The article provides tips for choosing the right white paint for your home, including evaluating undertones, considering natural light and direction, choosing a white that relates to your space, comparing white paint options, and considering how white makes you feel. It also emphasizes the importance of buying high-quality paint and not forgetting the color options like taupe and greige.
The experts at Farrow and Ball, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin Williams offer advice on selecting the perfect white paint shade for your home. They recommend visiting local paint stores to find a variety of options and consider factors such as natural light, trim simplicity, varying whites, finishes, and testing the paint in your space.
Whites with cooler undertones have blue, green, and purple undertones, while warmer undertones have red, yellow, and orange undertones. Warm whites, with undertones of red, yellow, or beige, create a cozy and welcoming vibe, making a space feel warm and inviting.
When choosing the best white paint shade for your home, it doesn’t really matter which white you like. Selecting off-white with a visible undertone can help hide flaws when painting walls. To test the paint on your wall, compare shades, check the undertone, consider other colors in the room, and test the paint on different surfaces. By following these tips, you can find the perfect white paint for your home and create a beautiful and functional space.
📹 Best Interior White Paint Colors
In this video, you’ll discover the best white paint colors for interiors. If you’ve been struggling to find the perfect white paint color for …
How do I know which white paint to use?
White is a popular color for interior painting, but choosing the right shade can be challenging. A warm room with lots of natural light may require a cool white, while a cooler room with less sunlight may require a warmer-toned white. Lane Ball, director of marketing at Zibra, suggests considering the mood of the room, lighting, and sheen when choosing a shade. Natural light can affect the appearance of the chosen white color, making it essential to consider these factors when choosing a color for your space.
How do I choose an interior paint type?
Healthcare and medical facilities require low to no-VOC paints due to sensitivity to fumes. Satin finishes are ideal for high-traffic areas, while flat or matte finishes are suitable for ceilings. Eggshell finishes are often used for low-traffic areas. Dining areas require careful color combinations to convey the restaurant’s identity. Durability is crucial in kitchens, where surfaces are exposed to various temperatures and food splatters.
Hotel rooms, corridors, and hallways require a consistent color scheme and durable paints for high-traffic areas. High-quality paint is essential for the hospitality industry, as it is crucial for image. A diverse range of paints is needed for various surfaces, including kitchens, spas, bathrooms, dining rooms, and fitness centers.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive interior paint?
Cheap paint is less expensive due to its thinner composition and less pigment and binder, which are crucial for an even application of color in interior paint. On the other hand, expensive paints ($30+/can) are of higher quality and contain more pigment and binders, providing more coverage and requiring fewer coats. High-quality paints are also fade-resistant, ensuring the color lasts longer even in direct sunlight-saturated rooms.
Using cheap paint can increase painting costs, especially when covering dark colors or a new dark color due to their transparent base. One coat of cheap paint provides less coverage than one of a lighter color, making it necessary to apply multiple coats to prevent the old wall color from bleeding through.
Labor cost is another factor to consider when choosing paint. Good-quality paint not only reduces supply costs but also saves time and effort. It typically takes 1 to 2 hours to apply a coat of paint and 4 to 24 hours to dry before applying the second coat. Using good-quality paint only requires about 2 coats, while low-quality paint can require 4 or more coats.
Investing in good-quality paint can save time and effort, whether you are painting a room yourself or hiring others to do it for you.
What kind of white paint do you use on interior doors?
Semi-gloss is a popular choice for interior doors due to its reflective and durable nature, making it easy to clean and resistant to wear and tear. Lighter colors in semi-gloss finishes show less dirt and damage over time. Interior doors play a crucial role in the overall aesthetic of a space, and choosing the right paint for them can breathe new life into the rooms. The variety of options available, including brands, finishes, colors, and types, can make the decision overwhelming.
This comprehensive guide will explore the best paints for interior doors, discuss latex and oil-based paints, and provide tips on achieving a professional-looking paint job. By the end of the guide, you will have the knowledge to make an informed decision and open the door to your new interior upgrade.
Is warm white or cool white better for interior?
Warm whites, with a yellow, red, or brown base, are ideal for rooms with less sun exposure, creating a cozy atmosphere. They are suitable for Cottage style rooms, while cool whites, with a blue or black base, are suitable for rooms with high sun exposure and Scandinavian or hyper-modern design styles. Choosing the right color can help create a cohesive space. Additionally, consider the lighting in the room, whether it’s warm incandescent or cool fluorescent lighting, as it can significantly impact the overall feel of the room.
Which white paint is best for interior walls?
The best white paint for interior walls depends on various factors, including décor and lighting. Three popular options include Chantilly Lace OC-65, Decorator’s White OC-149, and Simply White OC-117, a former Benjamin Moore Color of the Year. These versatile white and off-white paint colors offer unrivaled versatility, but choosing the right one can be challenging due to their underlying tonalities and natural reflection of ambient hues. Warm white hues have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, creating a soft glow, while cool whites have hints of green, blue, and violet, creating crisp, clean spaces.
What is the most common paint for interior walls?
