Subscriber Exclusive Offer Privacy Policy. It is a challenge to make darker rooms come to life with paint. May I ask what color that is? Here are nine of the best white paint colors on the market and tips to use them. Shaker Beige, Ashen Tan, Rever Pewter, many others. make a picture window), make a larger window or add a sky light. Something slightly warmer/softer than White Dove would be SW Alabaster… If you do need help I have my E-design services so that I can look at photos of your home! This is a soft, muted green that is the ultimate soothing paint color. We are getting ready to lighten up our north facing living room, and the photo of your house (SW Creamy?) And…it can ALSO pick up the cool gray-blue light coming from your northern exposure. Stone loves the cool tones in Cabbage White for a master bedroom because it has a relaxing and calming vibe. This tracker makes it easy! I have a 1350 square foot condo in WPB and it is south facing, but as it faces towards another building (across quite an expansive garden), it only gets sun light in the first few feet of the condo, the rest does not get direct light. Try Alabaster. Would you like to see this color in your own room? Also shd the window tr and pantry door be painted the same? Sherwin Williams High Reflective White in an east-facing room. And of course there is Wayfair, but you don’t get to sit in the chairs beforehand…. The key is to choose a color that has a lot of warmth to it, like a creamy white, greige, or beige. This is a soft, muted green that is the ultimate soothing paint color. You’ll find that it will soften and cream up in the evening, which is really nice (of course depending on the bulbs you use) and then it goes back to that more bright, soft warm neutral white in the daytime. Add more lights: Consider adding recessed lighting, pendant lights, floor lamps, table lamps or even consider this new creative invention. I hope that helps. I’m looking forward to hearing from you when ‘paint time’ arrives! Originally published February 2015, updated with video February 2020. We initially did a remodel on our upstairs and I painted everything Benjamin Moore Silver Satin. I just did it this week I used SW NEUTRAL GROUND. So, Palladian Blue is likely to look a bit more blue and chilly and will lose a bit of that nice balance that it has. Could you comment between Valspar’s Wispy White and Olympic Winter Mood (which in my space seems to be a bit less yellow than SW Creamy). If you are interested in some of the room decor items, just click on the picture or “shop the room link” to find out more info. High Reflective White / Super White / Chantilly Lace / Decorator’s White, The EXCEPTION: The north-facing room I WOULDN’T paint white. Thank you so much for all the helpful information. Was thinking perhaps Revere Pewter or Mindful gray but I don’t want my place to be dark and dreary. I've selected 7 great paint shades to help you. We tried 125% to deepen it, but not enough. Any paint with a blue or cool undertone will be made worse (I’m looking at you Sherwin Williams Uncertain Gray! I think accenting with the green is the way to go! How do you choose a paint color? Home Made Lovely Part of the Coastal Cool family by Sherwin-Williams, Vaquero also offers us Eider White, a taupe that scales almost gray. Marbles is a true neutral (a creamy, ivory off-white shade), whilst Maybe Maggie has a warm yellowy-pink undertone which will counter the cool light in north facing rooms. If so, feel free to buy me a coffee and support my blog. I read a review about Agreeable Gray and it said that the color turns cool with a bluish undertone in a north facing room. I will be in touch to hire you. And in fact, there is the odd duck who LOVES this look – that cool combination of northern exposure and stark white paint gives an icy, edgy look (I hear Elsa is a big fan). Hi Shelly, I’m so glad! We live in Dallas in a mature neighborhood (lots of trees) and our house faces North/South. Why? Related: 14 White Rooms We Love. However, I’ve found when I have Colour Consulting clients who’re (the apostrophe in that word is important) looking for a nice white for their north-facing room, they’re usually looking to lighten and brighten. Is there a comparable BM color to SW Pure White? Instead, check out…. This will give you the best idea of how it will look in a darker room. My painter suggested All White, and others have suggested White Dove…what would you suggest, please? Most rooms that face north will already have a bluish sort of hue on the wall. At this point, the room might be too masculine for me and I need to solve that problem before I proceed. The colors do look different pending your lighting and can even look different room to room. The crisp look of an all-white room can be tricky when the natural lighting in a room is dim or has a cool cast due to a north-facing orientation. Soothing and laid back, it can play the charming supporting role to a whimsical space. Picking the perfect white paint color for your space isn’t always easy. I love the way it looks against a stark white trim. White Dove is fantastic. You can read read more about warm grays and greiges here. Required fields are marked *. . Sherwin Williams Alabaster north-facing room. It’s a gray with a kind of blue/purple undertone that is vague and OOOOH so pretty. Farrow & … Rest of the house is White Dove trim, so I’m hoping that will work…we’ll see. But, again, even if I have to repeat myself a thousand times. While yellows are not my cup of tea, if you love yellow and warm tones, this is a great choice for north facing rooms and the warm tones will count the gray natural light. So, if Benjamin Moore Simply White is good for a north facing room, does that mean that it is too reflective for a room that faces south? Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige Ugh so confused. It represents purity, it’s clean, bright and fresh. Whereas north facing exposure tends to have more shadows and less direct sunlight. That’s because Alabaster has an LRV of 82, so it has a bit more meat on its lovely lil’ bones. Each of these colors tends to work. Should I use SW pure white or whitetail? Wahoo – peace-out to the leather burgundy chairs! Affordable and creative ideas that suit you AND your home with todays best paint colors! Julia Ryan Save Photo. Learn how your comment data is processed. a warm gray or greige instead of gray, or an aqua instead of blue). It WILL be affected by the northern light, picking up some of that gray-blue, but it won’t go as icy as some more traditionally cold white paint colours. Neutral: Pure White SW 7005, Sherwin-Williams Shayna Fontana "Searching for a true white paint color is not an easy task," says Studio Ten 25 owner and designer Abbe Fenimore. NOw without knowing any of your decor or anything, I can say that Alabaster will likely be a GREAT improvement to brighten things up! In north-facing rooms particularly, which are notoriously low in natural light, the paint expert advises staying away from white: "North-facing rooms can be difficult to decorate, as they are naturally darker. Both of these brands have the formula card for each other. Hi Jenn! If you pay attention to color design trends, white has been a top color choice for both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore as their “Color of the Year.” In 2016, Alabaster was the Sherwin-Williams COTY and Simply White was Benjamin Moore’s Top Color. Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies 4. As for shopping online, I don’t do too much of that anymore and am more focused on paint colours, but I’d be happy to take a look at your room! And yes, if you decided to buy a package, you would just let me know which one and I would invoice you in CDN! I have a north facing dining room with a lot of deep, natural wood trim (built in 1930s) and I tried a couple of swatches of Silver Satin around the room, and while it does “brighten” the room it comes off kind of dingy (not the look I want for a dining room where we eat everyday). ... You can see above and below the difference of a East/West facing room than a North/South facing room, but it still feels great. BUT, you can get above shades at Benjamin Moore. 7 Stylish Paint Colors for North Facing Rooms, Top 10 DIY Painting mistakes and how to avoid them, Best white shade for base molding and trim. Agreeable gray is nice, but washes out I. Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff (that’s my color!) Hi Julie What paint color is that? Now this is only part of the story. See more ideas about paint colors for home, sherwin williams paint colors, house colors. The front of the house faces east, the rear west, and have windows on the side of the house facing north. If you have a north-facing room that has very little natural light, I would not paint it white – any white. ... she uses Pure White by Sherwin-Williams. For example, a warm orange-red paint in a room with a north-facing window will make the room appear brighter and warmer and help offset the bluish cast to the light. 16. I can’t wait to see it you can send the photos along to [email protected]. Thank you! Top 10 Greige Paint Colors for Walls. The first hurdle is to find an off-white paint that works for a north facing room. Thank you! Here are a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients: They are amazingly accurate as they are made with 2 coats of real paint, so they are color correct. For this reason, if you don’t have enough natural (or artificial light), no paint will save your room. HELLLLS no. Always test. Try: Knockout Orange 6885 by Sherwin-Williams “Research has shown that blue is the best color for sleep, and this color is a subtle way of incorporating the hue." North facing rooms don’t get much direct warm sunlight throughout the day, so they don’t benefit from the warmth that natural sunlight provides. Lisa – When you have a northern exposure room, you naturally get grayish, bluish undertones from the sun, so you counteract it with a warmer gray, such as Agreeable gray. Did you find my tips helpful? Sadly, I don’t have a ton of photos of Oxford in action, but you can see it on the trim in this next photo (White Dove on the walls)…. It’s always best to test the paint colors in you own home and own lighting. eider white or torque white), but you will need to look at the paint swatch vs your actual cabinet to figure out the right one. Paint is the cheapest/most effective way to make over a room with a big impact. I would love your thoughts on this!! 8. Online decorating and e-design, e-decor consultations. White is the most reflective colour, which means that in the world of LRV, it reflects a lot of light back into the room and because of that, it also picks up a LOT of reflection from its environment. The Best White Spray Paint. Thank you for all your great advice. What about a room with THREE exposures? My birthday is the end of May and I think this will be my present to myself. Here are some other important points to consider when choosing the best north facing room paint color: A south facing room, in the morning is actually like a north facing room, as the sun is out of direct range of the windows. If you want a slightly softer, not ‘bright’ white look, then White Dove would certainly do the trick! Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan 5. Sherwin Williams Alabaster. Now I recognize that different people have different tastes when it comes to style and color preferences. I needed a color that could go through from the westerly facing rooms straight through the middle to the easterly facing rooms and not completely change color like 20 times. However, the point is, if a room isn’t light and bright in natural light, to begin with, no amount of white paint color is going to help that. "The wattage is dependent on the size of the room and how much light output is needed to carry out the room's functions," says Finkelstein. Paint is the cheapest/most effective way to make over a room with a big impact. I don’t regret the white at all and people comment on how beautiful it is all the time. 27. WAIT! And, conversely, the less light you have, the less light there will be to reflect. I think I’m going to ask you where it can work in my home when I consult you next time. Feet. grays and blues), there are ways to utilize these colors by choosing shades with warm undertones (e.g. You can chose a warm white, such as Paperwhite SW 7105. I feel like you wrote this just for me LOL. The best cream paint colors for walls – these warm white paint colors are all around easy to use. What is your experience with this? It’s perfect if you want a creamy warm color. It’s a dark, north facing room ugh slate tile and the paint is reading a cool gray with a bluish tint. Dianne – That’s probably due to the lighting as you’re getting a lot of grays in the sunlight. 2) the biggest overlook a nice park (east, southeast) I eventually painted my room peach (don't judge me, it was the '80s), which helped out a lot. Sherwin-Williams Eider White . I just painted a wall in my living with White Duck. Hi Rebekah, yes, adding 4 ounces can just slightly clean up colours! I’ve tried 20 types of grays, both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. SUBTITLE: Can I Paint My North-Facing Room a White Paint Colour? Greek Villa; Sherwin-Williams I wanted to share a VERY helpful video from Sherwin Williams, with some quick and super useful DIY painting tips. See how Sherwin Williams Zurich White looks and feels in various rooms with different lighting ... All the details about one of my favorite paint colors, Sherwin Williams Zurich White . Your email address will not be published. It’s a true gray, which makes it exceptionally neutral. Since Alabaster is a lighter color, it may have the tendency to appear a smidge on the muted/drab side in a north facing room. What are your thoughts? Kim. I am currently painting my entire home and wondering if you think BM white dove will look good on walls, ceiling and trim? It’s very slight though. We are scratching our heads trying to figure out which ones we should pick for our walls, cabinets, and trim. I would definitely call it a warm gray, with a slight green undertone. What’s The Best Sherwin Williams Colors For North Facing Rooms? You’ll see SEVERAL photos coming up where White Dove doesn’t flash even a WINK o’ green. In this next photo (Sherwin Williams Pure White), look at how much warmer and softer it looks from the left side/upper hallway area compared to the open stairwell where it looks cooler and crisper – looks like two entirely different white paint colours! Hardwood supplies – e.g. So to balance it out we need cool color.. Does your northern exposure leave you feeling gloomy and depressed, under a gray (with a hint of blue) cloud? ... Would one of the white colors in your article work best with dark brown ceiling beams in low ceiling rooms? And, of course, it works in room that face north. sherwin-williams.com. Pure White is a gorgeous soft warm white with PASSIVE undertones. One measure to help in looking at how light and reflective paint colors will be is to look at their Light Reflective Value (LRV). Here are some painting tools that may come in handy if you’re going to do the painting yourself. Rather than make a blanket statement, for a one room consultation ($45) I can assess your room, lighting, etc and help you come up with exactly the right colour for your home/lighting situation. And thus, you will receive the cool shadowy light. Is it normal that my paint sample is cold and is different from the paint swatch? Kylie,, I’m glad you’ve found some colours that work for you! I like them all! Tidewater 6477 by Sherwin-Williams was used in this space, and the cooling effect is evident. If it’s not warm enough, the try a color that is warmer/has more beige. I really don’t want a gray bathroom and I think Wickham Gray could bring our more color from the undertones. I have cool tones and warm tones happening in my kitchen (former owners painted cabinets a cool light grey possibly repose grey ad the trim is a warm off white. Antique White helps make the molding and other wall items just pop. Increase your home's value with these 27 DIY projects! Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…. ~Kylie. Our house was previously owned by someone who loved pink, not light pink, but middle of the card pink/mauve. