White paint isn’t always white

DEAR DESIGNER: I asked my painter to paint my walls off-white and then I left for work. The color he used has a dirty yellow look. He tells me this paint is the standard "off-white" used by many of his clients. I thought off-white was more of a light beige. What went wrong? -- Beverly

DEAR BEVERLY: The color white has many faces. The "off-white" your painter used on your walls would be considered a warm white. Was the color named bone white or cottage white? These two off-whites are used quite often and have a hint of yellow.

Choosing the right white for your walls can be as daunting as choosing an entire color scheme. There are literally hundreds of variations of white paint on the market. By learning what makes these whites different you can tackle your job with confidence.

Warm whites have hints of pink, orange and/or yellow. Neutral whites are the most pure of all but can still run a little gray or dirty. Cool whites have hints of blue and green in them. These hints of color are rarely visible in the small paint sample you receive from the store. You will need to test the colors in various ways to be sure you are applying the correct hue (color) of white.

Put the white sample card on top of a plain white piece of paper. How white does your paint look next to the paper? Many times you will see the tint (mixture of color with white) by doing this simple test. Another way to know if you selected the correct white is to look at the colors on the same color card. The colors generally graduate toward a darker hue. What is the hue at the bottom of the color card? If it is rust or pink, your "white" will have a pink tint when put onto your walls. If the final color on your color card is blue, you can be sure your walls will also have a blue tint.

Don't go by color names. Although some color names are a good representation of what the color is, they are not always interpreted the same. Recently I chose an off-white paint for a bedroom/bathroom. The name of the paint color was pale wheat. My mind's eye went directly to the golden wheat I've seen growing in farmers' fields in the Midwest. I did not look at the full color card where the bottom color was clearly a dark rusty brown. On white paper the color sample looked perfect for our gold-based color palette but when the paint was applied to the walls, it had a pink glow. It was most evident next to the stone-colored shower tiles. I got a much better effect when I reselected the "white" and repainted the walls.

The problem with picking the wrong white for your home is that it can throw your color scheme off. Your walls are like a canvas to a painter. If you start out with a pink undertone in your white paint and your color palette is clearly based on gold tones, you will have a subconscious disconnect from the moment you enter the room. Some guests might not figure out why your décor does not flow, but they will feel that something is amiss.

It's helpful to try your selected paint on a 3-by-3-foot area on each wall before painting the entire room to see how the paint color will react to the objects in the room. White is a reflective color. Every color and light in your room will reflect onto your wall surface, making the color change with the various exposures. For example, a dark redwood floor will project reds onto your wall and can turn a neutral white paint into a pink white. This is why a paint that is perfect in the kitchen can look completely off in your bedroom. If you are getting a lot of reflection onto your wall, tell your paint store or painter what color the paint appears to be. He will be able to adjust the color and direct you to a color that will counteract the reflections.

Compare your paint to your paint swatch before you put it on the wall. Paint stores are usually very good about mixing their colors correctly, but mistakes happen. Put a dab of the mixed paint on your original paint sample and let it dry. You will be able to see if the color is the same.

It's great to build upon the correct white so your home looks and feels connected. White paint doesn't get a lot of attention but its effect on the finished project is profound. It's like wearing Spanx under your little black dress. Only you know why it looks so good.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner@projectdesigninteriors.com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesigninteriors.com.