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Neutrals can sound like a simple choice for your home, but choosing the right white shade can take a bit of thought.
In this hallway, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream highlights the heritage details and the ceiling, the trims are painted in Thorndon Cream and walls in Resene Albescent White from the Karen Walker Paints collection. Project by Jess Driver and Thomas Ward of I Am Developer, image by Taylor Wilson.
Wall in Spanish White, cabinet in Quarter Spanish White, floor, shelves, stool, lamp and artwork in Resene Colorwood Bask. Chair and blanket from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
Wall and floor in Resene Rice Cake, coffee table and vase in Aspiring. Sofa from nood, rug from Kmart, throw blanket from H&M Home. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
How to choose the right white for your home
Sure, white sounds simple, but you start looking and you find yourself in a sea of alabaster, chalk, ivory, cream and everything in between, each with its own subtle personality.
There’s a reason that Resene’s top 20 paint colours are neutrals – with the exception of Resene Woodsman Pitch Black of course. The majority of these are whites and off-whites, and that’s because they’re timeless and flexible. Whites can elevate a space, calm visual noise and give you freedom to update furniture and styling without repainting every few years.
But choosing the right one takes a bit of thought.
Not all whites are created equal
Every white carries an undertone. Some lean cool, with grey, green or blue sitting underneath, like Resene Sea Fog, Alabaster and Half Black White. While others are warm with hints of yellow, red or brown, like Half Pearl Lusta, Half Spanish White and Quarter Solitaire.
These undertones are what make one white feel crisp, and another feel cosy.
Remember, whites also reflect everything around them. For example, a green sofa can pull a green tint from your walls. A blue rug can cool them down.
Even your flooring plays a part. If you’ve got strong timber floors, a cooler white can help tone down the warmth, while a warm white can soften a space that feels a bit stark or shadowy.
Deciphering whites
Make the most of the Resene Whites & Neutrals collection by understanding the paint codes beneath each swatch.
The first letter indicates the base. Y means yellow, G is green, BR is brown and N signals a neutral grey base. That alone gives you a clue about whether the colour will feel warm or cool.
The numbers that follow relate to where the colour sits on the colour wheel. It’s a small detail, but when you’re comparing similar whites, it helps you understand why one feels slightly greener or warmer than another.
Start with the right collection
The Resene Whites & Neutrals collection is a good place to begin. It groups whites into families and strength variations, which makes it much easier to build a cohesive scheme.
Those strength variations matter more than you’d expect. Using a half or quarter strength of the same white across walls, trims and ceilings helps everything feel balanced, especially since ceilings and shaded areas tend to look darker anyway.
In this hallway, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream highlights the heritage details and the ceiling, the trims are painted in Thorndon Cream and walls in Resene Albescent White from the Karen Walker Paints collection. Project by Jess Driver and Thomas Ward of I Am Developer, image by Taylor Wilson.
Warm or cool? Decide your mood
Before you get stuck into swatches, think about how you want the room to feel.
Warm whites with yellow or brown undertones bring softness and comfort. They’re also ideal for cooler spaces like south-facing rooms or older homes where you might want to enhance character details. They pair beautifully with earthy tones and warm timber textiles.
Wall in Spanish White, cabinet in Quarter Spanish White, floor, shelves, stool, lamp and artwork in Resene Colorwood Bask. Chair and blanket from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
Cool whites with grey or green undertones can feel cleaner and more contemporary. These are often a go-to for modern interiors with lots of glass and clean lines, but can also do great at refreshing and bringing a bit of life back into older homes.
This living room is painted in Resene Black White. Project and image by Leo D Painters.
Then there are the in-betweeners. Whites with a green base can shift depending on the light, sometimes warm, sometimes cool. They’re particularly suited to homes with lots of greenery outside, as they subtly echo the landscape.
Wall and floor in Resene Rice Cake, coffee table and vase in Aspiring. Sofa from nood, rug from Kmart, throw blanket from H&M Home. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
Tip:Pick up some white testpots from your local Resene ColorShop or at Resene’s ColorShop online, paint them onto a large A4 or A5 card, and test them out at home in different spaces to see how they look. Whites look different with different lighting and at different times of the day.
For more advice on choosing the right white, head in store, or Ask a Colour Expert online for help.
Published: 01 Apr 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Albescent White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Albescent White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
