The Secret Life of White – Finding Your Perfect Shade

This week, I’m diving deep into something that might seem simple on the surface but is so important when making your home feel truly special: white paint. 

But not just any white – I’m breaking down all the knowledge you need to pick the perfect whites, based on colour theory and my own unique perspective. This is the kind of insight you won’t find anywhere else, straight from me to your inbox (so lets dig in!)

White can be tricky. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s the secret sauce that holds your whole room together. Get it right, and your space feels calm, elegant, and effortlessly beautiful. Get it wrong, and everything feels flat, harsh, or just… off.

Keep scrolling for my personal guide and thoughts on white, and why Brilliant White is the one colour I secretly hate. 

But first, these stories have caught my eye over the past few weeks, and I thought that you may find them interesting too… 

Arch Digest focuses on the Boucle trend it’s been around since 2020 and shows no signs of going anywhere. When we all craved cosy, safe spaces during lockdown, this typically white fabric remains the ultimate comfort go-to. LINK

Anne Hathaway reminded us why a simple white shirt is integral to every capsule wardrobe. LINK

Trinny’s my idol because she’s turned the hardest parts of her life into fuel and built something huge off the back of it—at 61, no less. She’s sharp, unapologetic, and full of energy, proving you can be soft and strong, glam and grounded, all at once. LINK

A new generation tackles modern-day design conundrums. This article explores how a new generation of interior designers is responding to evolving lifestyles, sustainability challenges, and the expanding range of choices in home decor. Useful for those of you planning to decorate at the moment - these designers are worth a follow for inspo LINK

White often gets a bad rap for being “safe” or “boring.” It’s the blank canvas, the colour many of us default to when we don’t quite know what else to do. But here’s the truth I want you to hold close: white is anything but boring.

I freaking love white. To me, it’s elegant. It’s textured. It’s the magic ingredient that can bring your whole home together - but only if you choose the right white.

Think of white as the perfect backdrop for your life’s most beautiful moments. If you have statement pieces of furniture, bold art, or colourful treasures you want to shine, a soft, thoughtful white lets those items take centre stage effortlessly. It’s like giving your favourite things the spotlight they deserve, without competing for attention.

When I work with clients who have incredible, colourful art collections, I often encourage them to embrace a neutral colour scheme with a soft white base. It creates a calm, cohesive space where their art truly sings and every glance feels like a joyful discovery.

Let’s just get this out of the way: I hate brilliant white. There, I said it!

It’s so artificial – it has no depth, no pigment, and it’s so bright that it almost hurts to look at.

And yet, almost every new build home is painted top-to-bottom in brilliant white. The same goes for so many rental properties – landlords seem to love it! But why?

Honestly, it’s all about convenience. Brilliant white is cheap, it’s easy to touch up, and it’s seen as a “neutral” that won’t offend anyone. For developers and landlords, it’s a quick fix that makes a space look clean and blank – like a fresh sheet of paper. But here’s the thing: homes aren’t meant to feel like blank pages. They’re meant to feel lived-in, welcoming, and full of personality.

When you use brilliant white on your ceilings or woodwork, it creates this harsh, sharp border around your room. It’s like you’ve forgotten about those areas, and it shortens the space rather than elevating it. Instead of creating a harmonious flow, you end up with a room that feels boxy and unfinished, with every edge and corner screaming for attention.

Your home deserves better! When you’re decorating, think about the whole room as a canvas – walls, ceiling, woodwork, everything. Don’t let brilliant white crash the party.

White is often seen as the ultimate neutral-the blank canvas that “goes with everything.” But in colour theory, white is far from simple. It’s a complex, nuanced shade with endless variations, and understanding its theory is the secret to making your space feel harmonious and intentional.

It’s all about the undertones. 

Every white paint has an undertone, and this is what truly defines its character. Undertones are the subtle hints of colour that sit beneath the surface, changing how white feels in a room. These undertones can be:

The undertone you choose will change the temperature of your white, making it feel warmer or cooler. For example, a white with a yellow undertone will make a room feel inviting and snug, while a blue undertone will make it feel fresh and open.

From my experience, if you want to use white throughout your home – on the walls, ceilings, and woodwork – go for a soft white. I promise, you’ll thank me later.

And please, don’t mix different whites in the same room. If you want contrast, try a beige or a deeper neutral on your skirting boards instead. Mixing whites can make everything look a bit off, like you’ve tried to match socks in the dark!

