Black, White and Red All Over, the Basics of Whites - Part 6 of 6
By: Sue Rosenbaum, Staff Designer with Ric Paxton, Paint Manager, Jerry’s Paint and Wallpaper
This article will help to bring some sense of confidence to anyone that has to select a white for a project. Choosing whites can be a very challenging color to choose and we have broken down the color white into some basic catagories that should assist in the selection process.
Lets start with some of the decisions that you need to make surrounding your white choice. Of course, select your wall color. That will determine your direction for the white choice. Next, you need to know that there are four “families” of whites: basic whites, cool whites, warm whites and pastel whites.
Basic Whites:
• White-01, looks like white next to any color except for a pastel or off white.
• Super White-02, is the brightest white and is the best with pastel colors or off whites. (Ceiling White is also Super White in color).
• Decorator’s White-04, is a softer white and is grayed down. This works the best with stronger colors, taupes and grays.
Cool Whites:
• You’ll find undertones of gray, blue or green.
• Works the best with cooler and more neutral tones.
Warm Whites:
• You’ll find undertones of browns, reds or orange.
• Works the best with deeper and warmer colors.
Pastel Whites:
• These whites are going to have a hint of another color, any other color, 5% or 10% of that color mixed with white. Typically used when you want to more closely compliment their specific wall color.
Benjamin Moore has already developed a series of “OC” colors which are pastel whites. These are options for customers to use as choices when they want the white with a hint of another color, but not necessarily a custom blend. This quick basic reference guide for whites should help you understand why you would want to select a particular tone of white or not.
For those of you who are more visual, we have prepared a visual display board in the store. Using the color chips of the various whites with some other colors, we show how the choices work with one another. Please stop in to the store and take a look for yourself at the basics of white.
As always, the entire staff are all available to help with your color concerns. I am available, by appointment, at the store on every Thursday afternoon and the 3rd Saturday afternoon of the month. Please call the shop to schedule a time with me to help you with your color dilemma.
To be more prepared for our color appointment, please bring digital photos of the space you are working in and the neighboring spaces. Bring swatches of any fabrics or furnishings that will be staying in the space we will be working with. You will leave with some great ideas for color in your space and have a better sense of how to pull a space together with color choices. We look forward to seeing you in the shop very soon!!!!
