The Perfect Shade of White for Your Home

Cream, pearl, ivory, chiffon, porcelain, eggshell, frost – choosing the perfect white for your walls can be one of the hardest design decisions when building your home. You may want to dive head-first into choosing your colour, but there are several important factors that must be considered. Here are some useful tips to help you choose the perfect paint for your space.

Lighting

Lighting plays an important role in determining what shade of white works best for your space. When light hits a wall, it can amplify the brightness of your chosen paint. So, if you’re selecting a colour for a well-lit room, it is best to opt for a darker shade of white. Likewise, if you’re working with a space that has dim lighting, you want to avoid a darker shade of white, as it could result in the room feeling a little dull. Viewing a variety of swatch options within the natural and artificial lighting of your space is key to choosing the ideal shade. Bunnings offers a variety of free swatches. You can also grab a sample pot to see how the colour looks on your wall and in different lighting conditions.

To Match or Not to Match?

So, you’ve selected your preferred shade of white. Now you need to decide whether to make all your painted surfaces match or utilise a variety of different shades. If you’re going for a more minimalist aesthetic, we recommend using the same colour on your walls, ceiling, skirtings, and architraves. If you are choosing a standard white for your walls, why not mix it up? Try a different colour on the ceilings, skirtings, and architraves. As always, test your options and see what combinations work best for your space.

Test it Out

Choosing the right colour for your home is difficult, especially when you only have a small paint swatch to use as a reference. As an alternative, most paint stores stock larger swatch sizes to help you get a better sense of how the colour fits in your home. If larger swatches aren’t available, you can always make one yourself. Pick out some sample pots to take home and paint on a piece of card to view around your house.

Bonus Tips:

If you want to make a change, make it early. It’s not uncommon for people to change their mind on a shade after they see it throughout their house. However, if you are thinking of switching to a different shade, ensure it is done early in the painting process, preferably just after the first coat is done. The last thing you want is to have a change of heart after all your furniture has been moved in.

Stick to using the same brand for all coats of paint. Base coats vary between brands, and they can change the outcome of your chosen white significantly. To make sure your chosen paints are a close match, it is always recommended to use the same brand for all layers.

Know the best places to find inspiration. If you’re struggling to find your perfect shade of white, the best thing you can do is plenty of research. Pinterest is a great place to start, offering examples of various styles and how they match with your preferred colour palette. Dulux also has a handy guide to their most popular whites and neutrals that offers tips on how to style them. Be sure to check that out.