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/ Thank you taking time to brighten my day! And, I want you to remember that these are suggestions. I will send a picture when it is together. If it is Repose Gray (or whatever it is), then you may consider having them mix 50/50 blend with white or choose a “white” with a slightly warm gray undertone (e.g. Alabaster Sherwin-Williams paint is a warm white with neutral undertones that will not turn cold and blue in a north-facing room. Trust me, there are MANY things I say that should be kept inside my head, right Mom? It appears as an off white on the paint chip, but still gives a whisper of contrast against white trim. The tricky thing is that at NIGHT, there’s no northern light to offer that cool balance, so you need to be comfortable with the look of a softer, warmer white in the evening (or use cool or daylight bulbs to add … In addition, should we separate the walls, trim, and cabinets by different whites or keep them all the same white with different finishes? Thanks! ~Kylie. FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Oxford White, Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…, Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! In some rooms, you can get away with a clean white but would need warm interior lighting as well as the right furnishings, wood and texture to add interest and warmth to the space – you WILL have to work harder to get things looking balanced. Warm whites, creams, khaki, warm gray, green and warmer blue shades. There's a bit of tan and yellow. The overall read on the walls is a soft gray. This color is soft and airy, adding depth to a room while still feeling like a "white room." So, if you can’t find the info you need, maybe you’d like to give it a try? Valspar Bay Sands 9. I usually do an eggshell finish but curious what you think. Between the paint colour and the carpet, this north-facing room was screamin’ for mercy, In previous posts, we’ve talked about the best paint ‘colours’ for north-facing rooms as well as OTHER exposures, but today, we’re going to focus on a question I’m asked A LOT in my Online Paint Colour Consulting…. Hi Kylie, Hi Kylie, I just recently discovered your blog and have learned so much. Oxford White has a slightly higher LRV than most of the other whites, coming in at a whopping 88.85. Apr 3, 2019 - Explore Marci Camara's board "north facing rooms" on Pinterest. They want to add life without adding colour, coldness OR overwhelming warmth. Anyway. And, the light in north facing rooms tends to give this color (and in fact most colors) a slightly different tint. For north facing rooms, you want to gravitate towards higher numbers (ideally 60% or higher). Did you know that the light from a north facing window is cool so a warm toned color works better? Amazon can help with that. Contrary to what most people think, white is usually a poor paint color choice for north facing rooms. With a trusty white wall color, you can change your space with the seasons—rotate furniture and artwork in and out as you please. While it’s a light gray, it’s the darkest one. inspired me. White Paint Colors. I have a question and would love your guidance. In this next photo you’ll see Benjamin Moore White Dove in a LOW-light north-facing room. I have tried many colors. Thank you for all the help and feedback you have been giving all of us! I love your website and information! Do you have similar recommendations for Benjamin Moore paint colors ? Good principles to work with, however! Earthborn Claypaint in White has a naturally warm undertone due to its high clay content. North-facing rooms are notorious for casting a cold gray, and often bluish tint into the room. I think that was Benjamin Moore Black 2123-10 (they got really creative with the naming of that one I did it in eggshell finish, but I wish I’d done flat or matte. You may find your northern light takes most of the warmth out, without leaving the walls overly cold-looking. I love white. Hi Barbara, I think that White Dove could be a great choice. You know, Pier 1 has some fantastic chairs. Thanks! As a reminder - white paint often looks dingy or grey in a north facing room. Sherwin-Williams Naive Peach . But only in the morning. the best paint ‘colours’ for north-facing rooms, The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colours, Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Simply White, The 3 Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets, https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product/single-room-paint-colour-up-to-3-rooms/, https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-most-popular-benjamin-moore-paint-colours-north-facing-northern-exposure-rooms/, https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/, https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product-category/interior-paint-palettes/, https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-light-paint-colours-for-a-dark-room-basement/&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjN9dG_67zaAhUMFnwKHbo7CO0QFggOMAM&client=internal-uds-cse&cx=partner-pub-5050475103619299:2713416047&usg=AOvVaw1OYQCH_-BG336jnM7LKrwI, https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/paint-colour-review-the-5-whitest-white-paint-colours/, The 4 Best White Paint Colours: Sherwin Williams. I hope that helps. We have direct western exposure with very big window and quite lots of light, very big living room + high cielling.. Because of big window i guess (now) we are getting some WN exposure too.. i mean at least on 1 wall.. White walls keep your space sleek and elegant, allowing you lots of freedom with your décor and color palette. I eventually painted my room peach (don't judge me, it was the '80s), which helped out a lot. And, this color will also look more neutral and tones down in north facing rooms. Ugh!!! Warmer tones create balance and harmony for northern exposure