Are you looking for a white paint but don't know where to start? Yes, I've been there done that! It's tricky to get it right (and don't even start me on the colour grey!). Today I have a list of some white paints you might like to consider. The first thing you will need to …
Are you looking for a white paint but don’t know where to start? Yes, I’ve been there done that! It’s tricky to get it right (and don’t even start me on the colour grey!). Today I have a list of some white paints you might like to consider. The first thing you will need to decide on is whether you are after a COOL white or a WARM white. Once you decide which is your preference you can start to limit your choices.
Here are the 2 broken down with a few ideas for you…
Cool Whites
Cool whites are colours that have a blue, grey or green undertone. Cool colours work well in more modern homes. Usually rooms which are filled in natural light can benefit from a cool white. They offer a crisp, sleek and elegant look.
See some examples below…
Crisp White Taubmans – probably the truest white. This is my colour at home.
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Lexicon Dulux – this room below was done in half strength (don’t forget that if you narrow your paint choices down that you can also ask for them to be in a half-tint if you think it’s a little too grey/blue).
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Infinity White British Paints – gorgeous colour – a little hint of grey, but not too much.
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Vivid White Dulux – bright and light.
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Extra White Sherwin-Williams – looks great in a large space.
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Manhattan Snow Wattyl – Amie and I used this colour in our house at The Block. We loved it!
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Warm Whites
Warm whites are colours with yellow, red and brown undertones. They are cosy and inviting more suited to traditional styling.
See some examples below…
Whisper White Dulux – a little bit warmer with a slight cream undertone.
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Linen White Wattyl – also a little creamer and looks great bright white gloss accents.
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Love Note British Paints – creamy with the slightest pink tone.
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Antique White USA Dulux – I did my last house in this. Not too creamy – just not as stark as a cool white. This is my favourite warm white paint colour.
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Natural White Dulux – fresh brown undertone – great with timber furniture.
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White Beam British Paints – natural and inviting.
TIPS when choosing white paint:
- Hold the swatch away from other swatches (other colours can throw it off).
- Don’t choose your colour based on the swatch laying down – make sure it’s upright.
- Buy a piece of plaster board and paint that using your colour (don’t put more than one colour on a board, create new boards per colour) and rest them in your rooms to see how they look at different times of the day.
- Think about the lighting in your room. Less light might mean your paint choice can be a little brighter/lighter or with half strength tint.
- Think about the furniture in your room. Black furniture looks better with a cooler colour, timber furniture might look better with a warmer white.
Do you have a favourite white? Or any tips for selecting white paint?
♥ KC.
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Comments
Bianca Ward
I wish I had seen this 5 minutes ago. I just had a lady in looking to match a white, would have been handy????
Kirsty McCann Leckie
Angus Leckie
Sum
Thanks so much for this info. We are building and I was scared off using white because I thought it would look to cold, but all your suggestions on the warm whites are great! I think I may go a warm white vs the 1/4 strength hog bristle I thought I was going to go. Thanks 🙂
Jorja Thompson
Did you seriously read my mind Katrina, thank you so much!! I was so going to ask you to do a blog on this one..
Aaron check this out please and get your roller ready ????????
Georgia Imhoff
Andrew Flanders – thought of you Flash !
Jonas Bel
Where were you 6 months ago when I was updating my bedroom paint to white? ????
We went with Antique white USA. Different to swatch but we still like it ????
Now to do living areas ????
Jonas Bel
Phill
Jennie Meiklejohn
Perfect timing. I picked up some white samples a few days ago to paint my new office!
Susan
Oh could you do this for greys please. I am having a hard time choosing
Katrina
Ok sure, I’ll get something written up 🙂
Michelle
This is such a great blog about whites! Thanks! But some greys would be awesome….. Please!
Jennie
I’ve had to re-read your post Katrina. The whites are doing my head in! At least I’ve now narrowed it down to the warm whites …..
Beck Rudd Adler
Jo McInnes
Jo Murrell
Have just finished painting 3rd bedroom in American antique white. Looks wonderful….. (the room was blue for over 10 years)
Shelly Ramsey
Love Antique White USA, painted most of the house in this colour 9 years ago…hubby will kill me when I say its time to repaint the house…still think we will go the Antique White USA
Nicole Watson
Painting our house in Dulux Natural White (over the 1/2 strength Hog Bristle) & I absolutely LOVE it.. So fresh & clean !!
Jules
We’ve just bought an older home and are keeping the timber skirtings, doors/windows. I already have all the swatches you mentioned up on my wall and have no idea.
Any recommendations (or photo examples) with timber trims???
Donna
Hi Jules, I used Dulux natural white in our 1930s house with all original wood floors, trim, and Windows. Looks great, really refreshed the rooms but didn’t look too stark next to the wood. Good luck. Donna.
Alex
We are looking to paint the kids playroom white – it’s very sunny and the creamy neutral it is currently painted (I’d guess antique white USA) looks really yellow. The room will also have a blackboard wall, so leaning towards cool whites to go with black but then wondering if it will look odd looking through from the ‘warmer’ coloured living spaces? What would you suggest?
Karen
Hi, I am tossing up between Dulux Mt Aspiring and Dulux Rottnest for our new place. Most of the cabinets are Polar White and the floor will be spotted gum. Side by side Mt Aspiring looks like half strength Rottnest. I want a clean but slightly warm look and the main living area faces north. Suggestions would be appreciated.
Steve
We painted walls in Whisper White and the ceilings in Dulux Ceiling Paint (Lexicon 1/4) .
Arcs, skirts , and windows all in Lexicon Full Gloss Enamel. Looks fantastic
Ruth Thompson
Oh Katrina, so many choices and little pots all over the place. Have a an old farm house where every room. Limed white and looking got change. Reading is Natural white seemed lovely and refreshing but
1) what colour gif all the doors and trims?? And
2) recommended New York for trims and doors looks pink 🙁 and vivid white looked as if I have no imagination…. so true 🙁
Ruth Thompson
Sorry about typos. Didn’t check the darn predictive text. Sorry
Monika
Good morning Katrina, I’m in a desperate need of advice. I’m trying to decide what shade of white to choose for our apartment. I was all set to go with half strength of Dulux Terrace White and then I started to read different blogs and I’m back to square one. I’m now thinking of Dulux Vivid White. Our apartment doesn’t get much natural light due to all the tall trees surrounding us and there is the carpet that is gray. I don’t like for the paint to throw any undertone of purple, pink or blue. I think Vivid White would brighten the place up. I’m after a contemporary look. Could you please help what colour to choose? Thank you so much.
Katrina
Vivid white is perfect! Or Lexicon 1/4 strength. I’ve seen that yesterday and it’s similar to vivid white but does have a slight colour. Terrace White is quite grey. Hope that helps a bit!