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10 Things Nobody Tells You About Painting a Room White

Painting a room white can make it feel open, clean, spacious, quiet, or simple, and it’s always the go-to when it comes time for us to paint our interiors. But there’s more to white paint than you think. For example: tiny variations between white paints can give a vastly different effect on your space. Here are 10 things to know before you paint a room white.

1. Only a few white paints are actually pure white.

Above: The many shades of white; photograph by Mel Walbridge from Architects’ 10 Favorite Warm White Paints.

Many people mistakenly believe that all white paints are pretty much the same—and that are all devoid of color. Not the case: “White paints can come with bluish, reddish, yellowish, and even greenish undertones,” says architect Amy Alper in Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Perfect White Paint. To see the differences, follow the suggestion of interior designer Ellen Hamilton and hold the samples against a sheet of white paper. Suddenly you’ll notice the many differences and complexities in what, at first glance, seems like plain white.

Most white paints fall into three categories: warm-toned (not too bright or sterile), cool-toned (which add dimension), and “gallery” whites (which are the purest white paints, used often in art galleries). To get a sense of which is which, we surveyed architects for their favorites in each category; see:

2. All paints start out as white.

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista, from DIY Paint: Designer Michaela Scherrer Mixes Her Own Shades of White.

Notes California-based designer Michaela Scherrer—whose whole Pasadena house is dressed in shades of white (and who dresses herself in only white): “All paint starts out as white,” she points out, “and then has tints added to it.” Scherrer mixes her own white paints, starting with a base paint—like Benjamin Moore Regal’s pastel base, Decorator’s White, Paper White, or the white base from Fine Paints of Europe—and adding universal tints, drop by drop, to add subtle hues. Read more about her methods (and how to mix your own custom white paints) in DIY: How to Mix the Perfect White Paint with LA Designer Michaela Scherrer.

3. The same white paint will look different in Seattle than in Florida.

Above: A coat of Benjamin Moore Super White Paint in matte reflects light and brightens a previously dark Boston kitchen. Photograph by Justine Hand for Remodelista, from Reader Rehab: A Boston Kitchen Embraces the Light.

Ever notice that your eye color changes slightly depending on what you have on? The same rule applies to white paints. A white paint on a wall will look very different depending on where in the world you live, on what sort of light your room gets (north-facing looks entirely different than west-facing), even on what else is in the room: dark wood molding vs. white molding, or a red couch vs. a blue couch. For how to take these factors into account, consult Expert Advice: How to Choose Paint Like a Pro.

4. A fresh coat of white paint is the cheapest way to make over a room.

Above: Four years ago, jewelry designer’s turn-of-the-century home in LA’s Echo Park was filled with color and vibrancy; now, a fresh coat of white paint transformed the entire interior. “You can radically transform a space by doing very little to it,” she says. Photograph by Laure Joliet; see the rest of the project in Shift to Neutral: LA Jewelry Designer Kathleen Whitaker’s Radical Transformation.

Can’t take on a full renovation? “Paint is well-known as the cheapest and quickest way to make over a room,” says veteran remodeler—and actress—Amanda Pays in 11 Money-Saving Remodeling Strategies from a Hollywood House Flipper. At an average of $30 per gallon of flat paint, plus primer (which runs $7-$15 per gallon) and supplies, a DIY paint job, done right, can transform a room on the cheap.

5. It takes 570 gallons of white paint to paint the exterior of the White House.

Above: Photograph by Justine Hand for Remodelista, from DIY Project: Limewashed Walls for Modern Times.

The most iconic house in the U.S. is, you guessed it, white, and it takes quite a bit of paint to keep it looking fresh year after year. (The color? It’s reportedly Duron’s “Whisper White,” now made by Sherwin-Williams.)

6. What looks good to you now might look yellow to you later.

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista, from The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod: Justine’s Family Cottage.

