And if your space isn’t exactly flooded with natural light? That could actually be part of why we see so many white spaces in all those photos of beautiful urban apartments filling our feeds. “With all the people who live in metropolitan areas who don’t have [as much natural] light the whites work well because they’re reflecting light.],” she explained.
How to Paint White Walls
This article was co-authored by Patrick Coye. Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick’s Company won a “Top Job” award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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A fresh coat of white paint can really brighten up a room and make it look sharp and modern. White décor can even make rooms look bigger, so it’s ideal for smaller apartments or bedrooms. Painting a wall isn’t a special skill, but painting walls white requires a few tricks for the best results. With the right preparation, priming, and application, the darker base color won’t bleed through and your walls will look brand new!
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Prepping the Room
- If you can’t remove all of the furniture from the room, make sure you cover it with a sheet to keep it clean.
- Put all of the fixtures or outlets into a bag so you don’t lose any pieces. Keep track of all the screws you remove so you can put the fixtures back.
- Put painter’s tape over electrical outlets, plugs, and wires so you don’t get any paint in them.
Tape a drop cloth or sheet over the floor. Painting is always a messy job, even if you’re careful. Cover the whole floor with a plastic drop cloth long enough to stretch from one wall to the other. [2] X Expert Source
- You might need multiple drop cloths to cover the whole floor.
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Tape off the areas that you don’t want to paint. Even if you’re a skilled painter, you could still slip in some spots. Run painter’s tape along the edge of the wall along the ceiling, baseboards, and any molding along the wall. [4] X Expert Source
- Paint can still bleed through tape, so try to avoid painting over it. It’s just there as a precaution.
- If you’re sensitive to paint fumes, use a window fan to pull more fumes out.
- You can also prevent fumes from getting into other rooms by taping a plastic sheet over the doorway.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Pre-Treating the Walls
Repair any cracks or holes in the wall before painting. [7] X Expert Source
- Spackle could take 1-4 hours to dry, depending on the type. Caulk can dry in as little as 30 minutes. Check the instructions on the product you use and give the repairs enough time to dry.
Sand the walls lightly. [9] X Expert Source
- Pay special attention to any rough or raised spots. Smooth them out so they don’t show through the paint.
- Always wear a dust mask while you’re sanding, even if the windows are open.
- If you have textured walls, skip the sanding. You could remove the texture accidentally.
- Let the walls dry completely before you start painting.
- If you’re painting a textured wall, it’ll be tougher to clean. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to get dirt out of the grooves and crevices before washing the wall with a sponge. [13] X Research source
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
When everything went gray
And to understand where we’re going, we first looked at where we’ve been, and just why gray took over all our homes. McGarity points to the economy. “When September 11 and the stock market crash in 2008 happened there was an onslaught of gray,” she said. “Consumers, they don’t feel hopeful so they were more drawn to gray and if you look back the same thing happened in the Great Depression. Anytime the economy takes a downturn, color trends change.”
But it wasn’t all just cocooning. It’s super versatile. Gray is “almost like a chameleon,” said McGarity. “You can make it do a lot of things and people liked that.” Gray can go warm or cool, and it fit with the move in interiors and design to a more gender neutral, slightly more masculine look, she said. It also let people experiment. Before I painted my kitchen walls black, I painted other rooms increasingly darker shades of gray.
Like any trend though, gray may have finally played out. “Right now people are moving away from gray, the cool gray especially,” McGarity said. “I don’t think it will ever go away but it’s hit its peak.” And once a darling of realtors, word in design circles is that realtors are turning away from it.
Gray has left the building
Where do we go from here? We’re definitely using a lot more color, said McGarity, as people “want to feel happy, they want to feel warm again.” But crisp, clean white fits our current lifestyle, she said. And we can thank … IKEA?
Think about it. In past generations, people bought furniture in their 20s when they got married, and that’s what they kept for 40 years, said McGarity. Now we have access to design-forward furnishings and accessories that are financially plausible to replace every few years.
“We live in an economy and society where we can have anything we want,” she said. “Now we can have the bright red sofa or the green chair. If you have a blue velvet couch for five years then you can change it.”
Not that this is necessarily a good thing, she added. “I’m not saying I agree. I don’t like that we have a throwaway society. But it’s influenced how we live.”
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And it’s influenced how we paint. The fact is “many of those low price furnishings look better with a white backdrop because it’s clean,” she said. Trendy accessories and the omni-present houseplants pop more against white, and the interior furnishings become the star.
