At Liberty Paint & Construction, we paint a lot of apartment units, which means white is our go-to color. Many apartment managers, when picking a color for their units, just go with whatever is easiest. Hence the white. And while we agree that apartment units SHOULD be painted white, we don’t agree with the belief that all whites are created equal. There are so many different shades of white that these managers have a choice from, yet they all choose the same, stark white. And let us tell you: that stark white does not look good in many of the units.
We know that many apartment managers don’t care whether or not a certain shade “works,” so long as it covers up the stains of the previous tenants. However, homeowners are a different story. When you opt to paint your walls, you’re hoping to make your home look nicer…brighter…more elegant...and just plain better. You WANT to choose the right shade, preferably the first time around.
If you’re looking to paint your walls a nice white color, use these tips before deciding on WHICH white is right for you:
Decide On A Mood:
Just like with color, every shade of white triggers an emotional response. That being said, it’s important to choose the right shade for your home. A good trick when doing this is to imagine each shade of white in terms of water temperature. The brightest, purest white would be the coldest, and the warmest ivory would be the hottest. The brighter whites would be more like a cool dip in a pool, while the warmer colors would be like a relaxing evening spent in the hot tub. Choose your shade based on the effect you want each room to convey.
Determine the Style:
The shade of white you choose can really lend or takeaway from the overall impression of a space. If you’re going for a bolder, more modern look, you’ll definitely want to stick with a brighter white, as these will create sharp contrasts when placed next to colorful fabrics and statement pieces. However, if you’re going for a more mellow feeling, lean towards the warmer whites. The artificial “glow” created by these warm tones can really warm up a place even on the gloomiest of days.
Consider the Room’s Purpose:
Never paint a room without first considering its purpose! You’ll want to choose warmer colors for rooms where you intend to relax, like your bedroom or a sitting room, and nice mix for more stimulating spaces, like the kitchen, and color colors in rooms where you intend for there to be a lot of activity, like the living room, a game room or an in-home gym.
Test It Out:
Even after you’ve determined the mood you want to go with, the style you want to achieve and the purpose of the room, it’s important to test out the chosen color before applying it all over the walls. In fact, test at least three colors – one you think you want, and two maybes. Try each color in three different areas of the room as well: the brightest spot, the darkest corner and the ceiling. Whites are extremely reflective, so you need to see them in the light of a sunny day and in the glow of evening light. The change you’ll see in the tones at different times of day will amaze you! Also, how a white appears on a paint chart will be totally different from how it appears in your home, so don’t nix a shade because it’s “too yellow,” especially if you’re going for a warmer feeling.
Don’t Forget to Paint the Ceiling:
The ceiling is often the most overlooked part of a room, but it’s actually one of the most important aspects, as it can make a room appear darker or lighter, depending on the color. If you want to brighten a naturally dark space, mix a little pure white in with your chosen white just for the ceiling. Your eye will not notice the difference in colors, but you will subtly brighten your space.
At Liberty Paint and Construction, we know our shades of white, and we can help you determine the best shade for your home! Or, if you’re an apartment manager and you want to give prospects even more reason to choose your complex as their place of residence, contact us and let us give the units some “ambiance!”
We also work with realtors on getting homes ready for the market, so if you’re looking for ways to bring value to a home, contact us to see what we can do for you.
Visit us today to see what we can do for you!
We know that many apartment managers don’t care whether or not a certain shade “works,” so long as it covers up the stains of the previous tenants. However, homeowners are a different story. When you opt to paint your walls, you’re hoping to make your home look nicer…brighter…more elegant...and just plain better. You WANT to choose the right shade, preferably the first time around.
If you’re looking to paint your walls a nice white color, use these tips before deciding on WHICH white is right for you:
Decide On A Mood:
Just like with color, every shade of white triggers an emotional response. That being said, it’s important to choose the right shade for your home. A good trick when doing this is to imagine each shade of white in terms of water temperature. The brightest, purest white would be the coldest, and the warmest ivory would be the hottest. The brighter whites would be more like a cool dip in a pool, while the warmer colors would be like a relaxing evening spent in the hot tub. Choose your shade based on the effect you want each room to convey.
Determine the Style:
The shade of white you choose can really lend or takeaway from the overall impression of a space. If you’re going for a bolder, more modern look, you’ll definitely want to stick with a brighter white, as these will create sharp contrasts when placed next to colorful fabrics and statement pieces. However, if you’re going for a more mellow feeling, lean towards the warmer whites. The artificial “glow” created by these warm tones can really warm up a place even on the gloomiest of days.
Consider the Room’s Purpose:
Never paint a room without first considering its purpose! You’ll want to choose warmer colors for rooms where you intend to relax, like your bedroom or a sitting room, and nice mix for more stimulating spaces, like the kitchen, and color colors in rooms where you intend for there to be a lot of activity, like the living room, a game room or an in-home gym.
Test It Out:
Even after you’ve determined the mood you want to go with, the style you want to achieve and the purpose of the room, it’s important to test out the chosen color before applying it all over the walls. In fact, test at least three colors – one you think you want, and two maybes. Try each color in three different areas of the room as well: the brightest spot, the darkest corner and the ceiling. Whites are extremely reflective, so you need to see them in the light of a sunny day and in the glow of evening light. The change you’ll see in the tones at different times of day will amaze you! Also, how a white appears on a paint chart will be totally different from how it appears in your home, so don’t nix a shade because it’s “too yellow,” especially if you’re going for a warmer feeling.
Don’t Forget to Paint the Ceiling:
The ceiling is often the most overlooked part of a room, but it’s actually one of the most important aspects, as it can make a room appear darker or lighter, depending on the color. If you want to brighten a naturally dark space, mix a little pure white in with your chosen white just for the ceiling. Your eye will not notice the difference in colors, but you will subtly brighten your space.
At Liberty Paint and Construction, we know our shades of white, and we can help you determine the best shade for your home! Or, if you’re an apartment manager and you want to give prospects even more reason to choose your complex as their place of residence, contact us and let us give the units some “ambiance!”
We also work with realtors on getting homes ready for the market, so if you’re looking for ways to bring value to a home, contact us to see what we can do for you.
Visit us today to see what we can do for you!