White Isn't Simple: How to Choose The Perfect White Paint for Your Home

Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2026 stopped us in our tracks—and not in the way bold colour usually does. Their pick, Cloud Dancer, sits firmly in the white family, which feels unexpected at a time when we’re drawn to richness: colour, texture, pattern, and spaces that aren’t afraid to make a statement.

While we don’t necessarily agree with the choice, it did spark a conversation we know intimately—the quiet complexity of choosing the right white. We’re known for creating bright, airy interiors, and for us, white isn’t a safe default. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.

With that in mind, here are the three most common questions we’re asked when it comes to selecting white paint for the home.

Mellow Yellow Project: Ceiling, walls, trim, and millwork in Steam AF-15.

WHITE PAINT QUESTION #1:“What white won’t make my walls look yellow?”

Every white paint has undertones. That’s what creates the difference between one white and another, even if they look identical on a swatch. Before choosing, ask yourself a few key questions: Do I prefer warmth or coolness? Which direction does the room face—north, south, east, or west? What tones already exist in the space (floors, cabinetry, plumbing finishes)?

If you gravitate toward warmer woods, warmer plumbing fixtures like brass or polished nickel, and your space is north-facing with indirect light, a warmer white will feel more balanced. North-facing rooms tend to receive cooler, blue-toned light, so introducing warmth through paint helps prevent the space from feeling sterile or cold.

The opposite is often true when it comes to plumbing fixtures. When we use a warmer white on the walls, we’ll typically lean into warmer, complementary finishes like brass or polished nickel to reinforce that warmth and create cohesion. That said, don’t get too hung up on this rule—contrast can be beautiful when it’s done intentionally.

On the flip side, south-facing rooms receive an abundance of warm, yellow-toned light. In those spaces, a cooler, crisper white helps counterbalance the warmth and keeps the room feeling fresh rather than overly creamy.

Colonial Project: Ceiling, walls, and trim in White Dove OC-17.

WHITE PAINT QUESTION #2: “My kitchen cabinets are white—what white should I use on my walls?”

This is one we see all the time. We’ve lost count of how many homes we’ve walked into where the cabinets are one white, the walls another, the trim something else—and often the ceiling is the standard cool white most ceilings get. The result is almost always the same: clients are left wondering why their once “safe” whites suddenly look yellow.

What’s happening here is contrast, not colour failure.

When two different but very similar whites sit directly beside one another, your eye automatically starts comparing undertones. If your walls are a slightly warmer white and your cabinets are a slightly cooler white, those subtle differences get amplified. The result? The walls can start to read creamy, yellowed, or even dirty looking while the cabinets may feel stark or cold—even if neither colour appeared that way on its own.

White paint is highly relational. It doesn’t exist in isolation, especially in kitchens where large, uninterrupted surfaces sit side by side. A white that feels balanced on a sample or in another room can shift dramatically once it’s placed next to cabinetry, countertops, and backsplash materials.

Up West Project: Ceiling, walls, and trim in Simply White OC-117, Cabinetry in Pale Oak OC-20.

Highbank Project: Ceiling, walls, trim, and millwork in Extra White SW 7006.

Our general rule: if your cabinets are white, your wall colour should either be the same white or an obviously different one—either much warmer or much cooler. The key is contrast that’s intentional, not accidental.

For example, pairing Simply White OC-117 on the walls with a warmer cabinet colour like Pale Oak OC-20 creates clear separation without competition. Each white knows its role, and neither is fighting to be something it’s not.

Once you’ve figured out your wall and cabinet colours, the next question we get asked is: what colour should my trim be? Our answer is simple: your trim should take the same colour as either your cabinets or your walls. And we rarely use standard ceiling paint—its super cool undertone rarely works with the whites we choose for walls or cabinetry.

To simplify even further: paint your cabinets, walls, trim, and ceiling all the same colour, varying the sheen is often enough to create quiet definition without introducing another colour.

Mellow Yellow Project: Ceiling, walls, trim, and millwork in Steam AF-15.

WHITE PAINT QUESTION #3: “Is there one white that works everywhere?”

Short answer: no.

Long answer: context matters.

A white that feels perfect in one home can feel flat, muddy, or even slightly off in another. Light, surrounding finishes, and neighbouring colours all play a role—which is why we never select white paint in isolation. It’s always chosen in conversation with the rest of the home. This is also why knowing your materials and finishes before choosing paint is so important, and where working with an interior designer can make a meaningful difference.

At the end of the day, there’s no shortcut around testing. Paint samples need to go on your walls, in multiple rooms, and be observed throughout the day. Morning light, afternoon sun, evening shadows—each one reveals something different about how a white will behave. This is the only way to truly understand whether a colour will work for your space.

Paint stores use bright, cool, often harsh lighting that doesn’t reflect real living conditions. That’s why a white you loved on a swatch can look completely different once it’s home. What feels crisp in-store may read cold, and what felt soft may suddenly lean yellow.

White paint is subtle, nuanced, and highly responsive to its environment. When you take the time to view it where it actually lives, the right choice becomes much clearer.

Loft Project: Ceiling, walls, and trim in Chantilly Lace OC-65.

How to Choose the Perfect White Paint for Your Spaces

Choosing the right white isn’t about finding a single “perfect” colour—it’s about understanding how that colour responds to your home. Light, orientation, finishes, and materials all influence how white will read once it’s on the wall.

This is where working with a designer matters. At Plank & Pine, we select paint as part of a bigger picture, considering every detail so decisions feel clear, confident, and intentional. If you’re feeling stuck or want to get it right the first time, we’d love to help—because thoughtful design always starts with intention, not guesswork.