Choosing the perfect shade of white for your new home isn’t as simple as you may think. White coloured paint is notoriously tricky to match and can quickly leave your space feeling like you’re living in a science lab.
Here at Icon Homes, we love white walls, fittings, features, and furniture as the right white can create a neutral colour palette and help to freshen up or cosy up a space. We use Taubmans paint in our builds, especially from their collection of white and neutral paints.
To help you find the perfect white for your home, you must first understand the difference between shades of white and how they fit into your space.
Understanding undertones
Understanding colours and undertones are the first steps to finding the perfect white paint. Although it might look like all shades of white are the same, white is like any other colour or shade and therefore has undertones.
With cooler whites, the undertones are blues and sometimes greens. With warmer whites, it’s generally a yellow tone.
Most homeowners’ biggest mistake is attempting to mix cooler undertones with warmer ones. If you’ve walked into a room with lots of white colours everywhere and felt like something is slightly off, chances are it’s a blend of the undertones clashing.
The secret to picking the right colour white in your home is to pick either a cool or warm white, then stick to that undertone on everything. Sticking to the same undertones is how you make your space feel more harmonious, cohesive, and styled.
Cool Whites
Cool whites have a blue, green, or grey undertone and are a wonderful way to add a minimalist or modern twist to your space. They are often used to create a sense of space. Cool whites are popular for coastal homes and homes built in warmer climates as they help make rooms feel airier and cooler while diffusing some of the light shining through windows.
Some of our favourite cool whites from Taubmans are the Taubman’s Crisp White for a classic cool white, Cotton Sheets, and China Doll.
Warm Whites
Warm whites have a soft pink, orange-peach, or yellow undertone that helps to incite a sense of warmth and intimacy into a space. The soft, warm undertones of these shades of white are ideal for rooms that don’t get much sunlight or need to have a little warmth, and cosiness introduced.
Some of our favourite warmer whites from Taubmans are the Taubman’s Milk Cloud or the Princess Bling.
Lighting
When you’re trying to choose the perfect white for your space, take into consideration the lighting. White is highly responsive to the presence of light and tends to bounce light around. This means that while a swatch could look perfect in one light, it may have a completely different tone in another light.
To avoid this problem, match your paint to your lighting. You’ll need a white with cool undertones if your lights are cool. For warmer fixtures and bulbs, you’ll need a warm undertone paint. Ask Icon Homes about the lighting we install in your new home to ensure you get the perfect paint match.
Paint finish matters
The finish you choose for your home should match your lifestyle rather than your style. This is because flatter sheens like matte are very difficult to clean. Glossy or semi-glossy finishes are easier to clean with just a cloth and a wipe-down.
A matte white wall might be difficult to maintain if your family has children or pets, so a semi-glossy finish would be better. Some homeowners prefer just to have glossy skirting boards and matte finishes on the walls, as skirting boards get the most dirt.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Choosing the perfect white paint is no easy task!
If you’re unsure if a shade of white will work in your space, speak with one of our dedicated team members today. We can help you choose the right undertones to match your space and, with an extensive collection of white paint shades from Taubmans, help you find the perfect white for your home.
