Paint colors for your home, inside and out
White · colors from 2 paintings
A white room color combination needs a white with the right undertone and a few deeper colors to give it shape. Here two soft whites, with an LRV of 74 and 76, are paired with olive, bronze, brass and tan from the same paintings.
Quick answer
Use the warm white (#EAE0D5) on the walls, the pale green-white on cabinets or furniture, and add the olive, tan and bronze through wood, textiles and one bold piece.
A very light white with a green undertone and an LRV of 74. It gives a fresh, quiet feel on furniture or trim. Measured from Anton Mauve's Gathering Wood.
From Gathering Wood, Anton Mauve
A very light, warm white at LRV 76 and the best wall color of the group. The nearest match is Sherwin-Williams Reliable White. Measured from Fritz Petzholdt's German Landscape with View toward a Broad Valley.
From German Landscape with View toward a Broad Valley, Fritz Petzholdt
A deep warm brown-olive at LRV 7 for a door, shelf or frame. Measured from the Petzholdt landscape.
From German Landscape with View toward a Broad Valley, Fritz Petzholdt
A deep green at LRV 13 that makes a good bold piece, such as a velvet chair. Measured from Gathering Wood by Anton Mauve.
From Gathering Wood, Anton Mauve
A mid-tone warm yellow at LRV 23. Use it for wood tones, lamp bases or a rug. Measured from Gathering Wood.
From Gathering Wood, Anton Mauve
A mid-tone warm neutral at LRV 40, close to Sherwin-Williams Cork Wedge. Use it for textiles and a sofa. Measured from the Petzholdt landscape.
From German Landscape with View toward a Broad Valley, Fritz Petzholdt
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
| Color | Neutral daylight | North light | South light | Evening lamps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint White | ||||
| Soft Ivory | ||||
| Light Tan |
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Gathering Wood.
Whites differ by undertone more than by brightness. Here, the mint white (#DBE2D3) has a green undertone and the soft ivory (#EAE0D5) has a warm yellow one. Both are close in LRV, at 74 and 76, so they reflect nearly the same amount of light.
Choose the soft ivory for walls if you want a room that feels warm and welcoming, especially in north light, which can make whites look cold. Choose the mint white if you want a cleaner, cooler feel, or if your room has warm wood floors that you want to balance.
Neither white is a stark bright white. That is deliberate. A softer white shows more depth next to deeper colors and is less tiring on the eyes. If you love crisp contrast, use the mint white on trim and the ivory on the walls, then keep everything else in the muted tones.
The four companion colors come from the same two paintings, so they already look related. The moss green (#626836) is a good bold piece. A single armchair or a pair of curtains in this shade is enough.
The antique brass (#958151) and light tan (#BEA584) are warm and mid-tone. Use them for wood furniture, baskets, a jute rug or a sofa. The dark bronze (#534A2E) is the deepest at LRV 7. It works on a door, picture frames or a metal lamp.
A good rule is to follow the light-to-dark balance. Keep walls and ceiling light, put the mid-tones on large furniture and floors, and use the dark colors in small amounts. Add a touch of black or a glossy ceramic piece if you want a sharper edge.
White picks up whatever surrounds it. In north light, the soft ivory stays warm while the mint white can look slightly gray-green. In south light both whites turn brighter, and the mint white can look cleaner than it did on the chip.
Color from the floor and the garden outside also bounces onto the walls. A room facing a green yard will push the mint white greener. Warm wood floors will push both whites a little warmer.
In the evening, warm bulbs make the ivory creamier and the mint white closer to a pale cream. If you want a cooler evening look, choose a bulb with a lower warmth rating. Use a flat or matte finish on walls so the white looks soft and even, and save satin for trim and doors that will be touched.
Whites are the hardest colors to judge from a small chip. Paint a sample about two feet square on each wall that gets different light, and cover the edges with a strip of the second white if you are comparing two.
Look at each sample next to your floor, your trim and your largest piece of furniture. Check it in the morning, at midday and at night.
The closest paints measured are Sherwin-Williams White Mint for the mint white and Reliable White for the soft ivory. These are approximate matches, so compare real chips in your room. Do not decide from a single glance. A white that still looks right on the third day, in both daylight and lamp light, is the one to buy.
Warm mid-tones such as the light tan (#BEA584) and antique brass (#958151) are easy partners. For contrast, add the moss green or the dark bronze in small amounts.
Warm whites such as the soft ivory (LRV 76) suit rooms with cool north light. Cooler whites suit sunny rooms with warm wood floors.
Use a white one step lighter or a different undertone, such as the mint white on trim with ivory walls. Use satin or semi-gloss for durability.
Three or four is enough: one white, one or two mid-tones, and one dark accent. This palette follows that pattern.
Light colors reflect more light, and these whites have an LRV of 74 to 76. That helps a room feel open, but good lighting matters as well.
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0). Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
