Returning to “bland” white walls

When I moved into my present condo 10½ years ago, I had read a number of articles encouraging homeowners not to be afraid of using deep colors on their walls. They persuaded me to pass up safe and “bland” white. Since I had a gray sofa and thought orange complemented gray, I had the kitchen, bathroom, and one wall of the living room painted coral and everything else gray.

What I did not consider is that with only two banks of windows, there’s not a lot of natural light coming in. Gray and coral did not lighten and brighten the space. Gray also felt depressing on overcast days. After a decade of living with the colors, I wanted a change. 

Anticipating having my place repainted, I read about color. It’s a complex subject. The choice of wall colors, I learned, should be more than an aesthetic decision. Color affects our emotions and our perceptions of size. We live with wall color choices for a long time. 

According to color theory, light-colored walls make a room seem larger and brighter, darker walls more enclosed and intimate. Red and yellow can boost feelings of happiness and optimism, but too much of them can be overstimulating. The third primary color, blue, can be calming and soothing if it’s a right shade of blue. (Google the emotional effects of colors if you’re interested in learning more.)

I know people whose colorful walls look grand. Their places are bigger and have more natural light than mine. My space is small and, since it is not a corner unit, has windows only along one side. White paint, which reflects the most light of any color, would make the rooms appear brighter and bigger. 

But which white? There are many varieties with different undertones. I wanted a warm white to feel happy in. Behr’s description of its Marshmallow Whip as “a light-hearted take on white . . . with a hint of soft apricot” fit the bill.

The new color definitely brightens the space, and ideally my mood. My place is so bright that sometimes when I walk into the bedroom in midday, I think I forgot to turn off the light.

White may not be as eye-catching a wall color as coral, but it makes for a good backdrop, motivating me to go with more color in furnishings and accessories. I hung a colorful fabric in the living room. I was set to order a TV credenza in black and switched to burgundy at the last minute. My place has not become more bland.

I expect that my only disappointment with white walls will be that they show dirt more than darker colors do. Washing walls isn’t something I do routinely, but perhaps I should.