How to Choose White Interior Paint Colours

Spring is a popular time for homeowners to plan room renovations, which includes repainting your walls. A fresh coat of paint can be a cost-effective way to transform a space. However, choosing the perfect neutral colour can be a challenge.

The ultimate neutral – white is one of those colours that goes with everything. White walls offer versatility because they allow you to alter the colour scheme of your space in just one afternoon. And the clean canvas they provide allows for effortless transformation and adaptation to your evolving style preferences. They also lighten and brighten your rooms. And depending on the type of white you choose, they bring warmth into your space.

Furthermore, warm whites are trending right now. Below is a photo of our freshly painted great room in a green and white colour scheme. But, my husband wanted a warmer-looking room. As a result, I replaced some of the white and all the green pillows for burnt orange and mustard-coloured pillows. The photo above shows the great room with the orange pillows. Pillows are another economical way to decorate. Click the following button to learn more about how to use throw pillows in interior design.

Renovating Our Great Room

Over the last 18 months, We redecorated/renovated our great room in stages. First, I purchased a new armchair I liked and had it upholstered in white performance fabric. We also decided to paint the room a warm white.

Twelve years ago, our family room ceiling suffered water damage from condensation in the attic, which caused water stains. That is why I wanted to renovate the ceiling. Even though the builder fixed and repainted the area, there was still a noticeable water-damage mark.

We decided to give our walls a fresh coat of paint while painting the ceiling. Considering the possibility of moving soon, we thought it best to paint the walls white since it gives the room a neutral and refreshing look that appeals to a wider range of potential buyers. Furthermore, white walls appear brighter and more attractive in photos, which is crucial as most people view homes on-line when searching for their dream home to purchase.

Furthermore, we chose warm white because my husband does not like stark white walls. You may be wondering what does warm white mean? It refers to the colour temperature of the paint colour’s undertone.

Consider the Undertone

Undertones play a crucial role in how a colour appears in its setting. These undertones are responsible for subtle paint colour variations and are particularly noticeable in neutral shades. So white, which is a neutral colour, has undertones. Therefore, whites can appear yellow, green, or blue in certain lights. Yellow for example, is a warm undertone.

So how do you know if a paint color is warm or cool?

Warm colours create a cozy atmosphere, while cool colours make a space feel fresh and soothing. Warm undertones include yellow or pink. Cool undertones include blue or green. Since my husband wanted a warm and comfortable atmosphere in our great room, we decided to paint it a warm white colour with a yellow undertone. I also chose this colour because of the type of natural light coming into the room.

Figure out your room’s natural light?

It is important to take stock of your space’s lighting qualities, like the direction of light coming into your room. If your natural light comes streaming into your room only in the morning, you probably have east-facing windows like we have in our great room. If you get afternoon sun only in a room, it is probably west-facing. What direction your windows are facing can affect how the neutral colour will look throughout the day. Therefore, it is important to determine the type of sunlight that you receive in your room.

What are the Best White Paints for East-Facing Rooms?

An east-facing room like ours benefits from a warm white. It will look like a crisp white on your walls like it does on ours even though it looks creamy on the paint chip. Your rooms with east-facing windows enjoys the most sun in the morning and cooler, muted light in the afternoon and evening. In these rooms, the morning sunlight is brilliant, clear, and slightly warm. The lighting will gradually become brighter and whiter as noon draws nearer. After this time period your east-facing room will look slightly cool and slightly darker. To counter the grey-blue look in the afternoon, a warm white with a yellow undertone for example, will help to balance out the cooler grey-blue flatter afternoon light.

Summary:

In conclusion, when selecting neutral paint colours like white for your interiors, it’s essential to choose the right undertone that creates the desired atmosphere or mood for your room. You may want a space that produces a calming and soothing atmosphere or a place that provides a warm and inviting atmosphere. Cool undertones, like blue, create a peaceful atmosphere, while warm undertones, such as yellow or pink, generate a warmer environment.

What is equally important is to figure out if your room is east, west, south or north-facing. Our great room had windows that were east-facing. It meant the sunlight came into the room in the morning. So, we chose a warm white to counteract a flat, stark look in the afternoon. We also used pillows to incorporate another layer of warmth to our great room. Learn more about throw pillows by clicking the button below.