As a color specialist, I always strive to achieve balance: balance of tones, compositions, layouts, flow, and aura – at the center of that balancing act are color choices. If you’re a frequent reader of mine, you’ll notice that I often make suggestions to help alleviate some design or environmental conditions that feel overpowering. Today, as I sit and write this blog, the East Coast is sitting in hot, humid July heat; we’ve reached new heights in real feel temps. It’s as oppressive as it gets around here! While I enjoy the extremes the seasons can bring, this summer especially, some relief/reprieve is in order!
In this article, I will discuss how off-white colors can help bring peace, balance, and beauty to design situations and even make us feel physically better in the extreme throws of summer or winter!
I know there’s a trendy clothing brand called “off-white,” but In terms of design, off-white colors refer to shades that are very close to pure white but have subtle undertones, tints, and hints of other colors. This gentle touch/integration of color into stark white creates an off-white. What’s wonderful about off-whites is that they can create a warmer or cooler appearance depending on the undertone, which might include hints of beige, gray, yellow, pink, blue, or even olive or purple.
Off-whites are popular in interior design because they offer the light, airy, and clean look of stark white while adding depth, character, and a layer of dynamic visual appeal that a flat white simply cannot provide.
When dealing with the seasonal extremes of winter and summer, off-whites can be your greatest ally; here’s why:
Off-White Colors In Summer – on the cooler end of the color spectrum, off-whites with blue or gray undertones create a refreshing and airy atmosphere, one that is especially desirable during the hot, humid, and stickiest summer months; these off-white colors evoke a sense of calm, making a room feel more spacious and breathable, is perfect for counteracting the sweltering heat outside. Using these shades on walls, ceilings, furniture, or even seasonal-swappable linens can foster a serene/cool ambiance.
Off-White Colors In Winter – warmer off-white colors with undertones of yellow, beige, orange, or even soft pink can enhance the coziness and warmth of a space. These warmer shades can make a room feel more inviting and snug, creating a refuge from the chilly weather and unpleasantries. Warm off-whites in living areas, bedrooms, and dining spaces can create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that warms the soul! The subtle warmth in these hues simulates the comforting effect of sunlight, which is often scarce during the depths of winter. Warm off-whites can do wonders to lift the spirit during winter’s coldest, darkest days!
Ok, here are some color expert suggestions regarding great warmer and cooler off-white color options:
Ivory – Perhaps the most recognizable warm off-white, ivory (unfortunately named after elephant harvesting) is an off-white with just the faintest hint of a light cream or pale yellow.
Eggshell – Similar to ivory, eggshell has a delicate touch of light beige. It’s very popular with interior design, adding a little warmth to walls in near-neutral spaces.
Parchment or Buttermilk – While not the most recognizable warm off-white color, at least by name, both parchment and buttermilk have the faintest hint of a very pale brown or light yellow or orange within them; these colors are great for kitchens and dining areas.
Pearl – Certainly the most popular cooler off-white, pearl has a timeless, almost regal presence – Pearl is white with a subtle touch of gray, sometimes with a whisper of a subtle lilac or pink. You’ll see it used often in today’s interior design spaces; it’s a unique way of adding softer white to a design.
Chantilly Lace – While I don’t usually name-drop for a specific brand, chantilly lace is a popular and, I’d say, clean-feeling off-white from Benjamin Moore; this color is a crisp white with a brilliance to it. Best yet, it doesn’t appear too stark. People love it. You almost cool down just standing next to it!
Seapearl – Similar to pearl, seapearl is white with hints of grey undertones, but seapearl also has hints of faint olive in it as well. This color is soothing, with just a hint of nature-inspired earth integrated with it.
As you can see, off-whites are highly versatile and helpful color options that can bring brightness into your home without the stark contrast of brighter whites. Even without painting, I highly recommend incorporating off-whites into your design motif through simple additions like pillows, blankets, tablecloths, or even a background wall color. These soft colors do wonders and will compliment your palette in whichever way you need them to.
Stay cool, and let me know how off-whites will help you in the extremes of the seasons!
