It’s understandable to think that white is considered sterile, boring or too basic.  However, white has a lot of possibilities that really make it great.   

Choosing the perfect white means following the same rules you’d apply to any color choice you want to make. If you’re dealing with existing features or furnishings, stay within color families. An example:  keep your choice of white consistent with the white you may be trying to match in a rug, pillow or art.  Instead of using “ceiling white”, ask your paint store to add 10% – 25% of the wall color to your choice of white paint.  You’ll end up with a hint of color in your white that helps soften your ceiling color.

What really makes white standout or sink is its interaction with both natural and artificial light sources.  Daylight conditions vary locally (from wall to wall in a single room) and geographically (compare the intense sunlight on the West Coast with the softer light of the Northeast), so one of the most critical things you need to do when you look at white is under actual lighting conditions. Generally, the brighter the light, the more pigment used in the white shows.  When you have any questions, contact a professional and visit your local paint stores for more information.