How white is "Pure Brilliant White" paint?

Netherspark

This might seem like a dumb question, but just how white is Pure Brilliant White paint?  Like in comparison to a sheet of paper?

I'm looking to paint my room white and I was hoping to avoid going full-on stark white.  But it seems all the off-white paint I've looked at comes out overly creamy, beige or blue/grey.  It also looks like nobody sells tester pots for it, since "it's just white"...

grumbler

IMO, 'pure brilliant' white is no whiter than most other whites.

I think that some my old 'Everwite' from B&Q is even a fraction whiter than new 'Pure Brilliant' Delux.

daveyjp

Pure brilliant white is usually a description of gloss paint used for woodwork.

 For walls you need emulsion and that is available in dozens of different shades of white and testers are available.

https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colour-details#tabId=item0

grumbler

daveyjp said:

Pure brilliant white is usually a description of gloss paint used for woodwork.

Delux one I mentioned above is matt for walls and ceilings

twopenny

 A lot will depend on the aspect of the room and the amount of light.

North facing will darken colour or give it a greyish aspect as I found when I painted my living room the same 'lovely' off white in an East facing one. I had to do the whole thing again.

Had the same problem choosing a chair recently. Pretty pale beige grey in a North facing room looked dirty. Had to buy cream covered one to get the pale grey effect.

Someone said that Jewsons will mix small tester pots. I don't know how much for.

Available on ebay, Amazon, The Range and Wilko + others.

Doozergirl

It's white.  White white.  I've no doubt that paper comes in many different shades of white, but yes, paper white.  

If you hold an off white against the paper white of a colour chart, you will see the other coloured tones to the off-white, but that doesn't happen in the same way a house.  They will register as a white, the underlying tone just helps with adding warmth/coolness.  
 

Jeepers_Creepers

Netherspark, are you trying to avoid a 'cold'-looking room? If so, what I've repeatedly found is that 'PBW' looks either warm or cold depending largely on the style of that room and other colours used in the room on the floor and furnishings.

For example, I know if we painted our sitting room walls (1930's bungalow with picture rails and stuff) in PBW, it would look as cold as hell. Our new extension, however; modern, crisp lines and with a lovely warm mid-oak floor looks very cosy, welcoming and fresh with PBW Dulux vinyl matt. It 'glows', but in a warm way! Not remotely stark or cold.

If your walls have 'shapes' - recesses, breasts, alcoves, angles and stuff, then PBW can look amazing - when you stand back, you are actually seeing a whole series of whites, depending on the shade and angle of these walls. It usually just needs coupling with a 'warm'-toned flooring to not be 'stark'.

I think 'off-whites' can look good in older houses - Victorian and beyond - but for most houses it's what you add to it that matters.

Another_Level

Pure brilliant white can only be brilliant if applied well.  Pre existing surfaces & application methods will so vary.

It may look easy seeing a decorator at work or watching net videos but an office pen pusher (with a degree in nowt practicable) could think its an easy job.

The finish will be as good as the decorator, just pay a decorator a little more for than just a quick lick over 

Poor diy is easily spotted, 

Jimmithecat

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/dulux-pure-brilliant-white-matt-emulsion-paint-75l/p/0461331

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/dulux-pure-brilliant-white-matt-emulsion-paint-5l/p/0139828

Just to jump on to the the brilliant white paint front does anyone know if there is anything different in the quality of the 5L and 7.5L dulux ones as both the same price but 7.5 is in more commercial packaging?

Phil4432

grumbler said:

daveyjp said:

Pure brilliant white is usually a description of gloss paint used for woodwork.

Delux one I mentioned above is matt for walls and ceilings

Painted the whole of my house with it.  It's slightly on the warm side, I personally like it.