Back in the day when my daughter was in high school, I was talking to her about needing to choose a color for a room makeover I was working on. And she said ‘Are you choosing Another shade of white? Our house is nothing but shades of white.’
I frowned a bit and said ‘No it’s definitely not only shades of white… I have color in the house…like…
everywhere. I have a green bench in the living room for example. That is colorful.
everywhere. I have a green bench in the living room for example. That is colorful.
And then there is the bathroom– I mean- red toile wallpaper… come on. That is definitely colorful.
Okay- to be fair, the red has now changed to shades of white and marble.
I finished listing all the different colorful touches in the house and she nodded and said ‘Okay.’ but not as in okay- got it. It more like an okay, whatever you say, pal. Off we went to the hardware store and while my husband gathered supplies- I gathered paint chip options- in various colors that spoke to me. When I brought them home and laid them on the coffee table and I noticed something suspicious about them.
They were definitely all shades of white. She might have been right.
We have since updated the paint in the house and cottage – I painted the bookcases in the cottage a very dark black and we have the yellow cupboards in the cottage as well.
And our go to favorite since this post was first written (back in 2016!) is Benjamin Moore Simply White.
Since we are getting ready to give our interior walls and ceilings a fresh coat- white paint has been on my mind again and I always get a ton of questions about what color our walls are and how to choose the perfect white paint.
To be honest, I would love to know the secret too. I don’t think there is any simple way to do it. It depends on personal preference and lighting in your home. Did you know that choosing a white paint is one of the hardest to choose? Because there are so many complex layers of drops of color in each shade to consider.
#1. Undertone
In the bedroom before we updated our interior paint in the past couple of years- this ‘white’ did not really look a white color. Sometimes it looked more like a whiter-white during bright sunshine- but when the sun was just coming up or setting- the color leans more creamy almost yellow because of the yellow undertone that it has.
The bedroom now looks like a vanilla white in sunrise and sunset lighting and is more fresh and crisp in sunshine with Simply White on the walls.
Pay attention to is the undertone for the paint that you choose. Whites come with gray, yellow, cream, pink, blue, purple, beige- you name it undertones. One of the reasons it makes choosing the right one so hard. I almost often choose a warmer white with a gray or taupe undertone and I try to avoid whites with a blue undertone or too much yellow.
#2. The lighting
This is another key thing. If you have an abundance of strong light- from windows and french doors for example- take that into consideration. You can probably get away with darker or more heavy undertones and keep the white looking white. And if you are relying on an interior room that lacks natural light
you probably need a brighter white to add some oomph. The room below is one of the hardest rooms to photograph in the house because it is a completely interior room and there is lack of balanced light. We have since updated it to Simply White.
#3. Those names? Forget about it.
- Summer Lily.
- Sentimental.
- Pale Bloom.
- Intricate Ivory.
- Nice White.
- Simple White.
- Perfect white.
They evoke a feeling- you fall in love… but you can’t choose your white based on a name. The problem with the paint color names is that they all sound fantastic. Who wouldn’t want Summer Lily or Pale Bloom walls? And when people ask what color that is in your bedroom you smile and say ‘ oh, it is Summer Lily.‘ not ‘ It is White.‘
And maybe Summer Lily is THE one. Though I’m not swayed by the rosy thoughts of me standing in a garden filled with gorgeous fragrant lilies with my dress and hair flowing in the warm summer breeze making me look like a super model. Okay… maybe I am a little bit swayed by that idea a bit but of course- it’s not the name but how it looks on the walls.
Benjamin Moore Simply White
Simply White is just that. Simple and simply white. It doesn’t really have much in the way of cool or warm undertones- though I feel it is a bit warmer than cooler. It is really mostly just white. And we liked it so much when using it the first time- that we refreshed every room in the house with it. It is an easy to live with white paint color and if you are looking at a pile of paint chips like above and just want a simple white paint color- I don’t think you can go wrong with Benjamin Moore Simply White.
Next week, I will delve into sheens and how to choose the right one for you and let you know if I decide to update our go-to Simply White with another ‘shade of white’ this year. What is your favorite white paint color?
Happy Friday Favorites all.
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I don't think there is one perfect white for everyone, or even for every room in your house. It all depends on the light, and also the colors already in the room because the walls will reflect those colors back at you, no matter how subtly. I have found (with any wall color) that even the reflection of the outdoor foliage can affect a room's color. I once wanted to paint my livingroom a "tan" color. Every sample I put up had a green undertone that I did not see on the samples. I finally put up a sample with a pinkish undertone, figuring it would fight the green reflected off of all the trees outside. It worked perfectly. And by the way, no matter how hard I fight it, I am ALWAYS swayed by the name!