Your home’s light is completely unique, and the old “rules” about choosing white don’t always work in real life. After working with over 5,000 clients, I’ve seen what really makes a space sing, and it’s not always what the textbooks say.

South-facing rooms are flooded with gorgeous, bright light. The classic rule here is to use a grey-based white to “cool down” the warmth, or to add colour to cabinetry for contrast. And yes, that can look lovely!

But what I’ve discovered with my clients is that more and more people are craving warmth-even in these sun-soaked spaces.

Warm whites (with pink or yellow undertones) actually work beautifully in south-facing rooms, especially if you’re pairing them with bolder colours elsewhere. The result is a space that feels cohesive, soft, and inviting, without the stark contrast you get from a grey-toned white. 

For example, in a south-facing kitchen, you constantly read everywhere you should balance out colourful cabinets with a cool, grey-based white on the walls. Yes, that can look sharp and modern. But here’s my thoughts: so many of my clients are choosing white wth a subtle pink undertone. It adds character, warmth and a gentle freshness that makes the whole kitchen feel more personal, lived in and less like a showroom. 

North-facing rooms get cool, grey light. The traditional advice? To lean into darker colours because if you put white on the walls it’s just going to look dull, and you will struggle to brighten that up. I do really love helping clients lean into a darker colour in these rooms, it can look really epic. 

But darker colours are not for everyone, and lots of my clients do still want a light, bright north-facing room. In these cases, I find a white with a warm undertone (yellow or pink) can help counteract the grey in the light and transform the space. 

The traditional advice with West-facing rooms is to balance out the red evening light with a cooler white. But what I’ve seen, time and time again, is that buttery, yellow-based white absolutely glows when the sun sets. They create a soft, creamy atmosphere that feels like a warm hug at golden hour. Utterly dreamy. 

East-facing rooms get that beautiful, cool morning light. It’s almost a blue, grey tone in the light. From my experience, these rooms really suit having a white with a pink undertone. I think this can look really beautiful, as it looks stunning in the cool morning light, but in the evening, it adds some warmth. It just looks really pretty with a gentle touch of pink. 

If you’re drawn to the timeless, classic look of white woodwork, which I totally get, it’s such a beautiful and elegant choice; there’s one crucial detail that I recommend that makes all the difference between a room that feels polished and one that feels a bit disjointed.

That detail? Choosing a white for your woodwork that matches the undertone of your wall colour and furnishings.

When your woodwork’s white is completely disconnected from the undertones in your walls and fabrics, it creates a harsh, jarring edge that interrupts the flow of your space. It’s like a sudden, unexpected note in an otherwise beautiful melody.

Got green walls? Pick a white with a green or yellow undertone.

Pink walls? Go for a white with a pink undertone.

This way, the transition between wall and woodwork is soft, elegant, and intentional – never jarring. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference, and it’s one of my favourite ways to achieve that effortlessly stylish look.

The number of times I have been in a new client’s home and they’ve chosen a beautiful colour for their walls and woodwork, but then they look at me, puzzled, asking why the room and colour scheme isn’t working. Nine times out of ten, it’s because they’ve forgotten about their fifth wall-the ceiling. If this is you, then I urge you: look up.

Your ceiling isn’t just a lid on your room! It’s an integral part of your space, and it has the power to make or break the atmosphere you’re trying to create. I see people pour so much thought into their wall colours and furnishings, only to leave the ceiling overhead. And suddenly, everything feels a little…off. The room can feel chopped up, the colours don’t flow, and there’s a harshness that just won’t settle.

This is because your eye is immediately drawn to what feels out of place. The ceiling ends up feeling like a glaring afterthought, rather than a considered part of your design.

If you want a white ceiling, it should always have the same undertone as your walls. Painted your bedroom a dusky pink? Choose a white with a soft pink undertone for the ceiling. Have a gentle sage green on the walls? Opt for a white with a whisper of green or yellow. This makes everything feel effortless and cohesive, like you’ve wrapped the room in a beautiful, seamless cocoon. Just beautiful.

Here’s my Pinterest Board - LINK.

And some brilliant neutral Instagram accounts you need to know about.

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Finding your perfect white is a game-changer. It becomes your secret weapon – the thread that weaves through your home, creating flow and harmony from room to room.

Hopefully, you have found this useful, drop a vote in the poll below (it will help me write my future content). I love helping you find your perfect palette – it’s what I’m here for. 

Until next Sunday, remember: white is never boring, and neither are you.

With love,

Tash x