So you’ve decided to go with the current trend of painting your walls white or maybe you’ve decided to update your golden oak trim to be painted white. It seems simple enough, you’ll go to the paint store and pick up some white paint. If you’ve ever done this, you may agree that it’s not that easy. There are literally thousands of options in the “white paint” category. Every version takes on a different undertone depending on what color you are pairing with it.
When selecting a white for your space, first assess the palette of what will fill the space. Is your decor warm or cool? If the colors of your decor are neutrals, you’ll want to choose a white with warm undertones (yellow, orange, red). If your decor is cooler or vibrant with color, consider a cool white (with undertones of blue, green, and purple). Other factors to consider are the light bulb cast and the amount of natural light in the room.
Warm White Suggestions:
- Simply White OC-117 (Benjamin Moore)
- White Dove OC-17 (Benjamin Moore)
- Snowbound SW 7004 (Sherwin Williams)
- Alabaster SW-7008 (Sherwin Williams)
Cool White Suggestions:
- Decorator’s White OC-149 (Benjamin Moore)
- Super White OC-152 (Benjamin Moore)
- Extra White SW 7006 (Sherwin Williams)
- Ceiling Bright White SW 7007 (Sherwin Williams)
After you’ve narrowed your options down to a couple, paint samples and view the color in the room to get the true “feel” of the color. As always with white paint, I suggest getting a paint with primer in it for better coverage and less coats. Flat (Matte) or Eggshell for walls; Satin or Semi-Gloss for trim is always a good combo. The glossier the paint, the more wall imperfections it will show.