Right? Me too…good marketing 😉
I agree I chose my favorite color of all time when I was rushing through Home Depot grabbing any neutral off-white I could find that was warm . I was in a huge hurry . I only planned to use it till i could spend more time choosing the perfect color. I wasn’t planning on keeping it just getting rid of the peach in the bathroom in florida once I put it Up I fell in love. Its my favorite pale cream thats so warm for those of us that want white but a little warmer it has a rose undertone but You cant tell. It just screams warmth and light. Its called buckwheat flour! Benjamin moore
I love white in every nuance. Your post is full of wonderful impressions
Anxious to see what your top choices will be. I had this dilemma when choosing a grey for my living room. It ended up looking way different than I thought it would, too cool and I wanted a warmer gray. But I'm living with it.
Hi Syl- same thing happened to me in my office; and just living with it – a shame, as I am here 16 hours a day and absolutely loathe how cool it is. I am sorry it happened to you, too. If you ever find a good fix please let me know!
Whites are my favourite color for walls, as well. Some may think my rooms are all painted the same white, but not so. I pick up on the fringe of decorator cushions, the linen of a side chair, etc. I carefully label each can for the times I need to touch up.
Thank you for this! I've been wondering about your paint colors and hoping for some direction! I have no fewer than 6 different white samples on my walls at the moment–yeah, my daughter gives me a hard time too! She has her friends play, "guess the white". Sigh…..
A few years ago I was searching for the perfect white. I had a bunch of paint chips taped up on the bedroom wall.My son came in and said…they are all white and just shook his head. Two pretty ones are Delicate White…think it's from Lowes…and Powdered Snow… from Home Depot. It's just a little warmer.What white is on your kitchen cabinets?
I have been using BM Chantilly Lace. I have it on my ceilings, and have used it to paint my board and batten trim. I have also used it on window & door trim. In rooms with lots of light, it is a nice, clean white. In my rooms with north facing windows, it is softer, not as bright. I love that it has not shown any undertones – it stays white pretty much all of the time.
I just finished painting my bedroom white. Thats a first for me. I have never painted ANY room white before. I had no idea how to choose from the millions of whites. Except, I just chose 4 and put them on the wall and lived with them for weeks. But even then, when I actually painted the first wall, I was afraid I had made a mistake. It seemed SO white. So so white. But now that I've got my curtains up and am rehanging pictures, I think it is going to be perfect. 🙂 I look forward to your trials.
SO, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE ONE YOU FINALLY CHOSE…??? DON'T KEEP IT A SECRET
I do think it all depends on the space. Most of my trim is Benjamin Moore Decorator's White. It seems to work well in my rooms. My kitchen cabinets are White Dove and every time I look at them I am so happy I chose that color!
Shelley
Wow! Wonderful post, Courtney! You should call this post "White Paints 101." A great reference article to save and share. Thank you!
We are building our house, on our own…we are building it. Not having it built. It's crazy and we are now too old for this nonsense, but it's almost done. The decisions are insurmountable (I've never used that word in my life!) I went with "creamy" by Sherwin Williams. Creamy on the walls, creamy on the ceiling. When I paint another room I go through and touch up all the walls where they've gotten nicked and scratched. Here a creamy, there a creamy, everywhere a creamy creamy. I could not make one more decision when it came time to paint, so I decided on creamy, and then I can add color in other places, just like you said. I don't ever want to paint again. EVAH! You hear me!!!
Cindy Bee
White Dove by Benjamin Moore works best in my home!
Can't wait to hear what you choose..I am trying to pick whites for our home and really struggling!
I have a two-inch thick book of paint samples from our painter and many choices to make. Two 17th century apartments in the south of France that we're renovating. Paint not just for walls but for moldings, carvings, doors, etc. I am overwhelmed. (Lucky for me, they have numbers, not names!) But I know what you mean about the white. In our home, I wanted the rooms to have that warm glow like the light at dawn. I prefer the warm undertones, but had started to think that all the Gustavian trends were going toward cooler, grayer shades. Your post really gave me something to think about. Thank you!
This came at a perfect time. I have a 2-inch thick block of paint samples (with numbers, not colors) and have to choose for many rooms in a pair of 17th-century apartments we're renovating in the south of France. Not just walls, but moldings, doors, carved decorations. It is mind-boggling. In our home, I went for off-whites that were on the warm side, to give that feeling of light at dawn. Then I had second thoughts in light of the Gustavian trend toward cooler gray shades. You've given me lots to think about!
Taste of France at francetaste.wordpress.com
Some of my favorite whites are Simply White from Benjamin Moore, Right White from Restoration Hardware, and All White and Wimborne White from Farrow and Ball.