In her latest column for The Wall Street Journal, Michelle reveals that our perception of color changes over time: “Our physical sense of color, smell and touch changes as we get older, which means things that looked and felt good to us when we were younger may not anymore,” she writes. Says expert Sally Augustin: “’The lenses in our eyes yellow as we age, so colors in spaces actually take on a tinge. When you paint the walls white and you’re age 50, the color might look lovely and crisp. But to an 85-year-old, those same walls might look icky.’” Keep longevity in mind (and maybe opt for a white that skews cooler, not yellower).

7. A white bedroom can help you sleep better.

Above: A soothing bedroom in a vacation house in Vega, Norway, designed by Kolman Boye Architects. See more in The Outermost House: A Norwegian Island Retreat. Photograph by Åke E:son Lindman, courtesy of Kolman Boye Architects.

“If you’re sleep-challenged—isn’t everyone these days?—consider creating your own cloud chamber,” writes Margot in The White Album: 27 Sleep-Inducing Bedrooms in Shades of Pale. “Fans of all-white bedrooms use words like ‘tranquil,’ ‘blank slate,’ ‘no distractions,’ and ‘Zen’ to describe the appeal.” The Better Sleep Council agrees: painting a bedroom a soft white can help you relax and wind down for bed.

8. Avoid handprints and marks with gloss or semi-gloss paint.

Above: A staircase painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Simply White,” as seen in Two Young Architects Tackle Their Own Brooklyn Townhouse (and also one of our 10 Paint Colors with Cult Followings). Photograph by Carl Bellavia, courtesy of Gregory Merkel.

When painting the interiors of her New Jersey house white, Fan was given an unexpected piece of advice: paint high-traffic areas—like the walls of the stairwell—in semigloss or gloss. This will make it easier to wipe off smudges and fingerprints from little (and big) hands.

9. Add dimension by using one shade of white in multiple finishes.

Above: Stylist Kate McCann’s Connecticut dining room is almost all white, but has depth. Photograph by David Prince from Reader Rehab: A Country House Makeover Courtesy of White Paint.

To transform her small house in Connecticut, stylist Kate McCann simply gave the interiors a fresh coat of white paint. The secret? She used the same shade—Benjamin Moore White OC-151—in various finishes throughout the house: matte on the walls; pearl on the doors, trim, wainscoting, and mantel; and flat on the ceiling. Photograph by David Prince; see more of the transformation in Reader Rehab: A Country House Makeover Courtesy of White Paint.

10.

Selling or renting your house? White walls will help. Above: Photograph from Kitchen of the Week: A Culinary Space Inspired by a Painting.

When Margot interviewed in-demand Brooklyn interior staging specialists Hollister and Porter Hovey for the most fail-proof ways to get your place to sell, their second most-important tip (right behind getting rid of clutter) was paint it white. “No matter how pretty the gray or how warm and charming the cream, white walls look better online, where nearly all your potential buyers will see the space for the first time,” they say. “Paint the walls, the moldings, the ceilings, and the doors (unless they’re beautiful natural wood, which they’re probably not). The uniform blank slate will make the space look bigger and the ceilings higher. If your kitchen looks dated, paint the cabinets, too.” For more of their tried-and-true tips, see Real Estate Staging with Style and Affordability: 8 Insider Tips from Hollister and Porter Hovey.

For much more on choosing white paints, see:

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6 White Paint Dos and Don’ts, According to Interior Designers

As any DIY’er knows, few things impact the feel of a room more than a fresh coat of white paint. “Paint, even from the more expensive brands, is still a great way to change your space on a budget,” says New York–based interior designer and color consultant Martin Kesselman.

White paint, perhaps more than any other color, can set the tone for a space’s design direction with subtlety. Together with lighting, accents, furniture, and artwork, it can make a space read as anything from charming and cozy to brilliantly minimalist.

Of course, things can get complicated when it comes to sifting through tones, tints, and dozens of chips to find “the one.” Keep reading for the do’s and don’ts of working with white paint, and what you need to know before popping open a can at home.