Latex paint is the most common and environmentally responsible indoor paint option due to its faster drying time and ease of cleaning with soap and water. However, it is less durable and best for areas with minimal wear and tear, such as walls and ceilings. Acrylic paint, a water-based paint, is similar in composition and use but has more acrylic polymers. It is more durable and expensive than latex paint, making it suitable for surfaces with more physical use, such as cabinets. It is recommended to read the label when buying paint to understand the difference between the two.
Should doors be painted gloss or satin?
The choice between gloss paint and satin paint depends on personal preferences and project specifics. Gloss paint is ideal for durability and easy cleaning, while satin paint is ideal for hiding imperfections and creating a soft, muted look in your home. Both paints have pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your preferences and project details. Use these recommendations to compare options and make an informed decision that is right for your home and budget. Cookies are used to ensure the best user experience on our website.
Can you use normal white paint on doors?
The quality of the finish can be enhanced by meticulous preparation of the surface prior to painting. This entails the removal of the existing paint through either light or heavy sanding, followed by a thorough cleansing of the surface. This process will yield a more aesthetically pleasing result.
How do I choose my white?
To avoid choosing shades that are too creamy or icy, consider evaluating the undertones of the color. Consider natural light and direction, choose a white that matches your space, compare white paint options, and consider how white makes you feel. Don’t forget to consider taupe and greige, and buy high-quality paint. A recent survey by Ace Hardware and Benjamin Moore revealed that nearly one-third of respondents choose white as their top choice for almost every major room in their home.
However, choosing the best white paint can be challenging, especially if you’ve encountered white paint chips at a local hardware store. To avoid this, evaluate the undertones, consider natural light and direction, choose a white that relates to your space, compare white paint options, and consider how white makes you feel.
Is warm white or cool white better for interior walls?
Warm whites, with a yellow, red, or brown base, are ideal for rooms with less sun exposure, creating a cozy atmosphere. They are suitable for Cottage style rooms, while cool whites, with a blue or black base, are suitable for rooms with high sun exposure and Scandinavian or hyper-modern design styles. Choosing the right color can help create a cohesive space. Additionally, consider the lighting in the room, whether it’s warm incandescent or cool fluorescent lighting, as it can significantly impact the overall feel of the room.
📹 How To Choose A White Paint! | My Top 5 favorite Benjamin Moore White Paints
In this video we go over the 3 things you should consider about the space you are painting. How lighting effects white paint, how …
Instead of painting samples on the walls I buy several large white poster board sheets and paint on them to within 1-2″ of the edge (having the white poster board edge is especially helpful when trying colors rather than whites). Then I tack the swatches up around the room in different places. They are way large enough to get a good feel, but do not mess up your current paint, so if you have company over or entertain before making up your mind you can simply take them down and the tiny tack hole will not even be noticeable. It also allows you to try different colors without the previous large sample influencing the color, and again the white edges help prevent the current wall color from influencing how the color reads in the space.
This article came at the right time. I have been wanting to paint my bedroom white for the longest time but have been hesitant to choose the wrong white! I have very little natural light except for early morning. So I feel a little more confident to move forward. Thanks for a great article explaining the different whites and where to use them. I will rewatch this article. 🤔
Wow! I’ve really gone down a rabbit hole perusal your articles. I just found you the other day and you’re my favorite designer. Your explanations are so good and you teach in a simple matter-of-fact manner. Nothing super expensive and no drama or overacting, like I’ve seen with some others. THANK TOU SOOOO MUCH!
For some reason, today, you appeared on my list of YouTube website and I am thrilled! I started with your “what to get rid of after 2020” (or similar title) and just ended with the “how to choose a white.” We are building a house this year and I am a nervous wreck about all these decisions. It is truly overwhelming. I will continue perusal what I’ve missed and have already subscribed. Thank you for sharing your expertise and being a great teacher.
You didn’t mention it, but years ago when our parents let me and my sister choose our bedroom colors, we picked this orange-y white ceiling and the loudest blood red walls you can imagine. Parents were absolutely horriefied but a promise is a promise so they painted it for us that way. Man. That combination was SO GREAT! To this day i think that the contrast was superb and combined with ocre-ish and terracota floor tiles and warm pale wood of furniture the whole room was just so warm and bright. Then when the sunrise hit our window, all those colours turned orange and gold yet at the night red walls were so dark that it was perfect for sleeping. A bonus – plants just POP against that. Anyway, even when the white isn’t the main colour, even as an accent it can give the whole area just the best kick ever.
I have become addicted to your website. Your advice is so down to earth and understandable for the average person. We just bought a new house and even though the walls are already painted white there is too much of a creamy undertone. I will be adding most black And white furniture with a little brown and rust and turquoise accessories. Not too much natural light from the windows so I’ll be going with Chantilly Lace, which we had already chosen. Thanks so much for sharing you kind expertise.
I tested 10 different whites for my house, some Benjamin Moore, some Sherwin Williams. We ended up choosing Benjamin Moore Cotton Balls. It is a warm white (we wanted a friendly cozy vibe) and it is one of the brightest whites. It’s much brighter than I expected to go. The LRV is 90. My house doesn’t have great light. The main windows are on the north side and the south side has a covered porch so we basically have no direct sunlight anywhere in the house. A lot of whites ended up looking dingy. When we went brighter with Cotton Balls it all came together and we absolutely love it.
