Christian Dior stated that,”white is pure and simple and matches with everything’. There are apparently over 1000 different shades of white from what our French painter called ‘l’hopital blanc’ to warm ivory tones and various tints and hints of blue, grey and pink. White is generally seen as symbolising purity, cleanliness and serenity. However; it can add a sterile and cold feel to a space leaving it stark and depressing. The featured photograph is from Neptune, a wonderful interior supply store that uses a warm ivory white against soft beiges and taupes with great effect.
What Shade of White Should I Select?
First of all, a golden rule – don’t go and buy a bucket of plain white for the whole house. Your rooms will have different light and shadow effects and might need to be warmer or cooler depending on that area. When choosing a white, check out the colour cards and look at the darkest tone you see as that is more likely the undertone. Does it look a bit grey, a bit yellow, a bit pink? See what happens in the morning and at night, especially when you turn the light on. We once chose a white paint that looked dull and grey, we quickly repainted with a warmer tone. If you can’t get a colour card or swatch, buy a small tin and test it on a wall. Don’t forget that different finishes such as matt and semi-gloss will also add light to the white.
Ceilings Vs Walls
I love white ceilings as there is something crisp and clean about them and they offer a backdrop to other paint colours in the room. Our Berlin bedroom had a pure cool white ceiling and the walls are a soft buttery white to give warmth to the room. The shades fitted in with the Art Deco feel we were looking for. You also don’t have to paint all walls the same colour. Our second bedroom was a white with a blue undertone and we painted one wall a soft dove grey. The effect was smart and chic but warm.
Negative Space
You will hear this term from artists and it means that the colour, usually black or white, provides space for other colours to pop out. Your fabrics, rugs and decor accessories can all add to the room with touches of white. If you look at the old fashioned Wedgewood blues and greens, they used white as a wonderful way to allow other colours to shine.
