Looking for the perfect white paint color? Stop looking at paint chips – just follow this one simple trick and you’ll get the best white paint color ever.
White paint is a tricky thing. There are literally hundreds of different shades when comparing all of the main paint brands. It’s exhausting to try to figure it all out. So I quit trying – and here’s what I learned.
Most people have a butcher they love, who will share his best secrets on how to make the best steak ever or that pork chop recipe that’s to die for. But me? I have a paint guy.
I buy a LOT of paint. So much, in fact, that my local paint store gives me a contractor discount. And I’m not a contractor – haha! They know this and just appreciate that I do all of my business at my little local Benjamin Moore store, so they’re good to me. I know all the guys there by name – I grew up with the owner and my husband grew up with the paint expert at the store. So Mike is my paint guy – any time I need help with figuring out something, I go see Mike. {btw – this is NOT a sponsored post}
Our living room was super dark before we gave it a makeover, so I decided that I wanted the brightest white paint I could find. After some research, I learned that Behr apparently makes the ultimate white paint color. I decided to take a gamble and try a paint that I never really used – but it’s Home Depot – how bad could it be? BIG MISTAKE. Although it was supposed to be one coat – after 4 coats on raw wood you could still see wood (we had to do some repair work after we ripped out the old fireplace). And on the areas where we had already painted previously with Benjamin Moore, it started bubbling up. There is NO reason this should have happened. We had clean walls and we were applying latex satin paint over latex eggshell. But it happened.
After a long discussion with Behr, we got a refund – then immediately headed to my beloved Benjamin Moore. Mike was at the counter and we had a discussion that went like this.
Me: Yo, Mike! How ya doin’, bud? Is there any way that we could add white pigment to white base to get a super white paint?
Mike: You want the best white paint color you’ll ever find?
Me: Yes, please!
Mike: You don’t want white pigment, you want one drop of black per gallon.
Me: [deadpan face – I was sure he was joking] Yeah…. ok. Seriously, can we add the white.
Mike: I’m dead serious. Add one drop of black pigment to it and you’ll get the best white paint color you’ve ever used. Sounds crazy, but I swear by it.
Me: Say whaaaa? Alright – I trust you. If that’s what you say is going to be the perfect white paint, then I’m down to try it. I need five gallons.
Mike: So we’re going to put 5 drops into the 5 gallons.
Me: Let’s do it.
He mixed up the paint, I brought it home and got to work. I’ve got to be honest and tell you that when we put the first coat over the Behr white, it seemed a bit gray. But I stayed the course and kept painting. And after two coats when it was all completely finished and dry, he was 100% dead on right. I’ll never look at another paint swatch – this is now my go-to white paint color that’s not really a paint color at all. It was honestly like he held the key to the best decorating secret I’ve ever learned. And no bubbling or issues at all. That’s why I love this paint.
So that, my friends is how to get the very best white paint color. Go see your Benjamin Moore guy and tell them you want one drop of black pigment into a white base to get the white paint. And if you’re realllllly lucky, you might find your very own Mike π
Mertle says
Where I used to work our very own Mike was a gal named Carla. I learned more about paint working with her than I ever did anywhere else. A good paint person can give you a ton of great ideas and share their expertise. You expect that when you go to a big box store that you’ll get a great product but if you don’t talk to someone that actually knows the products and asks the correct questions of the customer they won’t send you out the door with the right product. On another note, adding the ‘white’ pigment to dark colors actually helps to darken them. Also, always allow a number of days for your paint to finish curing! Sometimes it takes time!
I love your site by the way. You have a lot of really great ideas! Keep ’em comin’!
Gina Luker says
Thanks so much Mertle!! I totally agree with you and thank you for the tip on adding the white pigment!!
Lisa Murphey says
So, I’m liking the post, but what white base did Mike start with? There are many bases. Sweet living room!
Gina Luker says
Thanks so much Lisa,
Mike chose a light base and then did his magic π
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
What an amazing tip! I actually can’t believe it, but your room does look super light and bright. wow. Thanks for sharing this!
Cheryl says
Gina, thanks for the paint tip. your room looks amazing. my question is would you use the same tip for a piece of furniture that you were going to paint white. I just picked up a side table that someone was getting rid of and I was going to sand it down or strip the paint and then just stain the top and paint everything else white.
Gina Luker says
Thank you Cheryl π I do not add anything to my furniture paint and your project sounds like it will be gorgeous. Don’t you just love a good furniture “rescue”? π
Lisa says
My mind is officially blown.
