10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your Room

Picking the perfect white paint for your home is the Holy Grail of design choices. This quest isn’t impossible, though – armed with these tips, you’ll have the right white in no time.

Beautiful classic white kitchen, painted in BEHR Cameo White MQ3-32 and Swiss Coffee 12, featuring a large centre island with a sink, marble countertops and two white leather stools

Cameo White MQ3-32, Swiss Coffee 12

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The White Stuff

The first step in finding a shade of white that’s right for you is to get to know the spectrum of whites out there. White paints usually have blue, green, red or yellow undertones – layer chits on a piece of white paper to see those subtle colours pop.

Behr: Off White 73

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It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Before picking a paint shade for a room, look around at what’s in it (or will go in it). If the furnishings are neutral, pick up a warmer white; if there’s a lot of colour, go with a cooler white.

An eclectic living room decorated in the bohemian style with a woven wall hanging above the fireplace, a Persian rug on the floor, woven throw pillows on the taupe upholstered couch, two white leather reclining chairs, and BEHR Silky White PPU7-12 and Roman Plaster PPU7-10 painted on the walls

Behr: Silky White PPU7-12, Roman Plaster PPU7-10

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The Mix Up

Oftentimes, the best white for a space isn’t “white” at all – it’s a true white mixed with a touch of yellow, red, orange or pink for a warmer white; or green, blue or purple for a cooler white.

Behr: Cameo Stone N160-1

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Snow White

It’s also a good idea to look at the style of your home – a pure white paint makes a space feel more modern, while a white tinged with some colour feels more traditional.

Beautiful fresh dining room with a round white dining table, four white slipcovered dining chairs, a fireplace with a mantle layered with white, yellow and green vases, and walls painted in BERH Yucca White YL-W08 and Ultra Pure White 1850

Behr: Yucca White YL-W08, Ultra Pure White 1850

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Just Right

If you’re not sure whether your home can handle a cool white or if a warmer shade is better suited, split the difference and choose one that’s right in the middle.

A clean and welcoming entry features a stained wood front door, framed modern art on the walls, a floating shelf with a bowl, plant and candlestick, a potted plant on the floor, and white BEHR Polar Bear 75 paint on the walls.

Behr: Polar Bear 75

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White Lights

The amount of natural light in a room can also have an impact on how the paint looks on the walls. If a space has lots of natural light, a pure white is best; if natural light is low, look for a white with more pigment.

A chic beach-themed living room with a driftwood coffee table, three shell photos on the wall, sheer white drapes, a white couch and blue-striped armchair covered in blue throw pillows, and walls painted in BEHR Roman Plaster PPU7-10, Palais White GR-W15 and Opal Silk PPU12-08

Behr: Roman Plaster PPU7-10, Palais White GR-W15, Opal Silk...

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Geo Caching

Where you are in the world can also inform how white looks on the walls. In greyer climates, such as coastal B.C., having a grey undertone in the white complements the light quality. In clear-sky prairie locales, the same colour may appear pink (thanks to more blue light coming through).

Pretty Asian-inspired bedroom with a large canopy bed, silk bedding in various shades of bronze and cream, and walls painted with BEHR Off White 73, Havana Coffee N210-7 and Shiitake N220-4

Behr: Off White 73, Havana Coffee N210-7, Shiitake N220-4

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Home Work

Before you even think about purchasing a single gallon of paint, take home a handful of paint chips. Take more than you think you’ll need; what looked crisp and modern in the store may be too cool in the actual space or what seemed warm and welcoming could be way too pink for what you had in mind.

A chic industrial-inspired dining room features a long rough-edge wood table, four aluminum chairs, a black pendant light with many individual filament lightbulbs, a fireplace and walls painted in BEHR Spun Wool N220-1 and Off Broadway MQ1-35

Behr: Spun Wool N220-1, Off Broadway MQ1-35

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Swatch it Up

Since white changes drastically depending on the light in the room, seeing a shade in situ is also a must. Once you’ve narrowed down the chip choices, pick up a few sample cans and paint swatches as big as you can – check back throughout the day to see how the light changes the colour.

Modern white bathroom with rectangular standalone bathtub in front of large windows, a double sink floating vanity, two wall mirrors, two wall sconces, and walls painted with BEHR Dove HDC-MD-21

Behr: Dove HDC-MD-21

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The One

If you’re planning to paint multiple rooms white, stick with one shade for everything. It’s way easier to do touchups down the road if you only have to keep track of one paint name/number. This soft, grey-tinged white is an ultra-versatile shade that would look chic in any room.