I rarely comment on articles, but that was so absolutely outstanding and informative! You are very engaging and your knowledge is greatly appreciated. I paint watercolors and your explanation was wonderful. I especially appreciate your empathy that one is spending a lot of time and money and does not want to make the “wrong” decision. This is pertinent to our situation as we have textured plaster walls, so if one keeps painting with a different choice, the texture will be lost. That is why we are carefully considering our options and our so thankful for people like you. We are heavily leaning to Classic Gray for the walls of our kitchen/dining room (after a complete remodel) and Simply White for the trim and ceiling.
Appreciated that you gave the example of living in a west facing condo, but surrounded by other condos so not much natural light. Every other article on white paint only mentions west facing as though it gets all this warm light and so suggesting cool whites, versus taking into account lots of shade due to blocked sunlight even though west facing, and so a bit of warmth to the white looks good.
I’m thanking the universe for finding this genius. I’ve wasted about 30 hours this week alone trying to not screw up deciding what to do to my new kitchen living space and bathroom. Succint, great delivery, great information, references everything he says so you know exactly what he is talking about of you are not familiar with decor and design. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for mentioning west-facing rooms! My townhouse is oriented West-East, with the front to the west and back to the East but I have 1 window in that den and there is a covered patio that joins into the covered parking. So, yes, after say 10 am, it’s a dark room whereas the living room gets full sun from noon to sunset. Everyone posting color choice articles always mentions North or South-facing and I get why, all that light is great in pics but it leaves some of us wanting. Thank you again!
I always wondered why the white i chose never worked with the rest of the house. My aunt is a real estate agent who has seen thousands of high end homes. She always swore by 30% cloud white. My guess is that brings it close to simpily white. When it came time to paint my house, i forgot the 30% and went with 100% cloud white. However the wall colour i went with was whitewater (beautiful bluish-grey). Now i understand why i was never really happy with the combo – the cloud white (especially at 100%),did not play well with the cooler whitewater bluish-grey. Thanks for the colour lesson Nick. Love your content.
I am in the process of buying my first home and picking a white has seriously been the most stressful part of decorating thus far. The ones that I like in concept is White Opulence for the walls and Chantilly Lace for the ceilings and trim. But now having watched your article I think I need to consider that I will have black cabinets and white based quartz countertops. Ugh this beyond hard.. lol.. your article has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Best on the brilliant colour article, and great presentation:) I suffer from SAD so want the max light effect for the L-shaped living room of my appartment in England where the climate is cloudy’n overcast. The floor is varnished natural wood. In the ceiling, which is low, I had put some decorative wooden beams. I get the feel of the 3 tones you set out so well but can’t figure what colour scheme to go for. Say, would a neutral ceiling, including the beams (in england matt is the popular choice for ceilings fyi:) sit together nicely with cool white? Warm wishes:))
I just found you articles and I really love them. I’m starting a new build and I’m finding your advice very useful. Do you have a tutorial on flooring? For open concept kitchen, dining room living room in a cathedral ceiling with full wall windows facing south east (lots…of natural light). Again really helpful specially like the my money comment!
I am renovating my entire kitchen. I have a shaker kitchen cabinets, I need help with picking out white for my cabinets . I was thinking about Chantilly Lace for cabinets and don’t know what white color for the walk?!?! I have an oaks wood floor in my kitchen next to is my vintage French chandelier champagne ombré crystal. I need your take of this if it was yours. Thank you 😊
I love this! I’m going to paint my dad’s place… he has almost no natural light, and the light that does come in is from north-facing windows. I want to create a clean, inviting, calming look that is as light and airy as it can be without looking yellow or full-on cream, so I’m doing my homework. I love the Simply White you have on your own walls! I’ve been reading blogs also suggesting BM’s White Dove. How would you say these colors compare in a dark, north-facing living/dining room?
Hi Nick, new subscriber here from Australia. Thank goodness I have found your website. You’re a breath of fresh air. I just wanted to know what light green colour is suitable for simply white paint? Is there a warm green and cool green choices too? My house doesn’t have a lot of light so a light green may lighten it up. Thanks much in advance, muahhh 🙂
More muted with pink tone would be called Atrium white. I really enjoy it complements cool colors. If you have blue walls or accent walls or elements. Also enjoy Oxford white if you want a more traditional white on your cabinets. I use an off-white called White Sand in the foyer this creates a warming space it’s very much a beige. Also I’m considering instead of the traditional white you could go towards a brown because the more Brown and earthy tones are getting more popular with new houses. A lot of people think white is very dingy very old-school I know it will never go out of style completely but white does not fit certain spaces like it used to because actually there is no white color in nature it is not a natural color we actually just make it up. I also like tons of other colors in the house. I like other colors so much that I don’t have enough space for my white walls
Great article! We are in the process of remodeling a 1901 farmhouse. Not a ton of natural lighting but we want to brighten it up as much as possible. Hand made natural wormy chestnut doors and cabinets, we are leaning toward BM Dove White or SW Alabaster for the walls and trim to accent this beautiful wood. Thoughts?
