7 things you might not know about white paint

Decided to sell your home? It’s natural to reach for a trade-size tin of paint and whitewash every room. White, however, is a complex colour. There is an array of white paints to choose from, shades that will fix lighting issues and a methodical way to ensure you choose the right hue for your home, as we reveal.

1. There’s only one true white

Hundreds of paint shades have white in their title but only one is a true white: pure brilliant. All other shades are made by adding drops of pigment in the mixing process. For example, jade white is the result of a tiny splash of green being added to pure brilliant white.

2. White paints have a ‘temperature’

White paints are generally divided into two temperature groups. Cool whites can be clear and slightly clinical – the result of tinges of blue, turquoise, grey or purple being added to pure brilliant white. Warm whites are created by adding drops of pink, orange, red, yellow or brown to pure brilliant white. Neutral whites also exist. They usually have minimal pigments added, so they feel neutral, soft and chalky.  

3. You need some white printer paper

It can be really tricky to differentiate between different shades of white paint. Tester pots are a must but don’t paint them directly on the wall. Instead, paint a swatch on separate sheets of white printer paper, leaving a pure white border around the edge, and label each with the paint shade. 

Create a tester gallery in each room, using masking tape to affix the sheets to the wall. Colour differences are much clearer when painted on a pure white sheet of paper - and when grouped together. Top tip? Create four painted sheets for each shade and stick one to each wall – you’ll be surprised how the room’s orientation and time of day affects each shade.

4. And you’ll need a compass

Each room’s orientation refers to whether it faces north, south, east or west. Use the compass app on your phone to find out which way your rooms face. Open the app and stand in front of each room’s largest window to take a reading. Your white paint choice may depend on the direction.  

North facing rooms are generally cool and shady, with minimal direct light in the day. A warm white paint can stop a north-facing room feeling too cold and create an inviting ambience. South facing rooms usually get bright light for most of the day. This can make a space feel very yellow but using a cool white paint can balance this out. Neutral whites are an excellent choice for west and east facing rooms.

5. White shades don’t clash

The more adventurous decorators among us may have experimented with two different paint colours in the same room but failed to create harmony. The risk of clashing is eliminated when you choose shades of white. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to go wrong. Go ahead and paint a feature wall or ceiling in a cool white and use a warm white everywhere else.

6. You can search by hue or undertone

Some paint manufacturers refer to the coloured pigments added to pure brilliant white as a hue or undertone. Examples would be blue, grey, cream, green, red or yellow. To make it easier to find the right shade of white, paint websites often feature search filters. Head to Crown and you can narrow down its shades of white by ticking different hues as well as the tone (cool, warm or neutral).

7. The conditions of your walls matters

Very few properties have perfectly smooth walls, especially if it’s a well-loved family home. You should choose your white paint finish with your home’s condition in mind. Matt paint is the best finish for hiding surface imperfections, although it can be harder to keep clean. An eggshell or satin finish is more practical in terms of durability but you may need to treat nicks and bumps before you paint. 

Where to shop for white paint

Little Greene

Craig & Rose

Sanderson

Farrow & Ball

Fired Earth

Benjamin Moore

Edward Bulmer

Paint & Paper Library

Coat

Lick

Crown

If you’re getting your home ready to sell, contact us. We can provide a free valuation and update you on current market conditions.