White paint is a versatile neutral that can work with almost any color. When decorating with white paint, it’s best to consider the room’s size and lighting as well as your personal style preferences. Understanding color theory and complementary colors will help you choose accent colors that look great with white walls.
Some key questions to ask when selecting coordinating colors for white paint include:
– What is the room’s purpose and mood you want to create?
– Is the room small or spacious, dark or bright?
– What are your favorite colors and decor styles?
Whether you prefer cool tones like blue and green or warm earth tones like tans and browns, white paint provides a clean backdrop that lets accent colors pop. Monochromatic, analogous, and complementary color schemes are all effective with white walls.
Factors That Affect Color Pairings
There are a few key factors to consider that will determine what colors go well with your white walls:
Room Size
Small rooms with white walls can handle bolder accent colors because even strong colors will get dialed down and feel muted in a confined space. Large rooms need more contrast between white walls and accent colors so the space doesn’t feel washed out. Deep, saturated hues look best in big rooms.
Lighting
The room’s light exposure impacts how white paint and accent colors appear. North-facing rooms with cool natural light take on a bluish cast while south-facing rooms with warm sunlight feel more yellow. Dark spaces need bright accent colors to contrast with white while sun-filled rooms can handle darker accent colors.
Personal Style
Your own color preferences and decorating style should inform your choices. If you gravitate toward clean modern spaces, pair white with gray, black, and metallics. For a cozy cottage feel, team white with pastels like sage green, sky blue, and coral pink.
Color Schemes That Work with White Paint
Here are some of the most popular and effective color schemes to use with white walls:
Monochromatic
Different shades, tones, and tints of one color look elegant and soothing with white. For example, various shades of blue or green.
Analogous
Colors next to each other on the color wheel complement white walls. Think peach, yellow, and green or blue, purple, and red.
Complementary
Contrasting color pairs like blue and orange or yellow and purple make white walls pop.
Neutral
White, beige, gray, and black create a calm, minimalist look. Add metallics like gold, silver, bronze.
Earth Tones
Warm natural hues like tan, taupe, cream, and brown give white walls a cozy, organic feel.
The Best Colors for Each Room
Exactly which colors pair best with white paint depends on the room and your decorating goals. Here are top color ideas for various rooms:
Living Room
The living room is often where family and friends gather so this space benefits from inviting, cheerful colors. Try sage green, coral, yellow, or slate blue with white walls.
Dining Room
Stimulate the appetite and encourage conversation in the dining room with appetizing colors like tomato red, chocolate brown, olive green, or gold.
Kitchen
Kitchens blend appliances and cabinetry with decor. Colors like navy blue, charcoal gray, marigold, and robin’s egg blue complement the metals and echo foods.
Bedroom
Bedrooms need restful colors that promote relaxation. Lavender, light blue, neutral gray, and soft peach are soothing choices for white walls.
Bathroom
Since bathrooms have limited space, it’s best to keep the colors clean and simple. Try aqua, slate gray, sand, crisp white and mint green.
Home Office
An office should energize and inspire so smart color options include leafy greens, cobalt blue, cherry red, and dark wood tones.
Kids’ Room
Kids love color so this is a great place to get creative with rainbow brights, primary colors, or whimsical palettes like pink and orange.
Pairing Paint with Flooring and Furniture
Along with accent walls and decor, paint colors also need to coordinate with existing floors, large furniture pieces, and window treatments that aren’t easily replaced. Here are some clever ways to pull it all together:
– Match the wall color to similar hues in tile floors or stone countertops. Sage walls with slate tile, for example.
– Echo the colors found in patterned rugs, upholstery, and drapes. Pull out a bright accent shade.
– Tie it in with painted furniture or stained wood tones. Soft peach walls with an espresso dresser, for instance.
– Ground the space with warm gray, beige, or black furniture and decor. Pops of color can be painted, pillows, art.
– Stick with neutral furniture and add color through decorative items like throw blankets, area rugs, and accent pillows.
Best Paint Colors for North, South, East, West Facing Rooms
The sun’s path and intensity differ on each side of your home, casting walls in cool to warm light. Tailor paint shades to each exposure:
North Rooms: North-facing rooms have indirect, even light and can take on a slightly blue cast. To offset potential gloominess, use warm accent colors like peach, yellow, or cream.
