Painting whole house white....boring?

[ginzillas]

We're getting our whole house redecorated in a few weeks. Seeing as we're paying a professional, I want to make the right decision on paint colours but I'm getting in a bit of a flap about it - not really helped by the fact that my DH is showing little interest in my mounds of tester pots.

Anyway, at the moment, everywhere is painted white (very shabby though)as it was a rental property before we bought it. I actually love all white houses - I grew up in one and think it looks clean and fresh. I like to accessorise with colourful curtains, rugs, pictures. I like the Scandi look and after a trip to Santorini, I am even more in love with sparse white walls.

But I have the nagging sense that painting all white is a tad boring too - and perhaps doesn't quite work in suburbia as it does on a Greek island.

DD has requested a yellow wall in her room. I am happy with this. For our room, I'm thinking of a very pale grey under the dado rail with white/cream above. But as for the rest of the house, I'm stumped as to whether to just stick with all white or branch out into something a bit more daring such as..cream!?! Or very pale grey. I don't want to go down the Magnolia route.

I read on here that Timeless is THE neutral shade to go for but I've just sploshed a tester pot over the living room walls and, to me, it looks sludgy.

Any ideas on the perfect white or very pale neutrals for a paint colourphobe like me!?

We have wood laminate downstairs and wooden floorboards upstairs. It's a 1970s house so no period details to accentuate but big windows and it's a lovely, light house.

[SwedishEdith]

Not magnolia or cream. And I wouldn't put cream with grey either in your bedroom. I love white but, maybe, just keep it to the reception rooms? If you're doing your hall, I'd have some colour there.

I'm happy with pure brilliant white or just trade white. But, Crown's Sail White is a really nice chalky white.

[ChazzerChaser]

Just do white. And use brilliant white as it's standard so easy to touch up. Much better to use colour elsewhere as you suggested. Really suits a 70s house too.

[Aussiemum78]

White or off white looks great with some bright artwork and polished floorboards.

You can get heaps of ideas off pinterest.

[ginzillas]

Thanks - I think I'm edging towards white again. I just don't want it to look too stark.
I think we may be more adventurous in the kitchen - maybe with a warm yellow. We don't have a hallway (tiny terraced house) but we do have a little porch. I think I'll probably keep it white though.
Does trade paint come in low VOC version?
do you think pale grey under dado rail with white above would look nice?

[SirPercyPilkington]

Go white. It looks brilliant with neutral flooring and colourful art and accessories.
My fave is Crown Milk White.

[SirPercyPilkington]

Personally not keen on the grey below the dado idea - but could be convinced with some pics if you have inspiration photos?

[ginzillas]

This sort of thing for the grey under the dado idea.

[wonkylegs]

I do like brilliant white throughout and I think if you are still indecisive this will be the decision you will be happiest with.
I have gone for colour in this house but because I knew exactly what I wanted when I saw the rooms.
Kitchen, breakfast room, bathrooms, family room, my office, conservatory and bedrooms are still all brilliant white but I have a strong grey and red dining room, a black and cream hallway, green wc, and a pale pinky brown white colour in the living room
None of the White rooms are bland- the family room has a red sofa, and the insides of the built in cupboards are red. the conservatory has lots of green elements, the kitchen and breakfast room balances the White with oak and ss fittings, as does one of the bathrooms, the other bathroom has a bright blue floor and blue & red accessories, DSs room has a bright red fireplace & picture rail and blue highlights, our bedroom has a huge painting on one wall with blue curtains ( very calm room) and the spare room is rustic themed with lots of different colour accessories and photos of our Greek holidays on the wall. The only completely white room is my office but it suits me well.

[meglet]

my entire house is B&Q white, hard flooring and neutral furniture . Been like it for 10 years and never got bored with it.

[ginzillas]

Great tips everyone, thank you!

[babydad]

Just had our entire house painted brilliant white and the ground floor boards stained a dark brown. It looks amazing. Would definitely recommend.
Can't wait to get the artwork up.

[Allgunsblazing]

Another vote for all white. Mine is all brilliant white. Love it!

[ginzillas]

Great, thanks for the recommendations. I'm guessing that it might be cheaper to do it pure brilliant white too? I think our decorator uses Dulux Trade. I do want to make sure it's low VOC, at least in the bedrooms, as DC2 is arriving in October and I don't want to poison the little love with paint fumes!

[EmGee]

Another vote for all white(isn)! Like you, I like the scandi look and find it very restful. We have an open plan downstairs and have just relaid the tiled floor - massive 90x90cm italian tiles in a natural colour. The walls are now off-white and ceilings white. Lots of spot lights in ceiling. Looks lovely with the wood (stairs, furniture etc).

I do like colour - and envy people who have the creativity/imagination/daring - to experiment. Alas, I just don't have a clue so I dare not go down that route.

That said, we have grey in two bedrooms (here before we moved in) and I like them a lot - but the walls are sloping (attic-style) so there is lots of white too.

[SirPercyPilkington]

That grey and white doesnt actually look too bad but I still think all white looks better - or alternatively all grey with white dado.

The Scandi look is gorgeous and it can easily changed with accessories - plus if you really dislike it, at least you dont have to paint over a navy blue

[camsie]

Not my taste but if you like it that's what matters

[Artistic]

Use ECOS organic paints for no-VOC. We did our whole house a month before DC2 arrived.

You can but the paints online. They send tester pots too.

[pootlebug]

Another fan of all white here. I really like trade white over brilliant white though.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

White is all good
Kitchen , dining room , second dining room ( old house : funny rooms ) living room = white walls and ceilings
Lots of colour elsewhere though
Blue Aga
Red clay tiles
Dark wooden lintels
Bright framed prints
Sail white on the walls of DDs room , along with Laura Ashley wall paper and fuchsia pink wall

[ginzillas]

Love the fuschia wall idea doilooklikeatourist - DD has asked for one yellow wall and a picture of a rainbow. She's fairly opinionated on home decoration at the age of three!!
pootlebug - why do you prefer trade white over pbw? What is the difference? Is trade white less stark?

[StonedGalah]

We have all white upstairs and l love it. Trying to convince dh to paint downstairs the same!

[ltk]

Same as you, grew up in a white house and liked it. I went through all of this - asking about neutrals and greys and creams - and then just painted it all white. I love it! I have loads of colour in the house, but not on the walls.

[wonkylegs]

Trade usually refers to the formulation of the paint not its colour. It's usually got better coverage and lasts better than regular paint.
So your 'trade' White is the same colour but probably goes on and stays on better - so looks better.

[ginzillas]

Thank you, that's really helpful. I'm hoping that be going with trade we can save some cash.

[ginzillas]

*by not be!