How to Choose a White Paint Color

You may think that finding the perfect white paint for your home will be the easiest task of your day. After you start looking over the variety of options, you’ll realize there’s A LOT of them. Why are there so many types of white paint and which one is right for your home? This blog will explain exactly how to choose a white paint color and why there’s so many of them!

Trim: White Dove by Benjamin Moore | Walls: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

UNDERTONES in White paint color

There a several types of white paint and surprisingly, they can have a massive impact on your space. White paints have something called undertones! There’s warm and cool undertones to each white. Typically, I’m drawn to warmer whites. Warmer whites are more traditional, while crisp whites have a modern feel to them. Not sure what white is best for you? Saving pictures on social media is a great start! Most influencers will share what paint colors they used in their home, and you can use that for inspo! You can see the color and how it looks with the flooring, furniture, and other paint colors in their home. Remember, don’t rely solely on this! Most pictures you see are edited (including mine) so the true color may be seen different on the screen.

I love our white, but if I’m being honest, there are times of the day that I don’t. When the sun sets and the sun shines in, it brings out the creamy undertone in the White Dove and looks a bit yellowish. A crisp and bright white may have been a better option, but overall, I love the warmth of White Dove. It’s a beautiful balance of warm and cozy. Let’s discuss the different types of whites so you’ll exactly how to choose a white paint color!

Types of white paint color

Warm White: Yellow/ Orange undertones

Cool White: Blue/ Gray undertones

Bright White (90 LRV and Up): Can be warm or cool

Soft White (82-89 LRV): Can be warm or cool

True White: Have the least amount of undertones

Paint color is measured by the percentage of light that it can reflect; something called the LRV or Light Reflectance Value. 0% would be pure black, as the color absorbs all possible light, and 100% would be the purest white, reflecting all light. White paint only goes up to an LRV of 94.

LIGHTING

White paints will always look different depending on the light source reflecting off of it. Your white paint may look stunning with direct sun exposure, yet look dull under interior lighting. The best way to make sure you love your white paint at all times of day is by painting large swatches of options on a wall that has varying light sources hit it. Observe it during the day time, at dusk, and at night with interior lights on. This may seem like over kill, but try different lightbulbs also. Warm light vs. bright LED light (if you’re into that kind of lighting) can alter the appearance of your paint and bring out different undertones. If you don’t want to paint the wall, use large pieces of painted foam board instead! This makes it easy to move around the room to see what it looks like on different walls.

Shiplap & Trim: White Dove by Benjamin Moore

Be aware of your decor and finishes

Firstly, make sure to take into consideration your homes existing colors or colors you plan on using because it’s best to stay with that undertone throughout. On occasion, you can break this rule. For example, I went with a cooler Carrara Marble counter top in a few of our bathrooms and paired it with the warmer White Dove. I love how it had a New England classic older-home feel. The lighting in both of those rooms made it work! In my kitchen featured below, the Carrara Marble would not have looked as good. The warmth of the beams and the floor bring more of the warmth out in the White Dove, so I went with a counter that paired with that: MSI Calacatta Laza Quartz. I broke the rule again by using this cooler gray counter stool.

Secondly, if you’re working on a new build, keep your vision for decor and finishes in mind. Make mood boards with all of them together. If the decision to choose the right paint is overwhelming you, its okay to ask for help! I have mentioned many times that I struggle with making the bigger decisions. I reached out for help on our own build. It gave me reassurance that the colors I chose worked well together because hearing a second opinion always helps.

Cabinets, Trim, & Shiplap: White Dove by Benjamin Moore

If you’re interested in more details about my kitchen, check out my blog on the backsplash: Backsplash Details! You can also click on the shop all the furniture pieces in my kitchen by clicking the small phots above! It’s a good to visit the Benjamin Moore site to take a look at their wide range of white paint options and examples!