Kathy Y. Clem says
Gina, here’s hoping you win the La-Z-Boy design competition! I’ve looked at your perfect white paint blog & I’ve got a ‘white paint’ question. We’re building a new house with a cathedral ceiling over the living room/kitchen areas. Will be using ship lap boards on the walls & ceiling. I’m concerned about having all the ship lap painted the same white. There’s a definite transition area where the walls & sloped ceiling meet. What are your thoughts about 1) all white from floor to ceiling apex or 2) changing up the white somewhat at the transition area? If you lean towards changing, what would you recommend? I know you’re a Benjamin Moore fan but I don’t have close access to them. I can easily get to Lowe’s and Sherwin-Williams though. Thank you.
Gina Luker says
Hey Kathy,
Any paint brand works the same, it doesn’t need to be Benjamin Moore, one drop of black per gallon. All my ceiling, trim & walls are the same color in each room, it makes painting SO much easier and I like the look. It is a personal choice but your house sounds like it will be gorgeous!! Good luck π
Sandy says
I had somewhat the same story. We bought a house back in the 90’s and it was a home that was unfinished on the inside (literally no drywall) let alone paint! When the designer ask me what colors I wanted, I said “white”. To which she asked, what color of white?” Me: “Huh?” I eventually decided to ask the painter” “What color of white” would use if you wanted REALLY white? She said: “white high hiding”. It’s just as you were told, white base with a drop of black. It IS the perfect white!!! Your home looks fabulous!
Gina Luker says
Thanks so much Sandy! I know, right??! Who would have thunk….but it does make for the perfect white!
James says
This is an awesome idea! Did you just paint the walls that came in your house or install sheetrock then paint? I’m asking in regards to a double wide remodel I may undertake.
Gina Luker says
We had previously painted over the original mobile home walls using a high end 3 in 1 paint by Glidden. So this paint job was a breeze!
Lisa Murphey says
It is a paint color. Just because it’s not on a swatch doesn’t make it not a color. Been mixing my own colors for years. Black helps many tones, shades. It’s an artists secret.
sharon says
Great info! Thanks for sharing. Any thoughts on how to find a grey that is only made with black pigment and white pigment? It seems each grey I have found is tinted brown/blue/green/ even rose.
Also would appreciate your thoughts on finding a “Mike”!
Gina Luker says
Thanks Sharon! I found Mike at my local paint store, I am sure there are others out there, as for the perfect grey, I am not sure, they all have different undertones, this may be your way to find a “Mike” go to a few places and see who is most helpful…and then , let us know π Good luck!!
John Parkinson says
How much is a “drop of black pigment”. Is this the same as a “shot of black pigment”. I tried literally 1 drop of black and it did not change the shade of white at all color. What should you ask the paint store to set the tint volume to when adding black pigment to a gallon of ceiling paint? Thanks.
Gina Luker says
I have a paint guy who told me his trick of adding a drop of black to my white paint. I can’t tell you exact amount as he just adds it for me. I have heard from may readers who have asked their paint stores to do the same and have loved the results. The white doesn’t look any different in the can, it still looks white but it just makes it look better on the walls. Crazy right? Good luck with your painting π
Valerie Barnett says
My paint store doesn’t know what one “drop” is. Is that the same as one “shot”?
Gina Luker says
Hi Valarie, my paint guy said just a drop, not a shot, I think that would be too much. I can’t be more specific, he just says a drop. Good luck π
Lynette Gilliam says
I have found buying from the paint stores vs buying from a department/hardware store to be my best decision in all the decision making I need to do when painting. Especially if they have a color person on staff. In my experience (they have all been women) they have a great eye for color and nuance. They know when that beige is going to look pink or that white is too stark. It’s a free service of the store and they are usually there for limited hours so be sure to call before going in. Discuss pros and cons of the color you are thinking of, explain your lighting and what you’re working with such as existing floor coverings, furniture and drapes. Take a photo in if you’ve found one you’re trying to replicate. I found my exterior colors in a Los Angeles Times real estate ad and the woman I worked with had my colors in about 3 minutes flat. I am so grateful for these ladies. Selecting paint color from chips is not the way to go for me. I have bought way too many samples and none of them ever worked.
Gina Luker says
Totally agree Lynette, I love my paint guy!
zack says
it’s true, Add one drop of black to white Gilcan you will get extra white color, I had that information from an old Russian man in 1985 and I used it.
Gina Luker says
It works every time!