Perla Reynolds
After all, whether you’re DIYing or hiring out, a lot of time and effort will have to be put into the task of painting. Having gone the whole house paint color route when we moved into our current house, I’ve learned what types of colors work well with a variety of finishes, decorating styles and over all taste. For instance, if you choose what you think is the perfect warm gray paint color for all the open plan spaces in your home, but only see the paint swatch first thing in the afternoon, you may be not so pleasantly surprised to see that same color looks baby blue first thing in the morning. As a general rule, I usually recommend avoiding strong blue and yellow undertones when choosing a whole house paint color.
Blue can make spaces feel cold and drab, and while a drop of yellow can be a great way to warm up sterile whites, too much is usually not what most people want to see in their perfect paint color. Don’t get me wrong – some of my favorite paint colors of all time have a strong blue undertone.
Blue undertoned paints are however perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms and any other space that’s closed behind a door – or where you know exactly how the lighting will affect the color. My entire main floor was originally painted Repose Gray, and I’ve since repainted and had the color lightened by 50%.
While Repose Gray technically has a green/taupe undertone, I’ve found it to be barely visible.
At half strength (lightened by 50%) those same undertones are what keeps just enough warmth in the color, but no longer become apparent under any lighting conditions (that I’ve at least seen! Accent colors of beige, blue, green and white look beautiful against it. The photo was taken at midday with the sun overhead so that you can see the darkest shadows of the color in the top right hand corner.
Island color is BM Boothbay Gray and wainscoting/trim is SW Pure White. Agreeable Gray is another incredibly popular greige paint color.
Despite the name, Paper White is a very light dove gray with just a hint of green that ensures it never looks cold.
Paired with bright white trim, it makes for an excellent whole house color.
If you remember back to the shadows in my kitchen (pictured above), Paper White will never look that warm or saturated. It’s a lovely bright white color, with just the tiniest bit of warmth to stop it ever feeling stark.
It works just as well on walls as it does on trim and will give you the appearance of a clean white without having to worry about any funky undertones rearing their ugly heads! BM Chantilly Lace walls, cabinets and ceiling via Home Bunch There’s no apparent undertones in this bright white, but it will take on colors from the environment surrounding it.
It has a lovely creamy softness to it, and works really well in north facing rooms where white paint can look dull and flat. BM White Dove Walls and Trim with SW Tricorn Black door via @asturiaofmylife Usually, we do a washable matte sheen or eggshell on walls, and then satin or semi-gloss for all the trim.
Pure White is always a safe bet, as it has a slight warm undertone so it works well with these warmer colors BM Simply White is also another popular choice, though it has a sneaky yellow undertone so I would only use it in a semi-gloss finish to offset that. Notice how the walls (painted in a matte finish) are very creamy compared to the trim. Especially when paired with white walls, a warm gray trim can really elevate the look of a home. Don’t be afraid to add an accent wall in another color, or go crazy in a powder room. In 2023, we’ll see more people deviate from the whites and grays that have been popular over the past few years and start to incorporate more warmth into their homes.
