But white can also be perceived as cold and stark. Choosing the “wrong” white can leave your home feeling boring or devoid of personality.
How to Choose the Right White
Pure white is technically the absence of color. However, it also contains an equal balance of all the colors of the spectrum. How’s that for confusing? Choosing the best white for your home can be achieved by following these tricks and tips.
Undertones
So what’s an undertone? The Webster definition is “a subdued color, specifically: a color seen through and modifying another color.” A simple way to look at this with white paint is to categorize each color you’re considering as warm or cool—the other undertone category is neutral, but we won’t go down that rabbit hole today.
Warm whites have red, yellow, or orange undertones, while cool whites have blue or grey undertones. A trick to tell what undertone a swatch has is to hold it up against a white sheet of paper. If it reads more yellow it’s a warm white—a great choice if you’re going for a cozy vibe. If the white falls more into the grey category then it’s cool—a perfect backdrop for a bright, contemporary space. One caveat with pure, cool whites is that they can actually cause eye strain due to their perceived brightness.
White works best with natural light
Contrary to what you might think—painting a room white that has little natural light is not a great idea. Instead of brightening the room, a white paint can make it feel flat and dull.
Consider your whole space
Make sure to think about the floors and furnishings in your room when considering the perfect shade of white. A terracotta tile floor will make a white look entirely different than your navy couches.
A little prep work makes a world of difference
Making a paint color decision on that tiny paint swatch is a gamble. The best way to consider how a color will look on your walls, in your home, with your furniture, your natural light, is to narrow down your shades and then buy the smallest can of each paint color you can and put it on your wall. Sure it will cost you a little bit more, but if it saves you repainting the entire room, it’s worth it in the long run.
Don’t skimp on quality
A high-quality paint will provide better coverage and durability. The downside of white is that it shows what everyday life throws at it! Making sure that your paint is scrubbable is really important when going with white walls. Choosing a semigloss or gloss will give you a high sheen that is much easier to keep clean.
Whether you choose a pure white to create a backdrop for your modern art collection, or you go with a warm white that makes your bedroom cozy and relaxing, one thing is certain: the right white can transform a space dramatically.