Antique White Vs White – What Is The Difference?

Finding the best color paint for the surfaces in your home can sometimes be tricky. Do you want to try a shade of white but don't know the difference between plain white and antique white? Are these two colors very different? We've done some research and have the answers below!

You can expect antique options to be softer and warmer in tone between white and antique white. Many people choose off-white or "antique" paint for their walls and ceilings, as it adds warmth to a space while remaining clean and bright.

So, if you want your home to feel super modern, we recommend plain white paint, and then if you prefer something cozier, we believe antique white is the better choice.

As we start this article, we will cover all things white paint and discuss the critical differences between regular white and antique white paints. Whether you need to renovate, build your dream house, or have other paint-related questions, we're here to assist. With that said, let's dive right in!

Difference between paints first is the antique white and second is white paint, Antique White Vs White - What Is The Difference?

What Is The Main Difference Between White And Antique White Paint?

For anyone stumped on their white paint options, plain white paint has a cooler undertone and antique white has a warmer one. Additionally, regular white paint will look brighter on your walls, while antique options have a more muted effect.

Again, that's not to say either is better than the other, but their undertone can make an impact depending on your decor and home aesthetic.

Many designers also claim that antique white doesn't contrast as aggressively with lighter or darker hues, which might be perfect for your space.

Bright white wall paint or other surfaces with this color can become overpowering in specific lighting and design, so that's something to be aware of.

You want to find a paint that fits your space, doesn't stand out for the wrong reasons, and has good coverage.

We sometimes add affiliate links and content that was curated and created by our team with the help of advanced ai tools to help showcase the best design styles.

African-American professional painter paints the wall indoors

Which Paint Is Better: White Or Antique White?

Now that you know the primary difference between these paint shades, which one is truly best? According to current trends, antique white works better for a more extensive range of houses.

That's because it has a softer, more muted effect on your walls, which is generally what wall paint should offer. Of course, pure white paint still is popular across the design spectrum, so either one is a winner.

What you want your space to achieve is the best thing to factor in when finding new paint. Do you want your room or home to feel contemporary and reflect tons of light? Then we recommend pure white.

Do you want your home to take on a warmer, more intimate feeling, all without losing that white aesthetic? In that case, antique white is your best bet.

General Finishes Water-Based Milk Paint - Antique White

This white paint has a warmer undertone, features an extremely durable formula, should go onto prepared wood/smooth surfaces, works well for cabinets, and comes in a one-gallon container.

View this white paint on Amazon.

Which Has Better Coverage: White Or Antique White Paint?

For coverage, your paint color (especially when working with white) shouldn't determine its ability to cover your existing walls. Therefore, your antique white paint and pure white should have the same coverage ability as long as you purchase a high-quality formula.

Remember, antique white is still white paint. The leading difference is its undertone, which will be warmer. So, you shouldn't expect it to be dramatically different coverage-wise versus pure white paint.

However, many antique white paints are a bit creamier than regular white, so you may not need as many coats in that respect. Again, this is more dependent on the formula, not the color.

What Paint Finish Has The Best Coverage?

One of the best paint finishes you can get for coverage is satin. Besides offering a slightly glossy result, satin paints tend to have a thicker formula, often requiring fewer coats.

Furthermore, satin paint will give your walls/surfaces a high-end appearance, which is always nice for the interior and exterior of a property.

According to experts, satin paint also hides imperfections well. That can greatly impact your final result, especially if your existing walls have scratches, dents, or old paint that you can't remove.

On top of those things, satin paint offers a bit of light reflection without being too "in your face," like some semi and high-gloss colors tend to be.

KILZ TRIBUTE Paint & Primer, Interior, Satin, Collector's White

This interior paint has a muted white color, includes a primer, features a satin finish and acrylic formula, has low VOC, promises to be durable, has excellent coverage, and comes in a one-gallon container.

Follow this link to view it on Amazon.

Where Can I Use Antique White In My Home?

For those wanting to try antique white paint in their home, you have plenty of places to use it.

