It’s taken me a while to come around to the idea that white walls are not only okay, but are actually a great thing. For years, I considered only some form of tan or gray the only possibility for a neutral wall. I’ve slowly learned—and grown to love—how white creates the perfect backdrop for everything else in a space. It gives you breathing room and a lot of flexibility for the direction your room can go.
White walls can also create a blank slate and offer fresh perspective, if you’re struggling with where to start decorating. I came across this house tour (and renovation) that was featured in Traditional Home. The before pictures show a typical “neutral” color found in a lot of homes. While many people might be tempted to live with that paint color, I love how the after photos show what a difference white paint can make. It’s a great take away for anybody who might be moving to a new home—or for those crazy peeps on House Hunters who can’t get over the wall color in a potential house. Starting fresh with a coat, or two, of white paint is like applying an eraser to the walls, letting you think a little clearer so you can see what the space might become.
{Before}
{After—painted Benjamin Moore’s White Dove}
{family room before}
{family room after}
(Of course, there’s some fantastic magazine lighting and beautiful decorating factored in, but the wall color change itself is a huge improvement. See the rest of the home tour here.)
When we moved into our house, I was so tempted to leave the kitchen walls the existing color. It worked great with the cabinets and floors, but I couldn’t see beyond it when I was trying to figure out how to decorate the rest of the room.
I started by repainting all of the walls Shoji White (Sherwin Williams.) It gave me “room” to play with color on the window treatments and other accessories.
I used the same idea (and paint color) in our bedroom. Before I ever had a great idea of what else I wanted to do with the room, I painted the walls white and went from there.
What’s your take on white? Does it leave you feeling refreshed or unfinished?
Aren’t those people on House Hunters the worst? The drive me crazy – its just paint people, you can change it! :) I’ve started to warm up to white walls too. Two of the last rooms I did were painted white and I love it.
Our new house is completely white, top to bottom! And we just planked most of the walls as shown in your first photo. Love white walls!
Did you use satin or flat on your wood planked walls? Which level of BM did you use… Thanks.. :)
I love white walls! I used to feel bad for playing it safe but now I realize it actually makes you use your decorating chops even more.
When we moved in to our last house the walls were all bright white and I couldn’t wait to paint them. Now we’re in a rental where we can’t paint, and all the walls are that neutral beige that I wished for and I would love to have at least some white walls! I don’t think I really understood the differences in shades of white until the last year or two-because a slight change in tone can make such a difference! In the meantime I’ll just daydream about our next house-one of the perks to the military life…you always know the next house is only a matter of time :)
I absolutely agree! I use to hate white walls but now think rooms feel so clean and fresh with a coat of white. Funny how tastes change :). We just moved into a house on an army base (abd I never thought we’d live there!) and all the walls are white…and I love it. Thanks for blogging, I love reading your ideas and tips!
I wanted SO badly to paint our new house white but my husband could not see it. I could have done it anyway, but we decided on a really light (not baby blue looking) gray, and I really do like it. Maybe next time we paint we’ll go white! :)
I love the white and think it’s so fresh and clean! And it drives me and my husband CRAZY when people on HH comment on the wall color! Paint is so easy and cheap!
I love white walls. Painted both children’s rooms white and adore them. Have done white paint samples on the rest of the house but just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. One day.
Love this post because we are painting our kitchen walls white this weekend!! I NEVER paint white but I really want to breathe some life and air into the kitchen! Right now it is a very light tan and is similar to your before pictures above – this is going to really make a big difference. I am also hoping it will help me look past the awful cabinets for a few more years.
We got all new stainless appliances a couple years ago and the tan doesn’t really show them off, I think a new white will help modernize the whole kitchen.
Wow! You’ve really got me thinking. Recently we’ve been making over our bedroom, and making the palette softer and more serene. I was thinking that I needed to deepen the walls to something like Revere Pewter, but maybe something like Dove White would be amazing. Thanks for the fresh perspective! xoxo
I love intentionally white walls! I feel like your post was speaking to me personally. We’re in the midst of moving to a home with freshly painting off-white/beige walls and I considered leaving them as is (they’re freshly painted!) but in my heart I know a clean bright white will make a huge difference.
