Choose The Right White

White works for everyone in every room, right? So how did we end up with so many different variances of whites? How do you choose the right white paint for your house? Our expert painters weigh in on options.

Lighting, spaces, moods and your personal taste all play a role in the answer to that question. Experts answer your questions about picking a white for you.

White and its nuances.

Some whites are brighter, some are darker, some lean toward pink or blue. To see the differences between true white and your paint chips, hold them against a piece of computer paper. This helps show the different shades that can be seen.

Room and size.

Is your room small or large? Do the colors in the room feel warm or cool. If they are warm, find whites that have undertones of pink, orange, red or yellow. If it’s cool, get a color with cool tones like blue, purple or green. The furnishings in the room will change the perception of paint colors. A blue couch can make a perfect white feel cool.

Lighting.

Natural and artificial light make the tones of the walls have a different feel. Natural light tends to lend a warm color to a room. Artificial lamps and bulbs are more cool. Experts suggest that pure white works best with natural light. Lamps can allow for more of a pigment within the white.

Geography.

Natural lights of different areas of the country can show up differently off of white paint. New York light is gray and warm meaning a gray toned white is great in the city. The Miami sun will make the same color of gray/white look pink.

Pick a few.

Now that you know where to direct your color choices, picking a few whites that work with your geography, room and style should be easy. Here are a few more tips:

• Pure white is more modern than one with a color.
• Bright white generally needs an undertone to make it less harsh.
• If you’re still having trouble, choose something close to neutral white.

Test.

Get small cans of your color choices and paint a poster sized patch on the wall you are considering. Whites can be volatile and change their look once on the wall. Check the test patches at different times of day, with ambient and lamp light. See how it is against your furniture and decorations. Some paint experts suggest rather than painting your swatch on the wall, paint is on a panel you can move around the room for further testing

Still confused?

There are several colors that always sell better than others and expert painters recommend.
Swiss Coffee OC-45
Simply White 2143-70
Super White PM-1
White Dove OC-17