Hi Nick! Could you pleeeeease help me with something? 1. Does colour Pique (ceiling) match Jewel beetle (walls) from Little Greene in an east facing room? 2. Which white from Little Greene should I use for the trims to match Jewel beetle? I want a more vibrant look than it is now although now super duper crisp. The rest in the room include colours of brown black furniture as well as light natural wood, and I’m planing to have some plants, and warmish purple, teal and golden decor. I really hope you will reply, you’re my last hope cause I’m so confused and can’t decide 😖🙏
I came here because I already narrowed down my selection to Simply White and Cloud White and I’m happy to learn that I was on the right path (warm floors & off white sofa) – but now I’m picking the color against the lighting and I like Cloud White during the day, but Simply white in the evening. The room faces south and does not get a lot of direct sun. What do you think?
can you do a article on having scandinavian style white washed floors ? what is overall effect for the home, how it affects the rest of your design/furniture choices, how to keep it clean looking, what it is like to live with white floors etc etc… My place came with honey colored floors and I hate it so much.
hello! thanks for this!! probably the most helpful article by far! originally wanted chantilly lace but now i’m starting to think of going just a TAD bit softer cause i’m a little scared although i love looking at pictures of that beautiful crisp white. so i am going to paint my kitchen cabinets all the interior walls, living room/dining room (it’s all in one big open space) and plan to paint it all the same white, just with different sheens. i am currently stuck between BM’s simply white, super white, and possibly still chantilly lace. our flooring will be a bit warmer, a light-medium natural wood look, but what throws me off is our darker granite countertops which has a mix of brown/black, so i’m struggling trying to go for that bright, clean transitional look with neutrals, whites, wood, beiges, and small accents of matte black (door knobs, etc). the room is south facing with lots of natural light. which white paint out of the 3 I mentioned would you suggest?? i would really, really appreciate your input! thanks so much!!!
Very helpful. Can you do a article of how to correctly use teal and its combinations? I have three floors and have white trim, navy and teal but the core of our home is Wisconsin stone with beige and rust. And yes, it is overwhelming so I am glad to find your website. Also, exterior colors confuse me so I cheated and opted for the colors in my favorite wallpaper. Would love to hear your insights.
Hi! Curious on your take on Oxford White. I’ve seen many refer to it as a warm/neutral white with a warm gray undertone. Interesting you say it’s cool. Would you say it’s a versatile white to go with cool or warm tones? I have a bit of both in my decor, I believe. I wanted Chantilly lace or simply white but the swatch appeared either too bright (almost blinding) or too yellow- respectively. Now I’m thinking white heron or Oxford White. They’re so similar, not many speak to comparing these 2 colours. I might be leaning to Oxford White. I want a clean white that is not stark and still inviting and modern. We are in a South facing condo. Thoughts?
Just used Chantilly Lace White in basement with little light. Not great! Very cold feeling. Fortunately was painted to sell the house and certainly allows a lot of freedom to new owners. I added a very colourful painting to one wall which helped quite a bit but would be more careful about using it again. I had asked painter for Simply White but he used Chantilly Lace. 🤷♀️😬
Thank you, I have been planning on painting my house inside white, but as you mentioned, there are hundreds of white tones. The issue I have is that there are some areas in my house that don’t have too much natural lighting so I had assumed that in that case I was supposed to use more cooler tones (currently painted in gray tones) because other colors I had used prior tended to look too warm making it look darker, but now I’m going to try a more warmer tone white since the area I’m referring to has more wood tones. I can’t wait to see the difference in this case. Thanks again. article was very helpful.
Nick, I am loving your informative articles!! We are in the planning stages of a new build and I am researching white paint colors. You have some great suggestions!! What do you think of this: ceiling in flat BM Swiss coffee, walls in matt Swiss coffee, and trim, baseboards and doors in satin Swiss coffee? Then kitchen cabinets in satin BM creamy white. Our 10 ft island will be a very dark brown stain. We have an open floor plan with north facing windows in the living, dining /kitchen. Our flooring will be a medium /light white oak. I am open to Simply White as a replacement to any of my ideas. 🤷🏼♀️ Any suggestions would be SO appreciated!!!! 😍 Thank you so much and keep the great articles coming!! 👍🏼😀
Many years ago, I lived in an old house, that had mahogany beamed ceilings and the interior was painted white ( it had not been painted in several years). When I went to re-paint, instead of taking a sliver/ chip of the original paint to Home Depot to have them mix up a match, I was not experienced in any of this, and started painting this old place with a crisp bright white, which really emphasized the old-ness of the house, the slightly worn elements, etc. It was a disaster. Then I went back to the paint store and I got a paint that was a french vanilla, almost white, but a tish of cream undertone and it went perfectly. without the glaring ‘ bright white effect.” ( I don’t recall the brand but it was before I knew about Benjamin Moore.)I have learned by experience, but I find that Nick’s directions are so excellent re: paint and anything involving decor… I wish I would have found Nick in the past, which would have saved me many decorating nightmares ! LOL
I have just moved and my new place has little natural light and (ugh) red “wood” laminate floors. At certain points in the day they actually make the bottom of the walls have a slight pink hue. I have brought a million whites home and can’t decide. I am not attracted to warm whites….all I can see is the yellow! Should I go neutral white?
So much great info! I’m left uncertain though, and maybe you can help? 😀 because in our atic bedroom area, we have both warm and cool: bright white factory bead board half way up (it’s shiney, true white, probably neutral) that we don’t intend to replace or paint. But the wood trim is red stained oak, almost like redwood. So that part is very warm, obviously. And I want the openness of the true white with the homey comfort of warm tones…. I tried Dover White and Choice Cream and neither work at all. Any ideas?
