Help! I painted my walls SW 7551/ Greek Villa and now my kitchen looks like it is painted with primer.
And my furniture looks dingy – what happened???
We have an open plan main floor with existing stained kitchen cabinets and tile floor – I thought this white would brighten everything up, but it just looks wrong.
Ellen, Tyrone, GA
Well Ellen, first of all, you should have called me LOL!
When you’re painting an open floor plan, don’t just grab any white paint! Whites are the trickiest ‘color’ to use in decorating because they need tons of natural light to look right. All those gorgeous magazine pictures with white rooms are ALWAYS filled with abundant natural lighting. Additionally, using a white with the wrong undertone will not only look shadowy and gray in a room without natural light, but it can also make everything around it look dirty.
Undertones are so important, especially with your existing tile and granite! Whites can be tricky—some lean warm with yellow or beige tones, and others are cool with hints of blue or gray. Think about the undertone of your finishes. If your granite has warm, earthy hues, a warmer white will blend seamlessly. If it’s more on the gray side, a cooler white will look better. The true undertones can run from pink, orange, yellow, green, and violet so test your granite or tile or the largest piece of furniture against a piece of white paper and compare to your fan deck of paint colors to see where your undertones fall.
Even if the natural lighting looks different in different parts of the main floor, as long as you have matched the true undertone correctly, everything will still look harmonious instead of clashing as the light changes throughout the day. There are over 150,000 different shades of white to choose from! No wonder whites are so tricky!!
When working with warm finishes like beige, brown, or earthy tones in flooring, countertops, or tiles, it’s important to choose whites or off-whites with warm undertones to complement the overall look. Here are some popular warm white options from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore:
**Sherwin Williams:**
- **Alabaster (SW 7008)** – A soft, warm white that pairs beautifully with warm finishes. It’s creamy without being too yellow.
- **Creamy (SW 7012)** – A true warm off-white with hints of yellow, perfect for creating a cozy feel.
- **Navajo White (SW 6126)** – A creamy off-white with warm, beige undertones that blend well with warm-toned wood and stone finishes.
- **Dover White (SW 6385)** – A creamy white that leans warm and gives a soft, inviting appearance.
**Benjamin Moore:**
- **Swiss Coffee (OC-45)** – A warm off-white with soft beige undertones, perfect for complementing warm stone or wood.
- **White Dove (OC-17)** – A classic, soft off-white with warm undertones that works well with beige and brown finishes.
- **Navajo White (OC-95)** – A warm, creamy white with a subtle yellow-beige hue that enhances warm finishes.
- **Linen White (OC-146)** – A light, warm off-white with a gentle, creamy undertone, ideal for cozy spaces.
These whites and off-whites are perfect for blending with warm finishes while creating a soft, welcoming atmosphere in your space. They all have different undertones besides being ‘warm’ so make sure you test with your existing finishes!
If your home doesn’t have a ton of windows or is shaded and darkish inside, you might consider “Griege” instead of Whites. “Greige” is a blend of gray and beige, creating a versatile, neutral tone that’s popular for walls and cabinetry. It does an amazing job of warming up interiors and providing a little contrast between your walls and trim and will look fresher and more updated than grey. Griege can help update your interior if you are living with “greyed” flooring that was installed when the grey trend was going strong. The same rule applies for testing the undertones though – All neutrals have the true undertones I mentioned above and that’s why Neutrals are trickier to work with than actual Hues (colors).
Both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore have several well-known greige paint colors:
**Sherwin Williams:**
- *Repose Gray (SW 7015)* – A light, soft greige with a slight warm undertone.
- *Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)* – A warm greige that leans slightly toward beige.
- *Worldly Gray (SW 7043)* – A warmer greige with more beige than gray.
- *Anew Gray (SW 7030)* – A deeper, richer greige with warmth.
**Benjamin Moore:**
- *Revere Pewter (HC-172)* – A popular soft greige with warm undertones.
- *Edgecomb Gray (HC-173)* – A light greige that leans slightly beige.
- *Balboa Mist (OC-27)* – A warm, pale greige with subtle gray undertones.
- *Classic Gray (OC-23)* – A very light greige with just a hint of warmth.
These shades offer a great balance between gray and beige, making them adaptable for many spaces!
I hope that helps Ellen!
If you have any decorating dilemmas, please send your questions (and a photo if possible) to [email protected] or to [email protected].
Until next month-
Anne-Louise