Choosing The Right White for Your Home

White always works when it comes to your house paint, right? Sure, but there are so many variances in white that you could still end up with the wrong shade of the right color. Lighting, rooms, moods and personal taste will all play a role in the color you end up with. We spoke to the experts at CertaPro Painters® of Far North Texas for tips to choose the right white for your home.

White Nuances

White isn’t always white. Some shades are darker, brighter or tinted with barely-there colors. While they are not always obvious, the shades and tints are there. To see it, use a sheet of computer paper against the paint or chip to see the differences.

Room and Size

Everything will affect your color choice, including the size, room use and decor that is currently in it. To create a warm and inviting atmosphere, use undertones of pink, orange, red or yellow. To create a cool and calming room, lean toward green, purple or blue. The furnishings in the room will change the eye’s perception of the color, so test paint with the surroundings.

Lighting

Lights can make the whites you paint seem different colors too. Natural lighting gives off a warm glow in yellow tones. Artificial lamps and lights will be cooler with a blue look. Experts suggest that pure white works best with natural lighting. Lamps can be adjusted with cool or warm white light bulbs to achieve the look you are going for.

Geography

The area of the country you are in can change white greatly. Cityscape homes work really well with gray-tinted whites, but the same exact hue in Miami’s sunny skies will seem pink. Again, testing the color will be key to finding the white that works best.

Pick a Few

Now that you are more informed on whites and where they are best used, pick a few choices to try out at home. If you’re still unsure, here is a breakdown:

Pure white is more modern than one with a color.
Bright white generally needs an undertone to make it less harsh.
If you’re still having trouble, choose something close to neutral white.

Samples

Get small cans mixed of each color of white you are interested in purchasing. Either paint poster-sized swatches on the wall, or use poster board to paint and move around the room. If you paint boards, move them around the room in different lights. Make sure you look at them at different times of the day and in different lights.

Still Confused?

There are several colors that always sell better than others and experts recommend:
Swiss Coffee OC-45
Simply White 2143-70
Super White PM-1
White Dove OC-17

Need Help?

If you are ready to paint a new hue of white in your room but want some help with the work, call CertaPro Painters® of Far North Texas today! Schedule a free, in-home estimate appointment. Our color consultants are here to help as well.