Which white is all white but not toooo white??

[zedzedzed]

Hi, we're just about to get an extension built and will be taking the opportunity to redecorate the whole house. I really want to paint everything white, walls, ceilings, woodwork and floors. I'm going nuts trying to find the right white for the walls though! We don't want anything brilliant or cold, but don't want to be anywhere near the magnolia we have now, (also have two kids under two so it needs to be relatively maintenance friendly). Has anyone else solved this which white dilemma? It's the wall colour which worries me most...I like the chalky look of Farrow and Ball but can't afford it, I want warmth without being yellow, cheapness with an expensive/antiquey look and wipe or durability. Any starting places/ranges/things to avoid? Many thanks for reading. Zoe.

Bumping this as we want to do the same!

Try a tester of B&Q 'colours' in antique white. I did a bedroom in this and it wasn't a cream, but not a harsh cheap looking white either. Or fired earth is very nice (although probably no cheaper than farrow and ball) but you do get good coverage with it, so a little goes a long way.

If you want white but not PBW then Crown do a scrubbable White. Else Trade Matt white (though not very durable). I have both in my house. Both are clearly white. Not off white. White. But not got the harshness of the PBW.

Once had this same dilemma and our decorator told us to use Dulux Jasmine White in the flat matt formula. It's a dead ringer for Farrow's in texture and looks like pure brilliant white aged twenty years, which was the look I was after.

We used the b and q 'everywhere' in antique white Matt.

Had the kitchen cupboards and woodwork painted in the Satinwood formula of Jasmine White and it was very hardwearing, not sheeny but not flat either. Plus same colour in two textures looked very chic. Oh man, I do miss my old kitchen .

can you buy a few small sample tin of farrow and ball, paint it on some paper then get B&Q to mix it for you with their own paints?

Liking the jasmine white from dulux

We had this exact dilemma and ended up mostly using Dulux Subtle Ivory 2. In another room I had F&B White Tie, which was very similar. Also had Jasmine White in a matte finish, which was good too. But I'd say the best for colour/value was the Dulux one.

Dulux Trade White. It is quite white (definitely not cream or grey or anything) but doesn't have the blingyness of brilliant white.

We just used dulux "timeless" throughout our whole house on the advice of an architect - looks good to me!

We use Timeless everywhere as well

I like Laura Ashley chalk white. It's half the price of f&b , a lovely soft white without being cream. And I tried a LOT of testers!

Sorry, I am a div. It's Paper White, not chalk.

Timeless or jasmine white (sometimes depending on the light, the latter can look a teeny bit yellowish though). I've got Timeless in Dulux's trade diamond matt in hall/stairs landing & am pleased with it. I did also consider "shirting" from the Little Greene paint company but did worry that it didn't have a warm enough tone for my north facing hall although it's certainly not PBW

tallpoppies carlajean and member can I just ask if you have Timeless on everything - skirtings, woodwork, ceilings, walls etc., or just on walls?

I am decorating our hall soon and was thinking of Timeless on the skirtings, doors/frames, and ceilings, and a slightly more coloured neutral on the walls (which I have yet to choose...). Is Timeless "white" enough for the woodwork/doors etc. or should I be using this as my pale neutral and use the Dulux Trade White on the walls?

Am so confused with all the whites...!

I like dulux almond white
(nothing like how it looks on their website btw)

I should have just had it on the walls but I did the ceilings, skirtings ,door frames & bannister in white then got a man in to do the doors(including replacing handles) because I was sick of the whole thing & he used Timeless by mistake! He did offer to rectify it but I quite liked it.

We only have it on the walls. It was meant to be farrow and ball slipper satin on the doors and skirting but the painter put the wrong undercoat and the f&b stuff wouldn't stick to it, just kept sliding off and bubbling. I forget the exact name of the woodwork now but it was a dulux eggshell in vanilla something or other..
Looks fine, in hindsight may have had a bit more of a contrast but that's just me being fussy!

Tallpoppies: what would you suggest to go with timeless on the doors/skirting to give it more of a contrast?

what shade of white is slipper satin in comparison to dimity and white tie?

We have "Timeless" on the walls and white on the skirting.