One of our most popular whites is ‘Silent White’, formulated in the quest for the perfectly balanced, neutral-warm white for a calm interior, ‘Silent White’ adds softly spoken depth to an interior. Used in partnership with its lighter and deeper versions, ‘Silent White – Pale’ and ‘Silent White – Mid’ or ‘Silent White – Deep’ on other walls, the ceiling and trim creates a serene and inviting space.' What colour white is best for ceilings? If finding the right paint for your project feels like a foreign language, we feel you… so let’s translate. The best place to start is with whether you’d prefer a Gloss, Satin or Eggshell finish. These are the terms used to describe the level of sheen of the finished paint – basically how shiny it looks! So if you’re after a super shiny look, Gloss is the one for you. Satin has a slight shine but is much more subtle than gloss for a more modern aesthetic. And Eggshell is named as such because it resembles the look of an eggshell, i.e. almost matt with a very very slight shine. Once you’ve decided what level of shininess you prefer, you can choose what type of performance you’d like from your paint. Durability: Solvent based paints often provide better durability, so you may prefer to use these for outdoor applications, although our water based Wood & Metal Paints and Primers are also great for use outside the home. Ruth Mottershead at Little Greene adds, 'Many choose to use bright white in small rooms assuming white will the room appear larger, however light neutrals and soft colours used in a tonal scheme will have the same effect whilst not appearing too stark or cold.'

Pure Brilliant White - One Coat Gloss | Crown Paints Pure Brilliant White - One Coat Gloss | Crown Paints

The finishing touches make all the difference to a room, but sometimes painting woodwork and other decorative elements can seem like a complicated and long-winded task, and the idea of all that hard work simply peeling off isn’t worth thinking about. With these top tips and easy steps, ensure a perfect finish every time and decorate like a pro! There are two killer questions to ask when it comes to choosing the right white paint', says Aaron Markwell, Colour Curator at Coat Paints. Aaron at Coat adds, 'For walls and ceilings, you’ll want to choose a white water-based emulsion paint, probably in a flat matt finish, this is the best white paint for interior walls. White paints are available in large tubs, but avoid this low-quality stuff if you can. It’s usually a very cold, bright white, which is usually used for public spaces or in trade. This won't feel particularly welcoming when put in your home though.' Just remember, the placement of furniture around the room can change the appearance of the paint, impacting how the colour is reflected on the walls, so be mindful of this when planning your scheme.' Clean up: It’s easier to clean up your equipment when using water based paints as you can simply used clean water.

Even a hint of colour in a white paint can change its feel significantly – and that’s usually down to personal taste. Some people are drawn to warmer colours, others to cooler colours; choosing an off-white can help a room feel more welcoming and characterful in a very subtle way' Dominic explains. 'If you’ve got other paint colours within the same room, it’s always worth considering how they interact together. One tip is that for south facing rooms with lots of light, you can get away with pretty much any colour, but for north facing rooms with less light you should consider opting for warmer undertones to balance the cool light and make the room feel inviting.' Our Colour Scales collection provides a wonderful solution for creating a light fresh design scheme that gives the illusion of space, ‘Masquerade’ works beautifully alongside ‘Masquerade Mid’ and ‘Masquerade Light’ to create an elegant and welcoming scheme in a small space.'

Pure Brilliant White - Silk Emulsion, Walls - Crown Paints Pure Brilliant White - Silk Emulsion, Walls - Crown Paints

Cathryn Sanders at Earthborn says, 'Whites and off-whites can vary significantly depending on their undertone, with different types of natural and electrical lights impacting greatly on the perceived colour.' Cathryn at Earthborn says, 'Sun-flooded, south-facing rooms are more forgiving than their northern counterparts – so cooler tones can add freshness, especially when off-set with bright white woodwork. Whites with yellow undertones can also work well and create cosy, naturally uplifting, peaceful spaces.' Alternatively, opt for warm neutrals. ‘Maybe Maggie’ is a popular choice, as is ‘Flutterby’– an almost white. If you want something a bit creamier ‘Up Up Away’ and ‘Marbles’ are good choices.' Prepping bare wood? Make sure you’ve treated knots and resinous parts with knotting solution and then apply our Wood & MDF Primer & Undercoat .

Long lasting whiteness: Water based paints provide longer lasting whiteness compared to solvent based paints which can yellow slightly over time. Crown Wood & MDF Primer & Undercoat What’s the difference between a primer and undercoat? Do I need one? Aaron at Coat Paints adds, 'Water-based emulsion will work just fine on the ceiling and it’s the default choice - but how about this. Choose a white Soft Sheen emulsion paint for the ceiling which has a subtle shine to it and can be really effective at bouncing light around the room. It’s not for everyone, but it can look super effective especially in low lit spaces or at night with lamps.'

White Paint Colours - Crown Paints White Paint Colours - Crown Paints

Pure white paint is a good option for small living rooms with a healthy source of natural light, but should generally be avoided in north-facing rooms where it can reflect blue tones and make a room feel cold and drab.For this reason warm white paints with undertones of yellow or red are generally recommended for north-facing rooms, where they'll look a lot less 'creamy' than they would painted in a room with a south-facing aspect. The best white paint for your walls will depend both on your natural preference toward warm or cool tones, and the aspect of the room you're painting - so whether the windows face north, south, east or west. Flora Hogg, at Craig & Rose adds, 'When swatching whites, use a pure white as a point of reference to see the true undertone of other white. However, be mindful they can seem dramatic as first due to the contrast but trust the process. Once applied, you will still recognise it as white, but you’ll also notice how it transforms and adapts with the light throughout the day.'