Which RAL color to choose for white walls and ceilings?

The RAL Classic collection offers multiple white tones that lend themselves to application on walls and ceilings. But which shade of white is the best choice in your situation? In this article we indicate which options are available and which things can play a role in choosing the desired white tone. We are happy to help you determine the right basic color for your interior.

RAL 9001: cream white

RAL 9001 was widely used in homes in the past for painting walls and ceilings, especially in the 90s. RAL 9001 is still widely used in construction and finishing, but since a few years this color has been used less on interior walls and ceilings. RAL 9001 has a somewhat yellowish appearance and therefore comes across as less fresh than, for example, RAL 9010 and RAL 9016.

RAL 9010: pure white

RAL 9010 is a slightly off-white color. For painting ceilings and walls, paint in this RAL color is most often applied. Thus, this is an important standard color.

RAL 9016: traffic white

RAL 9016 is a light white shade and has risen in popularity in recent years for painting walls and ceilings. Especially in new construction, RAL 9016 is increasingly chosen instead of the traditional RAL 9010. Due to its light and fresh appearance, RAL 9016 is ideally suited for rooms with little daylight. RAL 9016 provides a spatial appearance and is labeled by many people as a 'very white' color. This color is widely used in sleek, modern, Scandinavian interiors. RAL 9016 can appear 'cool' because the color has no yellow or red undertones. A fun fact: RAL 9016 is also used for applying stripes to roads, hence the color name 'traffic white'.

Use color testers

The choice of the right shade of white depends on the situation. If your space has many or large windows, RAL 9010 can be a good choice. Is your room darker, for example because of few or small windows? Then RAL 9016 can be a suitable choice. When choosing one of the white tones of RAL Classic, personal preferences also play a role. Thus, we recommend using a color tester to view and compare the whites you are considering in the respective room. Moreover, look at the applied colors in both day and evening light and in different places in the room to make the perfect choice. For example, RAL 9010 is an off-white color and therefore looks different as daylight changes: radiant white in the morning and yellower in the evening.

Combine with other colors

With white you create a quiet base in your interior. Once you have chosen a white tone for the walls, you do not automatically have to use that color for, for example, the doors, skirting boards and window frames. You can choose to use a different white tone for those things. That gives a more exciting effect than providing these things with the same color, without making the room look much busier. Due to its neutral character, RAL 9016 is perfectly suitable for combining with full colors, for example an accent wall in a striking color. The RAL Classic collection also offers an extensive range for such applications.

Conclusion

The white tone of the RAL Classic color collection largely determines the appearance of your space and it is therefore important to select the right color. In addition to the things mentioned, the choice of a certain color is also taste-dependent. Hopefully, this article has helped you to select the right RAL color for your walls and ceilings. Good luck painting!