White houses have a clean and charming look to them, but are there any reasons why you should not paint your house white? While white paint is a popular choice for a lot of homeowners, it is not always the best choice. Below, we will discuss the different reasons why white walls look bad and what you need to know before you paint your house white. Check out the rest of the article for more tips and information.
Why you shouldn’t paint your house white? Choosing the wrong white paint for your house can make it look dull and cold. Moreover, it can create shadows that make a room look smaller and boring. Aside from that, the color white needs a lot of maintenance because it easily shows dirt and stains. It is not the best color to paint the outside of your house especially if your street or sidewalks always get muddy. Too much white can also make the house look sterile and lifeless.
What are the disadvantages of using white paint on your house? Is it bad to paint your house white? What are the things that you need to consider before painting your house white? Are white houses out of style? These are some of the questions that we will discuss. Read the rest of the article below for helpful information that you can refer to.
Is it Bad to Paint Your House White?
Depending on some factors, it can be bad to paint your house white. For instance, it is very easy for the white paint to get stains and dirt. Hence, it is not the best color choice if you are living in a house that has a muddy pathway. Moreover, you need to be very careful and avoid the walls getting stains on the walls which can be an issue if you have kids and pets in the house.
What are the Disadvantages of Using White Paint on Your House?
White paint can be high maintenance. Choosing the wrong shade of white can also make the room appear boring and too bright. Painting the walls white has its advantages, but there are also disadvantages that you need to know so that you can decide if it is a good color for your house or not. Let us learn more about the disadvantages of using white paint on your house below.
It is High Maintenance
One of the disadvantages that you can get when you paint your house white is that it is high-maintenance. The dirt and stains that come from your hands can easily transfer to the walls, windows, and doors that you frequently touch. Moreover, it can be challenging to clean the walls when you have pets and small children playing inside the house.
To make cleaning the walls easier, you can use a gloss finish. However, you need to take note that the glossier the paint is, the more imperfections on the wall surface will reflect. To get rid of marks from white walls, you can use baby wipes, wet ones, or magic erasers. Make sure that you test a small area first before you use the product on the entire wall. We have also shared this article that discusses if you need to whitewash walls before painting. Check out the article for more tips and ideas about the topic.
It Can Make Your House Look Too Cold or too Bright
Another disadvantage that you can get when you paint your house with the color white is that choosing the wrong shade of white can make the house look too cold or too bright. When it comes to choosing the shade of white paint that you will use, you need to consider the type of light that you have in the room. For rooms that have a north-facing window, getting a consistent amount and hue of natural light is not a problem, but the light that comes in can have a grayish-blue tinge into it. Like the northern light, the light can make the room feel cold. For this lighting, choose a warm white paint that has warm undertones to make the room feel comfortable and cozy.
It Can Look Boring and Sterile
Another issue with having white walls in your house is that it can look boring and sterile. When you use white paint on your walls, make sure that you add texture, color, and pattern so that the room will have some dimension and visual interest. You can choose bold and dark colors as a contrast to the white walls. Display colorful paintings against the walls to add color and life to it. You can also check out this article titled, is it good to paint your house white? We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
✅ Video – How to Choose the Right White Paint for Your Home
Design Loves Detail shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to choose the right white paint for your home. In the video, the different shades and hues of white are discussed. You can check out the video for more tips and ideas.
Things to Consider Before Painting Your House White
The undertones, imperfections, layers, lighting, theme, and accents of the room are some of the things that you need to consider before painting your house white. While white has an elegant and clean appeal to it, finding the right shade for your home can be challenging. There is a wide array of white paint that you can choose from. To help you make the right decision, below are some of the things that you need to consider before painting your house white.
Undertones
One of the things that you need to consider is the undertones. Take note that cool whites with gray and blue undertones have a clean look. On the other hand, warm whites with yellow and red undertones have a soft look. Choose which one best suit your home. Of course, it all comes down to personal preference, but you also need to consider various factors like the area where you live in. If natural light is abundant, choose a cooler shade of white for your home. On the other hand, if the weather in your area is always cold and gloomy, choose a warmer shade of white paint for your home.
Imperfections
Another thing that you need to consider is the imperfections that your home has. Bear in mind that white walls expose every small imperfection that it has. The tiniest crack or dent can easily show. Before painting your walls white, make sure to repair any holes, dents, or crack. Moreover, wipe away stains and use a primer before applying the topcoat.
Lighting
You also need to consider the lighting that the room gets. The lighting can appear differently if the room gets enough natural light daily. Make sure to sample the shade of white that you want to use so that you can determine how it looks throughout the day. Use cooler shades of white to brighten spaces with poor lighting. This will help reflect the ambient light that comes from the lighting fixtures.
Theme
The theme of the room is also something that you need to consider. When choosing white paint, think about the fixtures in the room like the cabinets and the decorations. Make sure that you choose a shade that complements and unifies all the theme of the room.
Layers
You also need to consider the layers that the room has. Take note that when decorating with one predominant color like white, there is a chance that the space can look boring and lifeless. To prevent this, you can add textures to your decorations, pillows, rugs, curtains, and accessories.
Why is Everyone Painting their House White?
A lot of homeowners paint their houses white because of the many advantages that it provides. First and foremost, the right white color can make the house look charming, fresh, and elegant. It is a great color for farmhouse-style homes. Moreover, white paint attracts natural light which helps increase the brightness of the rooms inside the house. It also creates a warm and inviting environment for both the residents and the guests.
Are White Houses Out of Style?
White houses have a timeless and elegant look into them so they never go out of style. More and more homeowners are choosing this color for their homes. For instance, modern farmhouses prefer to have crisp white paint for their home. On the other hand, ranches and colonial homes prefer to have a white exterior painting with a darker color for the doors which adds a charming look to them. You can also check out this article that discusses if white trim is going out of style. We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to for choosing paint color for your house.
Will White Siding Look Dirty?
Depending on a few factors, white siding can look dirty. Bear in mind that white siding looks great when the color is even and consistent. This also means that there is no dirt, stain, or peeling into it. Dirt can be an issue if your surrounding is dusty and muddy. Nowadays, white vinyl siding is a popular choice because it is durable and requires less maintenance.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the different reasons why you shouldn’t paint your house white. We have learned that white is a color that is prone to dirt, stains, and dust which makes it high maintenance. Moreover, the wring color of white can also make the house feel lifeless and sterile. There is a wide array of white paint colors that you can choose from. Make sure that you consider different factors before choosing white paint for your home. Thank you for reading!