Don’t: Be afraid to talk to the person behind the counter at the paint or hardware store

“I like to start off with a simple but important question: Are you after a true white or are you after an off-white?” says Kesselman, who counsels visitors and design clients at INCOLOUR, his New York City color showroom where he stocks paints from Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball (including Martin Kesselman White, a true white he developed with the British paint company). Not sure which is which? An off-white will have a visible undertone, whether it’s gray, yellow, pink, or blue, while a true white will have none.

The one caveat with a true white, crisp and clean as it may seem, is that it’s entirely unforgiving if your walls have any imperfections, according to Mikel Welch, interior designer and HGTV star. “Having [the store] add some tint to your paint so that it’s not stark white will help you hide those blemishes,” he explains. An expert can help make sure you get what you’re really looking for.

Do: Sample your options at home on the walls you’ll be painting

If you like how a shade of white looks on a color card at the store or in a photo in a catalog, that can be a great starting point. But “you need to sample the color on the wall,” Welch insists. “The biggest thing is to look at it in the daylight and in the evening because the tones of the color are going to be different in direct sunlight compared to at dusk. Those little paint chips that they give you at the store are not going to cut it.”

Shops that sell paints should also be able to sell you a sample pot—that is, a six- to eight-ounce tester of the actual color you’re considering. From there, you can take it home and paint it onto anything from construction paper to Bristol paper to hard panels of painter’s canvas.

“A visual is worth a thousand words,” says Kesselman, who will typically paint an entire wall in a client’s residence so they can get an accurate picture of how the color will look. But he acknowledges that the approach may not fit into the time and budget constraints of DIY’ers. “Most paint brands now sell 12-inch-by-12-inch samples done with the actual paint,” he says. “They are finished beautifully with primer and at least a couple coats of paint.”

Painting walls white: tips and examples

In magazines and blogs, white walls are presented as a panacea for all interior troubles. Do you want to visually enlarge the space or make the room brighter? Paint the walls white! Need a versatile backdrop for experimenting with furniture and decor? Do not want to overload the space with shades? You know what to do!

In practice, it turns out that painting the walls white is a little more difficult than simply rolling. What difficulties may arise?

Tikkurila Russia

1. How to choose the right shade of white
You may encounter the first difficulties in the store where you go to buy paint: white is not a specific and familiar color, but a whole family of shades of different density and warmth. The color of office paper for a printer or ivory, milky and mother-of-pearl, parchment or pearl - shades that are appropriate in a warm pastel interior are not suitable for the desired minimalism.

Anna Muravina

You will have to consider not only the style, but also the orientation of the windows. Northern blinding whiteness is not desirable - you will simply “freeze” in winter in such an interior; if, on the contrary, there is a lot of sun in the room, shades with a slight grayish tint will help soften its aggressive influence.

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Tip: Shades of white can be combined. For example, choose a colder option for the lower wall panels, and a warmer one for the upper part. The main thing is that a tangible contrast can be traced between them: otherwise the room will look as if you did not have enough of the right paint.

Alexey Trofimov Photography

2. What is better: matte or glossy shade
For interiors, emulsion paints diluted with water are usually used. They are easy to apply and distribute on the wall, and during operation it is also easy to wash. Prices vary depending on the quality of the resins and pigment used for production. In addition, some paints are applied in one layer, others in two or three.

The finish can also be matte or glossy. Matte paint better hides wall imperfections and absorbs light, but gets dirty faster. Glossy is considered more durable, but not everyone likes its cool sheen.

SEE ALSO
White walls in the living room - 5647 beautiful ideas in the Photo section of Houzz

Design Point

3. Or maybe not paint at all?
After all, decorative plaster can be used instead of paint. Its strength is a light relief or alternation of matte and glossy textures, thanks to which the interior seems saturated. Weak - difficulty in maintenance: if damage appears on the wall, it will be expensive and difficult to restore perfection. In addition, decorative plaster will tie your hands during the next repair: you cannot apply another coating or wallpaper over it, the surface will have to be cleared to the ground.

Alexander Shevtsov

Fact: White Boar tiles are widely used in kitchen and bathroom interiors. Due to the chamfers, shining edges add an additional volume effect to the wall.

