How to pick the perfect white paint

Paint the walls white. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Until you hit the hardware store, only to be confronted with a dizzying array of options, from Rice Cake to Hog Bristle – and everything in between.

So which white is right for your walls? Domain quizzed the experts about how to pick the perfect shade.

“White is probably the most difficult paint choice,” says Sara Chamberlain, senior stylist at The Real Estate Stylist.

“There are so many options and although the differences are subtle, they can affect the look and feel of a room.”

Untinted white can appear too stark, she says, creating a sterile vibe. Unless your home doubles as a pathology lab, Chamberlain advises against using the most vivid whites on your walls.

Anoushka Allum, interior designer and decorator at Smartspace Interiors, says the most important factor to consider is the amount of natural light entering the room.

“If the room receives a lot of sunlight, then generally you can choose slightly cooler tones, such as light greys, as the sunlight warms the colour,” Allum says. “If you paint a room like this in cream, it will intensify and look too yellow.”

For rooms that don’t receive much natural light, she advises choosing a warm white – think beige undertones – to help make the space feel warmer.

“If you painted a room like this in a cooler grey or white, the room would feel cold and dull.”

The age of the house matters, too. For homes with rich detailing around ceilings and architraves, Allum suggests highlighting these features in a bright white shade, contrasted against a white with more grey or beige undertones on the walls.

“More traditional homes also do well with richer beige and sandy colours,” Allum says. “[But] I steer clear of creams now, as they are dated.”

Interior designer and stylist Karen Akers of Designed by Karen Akers says using high-gloss paint on the woodwork in the same colour as the walls is another way to highlight elaborate architectural features in a white room.

Also consider how the flooring will appear against the walls. “Kauri pine floorboards throw a lot of yellow, terracotta tiles throw orange and polished marble can be very reflective,” Akers says.

Finally, think about how you plan to use the room and pick a paint that suits the mood. Says Chamberlain: “Is this a light, breezy space or a cosy room to be used at the end of the day?”

TOP PAINT PICKS

Sarah Chamberlain, The Real Estate Stylist

Haymes Nearly White 1: Has a soft yellow base, which keeps it warm.

Haymes Greyology 1: A good starting pint if you love black, white and greys in your styling. Use warm flooring and black window trims to bring this to life.

Dulux Antique White USA: A great base colour.

Dulux Hog Bristle: Great for period homes or art deco features. Use in half or quarter strength to get a warm, nutty white without a brown undertone, and use in various strengths to highlight period features.

Anoushka Allum, Smartspace Interiors

Dulux White Polar Quarter: A great go-to white for bright, crisp white walls.

Dulux Vivid White: The clearest white Dulux does. Ideal for skirting boards, architraves and doors.

Dulux Dieskau: A little more grey. Works well in rooms with warmer sunlight.

Dulux Grey Pebble Half: A warmer shade. Great in rooms with cooler light.

Dulux Natural White: Warm up a space nicely without being cream.

Karen Akers, Designed by Karen Akers

Dulux Natural White: Warm and inviting, and not too yellow. It’s easy to live with.

Dulux Wairakei Quarter: Has a warm grey tinge. Works well when the house is flooded with sunshine.

Dulux Vivid White: The “purest” white in that it is neither warm nor cool. Great for rooms and spaces that don’t have too much sunshine. A true bright white.