Searching for the best white paint color? Instead of going to Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams and blankly staring at the hundreds of white paint chips, skip straight to these seven tried and true favorites and I guarantee you’ll find one that will look fantastic in your space!
Picking the perfect white paint color for your space isn’t always easy. Unlike other colors where the true color is pretty obvious from looking at the paint chip, whites have lots of undertones and subtle nuances that can make two colors that look similar on a paint chip look totally different once they’re painted on the wall . Wading through the endless number of white paint options to find a good fit can get pretty overwhelming so I’m sharing my seven tried & true white paint colors – the ones that I LOVE and that decorators and homeowners rave about time and time again.
1. Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17)
White Dove is a beautiful warm white that we have in both our entry way and our kitchen (pictured below). It’s not only a great color for walls, but also a favorite for molding and cabinets. It has slight gray and yellow undertones that make it a soft white that’s warm and welcoming.
Scroll and click/tap to shop my kitchen:
2. Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117)
Simply White was Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2016 and possibly the most versatile of all whites. It’s a fresh, clean looking white without being stark and it has just a touch of yellow undertones so that it’s a warm white without being too creamy. It’s a favorite for walls, ceilings, and molding, all of which Kelley Nan painted Simply White for her fabulous master bedroom makeover that you can hop over and see more of {here}:
My friend Pam of Simple Details also used Simply White on the walls of her client’s bedroom for a beautiful makeover that she did – you can check that out {here}. I know TONS of decorators and homeowners who have used and love this color but definitely test it out – it can take on a greenish tint in some spaces (it did that when I tried it out in my family room).
3. Benjamin Moore Cloud White (OC-130)
Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White is the perfect middle ground between Dove White (which is a touch creamier) and Simply White (which is a whiter white). I used it on the planked ceiling, walls, and trim in our family room – you can see more pics of this space and a complete source list for it {here}.
Scroll and click/tap to shop my family room:
4. Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White (CC-20, OC-149)
Decorators White is a fairly pure white but with a touch of gray that softens it and makes it a perfect choice for cabinets and trim. A beautiful example is Bree of ZDesign at Home’s kitchen (her cabinets and trim are Decorators White) – you can see more of this fabulous space {here}.
Decorator’s White can also be a great choice for a wall paint color if you want a fairly pure white that’s not too stark.
5. Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster (SW7008)
Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster, which Brittany of Addison’s Wonderland used in several rooms of her amazing historic home, is a warm white that is quite similar to Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. In addition to the stairway below, you can see Alabaster in action in Brittany’s mudroom, hallway, master bathroom and more in her house tour {here}.
6. Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (OC-65)
Chantilly Lace is a beautiful crisp, clean, bright white paint color that reads as a true white. It’s a great choice for contemporary spaces but can also look good in more traditional homes such as this light and bright living room by Chelsea of Making Home Base that you can see more of {here}.
Another somewhat similar bright white to try is Benjamin Moore’s Super White.
7. Farrow & Ball’s All White
Farrow & Ball’s All White is exactly that – it contains no other pigment except for white, creating a soft yet crisp white without the colder blue undertones of a brilliant white. It’s the color that I used on the shiplap walls and trim of our master bedroom remodel that you can see more of {here}.
Scroll and click/tap to shop my master bedroom:
When I first wrote this post several years ago (this is a recently updated version), China White was #8 on my list but since that time I’ve tried it out twice and both times I didn’t like the look of it at all – it has a good amount of gray in it, making it look dingy. I have seen it used as an exterior paint color and love it for that and I also think it’s a good color option if the room that you’re painting gets a ton of light (like {this gorgeous kitchen} where it looks amazing) but it may not be the best choice for a low- to medium-light room.
How To Figure Out the White Paint Color That’s “The One”
Now that I’ve shared my favorites, these two tips will help you figure out which of these beautiful whites is best for your space:
- I’m a big believer in narrowing your color choices down to three or four colors by looking at the paint chips in your home but then you need to actually TRY them out in your home by getting small sample sizes of each color. Paint each sample on a large piece of foam board and see how it looks at different times of the day with different amounts of light. Also, move your board to various spots around your room – you may be surprised at how different a paint color can look depending upon where it is in the room.
- Different sheens always make a difference in the look of a paint color but with whites, the difference can be huge. In our family room where I have Cloud White in satin on the trim and ceiling and in matte on the walls, you’d never think they were the same color (the matte has a more pronounced yellow undertone than the satin). So if you test a white paint color in semi gloss and then buy a gallon of it in matte to paint with, be prepared to see a difference!