Alesya Semiletova

4. If you paint white wallpaper for painting
The algorithm for working with paint depends on what surface you are going to apply it to. Perhaps the most civilized way is to use wallpaper for painting. Both paper, and vinyl, and non-woven coatings hide small imperfections in the wall and tolerate re-painting well.

Glass cloth wallpaper also withstands brushing and does not burn; however, the choice of patterns is not very diverse and the price is usually high.

White Space Design San Francisco

It is believed that wallpaper for painting does not need such a perfectly flat rough surface. Unfortunately, you will understand this only after you paste the wallpaper and paint it. The very first rays of light will ruthlessly emphasize all the irregularities. So whether to take risks or not with savings on preparatory work, everyone decides for himself.

Paintable wallpaper has its pitfalls. Firstly, they can move away from moisture, it is convenient for cats to sharpen their claws about them. Secondly, it is important to glue them perfectly: for a professional, this task will not be difficult, but with self-repair, you will have to spend a few nerve cells.

BY TOPIC…
How to: Choose wallpaper for painting

Anastasia Komarova INdEX

Painting the wall itself
Many people think that painting the wall itself is a good way to save money. This is true only if you are ready to take all the bumps and small cracks as a decorative advantage. If the task is different - to create a flawless white surface - additional (and sometimes quite expensive) wall preparation will be required.

Alexey Trofimov Photography

SEE ALSO
White walls in the bedroom – 5647 beautiful ideas in the Photo section of Houzz

It is important to prime the wall before painting to increase the adhesion of the materials. If this is not done, the paint runs the risk of peeling off sooner than you expect. And if the wall has already been painted, first you need to evaluate the quality of the coating: it is enough to wash or vacuum a flat surface without cracks; if the paint leaves, it will have to be removed with a spatula and the wall primed.

Tip: It is very easy to assess the condition of your coverage. Fasten a layer of self-adhesive tape to the wall and tear off sharply. If there are pieces of paint on the tape, the coating will have to be removed.

Nina Frolova

If the wall is in poor condition, you need to do this: remove the old paint or wallpaper, putty all cracks and scratches, level with fine sandpaper, vacuum away microparticles and primer. You need to start painting from the windows and move towards the doors, and apply the coating with a roller in several directions at once: vertically, horizontally and diagonally.

Lavka-Design

Textured brick
Fashion for brickwork does not lose ground. True, the reddish tint of the brick already seems too aggressive to some: white paint helps to soften the effect. Before applying it to a brick wall, think a hundred times: it will be almost impossible to remove paint from a brick if you stop liking it.

If we are talking about masonry at home, it is likely that there are efflorescences on it: they will have to be removed with a wire brush, then the wall should be washed and left to dry for about a week. And only then paint (otherwise it will show through).

KRAUZEarchitects

Sometimes facade paint is chosen for brickwork. This is a mistake that can cost you dearly: as a rule, there are a lot of harmful compounds in such a coating - there is no problem painting outdoors, but it's a completely different matter if you have to work indoors!

A primer that creates a water-repellent effect should be applied in a thick layer and allowed to dry thoroughly, and then the paint should be applied with a brush in a horizontal direction, following the pattern of the masonry.

Architectural workshop 2Yu

White lining / wooden panel
Painting new wooden panels or lining is as easy as shelling pears: first apply a primer antiseptic, then apply three coats of paint with a roller (each of them should dry well). Old panels need to be cleaned of paint. If it does not come off well, a soda solution will help, and after processing the surface will have to be degreased.

Woodstock Cabinet Company

Craftsmanship
It's no secret that different paints are used to paint the living room and, say, the kitchen. In areas that often come into contact with water, moisture-resistant coatings are appropriate, but before you start painting, it is important to make sure that mold has not appeared on the walls of the kitchen or bathroom. If you notice such unpleasant surprises, look for a way to fix the problem. For example, work with ventilation and deal with drips. You can, of course, pretend that nothing terrible is happening, clean and cover up the stains, but they will inevitably appear again and will spoil both the interior and your health.