Yes! I love the fresh feeling of white walls. I recently painted our master bathroom white with dark gray cabinets and it turned out wonderful! The question I get the most is…how do you keep your walls white with kiddos around? Have any suggestions or thoughts on this? I know you have white walls and lots of kiddos! hehe
I just usually go with a satin finish, but I’m not sure there’s any way to keep them completely clean with little dirty hands around. The few places in our house that still have flat paint are covered in hand prints. . .Another project for another day.
I’m longing for white walls in our home. Everything, even the ceilings, are this terrible tan/green color. It looks….gross. My goal is to slowly start painting everything white, starting with the living and dining room and working my way to the family room, upstairs, etc. I’m swooning over that first before and after. It’s gorgeous!
Luv white walls! Mine are white except for the kitchen and two bathrooms. I thought about painting them but my carpets are beige and didn’t want beige on the walls – enough already!
We are so happy with the white walls with med brown trim (pops with contrast). Since my husband is a carpenter, he prefers wood trim stained and not painted also. My color is added with furnishings and accessories .
I clean ours with a mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, & 1/4 cup baking soda mixed in a bucket of warm water twice a year, spring and fall.Start at the top of your walls and wipe all the way down. Change the cleaning solution when the water gets dirty. For dirty spots I just use a little baking soda & water on a rag in between times. This has always worked for me.
on a rag and gently wash the area.
Thanks for the tip. That’s one of those projects I’m dreading.
Oh crap, I’m going to be the lone dissenter. I can’t do white walls. The only room in our house with white walls is the playroom and it feels sterile. I wish I could like white walls because I think my (decorating) life would be easier, but I just don’t. Any color I put against the white feels too stark and almost hurts my eyes. Funny thing is I would paint the exterior of my house white, but my husband is not on board.
SORRY! I know how much everyone – well, almost everyone I guess – loves white walls.
We won’t exile you :) It’s okay!
You’re not the only one, Claudia! I love color on my walls and don’t know that I could ever do just white. It’s one of those things that I can love and appreciate seeing in other people’s houses, but it’s just not for me and my house. Any fan of design probably has dozens upon dozens of things they could say that about.
You’ve officially sold me on white walls! I wouldn’t have believed what a difference white walls can make if you hadn’t posted the before and after photos. Our house is very small and I have a feeling a fresh coat of white paint on the interior walls would open if up and let the sunshine be the star. You’ve inspired me….even though I’ll probably wait until May or June to make it happen. Thanks!
Excellent post Emily! I love the examples you provided. I love how clean and fresh all white rooms look.. I think the key to white walls are #1 – the right white. Not to yellow, not to blue. #2 – is the right natural or ambient light. We just moved into a new home painted builder beige and at first I was planning on a clean modern white. But I live in the the Pacific Northwest and most my main windows face toward the NW. I also have a dark grey house behind me that reflects a very blue light. White just ended up looking blue. My various shades of grey/platinum work perfectly to absorb the blue.
We just bought a 1970’s ranch house and I am painting the “fireplace room” shonji white next week! After purchasing 16 samples, it looks the best!!
I’m with you on the white walls! I also spotted this makeover and it sold me on all white.
We are about to move in less than a month (eek) and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how I want to revamp each room. Right now, everything is painted a light yellow – it’s not attractive. I’d been toying with the idea of painting all the walls pale grey, but with all the great light every single room gets, I keep coming back to the idea of fresh, snowy white walls.
I am in love with white walls. Slowly painting all our rooms white. The ones we’ve done so far I’m so happy with.
Let’s talk primer! How much was used? Seperate primer or the paint with primer… Which did you use?
Love the look! Lets everything else shine on it’s own.