New subscriber here! I liked your take on the white colors! Thank you! Right now, I’m trying to pick a pure white that will match a cabinet that’s going in a newly built laundry room off the garage. This would be for another cabinet, a bench, and the trim. I used SW Extra White throughout the rest of the house trim, but it doesn’t match the cabinet I don’t have to paint. The room is an off white with one window and a door with a window in it that go to the outside facing west. I’m not trying to pick your brain, but I’m thinking out loud. However, if you know of a very bright white that would work for cabinets, I’m open! Thanks for your articles! Glad I found you!
I spent about two weeks with the white samples and chips. Finally chose Benjamin Moore Alabaster. This color never shows up in any reviews. Pity. It has proven to be versatile depending upon time of day, lighting and various objects in the room. (Most fixed objects are wood (floor) and black fabrics.)
Yes, I researched for a little over a week and came to the decision to buy Chantilly Lace 🙂 But idk, it’s just not quite right with what I’m trying to do. …I did diy wainscoting all down my hallway – dark dark brown wainscoting. (Like almost black but not quite). There is no natural light in the hall – I mean it turned out beautiful if I do say so myself however now I’m lost as to what to do with the top half of the wall. I painted Chantilly lace up there, but now I think the top of the wall looks stark. … kinda looks like it’s primer up there..maybe it’s the sheen of the paint. I got flat Chantilly lace. And the wainscoting is a satin finish. Maybe that’s the problem idk. Anyways- Love Your articles !!!
I painted the outside of my camper Simply White ( the 2nd shade option, because there was 3 when I ordered the paint. It’s a good warm white color. Also Swiss Coffee is a nice white in some spaces. I have dipped my toes into Farrow & Balls paint to find the perfect white for my future house. All White is a great one because it is pure white pigment, is warm but not yellow. Not cool (I hate cold sterile white paint that many seem to like these days). The other great one was Wimborne White. It is a warmer white and a nice color. My perfect shade of white is probably 1 part All White and 1 Part Wimborne 😄 My biggest pet peeve ever in design is someone using a cold sterile white that makes the space not cozy or homey.
Wish I had seen this before I painted my spare room Simply white 🙁 it faces North and is so yellow to me.. leaving it tho! Bought a gallon of Chantilly lace to try for our south facing bedroom, if it works will do the LR and kitchen with it. All of the trim will be done in Chantilly lace satin. Thank you for the amazing article.
I have used Chantilly, simple,cloud and going to try again soon. Very small house faces north so I have alot of cool lite.all my bulbs are warm white and my accent colour is Hale navy and raccoon fur. Trying to find that neutral white that gives warmth doesn’t though on cool but doesn’t look like cream.
I live in a small flat with very little natural light due to the garden being full of old, overgrown trees. I’m ground floor which makes it worse so I always go for white paint to try to maximize light. Your advice will be very handy when things are ready for redoing. Its Boxing Day and what better way to spend my time than binging on your articles ??
My 1960’s ranch was painted (nearly everywhere except for the icky out-dated wallpaper) in Benjamin Moore’s China White. I like this warm white and now, thanks to the article, I understand why it works well with my lighter colored woods. Even though I don’t have to make the “white paint decision”, this article was really informative and fun.
My uncle works for a painters’ company and he hooked us op with a couple of big buckets of what they call “painter’s white”, which is what they usually use when asked for white walls. The official name is RAL9010 and it’s just perfect. But then again, anything is better than the nicotine-stained off-white our house came with…
I choose Chantilly Lace for my living room kitchen combo thanks to you! I am very happy with the results, my ap. is so clean and bright, looks amazing. And I get a lot of natural light, since I am in Miami. I was afraid this color would make the room too bright, but it is perfect 🥰. Thanks for all the amazing tips. I painted the bedroom Revier Pewter and it was a great decision too, make the bedroom feel warm and cozy.
Nick, you should do a white paint for dummies book. Love your way of walking through the process of elimination and selection. Going to use Cotton Ball on walls and trim with Simply white for ceiling on north facing living room with 1950’s oak floors. Question is – what about exterior white paint? Do you have recommendations? I want to trim in mat black. I live on the coast in SoCal and get a lot of sun. Maybe a article on selection? Everyone seems to like Dove white but I am looking at Sand Dollar, Mayonnaise, China White and more. HELP!
I bought a small can of kilz with primer in eggshell white for my living room and I’m really loving the softness of this white on my ceiling: as it was a high gloss previous. HUGE difference. Im learning. White paint has so many opportunities to make our space not just stark in color yet comfortable. I’m learning. I needed your pep talk. Thanks again. Stay safe and be well.
