No-Fail Guide to Selecting the Perfect White

Sponsored Content

There’s nothing like a coat of white paint to make a space feel bigger and brighter. Plus, it creates the perfect neutral backdrop to add in colours and furnishings that reflect your personal style. But once you start your search, you’ll quickly discover there’s no ‘one white fits all’ solution and that whites come in many variations, each with a different undertone. Faced with the sheer number of choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

To simplify the process, we spoke with a paint expert at Wattyl to get some insider tips for selecting the right white for your home first time.

Wattyl

Understand undertones
The first thing to know when choosing a white is there are two main types: cool whites and warm whites. Each has different undertones and creates its own mood in a space.

“All colours, not just whites, have undertones, so it’s important to consider the key elements in a room, such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry and benchtops, when choosing a white,” says Katherine Champion, Wattyl Colour Ambassador.

“Select a white with the same undertone as these elements to create a harmonious look and feel. If you don’t, the room can look a little mismatched,” she says.

Wattyl

So how do you work out the undertone in a white or colour? “A clever way is to hold up a colour card or painted sample next to a pure white sheet of paper,” she says.

Tip: Busy spots in your home, such as kitchens, living and dining areas, bathrooms and laundries, require a tough, easy-to-clean paint finish – and you’ll want it to be healthy for your family too. Wattyl I.D. Advanced interior paint is a smart choice; it’s durable, ultra-low VOC, mould-, fungus- and stain-resistant, plus it’s easy to wipe down.

Wattyl

Cool whites
Cool white paints have a blue, grey, purple or green undertone.

“Cool whites feel clean and crisp, and are perfect for spaces with a contemporary style,” says Champion. “They work best in rooms with a lot of natural light, such as north-facing rooms that receive light throughout the day, and west-facing rooms that get the warm afternoon sun. Cool whites act well as a foil for both bright light and heat.”

If a cool white fits the bill for your home, consider Wattyl’s most popular versions: Moody White, Feather Dawn, Opera, Winter Mushroom or Strauss White.

Tip: Can’t decide? Get expert help selecting the right white with a free colour consultation with Wattyl.

Wattyl

Warm whites
You’ll recognise warm whites by their yellow, peach, pink, red or brown undertones.

“Warm whites work beautifully in traditional and older-style homes,” says Champion. “They are ideal for rooms that don’t receive much natural sunlight, such as those facing south and east, bringing warmth, cosiness and a soft, welcoming vibe.”

And there’s no shortage of appealing, warm whites at Wattyl. Consider one of their best-loved warm whites with a hint of grey, such as Calcium, Floral White, First Snow and Almond Sugar. Or dial up the cosy factor with a creamier white, such as Orchid, Dhimba, Confetti Shower or Lushious White. Alternatively, add softness with warm white with a pink undertone, such as Whiteweave, or go earthy with a version with a hint of brown, such as Mountain Snow.

Wattyl

How to compare interior whites
“Once you have determined whether you are looking for a cool or warm white and the base undertone, the best way to compare whites is to test them in your home,” says Champion.

“Pick up colour cards or order a larger colour card from Wattyl and hold your whites up against all the other key elements in the space, such as flooring, furniture and cabinetry, to see which ones work best,” she says.

Wattyl

“Once you have narrowed it down to two or three whites, purchase Wattyl sample pots. Test the colours in an area where you receive lots of natural light and one with low light, such as a hallway. Be sure to look at your test samples at different times of day and with the lights on and off to get a feel for how the whites work in your home,” says Champion.

“Finally, to achieve a flawless finish with your chosen white, be sure to paint an undercoat first, such as Wattyl Aqua Prep Primer Sealer Undercoat – especially if you are going from a darker colour to white,” she says.

Tip: To prevent an all-white room from looking too clinical, add in plenty of texture in soft furnishings, rugs and decor items.

Wattyl

A white exterior
Timeless, sophisticated and great for making a small home appear bigger, it’s little wonder white is such a favourite for facades. “White suits everything from contemporary and coastal to traditional homes. The right one will just depend on your climate and your home’s architecture,” says Champion.

And a white exterior doesn’t just look good; “It can also keep your home cooler by reflecting light and heat,” says Champion. “For a cooler home, choose an exterior white with a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 85 or less, which produces less glare.”

Also be mindful that outside conditions make choosing colours for your exterior a little different to doing it indoors. “Whites and colours will look about 30 per cent lighter on an exterior in full sun. So it’s very important to view them in both full sun and shade as they will look very different,” she says.

Wattyl

“Once you have narrowed down your selection, buy sample pots and test your whites on a north- or west-facing wall and a southern wall, viewing them at various times of day and in different weather conditions, as the light and surroundings will impact their appearance” she says.

For a modern coastal look, try combining a crisp white like Wattyl Calcium with a front door in an oceanic blue like Mystic Bay, and trims in a warm grey like Bubbling Mud.

“If a white-on-white interior is more your style, you’ll need to select two whites with the same undertone but some contrast for walls and trims so the eye can distinguish between the two,” says Champion.

Or maybe you love a white facade but not the thought of dirt showing? Consider white with a grey undertone, such as Cape Horn, to help conceal grime.

Tip: Painting your exterior is a major undertaking, so it’s crucial to choose a quality paint that will last in our tough climate. Wattyl Solagard is a durable exterior paint specially designed for Australian conditions. It provides UV blockout, inhibits mould and mildew, and has a 25-year guarantee against flaking, peeling and blistering.

Wattyl

More: Learn more about Wattyl paint products here.

Tell us: What’s your go-to white and how and where do you use it in your home? Tell us in the comments.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.