Three qualities, one colour impression — and yet no white wall looks quite like another. A cool white can look like an exposure error in a warm room, while a creamy one can quickly turn yellowish in a bright south-facing room. That's why re-box doesn't offer white as a single colour, but as three qualities with different surface finishes.
Buying white wall paint: three qualities, three tin sizes, one decision
In this category you'll find the three white qualities from re-box. re-box prime WHITE (matt) is the pure white paint, dead matt, with very high opacity, an even finish and a calm surface — even for surfaces sensitive to raking light. re-box base one (matt) is the matt interior paint for walls and ceilings, and at the same time the tinting base for all colour shades. re-box silk matte WHITE (silk matte) is the silk matte variant: especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean.
All three come in 2.5, 5 and 10 litres, with the price depending only on the quantity. Made in Germany, water-based and low in emissions. Once payment has been received, delivery within Germany takes 3 to 5 working days.
White isn't just white: the nuances in our range
There are worlds between a clear pure white and a creamy linen shade, and this difference decides whether a room feels cool or homely. The following broken white tones aren't part of this category but belong to the rest of the colour range — they too are mixed matt on base one or silk matte on silk matte.
Clear, cool white
These tones stay bright and neutral and reflect a lot of light. Blanc Épuré No. 55 is the clearest of the three: purist, with no visible colour cast, and works well with plenty of daylight. Neige Douce No. 42 has a soft snow tone with minimal warmth. Wisp No. 4 is a hint of light grey and gives large white surfaces definition.
Warm white with cream and vanilla
As soon as yellow enters the undertone, white starts to feel homely. Lait Vanillé No. 56 is distinctly creamy and instantly makes north-facing rooms feel more inviting. Blanc Pêche No. 47 leans slightly towards peach and feels especially warm under artificial light. Lin Clair No. 58 has a linen-coloured core and is the most reliable all-round tone for whole rooms.
Chalky white with a hint of grey
White with grey in it feels calmer than pure white and forgives uneven walls. Craie Ancienne No. 60 has the matte look of old chalk. Gesso Clair No. 57 is a light, slightly stony shade. Chalkstone No. 16 leans furthest into grey — for rooms where white would be too stark.
White that's almost linen
At the warm end are the shades you'd hardly call white anymore. Linen Veil No. 11 is a very light linen shade with a visible beige core. Canvas Cover No. 30 recalls unbleached canvas and carries whole rooms. Sel Marin No. 54 sits between white and sand with a salty, grey shimmer.
Why white still has colour in a room
White reflects a lot of light back into the room — that's why white rooms feel brighter, bigger and tidier. And because it reflects so much, it also passes on the colour of the light: a white wall is never neutral.
In north-facing rooms, even, bluish light comes in; a cool pure white turns grey and clinical there, while a creamy white keeps its warmth. South-facing rooms are the opposite: strong midday light pushes creamy shades towards yellow, which is why clear or chalky white works better there. The surroundings add their own tint too — a tree outside the window, a tiled roof across the way, a wooden floor in the room. So always hold a sample against the actual wall, never on the kitchen table.
Prime, base one or silk matte — which one for what
The three qualities aren't price tiers, but three different jobs.
- 👉 re-box prime — pure white paint, dead matte. Very high opacity, an even finish, a calm surface, even on surfaces sensitive to raking light. The choice for large ceilings and long hallway walls.
- 👉 re-box base one — matte interior paint for wall and ceiling, and a tinting base for every shade. Ideal when white and colour appear in the same project.
- 👉 re-box silk matte — silky matte, especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean. For kitchens, hallways, children's rooms and anything that gets wiped down.
The same guidelines apply to coverage for all three: 2.5 litres cover roughly 8–10 m² with two coats, 5 litres roughly 15–20 m², 10 litres roughly 30–40 m². On very dark, strongly coloured or uneven surfaces, coverage may be lower — which affects white paints especially often, since they're frequently applied over coloured old coats. The surface must be clean, dry, load-bearing and free of loose material. On highly absorbent or fresh plaster, a primer reduces consumption. For the calculation, see How much wall paint do I need?.
