One way to upgrade home interior is painting it with the color white. However, although white can make one room appear magical, it can also make another seem ordinary. This color has a particular mood, temperature, light reflectivity, style, and maintenance requirements. Here are the things to consider if you want to paint the walls white.
1. Natural lighting – Identify the orientation of the area that you intend to paint. Rooms facing away from noontime sun receive gray-blue light, ideal for a studio, gym, or summer bedroom. White paint can optimize light in these spaces and help keep them cool.
On the other hand, white may not be appropriate for a south facing family room. The similarity of this color to the snow outside would have a chilling effect. Instead, you can try tinting white with yellow, orange, or red for areas where you will eat and socialize. Warm colors will increase positive vibe in the room.
2. White expands spaces – You can use white to enlarge smaller spaces. Rooms that are painted white appear larger because of light amplification. Also, edges and shadows diminish in white spaces.
Spatial perceptions are improved if rooms unfold with subtle shift in hue. Find a white that you like on a paint company fan deck. This can be used on the smallest room’s walls. Then, use a darker value on a larger room. Use value (a color’s darkness or lightness) to “enlarge/reduce” the space.
3. Outside surroundings – Transference explains why people identify colors by their warmth or coldness. People feel cold when they see something cold. White is regarded as a cold color due to the fact that it reminds us of snow and ice.
For summer residences, walls painted white can enhance view of the sea. But during winter, white-painted homes close to the shoreline can intensify the cold feeling of the outside surroundings.
4. Pay attention to history – Consider the history of your home’s architecture when selecting colors. Each style has color requirements that should be respected. Most people think of white as classic, formal, and refined.
For Greek revival or federal interiors, white is expected on walls and trim in the kitchen and bedrooms. Conversely, if you own a midcentury modern home, a white-painted trim paired with walls painted a saturated color will not look right.
5. Gallery look – There is a reason why galleries paint the walls white. It drops architectural detail and instead directs attention to the artwork. This can also apply to homes.
However, if you don’t exactly have an art collection, white may be an uncomfortable backdrop, especially if there’s lots of clutter. With white as a background, marks and imperfections are easier to notice. One alternative is to use khaki, which is good at concealing imperfections.
Conclusion
White is simple yet sophisticated. It’s a great color to consider when painting your home. Just make sure you consider the things mentioned above so your home can receive the best look and feel it can possibly have.
