Coordinating Color & Interior Painting: Adding White to Lighten a Color

Adding White to Lighten a Color
10/01/2008 10:17 AM by Gretchen Schauffler

Adding white to lighten paint is a common practice when people want a lighter version of their wall color for their ceiling. Although this is often not the best strategy. Adding white to lighten a paint color can cause it to turn gray and lose its depth and dimension. So instead of adding white to your paint, I recommend having the color formula cut back instead. This way you have less pigment in the gallon base, creating a lighter version of the color without mudding up the hue. Cutting the color formula by one third seems to work consistently.

Another way to go is to buy our Mini-Paint Pouches™ and play around with complementary colors for your ceiling. Our colors are designed to work together, so rather than lightening the wall shade you’re using, you can another Devine shade. For example: Devine Shell™ is a lighter version of Devine Macadamia™, Devine Muslin™ is a lighter version of Devine Filbert™. Here are suggested wall colors with complimentary ceiling colors in the same hue:

Wall: Roast or Hazelnut
Ceiling Pecan, Macadamia, or Shell

Wall: Devine Cocoa or Truffle
Ceiling: Devine Filbert, Macadamia, or Latte

Wall: Devine Mocha or Sumatra
Ceiling: Devine Muslin or Ash

Wall: Devine Gold or Straw
Ceiling: Devine Maple or Custard

Wall: Devine Cafe or Spice
Ceiling: Devine Cashew or Grain

You get the picture! Before you lighten our colors, look around each paint palette page and you will find a perfect lighter shade. Use this for your ceiling. That way you’ll get a perfectly formulated paint colors for both wall and ceiling.

Read about Paint Sheens: How light changes color