Now that I’ve shared my favorite white paint colors, I’d love to hear about your favorite whites! Or any paint colors for that matter – I’m a total paint nerd and could talk paint colors for hours 🙂 If you like geeking out about paint colors too and want to know more of my favorite colors, be sure to check out {this post} where I share all of the paint colors in my home! Thanks as always for stopping by!
Yes, there are so many whites. I use Chantilly Lace on our trim and I have Linen White in a guest room.
Linen White is a pretty one too – I should have included it on my list!
If you’re looking for a crisp white, Benjamin Moore’s Mountain Peak White is a good choice.
Thanks for the tip Riley – I will have to check that white out!
Benjamin Moore – Atrium White and Mascarpone are my favorites – Atrium White neutral not too blue or yellow great for trim and ceilings. Mascarpone – warm – creamy without being yellow. Much prefer it to Linen White.
Thanks so much for adding to the list of beautiful whites!
Maybe you could help me!? I have white/gray/light blue (looks like marble) ceramic tiles with dark grey filling in between everywhere in my apartment and was wondering which white to put on my walls. Im in a basement so i dont want for it to look to cold ???? i tried blue on my wall and I ended up not liking it at all ????
Hi Millenia!
Unfortunately picking the right white paint color is something that really needs to be done in person. What I would recommend is that you pick up the color strips for these white paints and bring them home to look at them in your space. Pick your three favorites and get sample cans in those colors – paint a large area (two coats!) in each of the three colors and I promise that it will be easy to tell which color is best with everything else you have in your space!
we are renovating an older home Traditîonal Greek Revival. I want to use a creamy white for the interior. What’s your opinion on using one color like dove white by Benjamin Moore for the wallboards as well as the trim for moldings , mantle and other trimwork. Is using one color in this way a trend now or should I stay with two contrasting shades? Thank you
I actually love the look of White Dove for both the walls and trim (I have that combination in my kitchen!). Even though it’s the same color, the different sheen makes the color look slightly different so I feel like it gives some subtle contrast yet still flows together really well.
What are your thoughts on Benjamin Moore line Aura vs. Regal Select and would you do trim in either of those two or Benjamin Moore Advance?
Hi John! I’ve painted with all three of those Benjamin Moore paints and they’re all great paints. I use Regal Select in semigloss for trim unless I’m painting over oil-based paint, in which case I use Advance. Hope that helps!
HI Kris, I’m stuck between White Dove and Swiss Coffee. I like both but one or the other looks better on my walls in different parts of the house. What do you think about BM Swiss Coffee?
Unfortunately I’ve never used that color Sherry so I can’t really comment on how it compares to White Dove. Sorry!
for those with questions about walls vs trim colors…I just painted my home with a color called Weathered White. I used the European look with same color base and crown. What I ran into was the crown created a shadow and looked darker , so I had it lightened up quite a bit and in a semi gloss. It was right above painted cabinets which were in the wall color but semi. It was all seamless and gave a great look to a 60′ rancher with lower ceilings. I read about this European style on some decorating site. It was great solution.
Thanks for sharing Vicki!
Hi there! I’m curious after looking at this great article because you seem to know your stuff, what white (white on white for trim and cabinets) you’d suggest for a room that doesn’t get a ton of sun throughout the day. I’m saddened to discover my hubby and my first house seems to not have many, or big, windows though I would really like to punch up the light and airy factor. Creme and oat coastal or white and oat and creams is the look I’d like most (both in decor and on walls, etc). Do you have any suggestions? It’s hard to find suggestions for this look when the room isn’t a bright one! Thanks!!
Lauren I think several of the whites in this post might work well for you – it just depends if you’re looking for a cool white or warm white and what intensity. I’ve found that Cloud White works well in darker spaces so maybe try a sample of that first and go from there!
Good article! I’m needing to refresh some spaces in our home that were painted white when we bought the house but remind me of ‘primer’! It just doesn’t look finished! I love white and want to keep it white but use a ‘warmer’ version of the color! I was feeling overwhelmed about how to go about it! This article comes at a good time! Thanks Kris!
I’m so glad that you found it helpful Brenda! XOXO
Wish I had read your entry a year ago. We just built our new home on the NC coast where we get lots of bright light in the upstairs rooms. I had two bedrooms painted Simply White after painting numerous board a variety of whites. As soon as the rooms were completed, before we even moved in, I knew I had made a mistake. The rooms looked a ‘greeny-yellow’. Awful! They look even worse now that my red, white, and blue themed bedding is in there. I hate to paint and my husband refuses to pay a pai ter!
Ugh! I have seen Simply White used time and time again and be the perfect white BUT I’ve also seen it turn green – I tried to use it in my own home and painted one wall but it definitely had a green tint in my space. It varies so much from house to house!