I'm trying to pick a white to cover our yellowy knotty pine panels… I don't want a bluey, chalky feel to the room, but thinking that the background from the pine will kind of give a plain white (whatever that is) a warmer tone. Does that sound about right? haha So confusing! I'm leaning towards a white/taupe paint, but maybe will just try Lowe's off the shelf white. Any suggestions? Thanks!
My house is all white too – like your daughter said – nothing but shades of whites, but I love white and enjoy it`s neutral, clean look. There is no magic formula, but the best way is to have a few shades on the wall, before you decide. Recently I find this article on Elle Decor – 20 BEST WHITE PAINTS ACCORDING TO TOP INTERIOR DESIGNERS- http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/advice/a3448/the-right-white-a-70889/?src=socialflowFB, maybe this can help… I`m going to paint my living room soon, so I know I need a very bright shade because of the lighting, but not cold white…. Which one..I don`t know… What a struggle, hahaha…
It's amazing to me how white on the walls has made such a come-back. We used to think it was too much like the generic white walls you always had to live with in an apartment. (I think it was called "Apartment White". Just teasing. No one would pick that by the name, would they?) I haven't had white walls in years but I'm getting close to trying it in my LR and DR which are adjacent to each other. Right now I have a barely, barely pink in the LR and a shade darker of the same color family in the DR. But somehow I am wanting something a little crisper and cleaner. I haven't started to seriously look for one but I think it's harder to choose now days because there are more choices of white than there used to be. More subtle differences, I think. Makes it more complicated to choose.
Thanks for your post on the subject. I'll be interested to see what you choose for your rooms.
In my home Simply white showed as a creamy almost pale yellow white. I tried so many, but BM Chantilly Lace was the only white to stay pure white in all lighting conditions.
Okay, sisterhood of searching for the right white! Make it simple for this 70 year old newly wed, s'il vous plait.
C'est dicficile pour moi.
You mentioned how important light is in a room. Would you please give us some tips on choosing the right light bulbs – day light or soft white? Thank you!
i always enjoy seeing your posts! thank you.
Benjamin Moore’s Simply White is the predominant white in our house remodel. No complaints.
I am in agreement with you about the color white!!! There are so many shades of it and I add the color with the things that I put into the rooms!!!
I so agree about Simply White from Benjamin Moore!! After trying several shades of whites throughout my small home Simply White was the winner!
Adter teying wo many whites I settled on Simplu White for my house and Still like it so much!
You are so very helpful w color selections. After reading you blog i ordered color samp of simp white and collingwood. Can wait To see how ever will look in the rooms. Thank for your input. Keep it co.
BM-SWISS COFFEE: I LOVE HOW IT WILL PICK UP THE UNDERTONES OF THE ROOM. IT REMINDS ME OF FRESH CREAM.
Check out Maria KILLam. She is a colour expert and can give you all sorts of info on Undertones. Fascinating!
My first renovation of a two story ultra modern house i had no idea whatsoever. Neighbours said we like the red bricks if you don’t want to paint it. I told them this wasn’t happening all the cement in the bricks was uneven and ugliness wasn’t what i had in my mind. A girlfriend who is very quilty- judith newman got all the exterior colours and interior colour for me… even to painting it on the walls and ceilings showing the difference of colouring from white and white with a touche of green. the painting man looked disgusted but when they had finished the beautiful coastal soft blue exterior with cream guttering, roof etc he was in awe of his own painting skills. similarly with the interior the softness of the green took the edge of the stark white he had envisaged as i had huge and i mean huge windows and french doors… since then i’ve moved house 5 times and renovated each one learning white isn’t white.
Most of our houseis a very pale gray that looks white or pale Blue depending on the light. It is “Thin ice” by Olympic. Our house is quite small so our common areas- living, dining, kitchen, and hallway are all the same color as it SEEMS to expand the space. I am looking for a white with punk undertones for the bedroom and am excited to find just the right shade.
My entire home Sw alabaster white…swOon!!!!
It was the 2016 coloR of the yr
i cannot find the color i want which is the color of cream, like cream for your coffee. do you know what name that would be?
I amnot a fan of white but it can look good
Ive gone down the white paint rabbit hole for months now for my REMODEL! Ive decided on Sherwin Williams Alabaster for my kitchen walls…its a warm white that does’nt read yellow at all and i think im going to love it…now for the rest of the houe?? Ugh
I went with Benjamin Moore Acadia White in my north facing bedroom. When I’d painted my previous north facing room a more crisp white, it picked up too much grey. so I went with a much warmer one for my new room, and I really like it. In the summer it leans a bit yellow, but since I live in Canada, it was more important to me to have something that was warm and cozy for our loooong winters!
I’ve just ordered samples of farrow & ball’s shaded white for my living area that doesn’t get a lot of light due to the covered porch. keeping my fingers crossed!