Which shade of white is right?

2 years ago

Hi. We’ve recently moved into our new home and are looking to redecorate. Initially at least we’re looking to paint all of the walls white. The living room and master bedroom are south facing. The kitchen and dining room are north facing. Is there a right shade of white depending on the type of light they get? Thank you!

Featured Answer

Juliet Docherty

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

This subject warrents a PhD thesis, there is no easy answer. Jonathan's comment is interesting. Wimborne White is often touted as the 'go to' white to use when things are dingy but I'm not convinced of that. It can look like a lovely warm white in sunny rooms but can look quite yellow in less bright spaces. I don't think F&B do a big enough range of neutrals to be honest. Little Greene has a much better collection that has more stoney and pinky hues that might be worth trying I would suggest trying a slightly pinkish tinged white for your North spaces, rather than Wimborne. The lighter the room, the more logical it woud be to paint it a light colour, white reflects existing light, so if a room has lots of natural light then white will flatter it. In a dingy room, white looks grey.

https://www.littlegreene.com/ferdinand?gclid=CjwKCAjww-CGBhALEiwAQzWxOiSl02InEf9lYlimGtVmQwD8Lhmlo8hRuR1-lFah3yarxC-uaEOzqxoCy50QAvD_BwE

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Comments (12)

clarekelly2002
2 years ago
Warm white for those of us who live so far from the equator and have cool northern night. Would suggest wimbourne white.
Jonathan
2 years ago
Colour is subjective so for me the yellow quality in Wimbourne white is too suburban and exaggerated by incandescent electric lights. I prefer All White and Strong white that for me are more contemporary.

Given one side of everyone’s house has different light to the other there is an argument to picking different colours for different spaces.
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Sam F
Original Author
2 years ago
We would like it to look a strong, brilliant white however someone suggested to me that painting a south facing room in brilliant white would actually be too reflective and not have the desired effect. Has anyone had experience of this?
Jonathan
2 years ago
The blue tones of a brilliant white can look dingy in a poorly lit space
Sam F
Original Author
2 years ago
All really helpful. Thank you.
PRO
Paintforme
2 years ago
Hi @Sam F

There're White and Brilliant White paint colours. White is soft and warm, the Brilliant White is cooler and brighter. It doesn't look dingy.

Of course there're tens, if not hundreds, of off-whites available on the market. Someone mentioned Wimborne White - It's lovely, fresh yet warm colour. And it won't look ugly or dark yellow (unless your lighting is rich in yellow light). We've recently painted basement room with it and looks superb.

Little Greene have much bigger and better colour offering than F&B, but so is twice as expensive:). Dulux's range is wide, paint of good quality and reasonably priced.

We painted hundreds, if not thousands, of rooms in all shades and tones, just go with what you like. Allow natural light in, add good lighting for cosy evenings.

Kind Regards,

Paintforme
LTS
2 years ago
A few years ago we painted our extension strong white. We’ve just had the rest of the house painted in the same colour but the bedrooms each have a different coloured feature wall. Good luck...we took the easy option!
tamp75
2 years ago
If you’re only doing this initially, or temporarily then I think your best bet is to just go for a standard brilliant white. Why angst over subtle variations in shade (& spend £££a more) if you may paint over soonish. We have brilliant white in most of our downstairs & two loft bedrooms. Can’t say they look dingy or cold, just white & fresh. Plus it’s easy to touch up when needed without trying to recall exactly which shade was used!
Juliet Docherty
2 years ago
LIttle Greene paint is not twice the price of Farrow and Ball, it's roughly the same or perhaps just a few pounds more. The comparison is important though because there is a big difference in quality and coverage, Little Greene is so much better and requires fewer coats. Additionally, Farrow an Ball have big gaps in their range, they don't do enough 'neutral' colours.
Jonathan
2 years ago
I would challenge a previous post - paint it is not something that can be dismissed as a temporary thing so not to worry too much- I have used All White many times(but usually mixed by Johnson’s at my decorators request) During lockdown paint supplies were not consistent so I was advised by the Johnson expert to swap from my usual wipeable Matt to an ultra tough Matt- it was rubbish- it looked like Vinyl silk, was an entirely different white, was cold and was painted over a week later. That was costly mistake so it is important to get it right.
Sophie Glerum
2 years ago
I have a similar issue in our future open plan living room and kitchen, living area on the north side, kitchen and dining table on the south. Plus there's a lot of contemporary art and design to compete with. Not to mention the light blue kitchen cabinet and calacatta viola marble work top.

I am now considering either Pointing by F&B or First Light by Little Greene for the whole room. Would be very curious to hear any thoughts on these options.

Greetings from Amsterdam.

Which shade of white is right?

Juliet Docherty

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