Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Painting with White Paint
White is such a timeless color. It can modernize, refresh, and expand a room all at once, and it’s truly the perfect neutral color because it comes in many different shades and sheens. The only downside about white paint is that it can be hard to DIY because it doesn’t show much forgiveness. With that being said, if you follow the proper steps, chances are you will have success with it!
We get questions all the time about how to perfectly paint a room white, and we’re providing the answers to those questions for you here:
What are your go-to white paints?
We like to use Sherwin-Williams Cashmere and Dunn-Edwards Suprema. Both paints are easy to apply and dry with a silky-smooth finish. They also have proven their durability with time and do a pretty solid job at hiding imperfections.
How do you paint edges and maintain clean lines?
We suggest using blue tape instead of white tape, or for the best results, use Green Frog Tape. We recommend adding a thin line of caulking on top of the tape line before painting to eliminate bleeding.
How do you pick a white paint based on the direction your room faces?
Depending on the direction your room faces (North, South, East, or West), the lighting will significantly affect the color of the room. North-facing rooms have the “best” lighting, and south-facing rooms receive the most sunlight. So this will affect how flat or multi-dimensional your white-painted room will look.
How do you minimize the number of coats you use?
Use a quality paint and try to apply it as evenly as possible. It’s best to lightly sand the walls beforehand if there is any gloss, dirt, or grease.
A few things to keep in mind about white paint in general:
If you’re looking to sell or rent your home, consider painting your walls white. They actually photograph and display better online, and they make a room look larger with higher ceilings.
Avoid handprints, stains, and marks with a gloss or semi-gloss paint. This type of paint finish is easier to clean and wipe off.
A fresh coat of white paint is the least expensive way to makeover a room. A gallon of paint runs anywhere from $30 to $40, and primer (if necessary) will cost you roughly $15. So, a room makeover for under $100 sounds like a great deal to us!
In rooms with lots of natural light, keep in mind that white paint can look different throughout the day. So be sure to try a sample of any color you're considering to see how it looks in the morning, afternoon, and late-day light.
We hope this has served as a helpful resource to you and if you have any additional questions about how to tackle white paint, feel free to reach out to us! We are here to help and can provide a custom complimentary quote.