Picking the Perfect White

This is hands down the most common design question I receive from friends, family and clients.  And I get it, picking white paint seems like the easiest thing in the world until, well... it's not.  Until you're staring at a wall of White shades in the hardware store and realize “ohhhh sizzle, I have zero idea which of these million and one whites will work in my space”.  Why do some look blue and some look yellow?  Will this match my trim or my cabinets?  Or worse yet, you've hired Bob the Painter to freshen up your entire first floor in what appeared to be a brilliant White only for it to look (ICK) yellow!!?  Ya, we've all been there. 

Let’s start with the good stuff, my favourite go-to Whites. Here’s my top 6: (i) Simply White by Benjamin Moore, (ii) Wevet by Farrow & Ball, (iii) White Dove by Benjamin Moore, (iv) Pure White by Sherwin Williams, (v) Decorators White by Benjamin Moore, (vi) Chantilly Lance by Benjamin Moore.

There’s surprising complexity to White, but for simplicity sake, let’s start with talking basics about Warm vs Cool Whites.

Warm Whites have (you guessed it), warm undertones (think yellow, orange). These are those beautiful creamy or beige Whites but are also the Whites that can sometimes look yellow or even ‘dirty’. Of my top picks, Simply White, Wevet and White Dove are Warm Whites. Pure White is quite neutral but does have yellow undertones so is considered warm as well.

Cool Whites by comparison have cool undertones like blue or green. They can look crisp and clean but also risk looking blue or purple. From my top picks, Decorators White & Chantilly Lace are Cool Whites.

Not sure if you should go cool or warm? Follow my fail-safe 3 Steps to pick your perfect White.

Step 1: Have a coffee and sit in your space

To often, people barrel forward with selecting a colour without considering the space they are about to paint. Pour yourself a coffee, put on some music and look, I mean really LOOK at your space. Believe me, this time will help you when you get to Step 3!

What is the colour of your furniture and decor? Is the style of the space warm and traditional, or cool and contemporary? What is the flooring in the space? How much light do you get and when do you get that light? What things will the White be up against (i.e. kitchen cupboards). You don’t need to understand how exactly these will impact your colour choice, but take some notes and think about the things that may interact with your paint selection. Because trust me, they will.

Pro Tip: Basic colour principle is that colour is essentially a reflection or absorption of light. Remember this. It is the reason why this step is so important. Colour will (not MAY, WILL) pick up from other things in the space and will be impacted greatly by the type of light it receives.

Step 2: Find out your Trim, Door & Cabinet Colours

The number one complaint I hear from people who don’t like their white selection is that it looks yellow or blue against their trim, doors or white kitchen cabinets.

If you’re matching to another White in the space, do the homework and find out what colour your trim, doors and kitchen cabinets are. As a starting point, I generally recommend you stay in the same family... i.e. if your trim and doors are warm tones, I like to stay a lighter or darker shade in the same warm tones if possible.

Pro Tip: Have a white kitchen and wanting to paint your trim and doors? I like to match White trim and doors with my White cabinet colour, particularly in open floor plans. It means you're only needing to match two, not three Whites and ensures a seamless transition from your beautiful White kitchen!

Step 3: Sample your Colours

95% of people skip this step, only to realize, (gulp) they hate it! Please please, if you take anything away from this it’s to buy mini samples and put the colour in your space before you paint.

If I’m painting my own home or leading design for a client, I will not paint a space without testing the colour. It is mind-blowing how different colours can look in different spaces.

Invest the money in mini sample pots and paint several swatches on different walls and in different rooms you are considering. Give it a few days. Look at the colour in morning, afternoon, night. When it’s sunny and when it’s overcast. It will look different, I guarantee it, and you will very quickly see the differences in your top selections.

Pro Tip: Don’t want the mess of painting? You can buy large format paint swatches from @HelloPaint that are peel and stick...you can move them around your house with ease!

Ok friends. Good luck, and happy painting! Follow along for more of my top design tips.

Stuck and need help? Ash + Oak offers Design Consultation by the hour and can help you get unstuck from your design dilemmas.