Finding Just The Right White

by Frank Campanelli – frank.campanelli@gmail.com
At first thought you may think that white is the simplest choice for painting a room, until it comes time to pick out your paint color. But wait…white is just white, right? Unfortunately for the indecisive homeowner, this is not the case. There are many choices when it comes to choosing the right white, but with this quick guide you’ll be able to wade through the shades and find the ideal white for the interior painting in your home.

White is the perfect fresh start for any room. It goes with everything and can easily be adapted with room decorations for changes in style or moods. That being said though, it is not as one-size-fits-all as one may think. White can be as soft or vibrant as any other color. The shade of white picked may result in a fresh and serine living room or a glaring hospital hallway depending on the shade. Different shades of white can have a warm or cool feel and can be tinted blue, yellow, red or just pure white! To find the perfect one for your home, it is important to understand and be able to pick out the subtle differences.

Here is a simple guide for shifting through the shades of white.
Modern versus Traditional – If the space you are painting has a modern feel to it, typically pure white or whites with a blue tint to them will work best. They create a stark and clean ambiance. To capture a more warm and traditional look, check out reddish or creamy whites for a more homey and lived-in feel.

Modern:
Extra White 7006 by Sherwin-Williams

Traditional:
Antique White 6119 by Sherwin-Williams

Sunny Room or Limited Light – If you are working with a dark room that does not capture much natural light, creamy or red tinted shades of white will compliment the area well. A pure white in the area may make it feel too cold. On the other hand, those stark whites will work well in a room that basks in natural lighting especially because shades of white reflect light more than other color.

Limited Light:
Dover White 6385 by Sherwin-Williams

Sunny Room:
Atrium White by Benjamin Moore

Natural Wood Accents – Reddish or creamy whites work well to show off the color of natural wood accents. If the room has wood furniture or a staircase with exposed natural wood coloring, a slightly red tinted white will complete the look.

Natural Wood:
Natural Choice 7011 by Sherwin-Williams

Blank Canvas – If you are looking for a white that will complement any variety of room décor, a soft white will provide the perfect backdrop for art collections and pieces of furniture and any color combination you may choose.

Flexible Soft White:
Linen White 912 by Benjamin Moore

Flexible Soft White:
Pure White 7005 by Sherwin-Williams

Bedroom Bliss – A bedroom white must be carefully chosen, as too pure of a white will turn your relaxing haven into an absolute nightmare. A creamy white is soothing and clean, creating the perfect serene sleeping spot.

Popular Bedroom Choice:
Dover White 6385 by Sherwin-Williams

Area Accents – It helps to take into consideration the other elements of the room as well. If the accent pieces in the room are in bright colors, a pure or blue tinted white will look nice. On the other hand, natural or earth toned accents will play off of a reddish white well.

Bright Accents:
Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore

Earth-Toned Accents:
Swiss Coffee OC-45 by Benjamin Moore

You may already be set on painting your room white, but as a little word of caution, it is important to realize that white is easily muddled. It is best not to use white in high traffic areas of a home. When white walls get lots of contact or are in a heavily used room, they will get dirty and show it. The kitchen for example could be a hazardous location for white walls. If you are absolutely attached to white in the kitchen, opt for a high gloss variety that can be wiped down easily and cleaned. A white walled room also means that to keep it looking fresh, the area around it needs to be clean also. White is also not a good color choice if there are scratches or dirt to be hidden as flaws will be illuminated by the white paint. White walls mean cleaning the room constantly to keep the area from looking dingy.

White walls work well to highlight interesting architecture. But when there is no interesting architecture or design in the room, the room’s mundane look will only be accentuated. To compensate for an ordinary space, interesting art, mirrors or window treatments can be used to spice up the room. Colorful walls can also add depth and dimension to a room.

Another consideration to keep in mind is that brightly colored pieces of furniture in the room can affect how the white walls appear. For example, if the room contains a large red couch, this may cause the white walls to have more of a pink tint to them. To compensate for this discoloration, a warmer shade of white may help or the furniture or accent piece in question may look better in another room of the home.

White has always been a popular choice for homeowners, and for good reason! It is versatile, neat, it can match everything, and it never goes out of style. It may take a little extra time and consideration to find the perfect match, but picking the right shade will make all the difference!

When you choose Franklin Painting in Farmington, CT you will have over 25 years of interior and exterior house painting experience working with all the whites to help you choose just the right white for your job. Call 860-678-7701 for more information.

Franklin Painting LLC – Call us Toll Free at 877-646-7774
or at our main office number 860-678-7701
2 Eastview Drive, Farmington, CT 06032

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