Ever wonder what question will grab your designer’s full and immediate attention, resulting in an extensively in-depth reply? If you haven’t guessed from the title, the question we are referring to is: “Which white should I choose for my cabinets / walls / fabrics, etc.?” Better yet: “does it matter which white I choose?” While to most; at least on first glance, the multitude of white options available may appear to look the same, they are anything but.

When our clients pose this question there is typically an underlying tone of dread for what feels like a daunting task. This is absolutely understandable! Painting your home and your cabinetry is an investment and can be a costly one if you are not happy with the end result. That said, choosing from the vast array of white options is simple if, (with the help of your interior designer!), you take into careful consideration a few key factors.

Read on to learn a bit more about the steps to guiding you on the path to finding the perfect white for your home!

Step # 1

First and foremost, establishing your overall aesthetic is an important step, which will immediately rule out many options. The aesthetic of the space will determine what undertones should be incorporated. Whether or not they fall into the warm, or cool side of the spectrum while taking into consideration other finishes in the space, for example the metals you would like to incorporate in light fixtures, hardware, etc., will help guide you in the right direction and will ensure you create a cohesive palette.

For instance Paper White from Benjamin Moore has blue undertones, making this a “cool” option, where White Dove, also from Benjamin Moore has a creamier yellow base, resulting in a warm option.

Step # 2

Considering the natural and artificial light in the room is also important as this will impact how the colour reads in the space. Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore is a gorgeous soft option, but in a dimly lit space it may feel too dark and washed out. Put it in a well lit area and the colour will read entirely different. Simply White, on the other hand, may read as too bright in the same well lit room. We always recommend preparing samples of our selections to test out in the space and also to observe over the course of the day. Light changes and having a good idea of how your choices are impacted by the changing light will help to ensure you’ve made the right choice!

Step # 3

Lay it all out! You need to bring all of your samples into your home and in both natural and artificial lighting and review how the white paint is reading next to your other finishes. A colour like “ Swiss Coffee” when paired with the wrong materials can read to yellow. You want to ensure you aren’t influencing the wrong undertones of the white paint to take center stage.

You’re all set! Now that you’ve selected your paint, have your millworker prepare a final door sample in your selected finish and bring it into your space. If everything looks the way you like then you have now successfully selected your white cabinetry!