GREAT article. My question is…. slowly how do you keep a gray wood (tile) floor and make it warm. Many whites look ‘sterile as an operating room’ and I’m looking for warm. The previous owner put in a ‘yellow’ white in our BRIGHTLY LIT East (mostly) then west evening home with 15’+ ceilings in the valley of the sun in AZ. I ‘feel’ out of sorts as to how to decorate this space – and finding a decorator that can do it right is (?????). My kitchen turns literally yellow in the evening with little ‘real’ wood tones (those I plan on faux finishing) – will look for your more recent articles because you may not even see this comment. Great info!!! Thank you.
neutral/pure white (aka bright, crisp, bold contrast against black) – see Chantilly Lace; warm/comfortable/welcoming white – see Simply White, Cloud White (slightly creamier than Simply); cool white (lots of lights coming in, furniture elements in blues & greens) – see Oxford White (slight gray) or Decorator’s White (more gray but still “white enough”)
We just bought a 1995 house with lots of honey oak trim. I plan to keep the oak. I recently painted the kitchen “marshmallow” (Sherwin Williams?) and I painted a bedroom Roman Column. We need to paint our Great Room and Entry next. Part of me fears painting the rest of the house “white”. Afraid I might get bored and wish I had more “color”. Does a warm white like Swiss Coffee (Ben Moore) work in a large space with high walls and honey oak trim? Thanks for your very informative articles! Lesa
Anyone! … the dreaded IKEA standard white furniture in bedroom. Ex: Malm. Room very light in day, but ❤️warm Scandi night lighting. So… I was going cool due to bedroom/the sunlight- but IKEA white is this yellowish. So I tried warm. Simply White and looks dirty/warm (Edgecomb G too). Maybe a white w/gray? Cool or warm? I need to meditate! I have studied this article as so easily explained. (LOVE this website…viewer recommended through Scandi Benita Larson. 😊)
HELP! 😄 Nick, impossible selecting interior white. Open plan, mid century modern 1.2 K SQF kitchen and living room share a common wall. My kit cabinets are beautiful matt lacquer soft off white slightest hint warmth and cream. I Love Chantilly lace fresh clean look and simply white is nice but tends to look to warm in living room and different light during day. Challenged by cabinet color in selecting paint color, Chantilly against cabinetry may cause them to look dingy. . Living room space has flr to ceiling windows facing south west w ocean view. Appreciate any suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Nick Very helpful article. I spent weeks looking at BM white paints. My condo faces north. My floor is honey oak parquet. My fabrics are cream and tan. My curtains are a yellow-cream I have a travertine coffee table and oak dining table. My rugs are tone-on-tone dark/light cream. I got lots of samples and finally chose Marscapone. It’s a warm creamy white in all places except for the dining room wall farthest from the window which still looks grayish. Overall, I’m pretty happy. Any thoughts?
Greetings from Calgary! Doing a full gut reno here, and deliberated on the white…it was between Chantilly Lace and White Heron. I chose White Heron. It isn’t up yet, but after perusal this I think I made the right decision. My condo is SW full floor to ceiling windows so very bright, and my cabinetry is a dark grey with bluish undertones (Fenix grigio bromo). The floors are a large format concrete look. Your website is great! Thank you
Where exaclty do i get the information of what is the undertones are in the paint color. I have an accent wall which was painted with BM dark olive, my windows are blue so the natural light that comes in go thru a blue filter. My huge ass sofa is grey, I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH WHITE SHOULD I GO FOR :,) . HELP!
Thank you so much I love all your articles. I am currently renovating my kitchen. I just have custom kitchen cabinets made for me but struggled picking out white for my cabinets. I love simply white color the kitchen and small dining area which is next my kitchen. I am planning to use Simply White for the wall in the kitchen-what are choice the of white for kitchen cabinets that goes well with Simply white? Please help!
I have used many of your suggestions and I am still stumped on what to suggest for a client”s bathroom. I am introducing a black and gold designer wallcovering for one wall and I can’t commit to the wall paint colour! Vanity is Oxford and I’m leaning toward Baby Fawn for the wall colour??? am I crazy???
Hi Nick, Terrific article. I’m in a situation where I have a stucco,house, with black pearl asphalt shingles, black trim around casement windows, and the pathway will be a charcoal color. So, with all that said, I’m trying to think of what is the best exterior white I could use. Oxford White looks nice, but so does white diamond. I’m trying to go for contrast between the black and white without getting into yellow or beige undertones. Could you help me with a suggestion or two? ( a hint….I love gray, but I want white for exterior). Thank you.
Thank you! Love this. We used Chantilly Lace throughout our last home and loved it. Leaning Simply White for our new place – would love your thoughts on what trim and/or ceiling paint you would choose, and we also have some wainscotting on the lower half of our walls that I think I will paint a different colour (or maybe a bad idea?). Would Chantilly Lace pair w/ Simply White? Thanks again, great content.
Painting a very sunny condo that is currently all in Cloud White and looks yellow most of the day. We are leaning towards Chantilly Lace to neutralize the current yellow look. Paint store has said you shouldn’t paint a wall Chantilly Lace (!?) but with all of this Florida sun, I think we need to cool it down. We have no furniture yet, but tend towards the cooler neutrals for furnishings. Flooring is medium wood with grey wash. Bathroom floor tiles will be light grey. It IS hard to have to tell contractor which color because although it is just paint, the labor is incredibly expensive.
