Finding just the right wall color for your home can be a daunting task with literally thousands of shades to choose from, which is why many people opt for white paint. However, even once you decide on white as the general color, there are still hundreds of shades of white to choose between, and they all look just a little bit different. Some whites are cool-toned, which means they have blue-purple-green undertones while other whites are warm-toned, which means they have yellow-red-orange-pink undertones. Use this guide to find the best shade of white paint for your home.
How to Choose the Right Shade of White
Choosing the right shade of white comes down to three simple steps:
- Know the undertones – head to the hardware or paint store and spend some time looking at the various shades of white to see which are cool-toned and which are warm-toned, and what main undertone color each shade has within that.
- Assess your room – take a good look at the lighting situation in the area you’ll be painting. Is there lots of natural light or mostly artificial? If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your space, consider a shade with more depth to maximize the effects of the light you do have. What undertones does your furniture have – warm or cool? If your furniture leans cool you’ll want to opt for a cool white, if your furniture leans warm choose a warm white.
- Sample and decide – most hardware and paint stores sell small sample jars for a couple of dollars that will let you sample several shades cheaply. Pick three or four of your favorite shades, paint swatches on your wall, and decide which works best.
Popular Shades of White
While there are many, many shades of white available, these are some of the most popular shades of white. For cool-toned whites, try Sherwin-Williams’ Front Porch, Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White, or Benjamin Moore’s Super White. Popular warm tones include Swiss Coffee by Behr, Pointing by Farrow & Ball, and Timeless by Clare.
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Paint Matching
If your favorite shade doesn’t happen to be made by Sherwin-Williams or a hardware store near Andalusia, you can always use color matching to get your perfect shade of white. Sherwin-Williams, Home Depot, and Lowe’s all allow for color matching from any brand, and Sherwin-Williams even offers a free app to help you color match and choose the right shade for your home.