PRETTY IN PALE
White paint is “an incredibly power-
ful tool,” says executive decorating
director Kevin Sharkey. “It gives you
lots of possibilities—but don’t as-
sume that it’s mistake-proof.” It’s still
very much a color, and choosing just
the right one can be a challenge. When
you’re looking at swatches in the
paint store, they can all start looking
the same. Try holding them up
against a piece of plain paper to bet-
ter gauge their tones. Here are a
few favorites—inspired by vintage
china—and tips on using them.BRIGHT WHITES
CREAMY WHITES
BLUE WHITES
OYSTER WHITES
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CREAMY WHITES
These golden-tinged hues bring a
sunny glow to any room. Off-white tones,
reminiscent of creamware dishes, are
very livable—they’re bright and pretty.
They are very comfortable in a somewhat
traditional setting, as they coordinate
well with the colors and materials often
found in rooms decorated that way.- RL 1029 Priory White, by Ralph Lauren,
homedepot.com. - WC-07, finepaintsofeurope.com.
BRIGHT WHITES
Like luminous milk glass, these whites
are fresh and clean. They tend to appeal to
those with a more modern sensibility,
given that they create a graphic contrast
to whatever other colors they’re paired
with. Most hues go well with bright white,
and we love it on a home’s exterior in
particular—it can stand up to everything
around it in an outdoor setting. Don’t
think of these pure whites as “basic.” In
fact, they can be hard to work with. They
don’t hide anything, so imperfections
in your wall or wood surfaces will show.- Ultra Pure White, by Behr,
homedepot.com. - All White, us.farrow-ball.com.
OYSTER WHITES
The diplomats of the paint world, oyster
shades—which call to mind salt-glaze
pottery—help others get along. They may
be the ultimate neutrals, good with
gray, beige, and almost every other colorin the rainbow. A coat of oyster paint
also somehow manages to hide imperfec-
tions and highlight fine features: Use it on
intricate decorative plasterwork or wood-
work, and the play of light and shadow will
make the pattern stand out beautifully.
Thai used Benjamin Moore’s OC-23 Classic
Gray throughout his house.- OC-23 Classic Gray, benjamin
moore.com. - Marquee Statuesque MQ3-23u,
by Behr, homedepot.com.
BLUE WHITES
White shades with a hint of blue are sooth-
ing and calm. They’re also very versatile:
People tend to think of them as traditional,
because that’s the way they’re often used,
but they can also be very clean, contem-
porary, and youthful. Bluish whites have
more “color” than some other whites,
so be careful about what you pair them
with; they play beautifully with grays
and greens. The cool white of ironstone
was our jumping-off point for these col-
ors, though we skewed a bit more blue.- S W 70 5 6 R e s e r v e d W h i t e , sherwin-
williams.com. - 26-1 Smoke Ring, prattandlambert.com.
BRYAN GARDNER (WHITE PAINTS) Produced by Lorna Aragon
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