South Rooms: With direct southern exposure, light is bright and intense in these rooms. Cool blues, greens, and grays help balance the warm yellow tones.
East Rooms: Morning sun fills east-facing rooms with cheerful light. Create an uplifting space with melon, sky blue, lavender, mint, or coral accent colors.
West Rooms: The low afternoon light warms up west-facing spaces. Pair white walls with accent colors like red, orange, terracotta, or olive to enhance the cozy vibe.
Tips for Decorating with White Paint and Color
Decorating with white walls provides a great backdrop for displaying collections, artwork, accessories and adds architectural interest through moldings and built-ins popping in contrast. Here are some finishing touches for showcasing white and color:
– Use color to define spaces and direct eye flow in open floor plans. Paint architectural elements like columns or ceiling beams.
– Add LED strip lighting on shelves or under cabinets to create colorful under glow and show off decor.
– Paint the insides of bookcases, built-in cabinetry, and shelving to inject color. Leave fronts/edges white.
– Install colorful glass light pendants, backsplash tile, and cabinet hardware for pops of color.
– Paint or wallpaper the backs of open shelving and display cabinets. Use complementary colors to make items pop.
– Showcase meaningful mementos and collections against white walls. Gallery groupings of photos, art, mirrors, etc.
Top Color Combinations with White Paint
While white goes with everything, some classic color pairings look especially elegant. Here are the most popular and timeless color combinations to use with white:
White & Black | Crisp and strikingly modern |
White & Beige | Warm and welcoming |
White & Gray | Restrained and simple |
White & Red | Energetic and exciting |
White & Yellow | Happy and optimistic |
White & Blue | Calm and inviting |
White & Green | Renewing and tranquil |
White & Purple | Regal and mystical |
White & Orange | Friendly and bright |
White & Pink | Soft and feminine |
Don’t be afraid to combine more than one color with white walls. Neutrals like gray and wood tones provide an adaptable base for switching out accent colors seasonally through paint, furniture, decor and textiles.
Benjamin Moore Paint Colors for White Walls
Benjamin Moore offers thousands of gorgeous paint colors to complement white walls beautifully. Here are some of their most popular choices:
– Hale Navy (dark blue)
– Revere Pewter (soft gray)
– Edgecomb Gray (warm light gray)
– Wythe Blue (steel blue)
– Kendall Charcoal (blackened gray)
– HC-169 Newburyport Blue (denim)
– Charleston Green (olive green)
– Guilford Green (traditional)
– Kendall Charcoal (black)
– Clarkson Grey (earthy)
Sherwin-Williams Paint Colors for White Walls
Like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams offers a vast array of paint color options perfect for pairing with white. Here are some top choices:
– Naval (dark navy blue)
– Repose Gray (light gray)
– Agreeable Gray (warm neutral)
– Accessible Beige (soft beige)
– Classic French Gray (cool gray beige)
– Kilim Beige (warm tan)
– Rookwood Dark Green (earthy green)
– Mega Greige (greige)
– Peppercorn (deep black)
– Online (pale blue)
Dark Colors That Go with White
Deep dramatic colors create striking contrast against white walls. Dark not only denotes bold pigment but also conveys moody, sophisticated style. Excellent deep shades for white include:
– Navy – Classic, nautical
– Charcoal – Stoic, refined
– Chocolate – Warm, elegant
– Olive – Natural, earthy
– Plum – Royal, romantic
– Eggplant – Rich, exotic
– Emerald – Vibrant, lush
– Slate – Silvery, soothing
– Ebony – Luxe, ultra modern
– Wine – Intense, regal
Use these darker colors sparingly for accent walls, built-ins, architectural elements. Or try small energetic jolts with black/white patterns and artwork.
Light Colors That Go with White
For a tranquil, airy look, soft light accent colors maintain white’s open, ethereal vibe. These muted pastel and neutral shades are ideal for small spaces too. Best light colors for white walls include:
– Baby blue – Sweet, dreamy
– Lilac – Whimsical, peaceful
– Mint – Refreshing, revitalizing
– Blush – Feminine, romantic
– Buttercream – Cheery, welcoming
– Champagne – Glamorous, bubbly
– Silver gray – Sleek, futuristic
– Dove – Serene, clean
– Sand – Natural, warm
– Linen – Textured, cozy
Lighten any bright color to pastel form for a soft accent. Use these airy hues in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and cottage-style retreats.