I’ve been using the primer + paint all-in-one products lately. Anything that saves time!
I love this look! Do you have a recommended paint color for the trim in a white room? I’m afraid my existing trim color is going to look dingy and yellow against a fresh coat of white paint.
I think it depends on what white you’re putting on the walls. Our trim is Alabaster (SW) and was already here when we moved in. It seems to work pretty well with the Shoji White, which is pretty soft and has some gray undertones.
So dearly I have been wanting to paint some walls white. I think 2014 is the year. I dream of it being clean and fresh but with five kids roaming around…no walls seem to be safe. :-)
~Sarah
A couple of years ago we hired painters to paint most of the 1st level of our home a light tan.
I do have some white walls on the lower level though, but I wish I had hardwood floors in my family room because I think the white would be really pretty against a darker floor.
I LOVE white. So clean and fresh. Always a good choice. My favorite is Benjamin Moore Cloud White
I love white walls too! I think it can help in making bolder design decisions. Great post!
My rule “when in doubt, get white”, and that’s for everything. Obviously I’m a huge fan of white, my only hang up is that white doesn’t give one permission to not decorate. The clean look only flies when there’s something to grab your eyes, be it fabric, colored throw pillow, light fixtures, but you have to have courage.
White dove or decorators white, Benjamin Moore are simply outstanding!
LOVE them!!! A couple years ago I painted all of our walls navajo white, it’warm and creamy and looking at it now I’m itching for a crisper white! It’s on the to-do list… : )
There are so many shades of white, it can be overwhelming. To me it’s all about the undertones. We have had the lucky opportunity to build a new house that is small (1300 sq ft), energy efficient and minimalist. We’ve used Dutch Boy eggshell Ultra White on the walls and ceiling. Will use the Dutch Boy Ultra White satin on the trim once it’s up. Coming from a house full of color, it is refreshing to know that I will only have two small paint cans hanging out in my basement for touch ups (eggshell and satin) instead of, um, a lot more like I have now. I can’t begin to describe how freeing it feels. I can always bring in huge splashes of color with accessories, pictures, pillows and such if I want to.
Is it weird that I really like white walls, but feel like since everyone else is doing it I don’t want to? Ha! I just did some almost white walls in our kid’s new play space, but I haven’t jumped on the trend in any big spaces. I do really love the look though! I think, for me, I appreciate a cooler feel…leaning towards light grays, greens and blues, so white isn’t scary or sterile to me. We’re hoping to update our master bath soon and white is definitely on my list of potential paint colors!
I love white! It’s the perfect canvas. I had a few challenges in choosing the right white, however–I live in the Northeast, and perhaps it’s our light here (or maybe it’s the polar vortex?), but some of the whites I initially tried felt too stark or cold. Once I knew I wanted a warm white, I did a little research and compiled a list of five designers’ favorite warm whites, with sample photos, which may be of interest to those on the lookout for whites with warm undertones:
http://www.thewriterandresidence.com/finding-the-perfect-warm-white-5-designers-weigh-in/
I love this post Emily – thank you! We moved into a new house last week and my husband has been teasing me saying that every time I open my mouth I suggest we paint something white! I totally agree that it gives a fresh start, and will lighten things up while we decide what to do with the space to make it work for us!
I like white so much. Painting a house in white makes it wonderful to add colorful decorations.
I LOVE white walls…. our beach house builder looked at me like I had 3 heads when I told him I wanted all white, when he asked for our paint colors, especially after all the very specific other items I’d requested! It’s given us the crisp, beachy look I was going for and letting the giant windows and doors let in and bounce so much light. We love it! pics: http://www.jjhortonphotography.com/uncategorized/beach-house-projects/
It’s looking so good! I love how bright, open and white the living area is.
Thanks! I just ordered a giant rug for the living room yesterday, and we have a chandelier to hang over the table (finally!)
I love it! Such a clean crisp look! I love your breakfast nook!!
It’s on “the list” for this year! I’m itching to lighten up my walls!
