Choosing the right shade of white for your home may seem simple, but in fact it’s a lot trickier than you think. If you’re thinking of repainting your home white, see our tips for selecting the right shade, first…

There’s something about the colour white that we seem to have such faith in; maybe it’s the simplicity, the way it reflects light, the illusion of space that it gives, or the fact that it seems an easy colour to choose-that is, of course, until you’re actually faced with choosing a white paint.

Here’s the thing about white: there’s maybe 100-or-so shades to choose from. There’s white with hues of red, hues of blue, green, grey, yellow-it’s endless!

So how do you select the right white for your home?

How many shades? Choosing the right white

Choosing the right shade of white for your home may seem simple, but in fact it’s a lot trickier than you think. If you’re thinking of repainting your home white, see our tips for selecting the right shade, first…

There’s something about the colour white that we seem to have such faith in; maybe it’s the simplicity, the way it reflects light, the illusion of space that it gives, or the fact that it seems an easy colour to choose-that is, of course, until you’re actually faced with choosing a white paint.

Here’s the thing about white: there’s maybe 100-or-so shades to choose from. There’s white with hues of red, hues of blue, green, grey, yellow-it’s endless!

So how do you select the right white for your home?

Hot or cold: Like we said, there are literally hundreds of different shades of white, but selecting the right shade can broken down into two distinct groups: cool whites or warm whites. Cool whites tend to suit more contemporary, modern homes with a lot of natural light and windows, while warmer whites suit those more traditional properties that may not have as much natural light.

Understand the light around your home: If you’ve ever worked in an office, then you can testify to the washed-out effect the fluorescent lights have on the walls. This is why it’s important to consider lighting when you’re selecting your paint. Take home some sample pots and experiment by painting several large pieces of cardboard and place them on different walls in the room that’s going to be painted. Consider how each shade looks at various stages throughout the day-don’t forget the different kinds of lighting in your home, either!

Location, location: It’s also wise to consider what room you’re painting-is it a bedroom, the kitchen, lounge room-and the furnishings within that room. For rooms with a lot of wood finishes and furnishings, consider reddish, creamy whites; likewise for bedrooms, rather than pure whites, which should be saved for kitchens and bathrooms.

But finding the right white is only the first step; next you need to make sure your walls have been thoroughly cleaned and prepped. If you don’t, all the painstaking hours you spent selecting your perfect white will have been in vain!