Warm Colors That Pair Well with White
Warm shades bring cheer and coziness to crisp white backdrops. Earthy oranges, yellows, reds and metallics heat up modern, minimalist spaces with white walls. Great warm accent colors include:
– Burnt Orange – Inviting, artsy
– Mustard – Zesty, vintage
– Sunflower – Happy, bright
– Terracotta – Organic, textured
– Peach – Fruity, sweet
– Salmon – Lively, tropical
– Gold – Glitzy, luxurious
– Copper – Artisanal, steampunk
– Cream – Comforting, yummy
– Straw – Outdoorsy, rustic
These energetic yet soothing tones add playful personality and vintage character to contemporary white rooms.
Cool Colors That Go With White
Cool colors like blues, greens, purples and grays create a relaxing oasis and sleek modern feel with white walls. Top cool accent colors include:
– Sapphire – Sparkling, jewel tone
– Ice blue – Crisp, serene
– Sage – Earthy, peaceful
– Seafoam – Oceanic, spa-like
– Aqua – Breezy, beachy
– Lilac – Soft, magical
– Silver – Mirrored, sleek
– Dove – Gentle, refined
– Slate – Stormy, masculine
– Pine – Alpine, rustic
Paint these chic sophisticated colors in a dramatic dark tone or keep them airy and pale. Crisp yet soothing, these cool hues refresh white spaces.
Best Neutral Colors to Use with White
Neutrals like beige, gray, tan and black effortlessly coordinate with white to create a clean, timeless look. Benefits of white and neutrals include:
– Flexibility – Easy to update with new accent colors
– Versatility – Suitable for any room style
– Tranquility – A calm, soothing palette
– Minimalism – Uncluttered and simple
– Spaciousness – Light colors expand small rooms
Try these go-with-everything neutral paint colors:
– Heathered gray
– Warm taupe
– Oatmeal
– Driftwood
– Eggshell white
– Light French gray
– Greige
– Cream
– Mocha
– Black
Best Metallic Paint Colors with White
For a touch of shine and glamour, metallic silver, gold, bronze and copper paint colors pop against white. Metallics add glitz to any space.
– Silver – Sleek and futuristic
– Gold – Warm and glamorous
– Copper – Rustic and steampunk
– Bronze – Antiqued and artistic
– Pewter – Silvery cool gray
– Brass – Sunny and retro
– Nickel – Sleek silvery tone
– Mercury – Dark, liquid metal
Use metallic paints sparingly on an accent wall or decorative item. Try gilding moldings and architectural detail or use sparkly metallic decor accessories against clean white walls.
Best Trim Colors with White Walls
Woodwork and trim frame white walls while providing contrast. You can match trim to walls or go bold. Top trim color ideas include:
– Black – Strikingly modern graphic contrast
– Navy – Nautical and smart
– Gray – Subtle and elegant
– Beige – Warm, blended look
– Red – Pops for a playful cottage feel
– Wood tone – Natural and seamless
– White – Bright, spacious, matchy-matchy
Black and white for traditional spaces or color blocking with navy, red, yellow, etc. try contrasting the wall/trim palette in each room for defined spaces.
How to Decorate with White Paint and Color
Decorating with white walls and adding pops of color is easy with these simple tips:
– Limit colors to 2 or 3 bold shades or more pastels. Too many colors compete.
– Use color to create focal points like accent walls behind beds, built-ins or in dining spaces.
– Add color with artwork, pillows, throws, flowers, books and collections on shelves.
– Choose colorful drapes, area rugs and lampshades to anchor accent colors.
– Echo colors with repeating decorative motifs. Frames, vases, candles, baskets etc.
– Ground spaces with neutral furniture and textiles. Layer on colorful accents.
– Display colorful dishware in open shelving. Paint insides of cabinets a bright accent hue.
– Use colorful light fixtures, hardware and tile backsplash to inject bright pops.
Conclusion
White paint collaborates with an endless array of colors to create any style from serene and airy to bold and vibrant. Assessing the room itself along with your own color preferences helps narrow the options for beautiful combinations that suit your space and taste. Whether you opt for energizing brights or muted neutrals, white walls provide the ideal blank canvas for decorating and displaying the hues you love most. With an understanding of color theory, you can easily choose colors that complement white walls beautifully.