It’s one of my biggest challenges as an interior designer… choosing the right shade of white.
Far from dull, white shades are in fact one of the the most popular and versatile colour choices and offer a perfect backdrop for furnishings. Brightening dark or small rooms shades of white can add serenity and a sense of calm to interior spaces.
Gone are the days of magnolia…thankfully! But with so much choice of paint colours available it can be overwhelming to pick the right shade of white for your space.
Undertones matter particularly when it comes to white paints. All paints are made from a variety of colours to form their shade and tone. In white paints, yellow or pink undertones make for a warmer shade and blue or green undertones make for a cooler shade of white.
Too white, too yellow, too cool, too warm…Yep, I’ve been there too, with literally 1000's of shades to choose from you will find yourself in the great white paint conundrum.
So, heres my tip tips on what to consider when finding your perfect shade of white...
Firstly, its key to know which way your room faces. North facing, and your room will be cool with less intense natural light, South facing and your room will be naturally brighter and warmer. Why is this important?
North facing
With the cooler tones of a North facing room, it’s important to choose a shade of white with a warmer undertone, this will help soften dark corners and make the space feel warmer.
South facing
It’s more likely these rooms will have more natural warm light throughout the day so, these spaces can take whites with a cooler grey / blue undertone that reflect light and give a crisp and fresh feel.
East or West facing
These rooms will have natural light during the am or pm of the day, so you get to choose how you want the room to feel. If it’s a room where you spend time in the morning, you may go for a cooler shade in an East facing room or a warmer shade in a west facing room.
Next, test…lots!
Once you’ve figured out whether a warm or cool undertone is right for your space, I suggest choosing up to 4 samples painted onto a large piece of card to stick onto your wall so you can see how the light reflects the colour throughout the day and evening. I love the Coat Paint samples as they come on a peel and stick backing so you can easily place them on your wall.
And don’t forget that how your furniture is placed around the room can change how the light reflects so, once you think you have found the right shade place it around the room in different areas so you can see how this impacts the appearance.
Lastly, for white ceiling paint or woodwork its best to choose a white that has the same undertone as the colour of your walls.
I hope this helps...Enjoy finding your perfect shade of white, but drop me an email if you need anymore help!
Tash x