It also works without all the accessories. McGarity points to the movement toward Marie Kondo and simplicity. “When you get rid of things and don’t have stuff everywhere, the white is serene. White . feels like simplicity and clean.”
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50 shades of white
If this is your first leap to white, how do you know if it’s for you, and which white is for you?
A good test to see if you can live surrounded by white walls, McGarity said, is to head to a museum or gallery. They “go one of two ways,” she said. “It’s white walls or the most saturated color you can imagine.” Spend some time in those with a lot of white spaces, she said. While you’re there, consider how it makes you feel. “Comforted and at ease, or anxious like it’s a surgical suite?” she said. Most people either really enjoy the white spaces or think it’s too sterile.
If you fall into the love it camp, now the fun begins. What’s the right shade of white for you and your space? I loved the Farrow & Ball Pointing white in that Paris apartment, but does that mean it will work in my house?
There are several considerations, McGarity said. When people don’t like the white paint in their space most often it’s because it has the wrong undertone. Because of course white is almost never pure white. While undertones are subtle, they have a big impact.
The biggest trick is to assess what other colors you have in the space, McGarity said. So head to a big box store and find the paint swatch with, say, the blue from your sofa. Now go all the way up the swatch to the lightest shade with those undertones to find a complementary white.
Without a color in mind, you can use those cards as clues. “Think of paint decks as sliding scales,” she said. When you’re looking at a white, go all the way down to the most saturated color. Even a neutral has undertones, 100 percent and that’s where most people go wrong. Fun fact: McGarity said the biggest mistake people make is getting a white that has too much pink in it.
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Best White Paint Colours According To Our Experts
White is a classic paint colour for a good reason. If you’re looking for home painting ideas, we’ve got the scoop for the best white paint colours and our recommendations from Berger Colour Catalogue.
Deciding to paint your home walls white is an easy decision, you really can’t go wrong with this timeless colour. However, deciding the perfect shade of white for your home walls can turn out to be a daunting task. Of course, the choice only gets more harder when you have to factor in your room’s natural sunlight and artificial glow and think of colour combinations.
However, one can’t help but wonder, how can one colour have so many shades and variations? From pure white, grey white, beige white to name a few, the choices are endless. But which white is the perfect shade for your home walls?
To save you from the headache of looking for the best white paint colours, we have got the scoop from our colour experts on the best shades of white. Whether you’re looking for a warm white for your living room or a cool white for your home office, there is something here for every room!
If you’re looking for a Cool White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: Silver Stream (8P2705)
Cool white has more blue undertone and looks brighter to the eye. Silver Stream is a consistent favourite among many interior designers because of its beauty and versatility. It looks fresh and clean on any wall but works particularly good in rooms that do not receive plenty of natural light.
If you’re looking for a Warm White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: Starry White (7P1956)
Starry White is a warm white that is perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. This colour has a subtle yellow undertone to it which pairs well with other warm neutrals such as green or beige. It feels serene and comforting without feeling stark or clinical.
If you’re looking for a Pure White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: Wedding Gown (8P0201)
This is truly a foolproof white paint colour. It is a timeless colour that does not seem too cool or warm but just the perfect hue for a neutral backdrop for any interior space. This colour brightens every room it is incorporated in be it the kitchen or bedroom, especially paired with different paint colours, textures and artwork.
If you’re looking for a Beige-White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: Soft Wings (8P2564)
A beige-white can be a great way to brighten up a space, especially if you live in a cool place. Soft Wings is a bright white with a warm undertone, making it a great paint choice for a room with lots of orange, red and yellow because it will reflect the hues without making the space too dark.
If you’re looking for an Off-White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: White Sphere (8P2679)
If pure white is not your thing, off-white might be a great alternative. White Sphere is an incredibly sophisticated hue that bends well with an array of colour palettes and combinations.
If you’re looking for a Grey-White:
Berger Colour Catalogue Recommendation: Tuxe White (8P2698)
Tuxe White could be considered grey but it is light enough to fall in white paint category. This cool grey-white is a modern shade with blue undertones that goes well with other neutral colours. It can lend a feeling of calmness and tranquility, making it an ideal white for bedrooms, bathrooms, meditation room and more.
If you’re feeling inspired to paint your home walls, contact our Berger Express Painting experts for colour consultation, painting ideas and a seamless, fast and safe painting job. SMS ‘XP’ to 56767 or call now on our toll-free number – 1800 103 6030.
