When it comes to interior paint, you can’t go wrong with white. It’s classic, makes your spaces feel brighter, and is a great foundation for any home no matter the style.

You may think picking a white paint is a pretty easy design decision, but did you know that there are thousands of different shades of white? With that in mind your paint decision goes from just one color choice to a sea of options. From creamy whites to bright whites and cool whites – how do you decide?

If you can relate to this dilemma, then you’re in luck. Keep reading our white paint guide so you can find the best white paint for your home.

Define the Undertones

When selecting white paint you’ll first want to consider what kind of undertones will work in the space. Do you want warm undertones or cool undertones?

The answer will depend on a number of factors. If you already have furnishings and decor in the space that you intend to keep you’ll want to go with a paint that coordinates with those undertones. However, if you’re starting from scratch you’ll have more options.

Warm white paints have yellow or red undertones. These tend to work better with a more traditional aesthetic. Cool white paints will have blue, green, or grey undertones. Which can work well for a modern aesthetic. A true white will have no undertones.

You may be wondering how can you tell what the undertones of a white paint are? A handy trick is to look at the paint swatch against a true white, like a white sheet of paper. It’ll then be clear if the paint is warm or cool.

Consider the Lighting

Another factor you’ll want to take into account is the lighting in the space. Both natural and artificial light have an impact on the way colors appear. Again, you’ll want to consider the undertones of the lighting to know what types of white will work.

You’ll want to go with light bulbs that coordinate with the undertones of your paint. For light bulbs, this is measured in Kelvins. Warmer lights have lower Kelvins, while cooler lights have higher Kelvins.

Choose a Finish Option

Once you’ve got your undertones and lighting covered, you’ll also want to think about the paint finish option. When deciding what finish to choose think about what look you want, and what will work best for the room and your lifestyle. Paint sheen ranges from high-gloss (very shiny) to matte (not shiny). Paint with a higher sheen is durable and easier to clean but shows more surface imperfections. We’re covering the different sheen types in order from most shiny to least and what surfaces/rooms they’re usually best suited for below.

High gloss paint works best for trim, cabinets, and doors. We don’t recommend it for walls because it shows all the surface imperfections.
Semi-gloss is great for kitchens, bathrooms, and any other room that may be prone to moisture. It also works well for trim and doors.
Satin finish is the most versatile. It works well for high-traffic areas like living rooms, entryways, and hallways.
Eggshell is good for lower-traffic, adult areas, like dining rooms and primary bedrooms.
Matte is difficult to clean so is not recommended if you have kids or pets. We suggest using it for ceilings, offices, or more formal rooms.

The type of finish you choose will depend on the look you want (level of shine) as well as your lifestyle (level of durability you need). If you’re not sure which to go with a satin finish is the safe bet for most spaces.

Test Before You Buy

At this point, you may feel ready to start painting. But wait! There’s one more step you should take and it’s the most important. You have to test your paint before you decide on one. Because of the factors above (undertones and lighting), you need to see the paint in your space to really understand how it’ll look. You may love the color based on the paint chip, but once it gets on your walls that’s a different story.

Select a paint color your like, along with a few similar colors to test. When testing paint you’ll only want to test colors directly on your wall if it’s been primed. If not, the paint will pick up the color underneath so you won’t get a true sense of how it’ll look. If your wall is not primed you can paint a poster board with your samples. Some paint brands also offer peal and stick paint samples. Secure the samples to your wall and look see how they look at different times of day and in different areas in the room. By living with the test colors for a day or two you’ll be able to really get a sense of what works best for the space.

Our White Paint Recommendations

If you’re still feeling stuck, here are our white paint recommendations:

Warm whites:

Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams is a soft neutral, off-white
White Dove by Benjamin Moore is a creamy yet crisp white

Cool whites:

Pure White by Benjamin Moore is a slightly cool off-white
Moderne White by Sherwin-Williams is a bright white with cool green undertones
Oxford White by Benjamin Moore is slightly a cool and crisp white

Neutral and pure whites:

If choosing a paint color has made you realize you’d like to bring in some professional help for your home design project then AHG Interiors has got you covered! As a full-service interior design firm, we handle everything from interior updates to full renovations and new construction projects. Get in touch with us today to learn more!

The AHG White Paint Guide: How to Choose the Best White Paint Color