THE SHORTLIST: MY GO-TO PAINT COLORS
Because Choosing White Shouldn’t Be This Hard
If you’ve ever stood in the paint aisle with forty-seven nearly identical white swatches fanned out in your hand, squinting to decide which one is warmer or has just the right undertones, you’re not alone. I’ve been there many, many times.
After much trial and error of testing colors in real rooms, with real light and real furniture, I’ve built a shortlist of go-to colors I trust and recommend again and again, from the perfect warm whites to mushrooms and greens and and that elusive green/blue/greige that feels historic and neutral but still like a color and not too cool and not too warm. (When in doubt, go back to historic colors. There’s a reason they’ve lasted and feel timeless, and many paint brands have a historic line that is a good place to start when you’re totally lost.)
And then there are the whites, which deserve their own list entirely. Whites are deceptively tricky: too cool and your space can feel sterile; too warm and it can start to look yellow. The right white will make everything else in the room look better and when you get it right, you don’t notice the paint itself but how good the room feels.
Even with a tried-and-true list, it’s never a safe bet to skip straight to painting the whole room. Light changes everything. A shade that feels perfect in a sunlit kitchen can look completely different in a north-facing bedroom. A medium tone might read much lighter or darker depending on the time of day and the direction your windows face. The best approach is to paint a generous sample swatch and watch it throughout the day before committing.
I’ve pulled together my full list below complete with name, brand, and exact shade, along with a separate guide to my 10 favorite whites. It’s the same reference I keep on hand for my projects, and now it’s yours to bookmark, pin, or stash in your camera roll for the next time you’re in that paint aisle, wondering where to start.