Paint is the easiest, most cost-effective way to transform a home. If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market and are looking for a way to dramatically update it, or even if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to freshen it up, you’ll want to select the right neutral colors. In this post, we’ll discuss our go-to, no-fail white paint colors that will breathe new life into your home.
General Paint Color Tips
First, let’s talk about three rules of thumb when it comes to paint colors:
- When considering a color, be sure to look around your space to determine if the fixed elements – countertops, backsplash, flooring, tile, etc. – are warm or cool. From there, you can determine what direction to go in in terms of warm or cool color selections.
- Colors look different at different times of day – morning, afternoon, and evening – based on how much light comes into the home. Colors can also look different depending on what type of lighting is in your space, such as incandescent or fluorescent, based on the hues the light gives off. Every home is different. Because of this, we highly recommend obtaining paint samples to put on your walls to observe the way the color will look throughout the day. Your eye will tell you what looks good and what doesn’t. We also provide custom paint color consults and can help determine the best colors for your space.
- In general, stay at the top of the color wheel for lighter colors, especially if you’re painting your house to sell. And, you don’t need to paint every room a different color. We recommend painting the entire home the same color to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Exceptions to this rule are rooms that have closed doors – bedrooms, bathrooms, an office, or a laundry room. And you can always use a complimentary, darker color to accentuate features of a room such as kitchen islands, accent walls, built-ins, and more.
Tips for Choosing the Best White Paint Colors
Whites and creams are very popular on the coasts, but here in the Midwest these colors are gaining more popularity. White always offer a nice fresh, clean affect to a space.
One tip with white colors is to be careful with the light reflectance value (LRV). Whites are very reflective. The the higher the LRV, the more reflective the color will be. Whites can be very stark, so be careful with how white you go, and again, keep in mind the fixed elements of the room.
Another tip is to use the same color throughout the home, but choose different finishes (flat, matte, eggshell, etc.) for the trim, walls, and ceiling to not only create continuity, but also to slightly define these different elements of the space.
No-Fail White Colors
Our favorite white options by Sherwin Williams are (pictured below from left to right):
- Shoji White
- Alabaster
- White Tail (also a great cabinet color choice)
- Dover White (also a good one for cabinets)
- Creamy White
- White Dove –Benjamin Moore
- Chantilly Lace -Benjamin Moore
The above photos feature Alabaster at a stage we did at 1203 & 1205 Collingwood Drive in MidTown Indianapolis. The builder is JB Partners and the photographer is The Home Aesthetic.
The Family Room in this Clayton Moorlands condo is painted White Dove. Stage by Home Tenders in St. Louis. Remodel by Nested Spaces.
What white paint color is your favorite? And remember, if you’re interested in a color consultation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’d love to help you choose the best color for your space!