rooms. Christine – Yes, it’s a definitely a warmer gray. I painted some bristol boards and put them in different areas of my condo. What happens to BM Palladian Blue in a north facing room? Hi Charlotte, it sounds like you’ve had a bit of a challenge! Double-whammy is also what Tim refers to as his best Friday night move (wink wink). If your room is south facing, it tends to get a lot more warm, golden sunlight. Also, note that a stark white has gray undertones and it works in very well lit and large rooms for a light and airy feel. I picked up swatches of all the colors you suggested in my consultation. If you have an awesome interior lighting plan (the above photo does), then fill ‘yer boots, but be sure your space is well-lit before you commit to any type of light colour (or any paint colour, really – fix your lighting peeps). I’m a big fan of BM Regal or Ben (lines of paint) or SW Cashmere (Opulence in Canada). Today, I’m starting with Sherwin-Williams! In this case, a cooler white will look a little warmer on the walls, and may be just perfect to neutralize the warmth of the sun. Read more: How to Choose the Best White for Your Kitchen Cabinets. You speak in this article about cool whites warm white and clean white. This is a great option if you love green as it’s a pale green that is light enough to work in a north facing room. Repose is too bluish-makes warm colors look more orange/warm and washes out with sun. Thanks for your help! Searching for the best white paint color? I live in a north facing mountain home on a north facing slope. Currently it’s painted agreeable gray, with the dresser and night stands painted urbane bronze. ... for 4 large windows in our living room that are all north facing . Actually, let’s look at that last photo a bit closer, shall we? Pics of : Best Neutral Paint Colors For North Facing Living Room. Simply White is such beautiful color. Hello – I am so happy to stumble upon this blog off of Veranda, I think. Credit: Benjamin Moore 1. For trim, doors and ceiling, I’m torn between SW Pure White and SW Extra White. Thanks Nina – It’s always good to hear when you’ve ‘hit the spot’ for someone! Every time I see that offer I get so excited, yet I’m not ready to send you pictures. When studying these photos, look to the darkest point of the photo (for example, the inner corner of a wall, or a portion in shadow) to see how the color looks at the darkest spot. Please check out this post about paint colors for north-facing rooms. The Best White Paint Colors … Well, if you ask ME (which by the way, you kind of are), the best white paint colours for a north-facing room are WARM whites, as they help balance the cool light coming in the windows. I’ve noticed on other post about adding 4 oz of white pigment to different colors to counter act the dingy factor, do you think that could work with Silver Satin? Two story great room which is west facing with full wall of windows. I will attach the link for you: https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product/single-room-paint-colour-up-to-3-rooms/. I know that this sounds counter-intuitive, but hear me out. And white paint will not ‘add’ light to your room. Want to cozy this room up. And finally, don’t look at the paint colors in isolation. These are simply guidelines and suggestions. I have never enjoyed selecting paint colors, but with my newfound knowledge, it will not be so painful . However, on the far right, that wall’s getting hit with a GLORIOUS shot of southern light and LOOK at how it changes the look of Super White! I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Colour Consulting clients. You could either try to change the light bulb (which may be yellowish…try to find one that’s whiter) or change the paint color. I DO have a blog post re: North facing rooms – right here! If you really want a cool crisp look, you might like a clean white or one with a hint of gray undertone to it. Well, colour will not come to life without light, so not only will you be fighting the gray of your limited exposure, you’ll be fighting the gray of the shade created due to the lack of natural light. And, it yellow undertones are warm and this helps reflect the light (hence the high LRV for a non-white color). Ooo, you HAVE to check out this one – it will do the trick! Well, she had a pretty face to start. Paint can only reflect the light you already have in the room. Some whites can be used for north facing rooms, but it really depends on a lot of factors and what one would like the outcome to be. My email is [email protected] Now I do get TONS of emails and generally don’t answer questions via email (it’s hard even to get to this comment section! Hi Gina! The front of the house is exposed to the sun. If you're fearless, paint it on the walls and trim to make everything else in your room standout from a jewel toned sofa to a gray hide skin rug. North-facing rooms have a considerably cooler source of natural light compared to warmer south-facing rooms. If you’re having a mental battle between WANTING a clean crisp white and understanding that it could hold your room back, Pure White could be the PERFECT choice. I’m going to give timid white a shot in my north facing room – I am so excited to brighten it up in there Now I’m kicking around the idea of yanking the chair rail and going timid white all the way, or if I want to accent with the green. White Dove in a space with both north and south-facing light, FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove, If you think White Dove is a BIT warm for the look you’re wanting, let’s check out….