If you’re looking to brighten up a room, you really can’t go wrong with a coat of fresh white paint. But, considering the endless tones of white paint to choose from, finding the right shade can be a surprising challenge. Some picks can look too muddy, while others may look too bright or too pale. Below, we’ll break down how to pick that perfect white paint that will energize your space and make it look spick and span.
1. Understand Undertones
The biggest mistake in choosing a white paint is assuming that all whites are the same. Nuance is the name of the game when it come to white paint, and understanding your undertones is the way to win it. Cool hues, like whites with blue undertones, work well in rooms with plenty of natural light. The crispness of the paint balances the warmth of the sun. New York based designer Grant Gibson suggests Super White by Benjamin Moore for a white with grey cool undertones that’ll look marvelous with marble.
Textile scion Ashley Stark says you can never go wrong with Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore. It’s a cool undertone of an off-white that contains a little gray, purple, and blue.
Warm whites, or paints with a yellow or red undertone, complement natural materials like wood fittings. Chloe Redmond Warner, founder and principal of Oakland-based Redmond Aldrich Design, loves C2’s Vellum, a warm neutral with a slight orange undertone that pairs perfectly with anything green.
Interior designer Paloma Contreras also loves Benjamin Moore’s White Dove—a creamy, warm white with a slight green undertone that’s a favorite for moldings and trim.
Pure, bright whites without much undertone lend a modern starkness and contrast beautifully with bold, accent colors. For a classic, pure white, Studio Life/Style’s go-to is Farrow & Ball’s All White. While all undertones can look stunning when designed with intention, it’s important to stay consistent. Pair a cool, warm, or pure white with floors, backsplashes, and fittings with the same undertone for a sense of coordinated cohesion. If you furnishings are neutral, go with a warmer white; if they are colorful, a cool white works best.
2. See in a new light
Because white is the presence of light, sunlight and light fixtures play a big role in the true look of white walls. The key to mastering light and white walls is—you guessed it–undertones! If your lighting fixtures give off a cool light, match it with a cooler tone white paint like Benjamin Moore’s White Heron, New York-based designer Tharon Anderson’s go-to.
Another white paint that would look stunning with cool light is White on White by PPG. It’s Pittsburgh-based designer Leanne Ford’s favorite and you know you can trust a designer’s taste in white paint when their motto is #wearblackpaintwhite.
Got fixtures and bulbs that give off a warm glow? You guessed it. Go for a white paint with a toasty undertone like Acadia White by Benjamin Moore, a warm, ivory that NYC firm McGrath II swears by. The way to be sure of the temperature of your lighting is to take a look at the Kelvins of your bulbs. Lower Kelvins mean warmer lights while higher Kelvins indicates a cooler glow.
The presence of natural light also impacts the tone of white walls. Spaces with plenty of natural light are given an opportunity to truly shine in rooms with pure white walls. Susan Work of San Francisco-based HomeWork loves Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. It’s the paint that clads the Dia Beacon museum in upstate New York, Susan’s favorite art institution, and is both warm and cool, making it great for a space with lots of sunshine.
Without that natural light, opt for a paint with some pigment in to avoid a feeling of ultra-starkness. Benjamin Moore’s Simply White would look incredible in a room without natural sunshine because it has an inherent warmth to it. It’s a crisp, warm off-white that interior designer Sarah Bartholomew swears by.
3. Finish it off
Color is king, but the paint finish you choose will have a huge effect on the overall appearance of your walls, even with white. Here are the options out there and what you need to know to find just the right photo-worthy paint finish.
FLAT / MATTE
Once reserved for ceilings, this matte finish option is becoming more popular for walls, thanks to new developments that make this once impossible to clean finish newly practical. This velvety finish reflects almost no light, making it ideal for hiding wall surface imperfections.
EGGSHELL / SATIN
With just a bit of sheen, these two paint finishes are the most commonly used options for interior walls, especially in areas like the kitchen and bathroom, because of their durable and easily cleanable bit of gloss. It’s also a new, modern-leaning favorite for kitchen cabinets.
SEMI-GLOSS
This glossy finish is the general go-to for trims and anywhere that takes a heavy beating, since the extra sheen makes it extra durable. The high reflective factor though is something to keep in mind, as it will make an imperfections in the surface more visible.
HIGH GLOSS
Reflective in the extreme, a high gloss finish has been gaining in popularity over the years, especially when paired with statement colors like emerald green or a deep navy blue. Used on the ceiling it can make that surface suddenly noticeable, and it’s a fun option for doors.
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Lead Photo by Stephen Busken, Courtesy of Studio Life/Style