Since one of the main focuses of my blog is to share design tips and information with you, I thought I’d do a Design Guide series to talk about paint colors.  Over the next few months I’ll be sharing my favorite paint colors along with tips to help you when you’re selecting paint for your home.  Today the color wheel landed on WHITE so I’m sharing my favorite white paint colors from two of the most popular paint lines on the market, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.

I know you already know this, but picking a white paint color can be super challenging.  There are hundreds of white paint shades between the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams lines and finding the right one to work with your decor and lighting is not an easy task.

MY FAVORITE WHITE PAINT COLORS

An easy way to begin looking at shades of white is to analyze their undertone, whether the color is a cool white, warm white or bright white.  Once you do that, look at the colors within your decor and determine which of the white undertones will compliment your decor best.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind: 

♦   Cool Whites work well in bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms because they aren’t too stark or too cloudy.  You can use cool whites on walls, cabinets or furniture and they offer just enough depth to provide a contrast against brighter white trims and molding.

♦   Warm Whites are great for walls especially in rooms with lots of wood details or furniture.

♦   Bright Whites are ideal for trim and cabinets and but can be stark when used on walls unless the decor modern and contemporary which compliments a bright white tone.

Now let’s look at my favorite white paint colors and room settings to show the color in action.

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COOL WHITES

 

White Dove–really pretty with combined with rich, wood tones and softer shades of grey

Distant Gray–with a slightly gray undertone, this is a great shade to combine with darker wood furniture and natural materials

Chantily Lace–a crisp white works in larger areas

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WARM WHITES

 

Cloud White–just enough warmth to mix well with saturated neutrals and shades of grey

China White–a nice depth that works on larger wall space and ceilings

Simply White–a classic white that can work well with modern or traditional decor and antique finishes.

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BRIGHT WHITES

 

Decorators White–a good shade of white to use in rooms with limited natural light.

Extra White–a wonderful shade of white for closet doors, bathroom cabinets and trim–places you want a crisp white pop.

Super White–a pretty vibrant tone what looks good in rooms with lots of molding detail and bright light.

These tips will definitely help you pick a shade of white for your home but the best tip I can give you when it comes to selecting paint colors is to sample the color first.  Paint poster board with your top color choices live with the colors for a few days before deciding.  Look at the colors during different times of the day and under different light conditions to find the color you like most.