Painting With White
Dear CJ,
I just moved into a new home and every wall is painted with a different color. Some of them are rather pretty but others aren’t my taste and altogether it’s too overwhelming for me. I prefer neutral tones and I am thinking about going with a white color palette. What should I consider before painting with white and what shades of white do you recommend?
Kind Regards,
Anne Marie J.
Dear Anne Marie,
Thank you for reaching out to me! There is no doubt that painting with white is a popular and beautiful choice! Over the 28 years that I have been an Interior Designer I have seen the white trend come and go. For many years colorful rooms were in and white was considered a non-decision. But the time has come when the simplicity and pureness of white is a great decision.
Here’s What You Need to Consider…..
Lifestyle
White is beautiful when it’s fresh & clean…just like freshly fallen snow it reflects the light and creates brightness. However, just like freshly fallen snow, it’s beautiful until it gets dirty. White walls will show scuffs, hand-prints & dirt which can take away from it’s pureness & elegance. For this reason you will want to consider your lifestyle. If you have pets, young children or a rugged man in your life you’ll need a good quality paint that will be easy to clean and maintain. For this I recommend Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint. The Matte (522) finish is especially nice because it’s less likely to show imperfections yet unlike other matte finishes it’s easy to clean.
For an active family you should also consider using a white that is slightly warmer such as Benjamin Moore OC-19 Navajo White, OC-9 Ballet White, OC-18 Dove Wing or OC-19 or any whites shown here. These tones are a little more forgiving and easier to maintain however they will give you the bright cheery look you want to achieve.
Trim & Door Finish
Painting with White is a great choice no matter what your trim color is, however, you will want to consider a shade that is best suited for your trim.
If your trim is white or you plan to paint your trim white I recommend that you go with at least a shade darker for the walls to pop and the trim to frame out the walls. Here’s a great example. A color such as OC-19 Sea Pearl, OC-25 Cloud Cover or OC-21 Winter White would work very well.
If your trim is a natural oak or maple and you plan to keep it light & natural, a bright white such as Benjamin Moore OC-64 Pure White or OC-61 White Diamond both would both be a great choice.
For darker trim, you will want to use a white that is softer and won’t create a harsh contrast such as Benjamin Moore OC-18 Dove Wing or OC-9 Ballet White.
Furniture & Fabric Tones
You’ll also want to consider the tones and colors of your furniture.
Brown leather, dark stained furniture and earth tone fabrics will work best with warmer white tones as shown under Warm White Paint & Undertones on this page of the Benjamin Moore palette. Cooler tones such as blues, grays , and white furniture work best with the colors shown under the Cool White Paint & Undertones,
Lighting
There is no doubt that painting with white will brighten your home more than any other color! The thing you will want to consider though is that a brightly lit room will show more of the imperfections on your walls so be sure that the walls are patched and prepped very well before applying the final shade of white.
Regarding lamps and ceiling lights you will want to use dimmers whenever you can to soften the light when it’s time to relax and enjoy the space.
Oh, Don’t forget to sample the color first!
Always, always, always sample your color first! You can do this by asking a design professional like myself to order larger samples for you. Benjamin Moore offers an 8 x 8 sample which is great for giving you a better idea of how the finished room will look. If you sign up to receive my Blogposts you can receive my Free Giveaway 3 Tips for Selecting Color with Confidence which will tell you more about the process. I recently discovered this …another great way to sample your paint effectively. These are both much more effective and less expensive than buying a quart of paint to try on your wall. I’ve never been a fan of doing that because you’re working over walls that are not prepped and primed yet.
One more VERY IMPORTANT point!
Whatever color you select have it made by the same manufacturer to achieve the proper pigment and colorants intended to create this color. I promise it’s not worth the cost savings to go with another brand. I witnessed this myself at a recent presentation at the Benjamin Moore showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart. They asked a competitor to mix several of their BM colors then painted their own and the competitors on a wallboard board side by side. Every single color was off several degrees. It was very enlightening for me since I have had clients and painters both do this to save money. Don’t make that mistake in your home!
I hope this will help you move forward with painting with white in your new home. Enjoy your bright and beautiful palette
If you’re still struggling, consider my Local or Online Design Services!
I’m here to help!
Your Home Loving Expert,
CJ
