Ah- the quest for the perfect white. Ushered in with the modern farmhouse trend, the search for the right white is not as easy as it seems. One reason whites are so tricky is because of their differing undertones- hold a white paint swatch up to a white piece of paper and you’ll notice some look more blue, green, grey, pink or yellow.

To pull off a white-walled room like the ones you see in magazines, lots of natural light is key, otherwise your pure white walls will look grey and dingy. If you don’t have loads of natural lights, artificial lighting is the next best thing. Bring in floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces (but overhead recessed lighting doesn’t count in this case). Lamps will give soft, cozy light and eliminate shadowy corners that just turn grey with white walls. Just remember that artificial lighting will add a yellow cast to your walls, so white may not be the best choice if you’re not okay with that yellow tinge.

Being aware of the existing finishes and furniture in the room can also help you pick the right white. If your space has lots of warm and earthy colours look for creamy whites, whereas clean and cool colours often look best with true or pure whites.

My other tips for rocking an all-white room? Make sure that you repeat the same white in some of your furnishings and accessories. White rooms also need to be decorated! That means show off your collections and vintage treasures, add textiles and put art on your walls. Otherwise, white rooms can easily look sterile. Notice how in the room below, white is repeated in the accessories, upholstery, and pillows, and the room is full and beautifully decorated.

Now that you know the basics of when to paint your walls white and how to pull off the look, here are five of my favourite whites:

1. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

Described as a true white, this shade has neither cool nor warm undertones. This means that if you hold another white paint swatch up to Chantilly Lace, you’ll be able to see that swatch’s undertones in comparison. Its lack of undertones make it a versatile pick, and it’s compatible with most well-lit spaces.

2. Farrow & Ball Wevet

This delicate white with a hint of grey is listed as Amber Lewis’ favourite all-around white, plus Athena Calderone painted her whole main floor in this pretty hue. Obviously the heavy-hitters of design love it! Wevet has very subtle cool undertones, so it works beautifully in a well-lit space combined with cooler greys.

3. Benjamin Moore Simply White

This off-white is warmer than Chantilly Lace and Wevet, and can start to look dingy if paired with a cool white trim. It has the slightest yellow undertone, which helps a less-bright room glow when painted in Simply White.

4. Benjamin Moore White Dove

This shade of white keeps popping up everywhere. A designer favourite, it’s described as a classic white that has the versatility to work in any style of space and with any palette. White Dove has subtle yellow and gray undertones that keep it warm but balanced.

5. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster

Alabaster is close in colour to White Dove and equally as popular. This soft, creamy white has slightly more beige and gray undertones than White Dove, making it a lovely choice for lower-light rooms that need just a little more pigment.

I hope this blog post has given you some ideas for picking the right white for your space. And if you just don’t have enough natural light to pull of white walls, never fear! In this post, I talk about my favourite light-coloured neutrals that will still give you that fresh white-walled feeling.