The Great White Way

  …or the terrifyingly uncertain white way. If you haven’t been around the world of decorating for long, you may think, “hey, we’ll just paint it white!” assuming this will make your color choices easier. Nay, nay, dear reader: therein lies the path to confusion and tears. Sherwin Williams alone, for example, has 59 choices of whites. Just look at this photo to see several whites at once, working with the colors just outside the doorway.

(photo: Sarah Van Arsdale )

There are many factors to consider when choosing any paint color, including white: the other interior elements and their colors (including wood floors), the light in the room (including the way mirrors reflect light, and the way a lot of greenery outside can made a room look greener), and of course the mood that you want to create. You can choose a cooler white with a tint of blue to it, or a warmer one with a little gold or rose.

One of the most common mistakes in choosing wall color is not realizing the color will be darker and deeper once it’s on the wall. What looks on the paint swatch like a pale whisper of slightly rosy-white will scream “PINK” once you have a whole wall of it. You have to be especially careful of this when choosing a white that has a tint to it, and it’s best if you can paint a large sample of a wall before doing the whole room.

We found some helpful photos and comments at Sapid Spaces and at Northwest Renovation.

 Do you have this problem with whites? Have you found a solution?