SEE ALSO…

  • Natural ventilation: how it works

  • Some parents are afraid to paint the walls of the children's room white because the snow-white canvas will quickly become full of handmade patterns. Such a scenario of the development of events is not at all excluded, but restoring the colorful layer is still easier than re-gluing painted wallpapers.

    Maria Pilipenko

    Decorative aspects
    Opponents of white walls use the same arguments from year to year: supposedly such a coating looks poor, pale and hospital. In fact, everything depends on the shade and combination of textures, especially since white is the most grateful background for decorative experiments: it is probably not for nothing that all the walls in museums are white.

    Bright colors of textiles and wooden products will help to soften the whiteness. If your interior tastes come down to hard and cold minimalism, you need to choose another company for white walls: white metal objects, glass surfaces and laconic textiles.

    The right white color in the interior and its psychology

    Article title:

    1. Choosing the right shade of white
    2. White matt or glossy
    3. Painting white special wallpaper for painting
    4. White: the cheap paint problem
    5. White walls: windows and lighting
    6. Difficulties of painting walls white: main mistakes
    7. Psychology of white color: influence on a person

    A proven fact is the visual expansion of space with the help of white and its shades, the ability to make the room lighter and freer. But in practice it turns out that working with white is quite difficult. It depends on the color of furniture and decor, shadows from large objects in the interior, natural and artificial lighting, the color of curtains, and many more factors. Therefore, when completing the interior, if you act thoughtlessly, it is possible to get not at all the result that you are counting on!

    Choosing the right shade of white

    The first problem may arise already at the place of purchase of wall paint, since white is not one specific color, but a whole range, a set, if you like, a family of shades, which consists of dozens of different tones of matte and glossy, warm and cold, bright and dull. In the general list, sterile white, pearl and porcelain, frosty white and snow, milky, cream and ivory, as well as opal, moon, coconut ... and also the color of white chocolate or sea foam, flour, mother-of-pearl, the color of paper and parchment. It is very easy to get confused, especially when you are poorly versed in combinations of white with other colors and shades, and you don’t know how external factors can influence a given color, giving it different shades!

    Warm white color is not suitable for minimalist room decoration, but it goes well with the requirement to build a visual picture in pastel colors;

    Dazzling whites are already more in line with sober styles and decorations, but are cold. Therefore, such rooms require more natural light with sunlight;

    Pearl white and ivory soften aggressive sunlight if the room has panoramic windows, for example!

    Such problems can be solved by carefully studying the color charts and comparing the possible shades of wall paint. In addition, the issue is solved by a combination of shades, but only the right one, with a certain contrast between whites of different shades and depths. An example is the combination of cold white tiles, frosty northern colors and walls that are painted in warmer colors with hints of gray tint!

    White matt or glossy

    Wall paint differs not only in color and shade, but also in the degree of gloss. Experts distinguish several positions at once, including high-gloss paint, standard glossy and semi-gloss, semi-matte, matte and deep matte. But in a wide range of work more often happens with glossy and matte materials.

    • The matt surface absorbs light better and also has the ability to partially hide small wall imperfections. Matte white paint gets dirty faster, but if you choose white walls for your home, you should be prepared for such costs;
    • Glossy white surface is more elegant, festive, bright and durable. But it seriously blows cold, so not everyone may like such walls!

    If we talk about the material for painting the walls, craftsmen often choose water-based paints. They are distinguished by practicality, ease of use, a serious assortment by manufacturer and shades, as well as general availability.

    The paint is easy to apply on the prepared wall after plastering and puttying, grouting to level the surface. A layer or several primers are required to improve adhesion and reduce the absorption of the material into the walls, which also works to change the color shade, and often leads to stains. Water-based paint, depending on the requirements for obtaining a certain color, is applied in one, two or three layers. Work is done with a roller or using a spray gun!