Just painted simply white and the painter thought maybe they got it wrong it looks green. He has to do one more coat so I can change. This is for all bedrooms. The rest of my home is the sw alabaster. What should I put over the simply white to not be green?
HI
I am having the same problem with both Cloud White and Simply White-I feel your pain!
I have a tint on my windows and grass and blue water outside which impacts I am sure, but even in a washroom with no window, the paints still look green.
Wondering if you have come up with any solutions? I just hung up from Sherwin Willliams after discussing Alabaster, which they tell me has gray instead of yellow undertones and would be similar to Cloud White.
I guess this is why the root word of paint is pain.
Would be interested to hear from you.
Thank you.
Brenda
Brenda one thing I found is that the Matte sheen of both paints is quite a bit different than the flat so I’ve gone back to using flat since it’s less yellow/green. Cloud White flat doesn’t give off any of the green tones in my house!
I love Benjamin Moore colors. I used their Simply White for the trim in my house and White Dove for my kitchen cabinets. Pretty much all my walls are painted in one of their colors. Mostly neutrals, blues, or greens.
Laurie I’m with you – especially when it comes to whites Benjamin Moore is my go-to!
Wonderful information, Kris. Benjamin Moore Simply White and Dove white are my “go to” colors. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love those too! Hope you got spoiled on Valentine’s Day!
Which whites do you recommend for high altitude north facing rooms?
I don’t know about high altitudes but for north facing rooms, white paint colors with warm undertones work best!
Is it my monitor or do all these whites have a touch of blue? I think I like Chantilly Lace the best. But it is really hard to tell.
Thank you.
It’s your monitor 🙂 Many of these are warm whites that aren’t at all blue.
This post came at the perfect time!! I have been trying to find the perfect white on our our huge fireplace wall. Our walls are BM Revere Pewter and our trim is just basic white (that the previous owners had chosen). I would like it to be a soft white without being too yellowy . Any recommendations for what white would work best on that wall? Thank you for your time.
One you could try is Cloud White – it’s exactly that, a soft warm without without too much yellow.
Kris,
This is very helpful. I’ve seen several of the BM paints in various whites. It can be overwhelming. Thanks for the detailed descriptions. I think the next time I have to paint I’ll paint with Simply White.
xo,
Karen
Thanks Karen! So glad that you found it helpful!
Great information Kris. I am in the process of choosing a white paint for the trim/doors/cabinets in our home. Our current “white” has been custom matched the past few times since it is no longer available. So I need to find a current white I love. Of course my sweet hubby says “white is white”. LOL
Lauren I had to do that in our last house – there were several whites and I didn’t know what any of them were so I had to just cut the cord and start fresh! Hope you find one that you love!
Kris this is such a great post!! You can bet I’ll be referring back to it soon:). And thank you for sharing my kitchen…I feel so honored it made your list😘
Bree, I appreciate you letting me share your beautiful kitchen!! XOXO
Hi Kris,
Thanks for the tips on white paint! I thought I had my heart set on Simply White for our home – until I saw your Living room with Cloud White. I just love that room of yours and I might have to give this cloud white color a try.
If you do, you’ll have to let me know how you like it!
We are doing a new build and I am completely lost in picking a white for the ceiling. Our colors are neutrals for the most part (SW Sea Salt and On the Rocks, BM Silver Mist and Pale Oak). I am leaning toward BM Simply White, SW Pure White or Alabaster. Impressions on an would look best?
I am looking for soft white (not too stark) for exterior in south florida. A lot of sun east/west facing. Any suggestions, looked at Swiss coffee & greek Villa. Also, nice trim color with co tast. Roof and pavers multi terracotta/grey/slight yellow.
How fun! Unfortunately I don’t ever feel comfortable making specific recommendations without seeing a space in person – colors can change so much depending upon the other colors in a space, what direction it’s facing, etc.
Thank you for this post. I am going out today to get samples and paint foam core boards 3 different whites to try in our new-to-us home! I plan to use the same color ceiling, walls and trim in most of the house. What finish is most modern? Some designers advise matte for ceiling and other satin. Some advise eggshell for wall and others say matte. Semi-gloss or satin for trim? Should kitchens and baths be different in paint finish from the rest of the house.? I love your BM White Cloud look with the black and white photographs. My husband is a black and white fine art photographer, so that setting was very persuasive! I will do my homework on the color, but can definitely use your insight on finish. Many thanks!
