It's no secret that painting your walls white can create an open and airy environment. A fresh coat of white paint can offer a clean state, providing a starting point to curate any style of décor. The possibilities are endless, you can go minimal or use it as a base to inject pops of colour, whether they're on the moodier scale or full of light. This kitchen-diner, complete with a wood-clad island and updated kitchen cabinets in duck egg blue, is a perfect example of using white to make a room look spacious and unique.
With dozens (and dozens) of nuanced shades to choose from, you may be tempted to reach for the first purest, whitest white you see. To simplify the process, we asked our in-house team of design experts on which shade of white you can't go wrong with... Hint: it's one of our bestsellers.
Picking up cool tones of grey paint while retaining enough warmth to steer your room away from appearing cold, Tikkurila's F497 Paper White is a luxurious off-white neutral shade that will transform a dull room into a serene environment. This subtle shade is a perfect blend of sophistication and tranquillity, and has the power to brighten dark spaces and can make even the smallest of rooms feel spacious. When used in interior spaces with strong sunlight, the effect can slightly alter the paint colour's appearance at different times of the day, creating a warming shadow in the morning light while deepening into a soft atmospheric glow in the evening. Take the extra steps in choosing your colour palette by considering the flow of natural light in your home. By painting a test patch, you will notice the profound effect natural and artificial light has on your desired shade at different times of the day.
When it comes to the home's practicality and longevity, you may think a glass panel or a tiled splashback may be your only option to withstand excessive wiping. In fact, there is a solution that is as easy to implement as it is cost-effective. When used for the kitchen's interior wall paint, the luxurious semi-matt finish of Luja 20 offers a beautiful, smooth finish that is hard-wearing for the home with its high resistance to stains, dirt and mould and is suitable for repeated cleaning. Made in Finland, the high-quality Luja 20 Paint boasts low VOC-emission level and holds the M1 Emission Classification, making it a safe paint choice for the home.
F497 Paper White's warming hues create a creamy shade that seamlessly complements an added pop of colour. The kitchen cabinet surfaces were revived with the semi-matt Helmi 30 furniture paint for its sophisticated satin finish for a refreshed look. Tinted in the duck egg blue tones of TVT G357 from our Symphony Colour collection, this shade of blue will transport you to the coast. Combining the soft white surfaces with the pale blue cabinets, the natural wood accents and the subtler notes of funky textiles, this kitchen-diner strikes a harmonious balance.
Putting the idea into practice
1. CLEAN AND SAND
Begin by cleaning the furniture's surface using Tikkurila Maalipesu cleaning agent – read instructions thoroughly before use. Sand hard, glossy and factory-painted surfaces non-glossy until matt and remove the sanding dust with a dust brush or a dust-binding cloth.
2. PAINTING THE WALL
Stir Luja Universal Primer well before use and thin with water, if necessary. Apply a coat using a paintbrush or roller, allow to dry for 30 minutes or until thoroughly dry before painting a topcoat. How it is time to apply the kitchen paint. Finish with 1-2 coats of the semi-matt Luja 20 special acrylic paint, pre-mixed with your chosen colour. Luja 20 has a touch-dry time of 2 hours and can be recoated after 4 hours.
3. PAINTING THE COOKER HOOD
Clean the surface by removing any dirt and dust. Wash surfaces requiring special adhesion with Tikkurila Maalipesu cleaning agent and rinse carefully with water. Stir Otex Akva carefully before use and thin with water, if necessary, and apply with a synthetic brush with multi-branches bristles or a paint roller. Allow the surface to dry for 5 hours before applying final topcoat.
Finish with 1-2 coats of the semi-matt Luja 20 special acrylic paint, pre-mixed with your chosen colour. Luja 20 has a touch-dry time in 2 hours and can be recoated after 4 hours.
4. PAINTING THE KITCHEN CABINETS
Begin by cleaning the furniture's surface using Tikkurila Maalipesu cleaning agent – read instructions thoroughly before use. Sand hard, glossy and factory-painted surfaces non-glossy until matt and remove the sanding dust with a dust brush or a dust-binding cloth. Apply a single coat of Helmi Pohjamaali Primer to the cabinets and leave to dry for 5 hours.
Finish with 1-2 coats of the semi-matt Helmi 30 furniture paint, pre-mixed with your chosen colour. Helmi 30 furniture paint can be recoated after 2-4 hours. On large surfaces, it is recommended to first apply the paint with a roller and then level the coat with a brush.
Clean your tools with water and soap, or use Tikkurila Pensselipesu tool cleaner for more in-depth results. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label.