Combining white without it feeling empty
A purely white room lives on material and texture, not colour. The simplest help is a second, slightly darker white for the ceiling or skirting boards: the difference is barely nameable, but immediately felt.
- ✔️ Wood in any form — oak, ash and pine bring the yellow undertone that makes white feel inviting.
- ✔️ A muted shade next door — sage, sand or taupe. Any colour looks clearer next to white.
- ✔️ Textiles with texture — linen, wool, bouclé catch the light differently and add depth.
- ✔️ Black details — frames, handles, lamps. A little goes a long way, because the contrast is so strong.
- ✔️ Warm metal — brass with creamy white, stainless steel with the cool and chalky shades.
White in the living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and hallway
Living room
A warm, slightly broken white usually works better here than pure white, since furniture and textiles already bring in colour. The ceiling can be a touch lighter than the walls — this makes the room feel taller.
Bedroom
This is where matte pays off: the surface scatters the light, and the room feels softer. A creamy white makes the room feel warm in the evening, a chalky one keeps it calm. Both beat a stark pure white.
Kitchen
The kitchen is where silk matte wins. Grease splatters and fingerprints are part of the deal, and silk matte is especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean. The full sequence from taping to the final coat is in Painting walls without streaks.
Bathroom and utility room
In well-ventilated damp rooms, the silk matte quality is the practical choice, since the surfaces can be wiped clean. Make sure the surface is load-bearing and free of loose material.
Hallway and stairwell
Long hallway walls are notoriously sensitive to raking light: it skims flat across the surface and reveals every little imperfection. That's exactly what re-box prime is made for. For a whole flat in white, complete with tools, there's the renovation box "Alles einmal Weiß, bitte!".
White for doors, frames and furniture
White walls almost always meet white doors — and that's where it shows if the two whites don't match. For wood and furniture, the white shades are available as re-box protect in the Lackfarben Weiß category: a satin-sheen furniture and multi-purpose lacquer in a 750 ml tin, resistant to mechanical stress, everyday grime and outside influences.
Here too, the rule holds: two materials, one shared shade. First prime the wood with re-box core, then follow with protect.
Frequently asked questions about white wall paint
Which white suits a north-facing room?
Choose a warm white with a hint of cream or linen, such as Lait Vanillé No. 56 or Lin Clair No. 58. Northern light has a bluish cast and makes cool, pure whites look grey and clinical, while warm nuances stay inviting. Chalky tones with a touch of grey are the next best choice.
What's the difference between re-box prime and base one?
prime is the pure white paint with very high opacity, dead matt, for even wall and ceiling surfaces; base one is the matt interior paint that also serves as the tinting base for every shade. For large white surfaces exposed to raking light, choose prime. If white and coloured shades feature in the same project, base one is the more consistent base.
How much white wall paint do I need for a 60 m² flat?
Calculate based on wall area, not floor area: with a typical layout, that's a good 150 m², so roughly 40 to 50 litres for two coats. 10 litres covers about 30–40 m² over two coats. Measure the perimeter times the ceiling height for each room and subtract windows and doors.
Is white wall paint washable?
The silk matte quality is especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean, making it the right choice for kitchens, hallways and children's rooms. base one and prime are matt and therefore softer in appearance. In less-used rooms, matt works perfectly well.
Can I paint over a dark wall with white?
Yes, but plan for more paint: very dark, strongly coloured or uneven surfaces increase consumption. re-box prime, with its very high opacity, is the right choice for this. If in doubt, go with the next size up.
Why does the same white paint look different in two rooms?
Because white passes on the room's light rather than asserting a colour of its own. Window orientation, flooring, curtains and even a tree outside the window all tint the surface. So test a sample in the actual room, at different times of day.
Can I test white shades in advance and return them?
Samples, yes; mixed paint, no: the Farbmusterbox 65 Stk shows all the shades on your own wall, while individually mixed paints are excluded from withdrawal and exchange. Specially marked white goods, meaning unmixed base material, can be returned as long as they're undamaged and in their original packaging.