Renovating a gorgeous Miami waterfront mansion with south facing (water) sliding glass doors. Just installed light light grey 48X48 tile. Have a beautiful Italian kitchen with dark/and light cabinets being installed this week. Thinking Chantilly lace to create a contemporary Miami vibe but don’t want it to clash with neutral furnishings I’m considering. Any thought? Thanks
The front of my home faces West and the rear South. The south face is mostly in my kitchen which I want to paint white/woodwork and cabinets. Am on a very restrictive budget at the moment so advice: Should I use Simply White? My table and chairs are stainless with glass in the kitchen – can move and my floor is laminate. Can’t afford to change so am going to pain – any suggestions.
This has been so helpful! I am mid remodel and going nuts! I need help!! I have open concept kitchen, living and dining although connected each has its own lighting. Direct bright light kitchen some direct light in living room with the covered patio and no direct light in the dinning room. Kitchen is going from browns to white cabs, Visconti White counters (black, gray and light creamy gray white, granite) floors are mid to dark brown with lots of gray tones. Current wall color is Revere Pewter with LVR of 55 ish, I hate this color! Feels dark and dingy most of the time. Looking to go tone on tone in white with gray undertones and wondering if Paper White walls with Distant Gray ceilings would work for all rooms, mostly don’t want it to turn a sickly green in the dinning room. Any other suggestions would be great, I just want to stop spinning! Thanks,
I used bone white(ppg) and I really liked it. All tho my mom didn’t at first. She likes everything white, and I lean more towards warmer, relaxing tones. But after it was painted over, she liked it. It does have a more yellowish/cream undertone, but I just didn’t want to paint the whole house, meaning- floor trim, ceiling then walls. So I decided to go with the Same ceiling color (bone white) and now it looks just all one cohesive color. I had a dark beige before and I couldn’t stand it. My house is small, west facing- and I didn’t want to use a bright white color, it just hurts my eyes ha!
My go-to white has been Behr Cottage White – just creamy and absolutely yummy. My new house was painted in a vast array of whites, all Benjamin Moore. The hall is Ballet White which in sunlight has the faintest yellow in it and is very pretty. All the trim and doors are Simply White. My kitchen and family room is Paper White, which has a bit of a blue-green undertone in some lights and I’m not so fond of it. My bedroom is Silver Satin and the colour that’s next to it on the paint chip. Can’t remember the name at the moment but it’s very nice. They used several other whites in other rooms but I’ve forgotten those names too. 😀 I had a friend who painted her kitchen BM salt and it was lovely.
Nick! Thanks so much for this. It makes a lot of sense. I’m wondering which color to use for the ceiling in a condo that is all in Simply White. Do I use Simply White on the ceiling or something like Chantilly Lace? Today is the day they are buying paint so it is pretty last minute. The floors are ebony.
excellent information. still struggling tho….tyring to keep our bathroom nice and bright so leaning to white on the walls or maybe the palest of aquas. all white tub/toilet/counter, tile is a glazed aquamarine that looks different every time you enter the room…very pale mint to aqua tones, can go blue, or sometimes teal as there is a touch of navy blue in there…but also can look very grey in photos. Floor is a saddle oak that looks faded/washed so it is wood tones with touches of orange/red (warm)but also the bleached effect brings out a lot of grey (cool). Cabinets/mirror frame are same tones as the floor but lighter (more bleached with tones of pink/peach instead of red/orange if that makes sense) Help?!
Nick 1st i have to tell u how much i love ur articles. U have totally changed the way i approach interior design. Im building a 550 sq ft tiny house n m trying to pick out Everything. To make matters even more complicated i am on bedrest because of a disability for at least another 6 months. So the contractor is picking out the exact color of the cabinets n flooring that i cant gi n see in person. I would wait but the new place is wheelchair accessible n it will make my live much easier. I have learned so much from u. My question im thinking if going with white black (or White) cabinets n then some shade of wood flooring. I want the walls to be white with black trim. My style is boho n my new couch is a very pale grey. The living n bedroom get alot of light from the south side. Because the place is so tiny id like to use just 1 color of white paint fir the whole house. Excluding the bathroom there are no walls dividing the spaces. It is only me living there. I very mich like shades of green- but have a number if bright pillows n decor. I realize ur time is very valuable but would u give me sone suggestions fir the white n black that i use on wall/trim. If the cabinets are black they will be th shade if black that the cupboards are made in. My contractor said that there was only one choice fir black cabinets. Id appreciate any help u could give me i very mich value ur opinion. Thank u so much
You nailed it, could not find any other article that talks about the white on white look. I ran into this issue, I have painted my living room walls in Chantilly Lace and then I have this white couch which looks more like off-white/natural now in front of this stark white. And then result does not look good at all. But if I look at just the white walls they are beautiful but the combination of the two whites is very off. Ugh going to have to redo the wall color. Which Benjamin Moore White would you recommend? I am working with an open floorplan and the kitchen cabinets are grey. The floors are hardwood natural oak.
Hey. What do you think of snowfall white by Benjamin Moore. I just used it in my cabinets and it is super warm goes with the floor (warm travertine type floor, most light greens and browns) and desert twilight island. But. I have a lot of light in the room and it appears green. I am doing dove wing in the walls to calm it down. But I’m getting nervous. Did I screw up.
