Simplify colour: how to choose the right white paint for your home

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Jun 1

Ok, you’re sold on lightening up your home and going with a white or off-white paint that will withstand trends and brighten your space. But then you see how many white and off-white paint chips are at the hardware store and you start to re-think that strategy. You’re not alone!

Seriously, choosing a white paint colour can be paralyzing, right? Why are there so many shades? Can anyone really tell the difference? And why do the thousands of recommendations from designers and bloggers online only seems to confuse you only more?

My clients know I’m the “paint-it-white gal” so they’re always asking which white to choose. I tell them: keep it simple.

the simple guide to choosing the right white paint for your home — The Simple Way to Choose the Right White - my hallway is SW Pure White and the trim is untinted white

Look, I'm all about simplifying. Everything. That includes my home, my calendar and paint colour. Even my espresso order (it’s a soy latte BTW).

Yes, I'm a decorator and I have those huge decks of colour chips. But I go to only a few tried and true whites every time I choose one for myself or a client. And the results are amazing every time.

Because let's get real.

Most folks like you and me are not going to be able to tell the difference between white, extra white or pure white on your walls in most situations.

Stop overthinking it.

Use the guidelines and my favourite white colour choices below, keep it simple and be done with it.

That said...

I do understand that painting is time-consuming and you want to get it right the first time around. If you really don't feel comfortable choosing a colour on your own, hire a designer who can give you a personalized recommendation based on your space and the light it gets.

5 GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT WHITE PAINT FOR YOUR WALLS:

1. Figure out your natural light.

If you have a darker space with low natural light, cool and crisp white walls can look dingy and shadowy. Choose a warm white instead - it will look like a crisp white on your walls even though it looks creamy on the chip. If you have really low light, you may even want to choose a slightly warm grey or greige instead of white - they’ll make the space feel fresh, not dingy (see this post on the best greys).

If you have a room with lots of natural light, opt for a cooler or true neutral white that will absorb some of the sunlight. If you use a warm white in a space that gets strong southern sunlight coming in, it can end up feeling over-the-top-white or even yellowy.

My go-to white paint colours:

SW Extra White for a more modern look that’s good in medium natural light
SW Pure White for a softer, gentler feel that’s good in bright natural light or lower natural light

2. Keep trim simple.

If you’re painting your trim at the same time as your walls and you’re going with a white, then do the trim and walls in the same colour. Yep, so Pure White or Extra White are good choices. Use semi-gloss on the trim and eggshell or satin on the walls. That will create the bit of depth you need to keep it looking sterile.

If you are going for a slightly more colourful wall, then go with untinted white paint. Yep that's right - you don't need to fuss over what white to paint your trim 99% of the time - untinted will be a nice crisp white that pops against the wall colour.

3. Vary your whites.

If you're worried that painting your whole home white might feel too boring or institutional, vary the whites slightly by choosing two or three different whites. For example, use a soft white (SW Pure White) in the main living areas and a warm sandy white in bedrooms.

4. Vary your finishes.

Use a flat finish on the ceiling, eggshell or satin finish on the walls and semi-gloss on the trim and doors (and floors if you paint them) to provide contrast and architectural interest in the room.

5. Test it in your space.

Finally, the best way to know if your paint colour will work is to bring home samples and paint big swatches on your walls, then observe them at different times of day. The colours will show differently depending on where you live, the light and what’s outside of your windows (eg. green trees). Research like this blog can help, but testing the paint colours truly is the best way to know if you’ll love the white you choose.

Now…stop stressing, simplify your painting, and just begin!

Painting your walls white doesn’t have to make you crazy or too afraid to even begin. Just go ahead and take the leap - you’ll love the results.