I think finish is very much personal preference – I typically do matte on the walls, flat on ceilings (the more sheen, the more that you see imperfections and most ceilings have a lot of them), and satin on trim. In terms of what’s most modern, honestly I think it’s either end of the extremes – either matte or high gloss! And as far as kitchen and baths, I’ve used BM matte on those too because it’s a scrubbable flat but I don’t have young kids getting water everywhere either. For a space that gets really heavy use you’re better off going with a higher sheen. Hope that helps!
I’m planning on having my new kitchen cabinets and trim painted in Simply White. Is there another Benjamin Moore white you think would pair well with it on the shiplap walls and ceiling? Thinking of either Dove White or Cloud White, but am open to other suggestions. It is a west facing room with lots of green reflecting from the outside. (Living in a rainforest)
Hi Karen – it’s hard to say for sure since whites can look so different from space to space but I will say that I tried Simply White in my house that has a lot of green reflecting from the outdoors and it turned the white a greenish tone so I ended up using Cloud White. I would definitely paint some boards a few different whites and try them out in your house.
Do you have a favorite white in Behr? I have used whitecliff beige in Glidden, the swatch looks very beige but yet it looks very white in my entry and halls. I love it, but was going to use it someone else’s bedroom and now I’m leery it won’t look the same it looks in my home. Ahhh what to do. I wanted to use Behr as a Home Depot is close and a good price point for my client.
Thanks,
Karen
KD Interiors.
Hi Karen,
I’ve used Behr in other colors but unfortunately I’ve never used their whites!
Have you ever used Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White? I’m going for the white on white look, but I definitely don’t want it to feel sterile. My cabinet guy is recommending doing the kitchen cabinets and built-ins in SW Aesthetic White, which means I’d also probably have to do my trim in the same color since it’s all one, big open space and my cabinets will extend to the ceiling. I’m having a terrible time making a decision on how to tie it all together!
Sorry Andrea – I’ve never used that white before!
Please help me pick an exterior white for my lake house in north Louisiana, which is cedar with a Certainteed Weathered Wood roof and copper gutters. I’m trying to decide between BM White Dove, BM Gray Owl, SW Natural Choice, SW Alabaster, SW Dover White…. HELP!!! Thank you so much!
I’d love to help but feel that the only way to choose outdoor paint colors well is to see samples on the house in person – the same color can look very different from house to house depending on materials, surroundings, etc.
For a kitchen would you suggest satin or matte? We will actually be painting the entire house one colour to start
Most likely chantilly lace or simply white, white heron, Decorater’s white
Most people will suggest satin for a kitchen because it’s more scrubbable but I actually use flat or matte everywhere because I like the lack of sheen and how easy it is to touch up.
Hi Kris,
My husband and I live in a townhouse that has all sliding glass doors. We keep the blinds and curtains closed during the day to keep the heat from beating in and the air running all day (we live in Florida).
I want to have the interior updated as we haven’t painted in 16 years. I have decided that White Dove BM and Alabaster SW are the top contenders as of right now for all the walls pretty much throughout. I want the trim & ceilings white but have no idea what white to chose with either paint.
My furniture is off white (Ikea slipcovers for sofa & chairs) with multi blue striped large area rugs in the living room area. Without seeing pictures what’s your opinion on both paints and what white for the trim & ceilings.
I’m NOT good with color at all so I found your blog and knew you were the person I wanted to ask.
Thank you in advance, Chris
Chris, I wish I could help but I would just be guessing in helping you pick out the perfect white for your space without seeing it in person!
I love your break down of the whites! We chose cloud white for our kitchen cabinets, and revere pewter for our main walls (open concept) now 3 years later I am hating the revere pewter and finding it too dark. I am having a heck of a time finding a lighter wall colour yo bo with my cloud white cabinets!! Any advice??
Try Benjamin Moore Gray Owl or Repose Gray!
Great article. Can you recommend a white to go with golden oak? Our house is 100+ yrs old with the original oak trim and floors. We have decided not to paint the oak trim. Thanks
Whites are so tricky that honestly the same white can look totally different in two different homes so I really can’t make a blanket recommendation for a white – I would just be guessing. Sorry!
Hello! I have a very small home and I have chosen blue/green/gray colors throughout. Our Hall connects our living (SW Silver Strand) and kitchen (SW Rainwashed) so you can see from one room to the other. There is no light in the hall except from the adjacent rooms. I was thinking that SW Alabaster would lighten it up and keep the house from feeling too cool…..
I painted my bedroom Benjamin Moore paper white in a matte finish and love it!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Love your blog,
I read the SWs post too, what would be a good alternative in SWs for BMs Simply White (for walls), and Decorators White (for ceiling and trim).