Did you know white paint is one of the hardest paint colors to choose when designing a home? That’s because the white that might look dreamy and calm in your neighbor’s home across the street could pull blue on your walls.
And that paint swatch that looks totally white in the store could pull yellow in your kitchen.
No, you’re not seeing things. There are a lot of factors that play into how a white paint reads in your own home, at certain times of day, and I’m going to walk you through everything you need to consider prior to making your decision.
Why? Because I’m a DIY-er and designer who just went through this same dilemma when choosing the perfect white BEHR paint for my garage workshop. And after considering all the factors I’m about to share with you, I got it right the first time!
When choosing a white paint color, it’s important to compare its undertones, the room’s natural and artificial light, and surrounding finishes, then always test samples prior to committing.
Let me walk you through it!
** This blog post is sponsored by BEHR and contains my honest review of the products. **
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE PICKING A WHITE BEHR PAINT COLOR
UNDERTONES MATTER
Every white paint color contains undertones. Some lean yellow or beige. Some lean gray or blue. Warm tones versus cool tones.
If you want to see this in action, grab a bunch of white paint cards from your hardware store and hold them next to each other. You’ll start to notice that those crisp white swatches you thought you picked actually look like different colors next to each other.
Take a look around the space in which you’re working. Are your cabinets, floors, and walls warmer? Cooler? More neutral? What undertones will this white be near?
Make sure your white paint will play nicely with everything around it and share similar undertones!
While we’re on the topic, consider other whites in the area as well, like trim and ceiling paints.
Nothing makes a white paint look more off than placing it next to another white paint that has clashing undertones. If you know the names of the other white paints in your home, do some undertone research ahead of time!
CONSIDER THE LIGHT
When choosing a white paint, nothing matters more than the light in the room. Does it get morning sun or that afternoon glow? Do you use warm light bulbs in your home or cool? Light can have a way of making white paint look completely different.
Rooms that are more north facing tend to make rooms feel a bit cooler while south facing rooms can seem a bit warmer.
TESTING WHITE PAINT COLORS
You might think you followed the undertone directions from the last step perfectly and brought home the perfect paint. But you never want to commit to a color until you’ve tested it in the room.
And I’m not talking about simply taping up paper paint cards. Get a sample of paint in the same base paint you’d purchase for the gallon and put large swatches up on multiple walls in the room.
Watch those samples and take note of what they look like in the morning, afternoon, and at night. This will make all the difference.
ALWAYS THINK OF THE WHOLE PICTURE
Don’t forget that you can choose the white with the right undertones that works best in every light and still miss if you don’t consider what it will look like with everything else around it.
Not only other paint colors and finishes, but your decor, the style of your home, the architecture, the view outside your window, the furniture in the space, and even the accent colors you’ve brought into the room.
So make sure you zoom out and take in the whole look and feel of the room. Think about how everything will work together cohesively to create the vibe you’re craving for your own home.
HOW I CHOSE BLANK CANVAS BY BEHR FOR MY GARAGE CABINETS
Now for a little real life example.
I was attempting to choose the perfect neutral white paint color for my garage workshop cabinets. Yes, I love color. But I wanted a neutral, elevated workshop space to be a blank slate, if you will, to inspire future projects. I do plan on using a pop of color elsewhere in the garage soon!
But choosing the perfect white paint when my floors were tan, my accent walls were beige, my walls were a neutral white, and my countertops were a white concrete felt daunting.
I knew I couldn’t go cool for my white. There was too much warmth at play, especially with my floors. But going too warm would make my cabinets look yellow next to the tan floors. So that wasn’t an option either.
That meant I was looking for a creamy neutral white. Something with a hint of warmth that would not pull yellow or gray.
I narrowed my search to…
- Blank Canvas DC-003 by BEHR – warm, creamy, sophisticated white
- Swiss Coffee 12 by BEHR – soft, warm white
- Whisper White HDC-MD-08 by BEHR – crisp, light white
- Silver Drop 790C-2 by BEHR – light greige
- Dove 750 by BEHR – warm greige
I wanted my garage to look classic, timeless, high end, and elevated. I wanted the new epoxy floors to look like an intentional part of the overall design.
I also knew my garage got afternoon light, so I took that into consideration and knocked out anything with even slightly yellow undertones.
That ultimately led me to choosing Blank Canvas by BEHR.
It was my best choice to tie into the tan epoxy floors while remaining bright and airy and giving my cabinets an upscale feel. The creaminess of it ties in perfectly with the warmth of the floors but simply looks creamy – not yellow.
TYPE OF PAINT MATTERS
It was the perfect color to work with all the other neutral elements in my garage. And don’t forget that the type of paint you choose matters for your project as well. I went with BEHR PREMIUM Satin Cabinet, Door & Trim Enamel Paint – I know I can trust it to withstand everything that happens in a garage workshop!
A QUICK SHEEN CHEAT SHEET
Walls can range from matte (the least amount of sheen) to eggshell (more sheen). Trim, doors, and cabinetry should range from satin to semi-gloss.
The higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean and wipe down. And the more light it reflects. So, take that into consideration!
Oh, and the quality of paint matters more than you’d think. That’s why I trust BEHR!
THE BOTTOM LINE
To summarize, Blank Canvas DC-003 by BEHR worked perfectly for my garage cabinets because it was a warm, creamy white that didn’t lean yellow or gray, played nicely with the tans and beiges in my space, and wasn’t affected by the bright lighting.
Don’t forget to test white paint colors in your space first, considering both the artificial and natural lighting in the room to see its undertones!
The right white paint exists for you! And if you do a little research ahead of time, I’m confident you’ll find the shade that fits best in your home!
Don’t forget to consider the undertones, the light, and the vibe.
Happy paint sampling!
Leave a Reply