All of our walls upstairs have not been painted yet — so it’s just the color is close to white — Sheetrock texture? :) I am almost embarrassed to admit how much I love it. It is so calm and clean looking. Even next to all the construction work we are doing. I did paint ‘colors’ downstairs — and that feels good down there. Maybe some of it depends on window light, and ceiling height?
I’m all in with white and want a clean slate in my home as well. I want to paint the whole thing white and then start over adding color slowly. It is just so fresh and clean. Love your images and what you’ve done in your home! xo Nancy
Completely agree. We’re currently updating our 1980’s house and have started the daunting task of painting everything in site white (including some white plank walls here and there for extra character and charm). As it stands, its a bad builder beige color that reach peach and yellow.
There areas that have already been coated in white feel fresh, and will be made all the more better when we get some nice rustic warm hardwoods installed.
Great post!
Love all of the inspiration rooms, including yours. I’m about to paint all of our common areas white. So excited!
I love your breakfast nook. I have one that’s similar. Please give me more detail about how you hung the curtains. It’s hard to tell in the picture because it’s all white :)
Is there a curtain rod that bends and goes completely around the windows? Are there more curtains towards the outside of the nook that aren’t pictured?
Here you go:
https://emilyaclark.com/2012/09/hanging-curtains-on-angled-windows.html
Hi Emily! I have had the same thoughts about white rooms. I used to think they were boring and that I’d never paint a room white and now I find myself very drawn to white rooms. I am working on turning a bedroom into my office and had picked a gray tone, once I started painting it I really didn’t like it much and decided to go white!
Wondering where you got the window treatments? i’m looking for a pop of color but haven’t found any I liked – I LOVE yours!
I have always LOVED white walls! We’re moving in a few weeks and that’s first on my to do list!
I totally agree with you! When we first moved into our home over 5 years ago I painted everything tan. I thought it was the greatest color and would totally warm things up. Now I’m so over it and am craving a fresh clean start with white!
Duh….you don’t have to convince me. My whole house has been white now for about 8 years and I never have to worry if something is going to match:)
Hi Emily! Would love to know what are you top 5 whites are!
I love the look of white walls and am wanting to make the change for myself. I have always loved color but have learned that I love it better on easy-to-change-out pops throughout the house. I have a couple of questions for you. Do you paint the trim the same color white as the walls or do you change it up a bit? what are some of your favorite whites to go with?
WHITE!!
Reflective-Pure-Fresh-Crisp.
My first chilhood memories of spaces include the wounderfull world of white. In the house we rented whilst we built our home I painted almost everyhting I could in white as I couldnt change the walls/Floors/etc…
I purchased my first slipcovered white sofa & was hooked…….I bleached the covers to death in the end. But Oh how I loved that sofa,I loved to be embraced in all that white! Whilst kids toys covered all the rest of the house,my sofa was off limits ( for thier toys not the Kids).
In our house now I still love white, however I have found that I Iove dark tone on tone rooms & colours as well so now its a balance of all my loves. However my love of white will always reign supreme! LL.
Love it! In your foyer photo, are both the walls and trim BM White Dove? Or are the walls & trim a slightly different colors of whites?
I have the same question as chris…except for the living room. Is that also BM White Dove? Are the cabinets and walls painted the same color. I am renovating the entire downstairs of our new home, and we want white walls and a white kitchen. Everyone recommends having a crisper white on the cabinets and something with more tint on the walls, but in a lot of the photos I love, like yours above, it looks like the walls, trim and cabinets are the same shade of white. Any suggestions would be appreciated :)
Hi, Nice article. We just painted whole house interior white. trims and doors with semi-gloss finish, ceiling with flat finish and walls with eggshell. We love white. Out plan is to add different bright colors in each room for may be in a form of small art on wall or paint small sections in wall with it to make it accent wall while staying 99% with the white.
What do you think about this plan and would love to hear and see more about adding bright color with white.