Get it white
It may be the most popular colour, but when it comes to nailing down which shade you want, white is the hue that’s most often struggled with. Here are some tips to help you hone in on the right one.
White is arguably the most versatile colour when it comes to painting interior spaces, and for good reason. It is extremely easy to live with, it feels crisp, clean and fresh, and it pairs with just about any colour, pattern and texture.
But despite its adaptable nature, the choice for which white paint is right isn’t nearly as simple as it seems. Resene colour consultant Brenda Ngatai says the most common question she gets asked by homeowners is, “Which white do I choose for my home?”
“Deciding to go for white is just the first step,” says Brenda, “but deciding on the right white is another task altogether.”
Keeping warm or playing it cool
At the most simplistic level, whites can be split into two main categories: warm and cool. It’s important to determine which temperature of white will work best in your home – cool and crisp or warm and bright.
Warm whites, such as Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta, all have yellow-green, brown or red-violet undertones. These warm undertones will create a more homely atmosphere, ensuring a space feels cosy and intimate.
Warm whites work best in rooms that don’t get a lot of sun and pair beautifully with warm timber floors in woods such as rimu or mātai. But under other lighting conditions, certain warm whites may look too creamy, yellow or – at worst – dated.
Cool whites, such as Resene Black White, Resene Barely There and Resene Alabaster, all have black, grey or blue undertones, which can make a room that’s bathed in natural light feel expansive, lofty and fresh. This group of whites is best suited to homes that have a contemporary or minimalistic aesthetic.
And for rooms that are heavy on artificial light, cooler whites such as Resene Half Concrete, Resene House White or Resene Quarter White Pointer are all great options to dilute the warm glow of a bulb.
Character whites – those with additional depth thanks to their nuanced undertones – make for a much richer space than your typical true white. Plus, you won’t need to worry about these hues making your walls feel glaring or cold. Back wall in Resene Merino, left wall in Resene Alabaster, floor in Resene White Pointer, DIY artwork in Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Double Ash and Resene Half Truffle, tall vase in Resene Parchment, lamp in Resene Tapa and wall hooks in Resene Double Ash.
Project by Gem Adams, image by Melanie Jenkins
Mixing it up
If you’re worried that painting your whole home in white might feel too boring or institutional, one easy solution is to vary the whites you choose by picking multiple strengths from the same family. For example, apply light and bright Resene Half Sea Fog in the main living area and hallways as furnishings and art will pair beautifully with the crisp colour.
Then opt for the warmer, refreshing tone of Resene Sea Fog in the bathroom and the cosier, more restful hue of more pigmented Resene Double Sea Fog for your bedrooms. On the trim and ceiling, opt for Resene Quarter Sea Fog to reflect more light back down into the room.
You can vary the whites you use in a room and mix ones from different ‘families’, but it’s best to make sure they’re kept either all warm or all cool.
While there are hundreds of whites to choose from, the Resene The Range Whites & Neutrals collection is the best place to start. Available in palettes or as a fandeck, it has a whole range of neutrals from whites and off-whites through to black and near-blacks.
When picking a white for the outside of your home, choose one or two shades darker than you would pick for painting your interior walls, as the sun tends to make the pigment look more washed out than it really is. Wall in Resene Half Villa White, decking in Resene Woodsman Mid Greywash, ottoman base and side table in Resene Double Pravda, large plant pot in Resene Aura, small plant pot and vase in Resene Bi Hoki, ladder and tray in Resene Peace, ‘plus’ pattern painted on ottoman cushion in Resene Peace, and ‘plus’ pattern on square cushion in Resene Kandinsky.
Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton
Lightbulb moment
The most important factor in determining how a white will look in your home is lighting, as it will dramatically change the tone and look of a colour in situ. Even if a particular white looks great on a swatch, it can be a whole different story once you get it on your own walls.
The best strategy is to pick up a few Resene testpots in your shortlisted whites and paint a generously sized swatch onto a piece of card that you can move around.
Brenda recommends painting the entire contents of a Resene testpot in two coats over an A2 piece of card, leaving a border around the outside. “Pin it up to the wall, move it around, test it in corners and at different times of the day and evening to make sure your chosen colour works in all settings.”
Your choice of light bulbs can have a huge effect on your chosen paint colour. Standard warm white bulbs will pick up on the yellow tones in a white and amplify them, so a simple and inexpensive fix is to simply change out the warm white bulbs for a daylight or cool white option to reduce or eliminate this effect.
Layering multiple whites – even if it’s the same colour, just in different strengths – can create a neat effect and add depth to your space. Wall, shelf and skirting board in Resene Black White, checkerboard painted floor in Resene Black White and Resene Triple Black White, coffee table in Resene Westar, large bowl in Resene Gumboot and Resene Saltpan, geometric plant pots in Resene Saltpan and Resene Quarter Chicago, ombre plant pot in Resene Celeste (top), Resene Terrain (middle) and Resene Cobblestone (bottom), woven pendant lamp in Resene Despacito and large basket (with plant) in Resene Double Sea Fog.
Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton