, what better way than to paint your space with white paint. If you are wanting to brighten up your space and give it a clean modern feel stay focused on white paints with a cool undertone.
White Paints vary in undertone and temperature.
If you’re wanting to create a more natural, cozy retreat, look for white paints with a warmer undertone.
For example: Sherwin Williams Shoji White has a red undertone, this helps create a warm, soft and cozy space. While Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace has a blue undertone, this helps create a cool open airy space.
Does the size of my space matter?
Yes. Warmer undertones will make a space feel more intimate. If your space is small and you are wanting it to feel more expansive, than you should choose a white with cooler undertones. If you have large space with high ceilings and you want to help create a more intimate space, than choosing a white paint with warmer undertones can help you achieve that look and feel.
Fabrics & Furnishings
All things considered, take inventory of your existing color palette. Are the colors cool or warm? if you have a warm palette (pink, orange, red, yellow) you will want to chose a white paint that also has a warmth to it. If your palette is cool (blue, purple, green) you will want to lean towards a white paint with cool undertones.
Also consider how light will reflect off these surfaces onto your newly painted white wall. Imagine how a deep blue rug will reflect onto a white wall.
Lighting/Location
Lighting in the home or space can affect the appearance of paint. Consider the direction of the exposure, how close the painted wall will be to a window. Sunlight and artificial lighting all affect the look. Sunlight (natural light) varies throughout the day. The direction your home/space is facing can also have an affect. House Logic has a great article on selecting paint colors. Here is a little excerpt on sunlight’s affects on color.
House Logic: How To Not Regret The Paint Color you Choose
Artificial light changes with the type of bulb you use. There are incandescent, fluorescents, halogens, CFLs and LEDs. They all do something different in your space: Incandescent lights give off a warm, yellow light. Fluorescents are flat and cool which enhances blues and greens. Halogens are a white light resembling natural light. It’s a lot to consider isn’t it?… Are you still with me? Here’s another excerpt on light bulbs’ affects on color from House Logic.
House Logic: How Not to Regret the Paint Color you Choose
I know, I know, it’s a lot to consider. Sometimes trusting your designer is our best advice. It’s nice to pay someone else to consider all these things. But if that’s not in your plans, we know you can do this. We are often asked our favorite white paint colors.
Here are our top go-to paint colors we use to create fresh, timeless, modern spaces.
Don’t judge a paint color by its swatch
It’s time to put that swatch to the test. We highly recommend purchasing samples of the paint, and if you can, paint large swatches on your walls or panels you can move around the space. Do two coats of paint, and let the paint dry before you make any hasty decisions. Notice the paint throughout the day as the light changes, notice how it looks in artificial lighting as well. When choosing the “right” white, or any paint color, try to consider the following: undertones & temperature of the paint, size of your space, fabrics & furnishings and lighting (natural/artificial).
Last but not Least…Sheen
Let’s consider the paint sheen which also affects color. Glossy finishes will reflect light and change the way the color looks. Flat finishes are less reflective and allow colors to look true under bright light.
We found an awesome guide on House logic to help you find the right sheen. We often recommend eggshell as our go-to sheen. It’s somewhere between satin and flat. It’s a flat (no-shine) finish with a little luster, seriously like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell is great to cover wall imperfections, and is a good finish for gathering spaces (which typically don’t get a lot of scuffs) such as living rooms and dining rooms.
phew…. so much to take into consideration. Feel free to leave comments below with any questions. We would love to help you with paint color questions. Or go to our website and check out our design services if this was a little too much.
|With love, Liz
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