Painting - Which White

Hi all,

Looking at painting all the internal walls on a property we have just moved in to. I have included some photos for context (tile, carpet, kitchen colours).

I know nothing about different paint colours, but do know that our furniture is all in "Hamptons" style for whatever that may be worth.

We just want to brighten the place up a bit (current walls a bit beige) with standard tried and tested colour combinations.

All suggestions appreciated.

 

If only it was that simple. It really does depend on ambient lighting, floor coverings,room orientation and of course personal taste just to name a few considerations. I would recommend getting test pots to try.

For instance we have lexicon quarter in the lounge and kitchen, its cool and fresh and it brightens the room up. Conversely we have antique white usa in the bedrooms a its warmer white than lexicon quarter which i think would be too stark for these rooms.

 

I’m sure there will be others that will give you some great suggestions, but I went through something similar when I did my first reno. What I found useful was going to bunnings and finding some inspiration from all the brochures on display from the different paint companies. Even after I picked my colours, I ended up going back to change them.
So I agree with @keenas that sample pots may be the way to go.

 

Thanks for the advice. The living rooms and kitchen are all north facing with lots of natural light, however they all have dark floor coverings (the tiles and carpet, although I would also like to change that over time), so expected that some whites wouldn't work well.

 

Would you be concerned that where the rooms were directly connected to each other with different whites, it would look odd?

 

I'm really boring and have gone - for the last two builds - Taubmans Illusive White low sheen on the internals (semi gloss for the trim). It's a very clear white white, so doesn't throw to any underlying tone/shade, and hence goes with everything.

Once that's done I start fiddling with feature walls and wallpaper, and using furniture/soft coverings to bring depth to the home.

 

On my IPs I use "Solver WA Ceiling White" on the ceilings and "Designer White" on the walls. Makes it very simple to cut-in as well as refreshing and touching up between tenants. Also looks good with effect varying depending on lighting.

I like the Designer White so much I have commenced using it on my PPOR.

 

We're repainting our PPOR. It used to be Antique White USA, changing to Lexicon. I like the crispness of the Lexicon.

 

Casper White in these pics

 

I've done the same recently. I've always used Antique White USA in the past but now using Lexicon Half low sheen for the walls and same colour for the doors/trim but in semi gloss enamel (water based)

 

I have just had a family member paint their house with Dulux Natural White. I thought it was a bit too cream/beige, but guess I would need to get it on my walls to see how it looks with the flooring/lighting.

 

@jaydee - may be a silly question but what brand is Designer White? Thanks

 

@perthgal - I'm not sure whose colour it is, but I buy all my paints thru Solver (now rebranded Wattyl Paint Centres) as I get trade discount thru a friend.

I buy it in 10 litre containers. Tint Label shows the following:

Colour#: 10.20; Code 88399
Designer White
Base: White Base
Wattyl Trade Low Sheen White
Tinters: L (12 1/2)

 

So I went to Bunnings and got some sample pots to put on a few walls through the house. Landed on Vivid White, Lexicon Quarter and Casper White Quarter as the colours I liked the look of.

This however has raised another question for me, do you do the cornices and skirting boards in the same colour as the walls? Or a different tint of that colour? Or matching the ceiling (ceiling white)?

 

Do cornices in the same colour as walls (only need to cut in at the ceiling cornice interface).
Skirtings should preferably be in satin enamel (oil based) and suggest vivid white or similar (no tint required).

 

My last 2 builds I have done Lexicon 1/4 and then1/2 next one will be 1/2 again.

 

Thanks for the feed back, why do you suggest oil based for skirtings?

 

I do like the Lexicon 1/2 as well, was just a bit concerned it would be too grey.

 

It is still definitely white. Just felt less clinical than the 1/4 for me. I like them both tthough.

 

In former times enamels (oil based) were always used on timber surfaces such as doors, architraves and skirtings as they were more hardwearing.

These days modern acrylics can be used, however, it still remains my preference to use the enamels on these surfaces as I find them easier to apply and IMO give a better finish.