Bree Leech

The right white

White is a classic for interiors in traditional and modern homes alike, but if you've experienced selecting a white for your walls, you'll know it can be overwhelming. Dulux colour forecaster and stylist Bree Leech shares some tips for choosing a white that works for you and your interior. Colours featured: Dulux Mt Aspiring Half, Manorburn Double.

Creating a mood

Various whites may seem to only have subtle differences, but once you have painted your interior with your selected white, it can help set the mood you want to create in your home. Selecting a warmer white may help convey a classic style or provide a cosy mood. Cooler whites create a very fresh feel and are often used in modern homes alongside cooler colours.

Getting warmer

So what styles work with warmer whites? Warmer whites with creamy yellow undertones such as Epsom are often selected for classic or traditional spaces. They work well with darker and more traditional timber finishes and earthy colour palettes.

Playing it cool

Cooler whites such as Ōkārito may be suited to modern architectural styles, but are also often used to modernise more traditional spaces. With a crisp, all-white approach, more traditional or classic interior can appear to have a more contemporary mood. Modern interiors lend themselves to a crisp colour palette of cool white and St Clair Quarter or Hakataramea are often go-to hues, paired with neutral, grey, natural stone, light timber and black accents the combination creates a no-fail modern palette.

When you want more from your white

Whites can also be complex and have a little more to offer than just cool or warm. Undertones are what is at play here and you'll want to check them with A4 samples initially to make sure those undertones work with your interior finishes and decor. My picks for a more complex white choice are Mt Aspiring Half - on the warm side but with a little less than Cardrona and Haast Half giving you a white with some depth, but not too much yellow or red to allow greater versatility.

Playing favourites

When it comes to white, I definitely play favourites. Cardrona is a colour I use frequently for its soft warmth and flexibility to work across so many design styles and, of course, it's one of Dulux’s Most Loved hues for a reason. Choose Cardrona when you have a light-filled space but would like a little softness rather than being too crisp. Pair it with anything, but it works so well to create a relaxed mood and a layered contemporary interior.

Need a hand?

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