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Wattyl’s colour expert, Sarah Stephenson, shares some ideas to help you find the right shade of white for your project.
White; so popular and yet such a mystery to most. The right white can look flawless, fresh and finished. The wrong white can look drab and dated, and it seems there is an infinite number of hues and shades to choose. Confusing? Scary? Definitely!
Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic colour wand, but there are some tips and tricks that will help you pick the right white. When it comes to harmonising colours, whether its paint, furniture, flooring or bench tops, it’s all about the undertone. By understanding which hint of colour lies under the main colour, you’ll be able to ensure you combine the right shades in a palette. White can be ever so subtle in its undertone, so it’s not always easy to analyse, but if you follow a few simple steps, you’ll be confident you’ve made the right choice!
Tip 1 – Understand the Undertone
Look closely at the permanent fixtures in your space and get up close and personal with them. Which colours lie beneath? Are they warm or cool?
Tip 2 – Study and Compare – compare, compare, compare
Visit a Wattyl Paint centre and grab some swatches of the whites you think may have a similar undertone and take them home to compare. Then compare some more! Study those whites hard. Look at them against each other, against your Caesarstone samples and even against a sheet of plain, white paper. Look at them in different lights, at different times of the day. You’ll start to see their undertone and begin to get a feel for which sit harmoniously, and which throw out all sorts of funky colours.
Tip 3 – Test the Best
Testing is a step people often skip, but it’s worth the small amount of time and money to make sure you get it right. Purchase a test pot or two of the colours you feel most confident about and paint them onto a piece of white card, or on your wall. Watch them, live with them, accessorise them, light them and make sure you’re truly happy with your final choice.
Now you can apply a couple of coats to the walls, and there you have it, your fresh, fabulous white backdrop begging for some style and personality.
