How to choose the right white color for your walls

White may look clean and refreshing, but there are many better ways to start over at home than simply whitening the place. However, the clean slate strategy works well for this purpose, especially when applied immediately after purchasing the space.

There are many things to know before painting your walls white, and the first is definitely to distinguish places that look really good in white from places that get shockingly cold and unwelcome.

As well as being a minimal risk color for the walls, white is a choice associated with mood, style, temperature and requirements and all of these must be taken into account.

Image source: Chris Snook

Sometimes all you need to do is freshen up with a minimal amount of vibrant color or choose a better shade to break the crunchy monotony. Let us explain to you how to choose the right white color for your walls:

Familiarize yourself with all the white shades

Image source: Interior designers at D’Cruz Design Group Sydney

There is no such thing as pure white, or at least it is very difficult to find one. Most of the time, you look at diagrams with nuances and have to choose between hundreds of hues, ranging from “hint colors” to brilliant whites and which are becoming increasingly popular.

The things that make white so different are undertones, and these go from yellowish to bluish, so there is a lot of comparison to be made before applying them.

The best thing you can do here is to consult the local supplier and have them compare the nuances you like with paper samples. You can estimate the complexity of the task yourself.

Wherever possible, get warmer

Image source: Lee design and interior
White with blue / gray undertones may look classier and cleaner, but it’s not exactly what you would call homely. For inviting walls, we recommend warm white, e.g. B. with yellow and red undertones.

They look softer and more relaxing and can easily be associated with the region in which you live. In fact, you can use warm white to freshen up places in cold areas or in places that don’t have uniform access to daylight and sun.

Consider the outdoor effect

Image source: Mark English Architects, AIA

Look out the window and guess whether or not the foliage you are using to block the sun is helpful. Assuming you have enough light inside; Consider adding cooler tones (known as “smudging white”).

For example, a gray-green cut will reduce the brightness effect in south-facing rooms, especially with an outdoor tree and weak sunlight.

If the room is not facing south, consider using a purer shade to deflect sunlight in the cooler season.

Choose a mood

Image source: Chelsea Atelier Architect, PC

Each shade of white is associated with a specific emotional response and you need to familiarize yourself with these before you start painting. It’s pretty simple: you just have to think about the effects of water temperature.

The lightest and purest white is extremely cold, while the smoothest, warmest ivory is hot. Thinking like this, you can think of whites in a number of moods and choose the one that evokes the emotions you want in your home.

Bold and pure nuances would feel like dipping into a cool pool, namely stimulating and refreshing, while the warmer ones feel more relaxing and calming.

Stay prepared

Image source: Urrutia design

White walls look great, but they take a lot of care and maintenance as they expose every stain and dent, tiny as they are. Therefore, pay attention to any imperfections in advance and, if necessary, mend any holes and skim coats.

For large stains and serious damage, remember to apply a stain-resistant primer before applying the final coat. When you’re done, stay ready to be quick as white walls are never completely done.

Replicate the gallery look

Image source: Horton & Co. Designer

Did you notice that galleries are completely white on both the walls and trim? The nuance is always the same and the overall effect is crispy and pure.

The reason for this is to divert attention from the architectural design and allow viewers to enjoy works of art and their details. The same effect also applies to private households.

So avoid crispy whites unless you have a remarkable art collection that can bring the viewer to their knees. It’s going to look too random and cold, along with the fact that it will expose any markings, blemishes, and imperfections.

Galleries look perfect, but that’s just because they get repainted after every show, and we’re pretty sure that isn’t a young family’s priority.

For this reason, we recommend khaki instead – a great solution for hiding all the bumps and bangs and making the place look new even after years without painting.

Determine the style

Image source: Jarosz Architect, PA

White is a pretty safe choice to play with ideas and impressions, which makes it easy to incorporate into any style and design solution.

For example, modern homes use bright whites to create a bolder feel and use natural, brightly colored materials to create a sharp contrast.

If, on the other hand, you want a milder feeling, choose warmer nuances that give the room a charming shine even on rainy days.

Take advantage of the visual expandability of white

Image source: Resolution: 4 architecture

White enables light to be amplified, and this is exactly how it makes the room appear larger. Thanks to white, edges and shadows disappear, especially if you have chosen a cooler shade in small and enclosed spaces.

Note, however, that both your navigational habits and your particular perceptions of open floors will only improve if you make subtle shifts from one hue to another. You should therefore avoid sharp and unexpected contrasts.

For example, if you deepen the whites, it will reduce the size differences between rooms and you will get the open floor you always wanted.

Keep colors compatible with the purpose

Image source: Hulburd design

When choosing the color for a room, think of the purpose first. If the room is to be your relaxing oasis, for example, the bedroom, mellow and other warm whites are the ideal choice.

Stimulating places, on the other hand, benefit from sharper colors that make you comfortable but still stay cold enough to motivate you to get your job done.

Cabinets that match your walls

Image source: Chr DAUER Architects

There are many things we underestimate about closets. To begin with, they don’t have windows, and we often try, to put it mildly, to light them and see what’s inside. How much time does this take to prepare for your meeting? Think about it!

We recommend treating the interiors of the cabinets with light-reflecting white tones, as this ensures maximum visibility. If you’re not sure how to paint the surfaces, go to your local store and look for the paint with the highest LRV (light reflective value) number.

With these colors, all the light available in the room can be reflected and evenly distributed. This means that you benefit from the daylight in the closet even when there is no window.

try it

Image source: General Assembly

Once you’ve set the mood, purpose, and style of your space, pick the colors and throw yourself into action. But remember to do a test before buying the paint. If you ask us, test at least three different colors to see which one goes best with the location.

Try the shades in all areas, e.g. On ceilings, exposed spots and corners, and consider how their reflection would change with different types of light. The environmental impact on white is enormous and should not be underestimated.