Choosing The Perfect White Paint Color for your Staging or Interior Design Project

White walls are incredibly on-trend right now.  They look clean, crisp, and fresh, embodying the updated feel we strive to bring to every staging and luxury interior design project.  However, I can pretty much guaranteed that while you may think you want pure white walls, you actually don’t…

FACT: There is no such thing as a pure white paint

The science of paint is fascinating, as anyone who’s ever watched paint get mixed at a hardware store can attest.  Each color has a precise formulation that can only be achieved by a computer, which then drops the exact amount of pigment into the base paint to make the desired color. 

However, that base material is made up of several raw materials – namely liquids, binders, and additives – all of which have their own natural colors.  Therefore, even the purest of white paint colors is still a color that will have distinctive undertones, making it feel warmer or cooler based on the pigment formulation. 

When to choose a warm white vs. cool white paint color

When choosing white paint, the color should be dictated by the architecture of the space and the amount of light coming into the room, not the furnishings inside of it - and as amazing as a cool, crisp white can look in design magazines, it’s truly only a great fit for ultra modern architecture.  In a less modern space, a stark white can leave the room feeling cold and uninviting. 

Most homes need something a bit warmer.  But don’t fear – “warmer” doesn’t mean your room will look yellow.  In a traditional or transitional home, a warm white (even one with yellow undertones) can read as a true white – but without looking stark.

Our go-to whites for home staging and design

Every designer has his or her favorite whites, and it’s all very subjective.  However, in our experience, there are a handful of whites that work in almost any space.  Here are our favorite whites that we suggest time and time again for both home staging and interior design clients (all colors by Benjamin Moore - it’s the brand we swear by.)

 WHITE DOVE

Hands down, this is our go-to for both interior and exterior white walls (and even trim).  It’s a favorite of many designers because it’s kind of a unicorn – it has neither warm nor cool undertones.  It is a true neutral, slightly off-white that doesn’t read yellow and doesn’t feel cool.  This is my favorite as a professional, but also the color I recently painted the exterior of my house – and, let me tell you, choosing an exterior color is WAY more of a commitment than choosing an interior color.  White Dove stands the test of time.

COTTON BALLS

Very similar to White Dove but with slightly more creaminess, Cotton Balls is our go-to trim color for traditional or transitional homes.  It has a depth to it that makes it look soft and touchable, and it plays well with practically any wall color.  If the walls are anything but White Dove (in which case we will also do the trim in White Dove) or Decorator’s White (see below), Cotton Balls is the trim we recommend 90% of the time.

SIMPLY WHITE

Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t “simply” white.  It has a creaminess to it that feels warm and cozy.  Simply White is a great choice for traditional homes with small windows (I’m looking at you, New England colonials…), for kitchen cabinets, and, honestly, in a million other places as well - we use this versatile white in all sorts of situations.

PALE OAK

Okay, so this isn’t a white but we use it all of the time in places where we want the updated feel of white but with a whole lot of warmth. The lightest of the greiges, Pale Oak is a favorite because it is soft and warm while being unobtrusive.  This is one of our favorites for staging because it works in almost any home and with almost any style of furnishings, receding into the background to allow buyers to notice the home, not the walls.

SWISS COFFEE  

A creamy white, Swiss Coffee is truly reminiscent of the foam on top of the most expertly crafted Italian latte.  A touch warmer than both White Dove, this is a great option for giving traditional homes a fresh, updated look. If you have a traditional home but your personal style leans more modern or contemporary, Swiss Coffee is a great choice that will play well with both your home and your furnishings.

DECORATOR’S WHITE

When we truly need a stark white, Decorator’s White is the only one we’ll use (on both walls and trim).  As the only cool white on this list, it has a slightly blue undertone giving it the crisp, cool look that pairs so well with ultra modern architecture (think: a downtown loft with black windows, vaulted ceilings, and exposed brick).  When it works, it works!

If you’re ready to stage your home for sale or looking for an interior designer who can help you choose the right white for your walls and furnishings you’ll love, drop us a line at info@glenstreetstaging.com.