How to paint white walls

Finding the right white for your home can be tricky.

People are often amazed at just how many variations there are of white. The reason? All colours have a base, so the light in your home, as well as the colours of your furnishings and accessories, can all affect a paint colour, making it look quite different to how it does on the sample chip. So here are Decoramar Pinturas tips on how to get the perfect white for your home.

HOW DO YOU USE THE SPACE

For a bedroom, look at more relaxing, calming tones – in whites, this usually leans towards slightly creamier or natural hues. A pure, bright white may be too vivid and contrasting for a bedroom, but perfect for the kitchen where you want a more vibrant look.

Crisp, bold whites tend to have a blue base.

SELECT & COMPARE

Visit a paint store, grab the small sample chips and look at them while moving around to see them in different lights. Place them next to each other – you’ll notice the one you liked when against the others, all of a sudden appears quite green or blue.

Colour is affected by its surroundings, so placing the sample chips against each other shows you more of their base colour. Narrow down your whites to four or five that you think can work.

USE SAMPLE POTS

Paint small circles, about 8cm wide and close to each other but not touching, of each white sample on at least two walls of the room (one near the window). Write on paper which colour is which so you don’t mix them up!

Check how they look in morning and afternoon light and also place a few items against them, such as bedding, artwork or curtains. This should assist you in narrowing down the options to get your right white.

TOP TIPS

Brighter whites tend to have a blue base – cool, crisp and bold. Perfect for a contemporary home or higher contrast.

Natural or off-whites usually have bases of yellow or grey. They tend to be more relaxing and inviting, creating a warmer feeling.

You can use a satin finish for walls, and use the same colour in gloss for the timber work and trims. The gloss will bounce light and look brighter than the walls, but the base will be the same.

If you have lots of blues in your décor, it will pull the blue base out of the colour, so go for warm white to offset this. The opposite goes for natural toned accessories: offset this with a cool white.