Generally, you want to use antique white paints on walls, ceilings, cabinets, and other common surfaces, although you can incorporate the color into your decor and window treatments too.

As we said, this depends on your aesthetic, so every home will utilize colors differently.

Antique White Vs. White For Painting Walls

Painting the room with the materials ready, ladder, bucket of paint, roller brush

First, we recommend trying antique white paint over pure white for the walls in your house. Not only will the softer tone give your space calming energy, but it won't contrast as greatly with various colors.

In addition, painting your walls and ceilings antique white can make them feel homey and livable rather than sterile if you use too bright of white paint.

Even though super bright, cool-tone white paint looks good at a hotel, it's not always so comforting in a home. Therefore, we suggest choosing warmer hues for all the spaces in your house to give it a comfier feeling.

Antique White Vs. White For Your Cabinets

Modern white wooden kitchen interior

Between antique white and pure white cabinetry, this depends on your bathroom/kitchen. Generally, it is more common to see bright, clean white cabinets, so that might be the way to go.

Even though a warmer white color on your walls may look amazing, it doesn't always translate as nicely on your cabinets. Therefore, the cooler tone of pure white paint is our choice between them.

On the other hand, if your kitchen has more of a classic feel (hardwood floors, brass/rustic finishes), it could be best to use the warmer antique hue. Again, this all depends on your design.

Antique White Vs. White For Blinds

Kitchen with white window blinds

Moving to the window treatments, we recommend using antique white paint if your walls have a warm tone and pure white for cooler-tone spaces.

Even though the blinds are often overlooked, framing your windows using the correct color is essential. Regardless, white blinds and window treatments tend to work the best.

They reflect light, and white window treatments can give your house a cleaner look. Think about the last time you saw wooden blinds. They didn't enhance the window, did they?

You don't have to worry about using antique or pure white blinds to treat your windows.

Again, what color your blinds are will come down to what your home needs. Everyone is unique.

Is White A Good Interior Color?

Interior with armchair and coffee table

Yes. Overall, using white to decorate the interior of a home is a good idea. Besides giving your space an open, bright appearance, white can also help create the illusion a room is larger than it is.

For example, suppose you have a small living room with low ceilings. Painting the walls and ceiling white (warm or cool tone) will trick your eye into believing the room is more spacious.

This is one of the oldest design tricks in the book, and for a good reason.

You'll also notice that using white for your interiors is great for resale value. Typically, new home buyers want to see a blank canvas when they go into a space, which is easy with a white color palette.

Of course, you don't have to deck out your entire home with white furniture, wall paint, and detailing, but you can use the color for your walls, window treatments, and even cabinets.

Is Antique White The Same As Beige?

Although antique white resembles beige, it's not quite that dark. Since antique white can still be on the lighter side, it will not technically give your walls a beige feeling.

However, in some lighting, this is possible, but in general, it will feel more like a muted white.

Beige is closer to tan paint, which is far too dark, versus antique white. As we mentioned earlier, antique white hues tend to have a "yellow-beige undertone," which is where the confusion stems.

Many antique whites have a more marshmallow vibe, with a hint of yellow or warm beige.

To Wrap It All Up

Difference between paints first is the antique white and second is white paint

Whether you need to give your walls a fresh coat of paint or want to plan your dream home, it's always good to know your whites. We found that antique white and pure white are slightly different in their undertone, with antique being warmer than pure white.

In addition, warmer antique colors tend to give your house a cozier feeling, while pure white works well in super modern spaces. Regardless, you'll get clean, bright, reflective wall paint if you use white.

You can also use antique white and pure white for your window treatments and cabinets as another way to brighten those spaces and give them a more eye-catching aesthetic. White doesn't always need to be boring!

Made it to the end? Check out these super helpful related articles below!

11 Colors That Go With Antique White Trim Or Cabinets

Sherwin-Williams Alabaster Vs. Pure White: Which To Choose?

Gray Vs. White Kitchen Cabinets: Which To Choose?

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