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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.
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The White Stuff
1/10The White Stuff
1/10Photo Credit: Cameo White MQ3-32, Swiss Coffee 12
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.<br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/paint/photos/top-kitchen-colour-trends-2019-1926435/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10 Kitchen Colour Trends You’ll Want to Know About in 2019</a>Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomThe White Stuff
PHOTO 1 of 10READ LESS -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.<br><br>Related: <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/paint/photos/top-kitchen-colour-trends-2019-1926435/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10 Kitchen Colour Trends You’ll Want to Know About in 2019</a>Photo Credit: Cameo White MQ3-32, Swiss Coffee 12
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It’s What’s Inside That Counts
2/10It’s What’s Inside That Counts
2/10Photo Credit: Behr: Off White 73
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomIt’s What’s Inside That Counts
PHOTO 2 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Off White 73
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The Mix Up
3/10The Mix Up
3/10Photo Credit: Behr: Silky White PPU7-12, Roman Plaster PPU7-10
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomThe Mix Up
PHOTO 3 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Silky White PPU7-12, Roman Plaster PPU7-10
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Snow White
4/10Snow White
4/10Photo Credit: Behr: Cameo Stone N160-1
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomSnow White
PHOTO 4 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Cameo Stone N160-1
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Just Right
5/10Just Right
5/10Photo Credit: Behr: Yucca White YL-W08, Ultra Pure White 1850
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 href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/ColorDetailView/1850" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR Ultra Pure White 1850</a> — seen here on the trim, ceiling and fireplace — is an ideal neutral white. For the ultimate one-coat paint-and-primer, pick up <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/products/interior-paint-and-primer/behr-marquee-interior/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint</a>, which is available in four finishes.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomJust Right
PHOTO 5 of 10READ LESS -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 href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/ColorDetailView/1850" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR Ultra Pure White 1850</a> — seen here on the trim, ceiling and fireplace — is an ideal neutral white. For the ultimate one-coat paint-and-primer, pick up <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/products/interior-paint-and-primer/behr-marquee-interior/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint</a>, which is available in four finishes.Photo Credit: Behr: Yucca White YL-W08, Ultra Pure White 1850
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White Lights
6/10White Lights
6/10Photo Credit: Behr: Polar Bear 75
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomWhite Lights
PHOTO 6 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Polar Bear 75
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Geo Caching
7/10Geo Caching
7/10Photo Credit: Behr: Roman Plaster PPU7-10, Palais White GR-W15, Opal Silk PPU12-08
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).Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomGeo Caching
PHOTO 7 of 10READ LESS -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).Photo Credit: Behr: Roman Plaster PPU7-10, Palais White GR-W15, Opal Silk PPU12-08
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Home Work
8/10Home Work
8/10Photo Credit: Behr: Off White 73, Havana Coffee N210-7, Shiitake N220-4
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomHome Work
PHOTO 8 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Off White 73, Havana Coffee N210-7, Shiitake N220-4
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Swatch it Up
9/10Swatch it Up
9/10Photo Credit: Behr: Spun Wool N220-1, Off Broadway MQ1-35
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.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomSwatch it Up
PHOTO 9 of 10READ LESS -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.Photo Credit: Behr: Spun Wool N220-1, Off Broadway MQ1-35
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The One
10/10The One
10/10Photo Credit: Behr: Dove HDC-MD-21
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 by Behr, <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/ColorDetailView/HDC-MD-21" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR Dove HDC-MD-21</a>, is an ultra-versatile shade that would look chic in any room. Try one of four <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/products/interior-paint-and-primer/behr-marquee-interior/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint</a> finishes for superior coverage.Paint10 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Shade of White Paint for Your RoomThe One
PHOTO 10 of 10READ LESS -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 by Behr, <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/ColorDetailView/HDC-MD-21" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR Dove HDC-MD-21</a>, is an ultra-versatile shade that would look chic in any room. Try one of four <a href="https://www.behr.ca/consumer/products/interior-paint-and-primer/behr-marquee-interior/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint</a> finishes for superior coverage.Photo Credit: Behr: Dove HDC-MD-21
