Which white is right

I am often asked, “What is the best white to use on my interior walls?” and the answer is, “it depends”. Every white has a right place and there are just too many variables to give a definitive reply.

Here in Sydney, we tend to want warmer tones on the walls, colours that are easy on the eye and won’t appear too stark. Whereas in Queensland, cooler colours are required, due to the tropical climate and stronger sun.

Therefore, when choosing a “white” you need to consider the undertones of the colour. Some whites have a touch of pink, others a touch of blue and some a touch of yellow. The funny thing is that all these “whites” look white until you hold a whiter white next to it.

Homeowners often defer to white thinking it will be easy and they won’t need to labour over their selection. Choosing which white to paint the walls is not an easy decision and needs careful consideration.

That’s one of the reasons I like to paint the timber trim in a home, like skirting boards, window frames and doors in a pure white. It adds a crisp finishing touch or accent and helps to show that the walls aren’t actually white. White trim helps define a space and can be used as a thread throughout the house. If you have some rooms, like the dining room or master bedroom, painted in a colour, then the same trim will unite the scheme.

Choosing which white to paint the walls in not an easy decision, one that needs careful consideration.