Picking the Right White Paint Color

You’ve decided to give your space a refresh with some bright white paint. You run out to grab a can… quick in and out, right? Wrong. Suddenly you are inundated by a literal wall of white paint colors. When did they make so many versions of the same color! How the heck are you supposed to know which one is “your” version of bright white?

Many factors can affect the way a color looks in your space, and we’re here to help you find just the right shade.

Warm vs Cool

The first thing you should remember is that there are “cool” colors, and there are “warm” colors, and white is no exception. A cool white is one that may look blue in certain lights, while a warm white may appear yellow.

Not sure how to tell the difference? Imagine that you are looking at a color wheel; every color can be lightened all the way to white and darkened all the way to black. So start there!

For example, If you want a warm white, or an ivory, then it should be a few shades lighter than a yellow or tan paint.  If you want a cool white, start looking near blues.

Funnily enough, sometimes the easiest way to tell if a white is warm or cool is to place it next to other whites!  A seemingly neutral white may become very yellow when placed next to a cooler color. If you still prefer the color when compared to other whites, you are on the right track.

Lighting and Surroundings

A huge factor in selecting any color is where it is going and what will surround it.  Light, like color, can also be warm or cool. You may notice that light in the morning looks cooler and brighter, and becomes warmer and softer in the evenings. This can have a great impact on how your walls look if they are in an area with lots of natural light.

If you are in a room with no windows, then it is important to consider the lighting source in that space. Do you have bright white bulbs that will appear cool? This could make the paint look even cooler.

Regardless of what lighting you are working with, you should think about what other colors are in the space. Do you have dark, warm wood floors? Cool gray tile? Are you painting a wall that will sit behind a bright blue sofa, or a yellow bedspread?

For these reasons, we suggest getting a large sample and taping/painting it in the area that you plan to paint. Until you see the color in your space, with your things, it may be difficult to tell if you are making the right choice.

Tips + Tricks

The industry has made some great strides in helping consumers with these choices, and we’ve rounded up some ways to get you started.

(this is not an ad - we really use these!)

• Sherwin William’s color visualizer lets you paint a virtual space (even upload yours!)

• Benjamin Moore’s color pages allow you to view the color in different types of light

• Hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer paint-matching and visualization services online and in-store

• Sites like samplize send peel-and-stick samples right to your home, and even offer bundles to help you find just the right shade.

Finally, here are some of our favorite shades of white:

Still struggling to pick the right shade, or not sure where to start? We can help!

Tips + Tricks for getting (and staying) organized this Spring.

Spring is just around the corner, and many people are probably starting to feel that familiar itch… time to finally tackle that clutter! With shows like “Get Organized” and “Tidying Up” growing in popularity, it’s easy to be inspired…. And just as easy to get overwhelmed. Below are my top 5 tips for whipping that closet into shape.

*disclaimer; I’ve learned many of these tips from popular accounts (like The Home Edit) – this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ll include some more resources down below!

1.      Cut out the clutter

The first step is both the easiest to start and the hardest to finish… the purge. Before you try to organize your items, you’ve got to edit what you have! I usually start by removing everything from the area and laying it somewhere with space to spread out (pro tip: find somewhere that won’t interfere with your life if you don’t finish in one day)

Start with 3 piles: keep it, maybe, and let go (this can mean donate, trash, or sell). 

A few starter rules that work for me when sorting:

• Toss anything that is damaged or expired (look up those makeup expiration dates!)

• Clear out non-sentimental items that haven’t been used in recent memory. Bought a blazer for that one interview 3 years ago? Been waiting for those pants from college to fit again? Probably time to donate.

• Look at repeat items and consider if all are necessary. Do you use all those different shampoos? Do you wear all 3 of those gray t-shirts?

• Start with keeps/let-gos, these are usually easier. Once you’ve done that, take another look at the maybes and re-evaluate based on the rules you used with the others. For example, if you’ve already decided to keep 2 blue sweaters, the 3rd one sitting in the maybe pile might be easier to let go!

2.      Create a system

Once you’ve thinned the herd, it should be easier to create clear and intuitive categories for your items. If you are sorting clothes, this could be by color, by season, by style, or even a combination.  (for example, I have my clothes hung by category, then by color). This system should align with your routine; whatever is easiest for you to remember and stick to is best.

3.      Divide and conquer (your drawers)

Finally, we get to put everything back! One of the best and most important tips I’ve learned is to divide your space. Shelves, drawers, hanging rods…. Wherever you can add a bin, a divider, a compartment; do it. You’ll be surprised what you can fit when you group and sort your drawers with a few simple dividers – a jumble of shirts becomes a structured system that keeps its shape, is easy to navigate, and is easier to keep in place.

4.      Keep everything visible

In a good system, items should be easy to find, use, and replace. Using clear bins, turntables and shelf dividers are just a few ways to keep everything at the forefront of your space - and off your mind! When items are out of the boxes you can see what you have. You avoid buying duplicate items and can easily take stock of what you actually need. When the kids ask “are there any more chips?” You can happily say “look in the bin labeled chips!”  This strategy saves time, money, and (let’s be honest) sanity.

5.      Stick to the plan

This last tip is as simple (and difficult) as it sounds. You’ve done the work to edit your items, you’ve created a system that is easy to understand and simple to maintain. Now, all you have to do is use it. Put things back where they go, keep your dividers… divided… and enjoy the benefits of what a clean and simple space can do for you!

Need help getting started? Don’t want to do it alone? We can help!

Some additional tips tricks + resources:

• The Home Edit (https://www.instagram.com/thehomeedit/)

• HGTV (https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/quick-tips-for-home-organization)

• Marie Kondo (https://konmari.com/about-the-konmari-method/)

• The Container Store (https://www.containerstore.com/organization-projects/all/tip)