Paint colour advice please.

[muff13]

We have just purchased a property that we are planning to let on a short assured tenancy. The house has a large bright sitting room upstairs while the downstairs bedrooms and passages etc are fairly dark with smallish windows. We had planned to paint the house throughout with magnolia paint but I now wonder whether it would be better to paint downstairs with white paint to see if it brightens it up and makes it look lighter. However I am concerned that white might be too clinical a colour to use throughout. I feel restricted to either white or magnolia as these are "harmless" colours and easy to obtain in large pots as there is a vast area to cover.

I should be grateful for any advice and comments.

[AlBags]

I would use white or light cream standard colours if you are renting.

[rowanwitch]

Stick with magnolia its warmer with fresh white gloss

[bednobs]

agree if your only choices are white or magnolia, choose magnolia

[muff13]

The windows and doors are all stained a brown wood colour so there is no brightness there so just thought that white might make it look brighter.

[DTCwordfan]

look at linens as a neutral contrast

[237SJ]

When I rented out a place I did the whole house in Crown Soft Linen which was "functional" but cheerful. It was pale but with a slight buttery hue to it. It made the place cool looking in summer but warm in winter while adding light.

[carrust]

I've decorated many rental properties and my advise would be to have brilliant white ceilings & woodwork & magnolia on the walls.
Don't waste your money on vinyl emulsion, use contract matt which is about half the price of vinyl paint.

[boxtops]

My house is dark downstairs, I used an off-white colour called Timeless throughout the house - it's not as clinical as pure white - and I have lots of mirrors. You can buy it in a number of finishes http://www.google.co....mTDA&ved=0CGYQ8wIwAA#

[muff13]

Thanks to all who have answered. I gather that the general opinion is to avoid white on the walls so I shall probably just stick with magnolia on the walls and white on the ceiling. I am sure many of the colours mentioned are nicer but we are trying not to spend too much and as it is quite a large house will need to buy at least 50l of paint for one coat so want to keep the prices down.

[tinpotLizzie]

Ask at your local Trade paint shop for Dulux in "Gardenia". It's a creamy colour with no grey content & lights up any room. North facing rooms with grey light are transformed with this colour & as it's neutral will sit happily with almost any colour. We use it in our rented property & tenants love it!