(NC) Ready to repaint but not sure how to pick the perfect neutral? Benjamin Moore colour and design expert Sharon Grech shares her top four tips to help you choose the perfect white paint for your space.

Know your exposure.

Overall lighting and the orientation of your room are the most important considerations when choosing paint colours, especially when it comes to selecting the right tint of white. Whether your room faces north, east, south or west, there is a white paint designed to bring out the very best in your space’s natural light.

“If you have a north or east exposure, opt for warmer whites. Look for options with cooler tones to counterbalance south and west exposures, such as Decorator’s White OC-149.”

If you’re in a space with limited natural light such as a basement or small den, consider Chantilly Lace OC-65, a bright designer favourite to bring an added sense of space and light to any room.

Pay attention to the undertone.

When selecting neutral paints, one of the key differences to keep in mind is the undertone. From pink to green and everything in between, you can find a white paint with an undertone to suit your space. When selecting a white paint, consider the colour of the furniture and flooring in your space — if you tend towards warmer hues, opt for a white paint with a warm undertone to create a cohesive feel.

Express your sense of style.

From modern to traditional, white paint can bring out the best in a range of design styles. Express your personal taste and give your neutral space a warm and inviting feeling by adding texture with throw blankets, cushions and rugs in natural fibres. To accentuate architectural details and add extra dimension to neutral walls, Grech suggests painting details such as trim, mouldings and even furniture in a high-gloss sheen to add a striking contrast to matte or eggshell walls.

Test before you paint.

Sharon’s top piece of advice? “Always test a few variations of white paint on your walls before painting the whole room.” A white paint that looks perfect in the store could look totally different once it’s in your space. 
Once you’ve found your perfect tint, make sure to prime your walls if you’re painting over a bold colour. Choose a paint like Regal Select interior paint to achieve professional results and flawless coverage.

(NC) This year’s home must-have is an office space that offers flexibility to go seamlessly from video calls to virtual classroom to everything in between. To help you create a workspace that works for you, Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour and design expert, shares three affordable tips to create a stylish office no matter your style or budget.

Choose colours that promote productivity.

Struggling to find focus when working from home? Your wall colour can help promote a sense of calm and concentration to help you through your busiest days. “Tints and shades of green such as Spa AF-435 or Flora AF-470 can help foster a sense of calm and support your productivity,” recommends Grech.

Giving your home office a coat of green paint is a project you can do yourself, and the increased focus and reduction in eye strain will help you work smarter all year long.

Make room for your workspace.

If you don’t have a dedicated home office, you can easily create a place where you can focus by making a work area in your home. A floating shelf or a side table can double as a compact desk in small spaces. Once you select where you want to set up your workspace, clean up any clutter that could be distracting. Grech suggests shopping your home for baskets, mason jars and catch-alls to store office supplies such as notebooks, pens and loose papers.

Create a chic background.

On video calls all day? You can create an envy-inducing backdrop in just one weekend by painting out a bookcase, including the backs of shelves, in one solid hue like Amazon Soil 2115-30. Grech recommends choosing a durable paint designed to adhere to wooden surfaces such as Advance interior paint for results as professional as your new office. Once dry, position your bookcase, with styled shelves of books and decorative objects, behind you for a put-together background.

(NC) Minimalism is getting maximum attention these days, since this style of design no longer needs to have hard edges or be uncomfortable. The new approach celebrates nature and serenity without sacrificing warmth and comfort. Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour marketing expert, shares her three tips on how to create a warm and inviting minimalist space in your home.

Build on your base colours: Like all good design, minimalism starts with the basics. The first step to beautiful design is selecting your colour palette of two to three colours that you will use throughout your space. Warm neutrals like creams, beiges and greys will help create a timeless and subtle starting point that lets your décor shine. “Neutral paint colours like Thunder AF-68, White Heron OC-57 and even a muted rosy hue like the Colour of the Year 2020 First Light 2102-70 are ideal choices for an inviting minimal space,” says Grech.

Add natural textures. The key to an inviting design is thoughtfully adding texture and layers. Natural materials and textures have a calming effect and add softness to minimal spaces. Complement your neutral base colours with woven rugs, wooden chairs, rattan furniture and plants to add depth and visual interest and create an inviting and serene look. Group accessories in neutral shades together – think antique whites, sun-bleached beiges and stormy greys to create a harmonious look that is easy on the eyes.

Do it yourself: Consistency of colours, textures and tones are essential when creating a warm and inviting minimal space. One way to achieve a consistent look is to paint wooden furniture and cabinets to create a unified and complementary set of tones throughout your home. “Painting wooden furniture and cabinets is an approachable do-it-yourself project. There are two key elements to properly painting furniture: first, smooth out any uneven textures using sandpaper. Second, make sure you use a high-quality paint designed to minimize brushstrokes, like Advance interior paint from Benjamin Moore.”