50 Shades of White: What to Know About White Paint
When you think of the color white, does your mind go to only one color to choose from? It makes sense because that’s what most people think about the white paint color, but did you know that there are a countless number of white colors? That’s right; the sky’s the limit.
“I call white paint the most powerful non-color, it’s clean, optimistic, powerful.”
There’s More Than One Shade of White Paint to Choose From
Benjamin Moore has 152 white paint colors to choose from, and Behr has 167! That’s a lot to choose from and maybe more than you expected. If you compare these colors side by side, you’ll notice slight differences between them. With that said, where do you even begin?
Start with looking at the LRV when referring to white paint colors
Note that LRV is a sliding scale from 0-100 (0 is black, and 100 is the brightest white)
Look at an array of different white paint colors that you can choose from
Let’s start with my go-to whites—Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace and White Dove!
Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore
Chantilly Lace is about as close as you can get to a true white color. Its LVR is at 92.2, which makes it a really bright white, and Chantilly Lace has very slight undertones. There is also a slight yellow undertone which gives the color a soft feel without looking yellow.
In southern exposure rooms, you will see a warm glow, but it will never be yellow. And what’s great about the yellow undertones in Chantilly Lace is that it keeps this color from being a stark white and feeling cold. This color will warm up any room without feeling institutional.
White Dove by Benjamin Moore
White Dove complements a wide range of colors, especially since its LVR is 85.38 so it’s quite neutral. It’s also made up of many different colors and shades that are all blended together. Its color mixture creates both warmth and interest, and the way that it is able to balance warm and cool tones is often hard to find, but White Dove achieves this and so much more.
Knowing How to Choose a White Paint Color that Works
When it comes to choosing paint colors, the perfect white paint color would be light enough to make a room feel brighter without being too light. LRV scores around 90 and above risk appearing too stark white, which can be boring and feel uninviting. In contrast, lower LRV scores aren’t necessarily a bad thing, but they won’t have the same room-brightening effect and they’ll also come with more undertones. So it’s worth considering how you want your room to feel when choosing a paint color, especially a white paint color.
Additionally, when painting eggshell walls and semi-gloss trims, you want to use the same paint color—this goes for white and other colors—as this consistency helps to provide an elegant look and brings attention to the room as a whole. Because you ultimately want to experience the full design and not just the separate elements that make up the room.
The color white can make all the difference in your design, especially if you’re looking to evoke a sense of ease and peace and feelings of calm and relaxation. This is a color that can feel soothing and serene in a space, and it’s also neutral and clean enough that it can help to act as a blank canvas if you’re looking to add other pops of color and personality to a room.