    White painting of special wallpaper for painting

    Another way to get white walls is to paste them with special wallpaper and then paint them. Thus, an original texture and the possibility of a deeper absorption of excessive natural light are obtained.

    An additional advantage of such wallpaper is the possibility of re-painting, in addition, with a change in color towards a deeper tone, dark shades.

    See also:

    Everything you need to know about wallpaper painting

    To paint the walls white today, you can choose vinyl, paper and non-woven wallpaper with different textures, as well as more expensive and resistant to mechanical damage wallpaper based on fiberglass. True, the latter option is distinguished by a modest choice of texture and a high price.

    The operation algorithm is standard and simple. But you must understand some of the disadvantages of the result, which can be expressed in crumpled corners that stretch while the wallpaper dries, as well as peeling edges and opening seams. Therefore, it is important to initially glue the wallpaper on the walls with high quality!

    Watch video:

    How to glue wallpaper? Instructions for those who decide to cope on their own.

    White color: the problem of cheap paint

    Associations with hospital rooms and wards are often voiced when it comes to white walls. And, indeed, in some rooms you can notice a slight blue or greenish tint of white. This clearly does not paint a universal and noble color, especially if you did not want to achieve a similar effect. And the reason for this result is often cheap paint. Therefore, use high-quality finishing materials, because such repairs should please you and your family for at least 10-12 years!

    It is important to pay attention to the advice not to use the basic white color, as they say, paint from a can. This is the base that is tinted to the desired shade!

    White Walls: Windows and Lighting

    White only works and works well in good light. If you give the color of the walls the necessary shade, but in a small room with one window, you will not get the expected picture, and you will not be able to visually expand the space that you were striving for. Therefore, it is worth drawing parallels between white and good lighting!

    Classic white color prefers large windows, panoramic windows. If the choice fell on the basic neutral shades of white, you need to know that they look ugly, unnatural and somehow even slightly dirty on the lower floors with shading by trees or buildings, as well as in rooms where there is only one or a few small windows. The same goes for cloudy weather... be prepared that the overall picture of your perception will change with the saturation of the lighting in the room!

    Watch video:

    Lighting in the apartment. How to arrange the lamps and what to look for when buying.

    Difficulties in painting walls white: the main mistakes

    Earlier I said that white is a difficult color and many factors influence the final result. Earlier in the article, we looked at some shades of white, matte and glossy textures, and also drew attention to the problem of cheap paint. But there are other things to discuss!

    • It is important to remember that there is white and its shades, the base color and the removal towards cold or warm tones. There is a direct connection here with lighting, which can have some effect on tone;
    • The general interior also has an impact on color, especially bright colors of furniture, curtains, object decor, main accents;
    • Color combinations, both white with other colors and different shades of white, require attention. Here you can focus on standard tabular color matching data, as well as advice from professional designers with whom you work on completing the interior and decorating the premises;
    • The technical part of painting plays a role in obtaining the shade of the walls of the desired color, namely the primary and final surface preparation, texture, base priming, applying paint with various tools, painting direction;
    • Do not forget about the possibility of applying paint in several layers. Often, the instructions for use of the material describe possible changes in color depth depending on the number of layers;
    • Don't forget to first test the paint on the surface and wait for it to dry completely to evaluate the result, as well as acquiring a full volume of paint at a time, the right amount, which is enough to paint the entire surface. Buying identical paint one-on-one may not work;
    • One of the main tips of the masters is to paint the surface of the walls without stopping, which will help to eliminate the "seams" and transitions obtained during breaks;
    • And finally, do not apply the second and subsequent coats of paint on wet walls after the first coat. You can violate the integrity of color and texture!

    Psychology of white color: influence on a person

    General characteristics of white color - calmness, purity, concentration, restraint. It is a positive color that most designers consider the classic starting point around which to build an interior.

    White color brings a favorable mood, creating a uniform atmosphere. It has a good effect on the visual components of the interior and easily comes into contact with other colors and shades, especially when it comes to furniture, decor and accents. Working with white is interesting, given all the possibilities of shades, depth, texture, tone.

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