The Best White Paint Colors

1.  INTRO 
There was a time when all we sourced were bold paint colors for walls using various shades of white for trim and ceilings.  That has truly changed, although sometimes we’ll specify an accent color and, if our clients will let us, wallpaper on ceilings.    The trend for white walls has been strong and for being “color” girls, we have really embraced this.

A. Why White Walls
i.         A great canvas or backdrop for art (this is why art gallery walls are always white)
ii.         It highlights the architecture of the home.
iii.         It makes a space look bigger.
iv.         It’s the cheapest way to make over a room.
v.         Helps for resale.

B.     Sheens for White Paint
i.         Walls – Eggshell or “washable flat”  (a great one is Sherwin Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex)
a.     Excellent coverage
b.     Resistance to water streaking and spotting
c.     Hides and covers dark colors
d.     Excellent washability
e.     Hides imperfections

ii.         Trim Options – High Gloss, Semi Gloss
a.     High Gloss
i.      Must have a good base (very smooth finishes)
ii.      Highly reflective (the paint job needs to be REALLY good)
iii.      Adds drama
iv.      Excellent washability

b.     Semi-Gloss
i.      Standard
ii.      Easy to clean
iii.      Masks imperfections
iv.      Good washability

2.     Ceilings – Flat
a.     Hides imperfections
b.     No reflection

C.     Our Top 7 Favorite White Paint Colors
i.         White Dove – OC-17 – Benjamin Moore
ii.         Alabaster – SW7008– Sherwin Williams (2016 Color of the Year) and Sue Wadden (Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin Williams) favorite color
iii.         Simply White  – OC-117 – Benjamin Moore – (2016 Color of the Year)
iv.         Westhighland White – SW7566 – Sherwin Williams
v.         Greek Villa – SW7551 – Sherwin Williams
vi.         Ivory White – 925 – Benjamin Moore
vii.         High Reflective White – SW7757 – Sherwin Williams

D.    The Top White Paint Colors from Designers all over the country
i.         Nate Berkus – Dunn-Edwards “Precious Pearls”  – “It immediately makes a room feel calm and will pair beautifully with whatever furniture objects you choose to live with”
ii.         Joanna Gaines – Sherwin Williams Alabaster – the paint color in her home.
iii.         Susan Serra – Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball – “It’s not yellow, blue or gray.  It’s a drop of cream mixed with the barest touch of peach to create a white that is warm and soft, yet fresh”
iv.         Timothy Corrigan – Decorator’s White OC-149 Benjamin Moore “It’s crisp but has depth”.
v.         Laurel Bern – Benjamin Moore 904 White Blush – The color looks ever so slightly pink on the chip (and the name implies pink) but when it goes up, it’s very lovely and soft and creamy and generally not at all pink.  This is a wonderful white with taupes and grays.  It does not look good with yellow, however.

2.  SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WHITE PAINT

A.     The entire White House exterior (trim and body) is painted in 570 gallons of Whisper White by Duron Paint (Sherwin Williams purchased Duron in May of 2004).
i.         The White House is white because of the original lime-based whitewash used to protect its stone surface.  It gets painted every year.

B.     The Hollywood Sign got a “face lift” from Sherwin Williams and The Hollywood Sign Trust.
i.         The Hollywood sign is 450’ wide.  Each letter stands 45’ high and ranges between 31’ and 39’ wide
ii.         The sign’s nine letters had all existing coatings removed before being primed and painted.
iii.         The sign’s color is Sherwin Williams High Reflective White (SW7757)
iv.         The sign was painted with 225 gallons of Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint in Satin.
v.         The sign was primed with 105 gallons of Pro-Industrial Pro-Cryl Universal Acrylic primer
vi.         The refurbishment took nine weeks to complete