What would you recommend if you have a lot of cool elements but are wanting to warm up the space? We have very dark floors with a red undertone, but currently all SW Passive Grey walls and lots of high contrast black/white. We’re going to do a paneled white accent wall and I was thinking Decorator’s White but now leaning toward Oxford White. That wall doesn’t get a lot of direct light…. I try to add a lot of muted green and beige accents. If you look at the shades of Decorator’s White it seems to have green undertones
Thank you for giving information on what color to use with certain decor. I liked your paint and thank you for giving the color Simply White. You are very clear in helping me to understand what color is warm or cool tones! Im going with Chantilly Lace in large living/kitchen area. I purchased 1 gallon of Chantilly Lace and 1 gallon of Simply White, trying to decide! Thank you Lewis!
I love your articles and am having THE hardest time still. I thought I wanted a gray but gray is not gray! Even harder in my common area. So was thinking white now. You say when you wouldn’t use a warm versus cool, but what if you have an open floor plan? A very small one. My kitchen is very cool with stainless steel appliances, gray and white marble yet I have fixed warm elements such as oak flooring, also a very light beige couch. I would greatly appreciate any input because I will never choose a paint at this rate! Also only a sliding door faces south, otherwise it’s north facing.
Hello, I’m trying to paint the exterior of our house. I have always love soft but crisp white house. I don’t want any hint of yellow or any reading of grey in the white. I was going to go with Chantilly Lace, with smoky blue grey like Smoke and some dark grey or black as accent colors. However, I saw a article in which the painter says pure white tskes more than one coat and because it lacks the “colorant”, the paint will break down faster. After tons of looking at all the whites, I’m leaning toward Oxford white, but still concern if these whites are consider as lacking colorant( that it’s used to mix colors to make colors). Could u please speak to that and what would u suggest for white house color scheme? I can’t decide if I want high contrast, such as super dark shutters and popping blue such as Pallidan Blue or Criswell blue for door or Oxford white with Boothbay shutters and doors ( for a more soothing soft flowing look). Any input would be much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Nick! I love your articles, I like how secure you talk and explain. I have a question, I have a big house,high ceilings with lots of natural light with natural wood floor and dark wood floors in the bedrooms, light gray furniture with lots of plants, currently the house has like a yellow cream color. I want something more relaxing, inviting. Please help. Thanks.
I love your articles they are so helpful. I’m in the process of doing my colonial house over with new windows and doors and casings and flooring. I went with black door hardware. I used grayish with some hints of black vinyl plank flooring in the upstairs. The window and door casings are going to be very wide at4 1/2″ flat stock. I’m going for the modern look and I was leaning towards Chantilly Lace, but after perusal this I don’t know if I would be better off going with the Decorators white or Oxford white. I feel like I’m obsessed with gray because everything I have done so far from flooring to tile, vanity, shiplap, wall paint is some form of gray. I’ll try them all out like you said, but I’d really appreciate your opinion. Ty
A couple years ago I thought I wanted a light gray living room. I stared at grays for 2 weeks. Saw a article where there was a new house ( not like mine at all) chose SW City Loft, without looking at the color in the store. Loved it. Now a new house and I want white, but I see this happening all over again, the samples, the staring, then who knows what I will come home with!!
Nick, needed a quick lesson on white,s, cuz I like to search for trends, your article on whites nailed it, I am picking ultra white from valsper, because I want my walls and trims to match. I prefer dramatically modern style & clean lines, so your discussion helped me pick what I can afford amd what was closer to the crisp white without any undertones. My decor is going to be grey and statement color mustard. Thank you much for the article!!
We’ve used Sherwin Williams Roman Column (warm white) on the walls of the entry, great room (kitchen, dining, living area) and hallway. I’m also considering it for the guest bedroom where I’ll have new flooring (tbd) and touches of gold (I am re-using expensive sound-proofing drapery that I brought from my old house). Ceiling is raw knotty pine that’s darkened over the years with dark brown painted beams. Lots of afternoon sun. I want it to feel warm, natural and inviting.
What about trim work and ceilings? Is there a standard shade of white you recommend for those? I don’t think I want the same color as the walls since I want the trim and ceiling to pop but I’m not sure what shade to use. Do I use the same shade for both trim and ceiling but in different finishes (flat for ceilings and semi gloss for trim and doors). I’m doing a black accent wall and have a grey couch I want to incorporate. I’m leaning towards decorators white and tricking black.
Thanks so much, Nick. Your article is so helpful on this tricky subject. I had a yellowish ivory sofa and used BM Mayonnaise and it worked well, but my new sofa is more of a very light beige, less yellowy, more neutral, and the Mayonnaise is no longer ideal. I’d like to freshen things up. I have a lot of other light beige furnishings in the room, with varied undertones, and oak floors and I’m leaning towards Cloud White. I also have white Ikea kitchen cabinets open to my living room that unfortunately darkened and yellowed. They were close to Simply White and now look more like the adjacent Mayonnaise I have in the LR. I hope Cloud White doesn’t make the cabinets look more yellow/dingy in contrast. Not sure whether to try Cloud White or stay with Mayonnaise or should I go in an entirely different direction like a medium to dark Greige. Thoughts?
I have dark wood floors,a camel colored sofa with earthy toned pillows a few cool colored accent pillows spr contrast. I’m in love with simply white and am leaning toward purchasing. I have a few items in the same space. I have trunk I upholstered that is striped and cool blues and steel grey…can I get away with simply white?