How to Choose a White Paint That Actually Looks White - Not Yellow

A white bedroom with a double bed with white bedding, white walls, wooden flooring, a gold lamp with white lampshade, black and white cabinetry, and two large windows with sheer white curtains. — (Image credit: Future / PAUL RAESIDE LTD)

While white paint might sound like the easiest paint color to choose for your home, it's a hue that's far from definitive. With a plethora of shades that make up the white color spectrum, it's fair to say the art of choosing the perfect white paint is a skillful one.

From cooler-toned crisp whites to the richer, creamy ivories, there's more to this unassuming color than you might think. While shopping for the best white paint can be tricky, knowing what to look for will help you land on not only a choice that suits your space but one that never appears yellow.

Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar, says, 'Choosing a white paint color that actually looks white and not yellow comes down to two major factors: the type of natural light a room receives and the color’s undertone. White paint colors are chameleons and pull in light and other color from surrounding objects.'

Article continues below

white four poster bed — An all-white bedroom is swathed in white, from the wall color to the organic drapery and bed linen, bringing a deeply serene quality to the space.

When looking for a white paint that will never lean yellow, the amount of daylight and the color of the daylight (i.e., the orientation of your space) are factors that you should always consider before anything else.

Helen Shaw, Marketing Director at Benjamin Moore, explains, 'South-facing rooms benefit from strong, warm sunlight, so whites can easily accommodate those without noticeable undertones, such as white paints with cool grey, blue or violet undertones. These tones act as a counterbalance, neutralising the intense golden light to keep the room appearing crisp and clean rather than overly creamy.'

Helen suggests some of Benjamin Moore's best white paints if you want to avoid any yellow undertones. 'Options such as Chantilly Lace OC-65 help maintain a bright, fresh look, while Decorator’s White OC-149 offers something more muted, with a hint of gray that creates a soft off-white that doesn’t lean strongly toward any particular tone. In north-facing rooms, which tend to have cooler light, whites with warm undertones work best to counteract shadows and prevent the space from feeling dull. Look for whites with subtle hints of red, pink or very soft peach, such as Opulence 879, rather than yellow, as these undertones create a gentler glow and help the colour feel balanced throughout the day.'

White and black kitchen with white open shelving housing baskets and decor, black cabinets, wooden chair, and black countertops — An eclectic kitchen features a striking black and white color scheme balanced with warmer wood tones.

Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore US, continues, 'White paint colors are very easily influenced by their surroundings. Lighting, decor, and other design elements in the space can all affect how a paint color casts. If you find white paint colors are leaning too yellow in your home, consider looking at cooler white paint colors. Some popular, cooler white paint colors to look at are White Heron OC-57, Decorator’s White OC-149, and Horizon OC-53.'

When choosing a white paint, consider not only natural light but also the artificial lighting sources too. Arianna explains, 'If the room relies on artificial lighting, you have a bit more control over how the paint color casts. For white paint colors that are looking too yellow, consider changing the lightbulbs to something with a higher kelvin temperature that mimics daylight. This light is cooler and bluer. Often lightbulb boxes will say daylight, soft warm light, etc'.

Scandi style dining room with white walls, white wooden table, wooden dining chairs, yellow curtains, and floral rug — A white paint brings pared-back simplicity to this Scandi-style dining room, perfectly balanced by the wooden furniture and colorful wall art.

The issue with choosing a white paint is that it's hard to tell how the color will appear in context. When you are looking at 100s of white paints in store, they can look very similar, and really understanding the undertones can be tricky.

Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design at Lick, has an easy hack to make the undertones of white paint clearer when you are shopping around. 'A really simple trick I often suggest to clients is to hold your paint sample next to a sheet of pure white paper. When you do this, the undertone becomes much easier to see. You will quickly notice whether the white leans pink, yellow, or gray, and that makes it much easier to decide whether it will work in your space.'

'It is also worth remembering that white does not exist on its own,' Tash continues. 'The other elements in your room – flooring, sofas, kitchen cabinets, tiles or artwork – all influence how a white will appear. If you are aiming for a crisp, contemporary look, pairing a white with cooler or modern pink undertones alongside natural materials like wood, stone, or linen can help keep the space feeling balanced and fresh.'

She adds, 'Sampling is essential. Whites are incredibly sensitive to both light and surroundings, so I always encourage people to test samples and move them around the room, looking at them at different times of day. For example, west-facing rooms often pick up warmer, redder tones in the evening light, which can make warmer whites appear more creamy. Ultimately, choosing the perfect tone of white is about understanding undertones, how the light changes in your room, and the materials you’re styling your space with, so everything works together naturally.'

White cupboards built-in to walls, one door opening revealing a linen cupboard stacked with towels and bedding, a wooden footstool and towel rack beside it — White paint covers the entirety of this laundry room, providing a clean, crisp effect that couldn't be more fitting.

A white room can feel surprisingly inviting when the hue is right for the space. Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, explains, 'White is one of the most versatile colors you can use in your decorating and can be used as both a striking main color or a quieter highlight on ceilings or woodwork. Yet white is often one of the most difficult shades to choose, mainly because there are many nuances and hues, so finding the right tone of white can be a challenge.'

In south-facing rooms where the light is bright and warm, where warmer whites can feel yellow, Ruth recommends French Grey Pale or Flint as they 'will read as more neutral whites, whereas warmer whites such as Silent White or First Light can appear quite cream in tone. Colors in north-facing rooms tend to appear consistently flatter and cooler than they would do bathed in natural light, meaning slightly warmer whites such as Silent White Pale or Stock will appear more neutral in tone.'

Ruth continues, 'For a crisp, clean finish, Shirting is one of the brightest whites in the Little Greene palette, offering a pure mineral white without the harsh blue tinge created by artificial brighteners, making it perfectly suited to a minimalist decoration style. Whilst almost pure white, Loft White is slightly softer on the eye, making it ideal for both classic and contemporary schemes where a clean bright white is the aim.'

Yes, choosing a white paint can be harder than it looks, it's trickier than a color as it's such a chameleon shade that you never quite know how it's going to work in your space. With factors like daylight and decor to consider, there are plenty of things worth mulling over before deciding on the right hue for you.

As Arianna says, 'Before painting, study the overall lighting in the space. If you find that it leans warmer and gets a lot of warm southern exposure, the cooler white paint colors mentioned above may work better. If you find the space is grayer and more shadowed, a warmer white paint color can help to brighten the space.'

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

TOPICS