When it comes to renovations, there’s no such thing as a magic wand—but we happen to think that white paint comes pretty close. A few coats can instantly brighten a room and create a soothing backdrop for art and furnishings. But not all white paints are created equal. In fact, choosing a white paint can be even trickier than finding the right shade of blue or yellow. Each shade has subtle undertones that can help create set the mood and work with the lighting conditions. Painting a test area and paying attention to how the light changes the look of the color throughout the day is a sure-fire way to make sure your walls won’t turn out stark or too-yellow. Light can vary wildly by location and a shade that looks wonderful in a London apartment may not be right for a California house, so it’s important to try colors out before you paint the whole room.

Another thing to consider is the palette you plan to use throughout the space. Cooler whites pair well with bright colors, while warmer whites compliment a more neutral palette. There are also several shades, such as Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White or Sherwin Williams’ Extra White, that are known for having barely noticeable undertones—perfect if you’re unsure what color undertone you need. These shades of bright white also work well on ceilings and trim.

Designer Bruce Bierman , known for his crisp kitchen designs, suggests looking for inspiration in finished spaces. “Seeing the way a great white works in someone else’s home lets you skip some of the work,” he told AD. “Find out what the color is and paint a sample wall of your own.” We couldn’t agree more, which is why we’ve gathered some of our favorite white spaces from the AD archives and asked the talented designers who created them to reveal the paint color they used.

The dining room of a New Orleans home designed by Lee Ledbetter features a custom-made table, 1930s Jansen chairs from Florian Papp, and a Robert Gordy monotype; the wall is painted in Benjamin Moore's Cloud White.

The living room walls at a Manhattan apartment decorated by Milly de Cabrol are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White.

In Gilles Mendel's Manhattan living room , painted in Ralph Lauren Pocket Watch White, an artwork by Rodney Dickson hangs above a custom-made sofa clad in a Pollack velvet; the floor lamp is by Arredoluce, and the fox-fur pillows and calfskin rug are by J. Mendel.

In the ground-floor sitting room of his California home , antiques dealer Lee Stanton arranged a vintage French cocktail table, a pair of circa-1840 lounge chairs, and a sofa of his own design in front of a stone mantel from an English country estate; the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Linen Sand.

Designer Madeline Stuart used Benjamin Moore's White Dove throughout her Santa Barbara home , including the cozy den. A bespoke sofa by Stuart is paired with a 19th-century Japanese cocktail table in the den; the vintage rattan chairs are from the Wicker Shop of Old Saybrook, and the mohair rug is by J.D. Staron.

Abigail Turin of the design studio Kallos Turin oversaw the dramatic renovation of her family’s oceanfront retreat in Carpinteria, California . B&B Italia sofas are grouped with Cappellini tables in the living room; the floor lamp is by Flos, the throw is by Hermès, and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace.

Dale Saylor and Joe Williamson chose Joa’s White by Farrow & Ball for the living room of their Hudson Valley, New York, home .

In designer Alex Papachristidis's Hamptons living room , which is painted in Benjamin Moore's Linen White, 19th-century gilded stools are placed next to sofas upholstered in a Clarence House fabric.

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's Los Angeles living room , decorated by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is painted in Benjamin Moore's Antique White.

In the stately circular stair hall of a Beverly Hills home decorated by Peter Dunham Design, the photographs are from Ed Ruscha's "Nine Swimming Pools" series; the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's All White. Related: AD ’s Guide to Decorating with Color