Getting white right

For some, the mention of white walls may sound boring, tempting or even terrifying – but one thing is for certain, this versatile shade isn’t going anywhere any time soon. But there’s an art to choosing the perfect shade for your home, and it all starts here. Forget flicking through thousands of nearly identical paint chips or painting countless tester swatches on your walls, we’ve done all the hard work for you and narrowed it down to six of the best, and only shades of white you’ll ever need: Pure White, Off-White, Sandy White, Warm White, Grey White and Cool White.

“Once you’ve chosen your wall colour, the decisions are not over… Trims, skirtings, mouldings and cornices can define the style of a room. I always like to go with basic white for these, and creamier softer whites for the walls.” – Interior Designer Joe Throssell from Michele Throssell Interiors

Here’s everything you need to know about picking the right white paint and making the most of these timeless neutrals.

White is white, right?

Contrary to popular belief, fresh white walls can be one of the most exciting colour choices you can make in your home (yes, you read that right). They offer the opportunity to layer up a space with more than one shade of white (something achieved beautifully in the home below), give you the freedom to make more daring and bold décor choices and form the foundation of a rejuvenating and serene space. So where does the difficulty come in? Although you may think that white paint is simply white, there are in fact variations within this colour family that make each shade unique. Choosing the right one for your interior depends on the atmosphere you hope to achieve.

So, here’s what to remember when picking out the right shade from Simply Colour for your space:

The right light for your white

Like any paint colour, the natural and artificial lighting in a space will have an effect on how the colour looks. White paint is no different – a very bright space with tons of natural light may be best complemented by a warmer shade of white (such as Simply Colour’s Warm White or Off-White), while darker interior spaces can be boosted by purer and brighter whites (such as Simply Colour’s Pure White and Cool White). Knowing how much light a room gets, and what effect that will have on the colour is super useful for achieving the look you want.

Understanding undertones

The base of all white paints may be similar, but every white has its own undertone (an undertone is that slight tinge of grey or that hint of brown that make an appearance in the paint). Knowing what the undertones of any paint colour are will help you determine what it will feel like in a space. Ask yourself whether you’re hoping to create a cosier space (for this you’ll need warmer undertones such as yellow and brown) or a cooler space (undertones such as grey or blue). When creating our six perfect shades of white, we considered this so that anyone can find the white that’s ‘simply right’ for them.

Survey the surrounds

Looking at the furniture and décor you’ll be using in that space along with the adjacent wall colours is also key to making the right choice. Be mindful that white walls will reflect the colours that surround them (for example those bright pink curtains you love will cast a pink tone over your white walls). Remember that any shade of white will function as the ultimate blank interior canvas for those of you who love pops of colour.

Making white work

This may be one of our all-time favourite examples of white done right. This modern open plan living space makes the most of shades of white that work together to make a cohesive airy atmosphere. The uplifting shade of Off-White used for the walls is complemented by the softer shade of Warm White on the trims and finishes. Shades of white tied together like this shed new light on what can be achieved with white – a homey space that feels just as uplifting as it does fresh.

And if white isn’t feeling quite right for your space, we’ve got 42 more beautiful colours to choose from.