Searching for the best white paint colors? Instead of going to Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams and blankly staring at the hundreds of white paint chips, skip straight to these 8 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 (make sure to read my post on how to choose paint colors for tips!). 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 eight tried & true white paint colors. These are the paint colors that I LOVE and that decorators and homeowners rave about time and time again. (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})
I’m sharing these favorite whites in order from darkest to lightest based on each paint color’s LRV (Light Reflectance Value) which indicates how much light the paint color reflects. Paints with a lower LRV will appear darker than paints with a higher LRV.
1. Behr’s White (52) LRV 83
Behr’s White 52 is a soft white that’s the closest of any of my favorite whites to being an off-white since it has the lowest LRV. It’s a slightly cool white which pairs well with blues, including the accent wall of Behr Blueprint in my daughter’s bedroom:
You can see more pics and all sources for this space in my post on her boho bedroom colors.
Room Sources: Gold quatrefoil pendant | Moroccan leather poufs | Small acrylic lamp | Chest of drawers | White linen quilt
2. Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster (SW7008) LRV 82
Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster, which Brittany of Addison’s Wonderland used in several rooms of her amazing historic home, is similar in depth to Behr’s White 52 but it’s a warm white rather than a cool one. 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}.
3. Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White (CC-20, OC-149) LRV 82.68
Decorator’s White has a touch of gray that softens it and makes it a great 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}.
It’s close to being a pure white but with a touch of coolness and a softness that you don’t get with the brighter whites. 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.
Tip: Learning how to paint yourself instead of hiring out can save tons of money! Get my step by step in my post on how to paint a room
4. Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17) LRV 83.16
White Dove is a beautiful warm white that we had in our kitchen (pictured below) before we remodeled it. It’s not only a great color for walls, but also a favorite for molding and cabinets. It has warm, yellow undertones with a touch of gray that make it a soft white that’s warm and welcoming.
Sources: Rolling baker’s rack (similar) | Hanging herb boxes
5. Benjamin Moore Cloud White (OC-130) LRV 85.05
Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White is somewhere between White Dove and Simply White (the next white on my list) in how bright of a white it is. This is what the three samples looked like when I tested them out in our family room before deciding that Cloud White was the winner for this space:
I used Cloud White throughout our family room – on the planked ceiling, the walls, and the trim (matte on the walls & satin on the ceiling and trim). It was the perfect neutral backdrop for the large art wall around our TV. You can see more pics of this space and a complete source list for it {here}.
Sources: TV console (similar) | Chandelier (satin bronze) | White tasseled pillow cover | Blue linen pillow cover | Green & blue block print pillow cover | Faux fiddle leaf fig tree | Rug | Pair of floor poufs | Art prints (details in {this post} | Acrylic coffee table (similar) | Coffee table tray (28″ square) | Black and white striped box (on coffee table) | Brass cricket (on coffee table) | Wood beads | Rattan chair
I also used Cloud White in our kitchen when we remodeled (I switched from White Dove because our new cabinets were a whiter white than before so it was a better fit) – you can see more pics plus all sources in my post on my kitchen remodel.
Sources: Lantern pendants over island (12.5″) | Rattan counter stools in Fog | Pulls on island drawers (12″) | Large framed floral art print
Also take a look at my kitchen eat-in area where you can get another peek at Cloud White on the walls. Want more details on this great white paint color? Check out my Benjamin Moore Cloud White review that shows a side by side comparison of how this white compares to other popular white paint colors.
6. Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117) LRV 89.52
Simply White is possibly the most versatile of all whites. Like White Dove, it has a warm undertone but it’s a bit lighter and brighter. It’s the color that I chose to paint most of our NC home including our guest room:
Sources: Beadboard bed (weathered white) | 12″ Memory foam queen mattress (no boxspring needed) | Blue & white quilted shams (similar) | Blue tasseled edge pillow covers | Navy embroidered lumbar pillow cover ( with {this} pillow insert) | Navy border duvet cover | White quilt | Woven bench | Nightstand (similar) | Lamp (similar) | Round mirror
For more pics, see my posts on this blue and white bedroom and our small breakfast nook that are both painted Simply White.
7. Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (OC-65) LRV 90.04
Chantilly Lace is a beautiful crisp, clean, bright white paint color that reads as a true white with a touch of blue. 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}.
When I designed our master bathroom remodel, I knew that I wanted white walls since they’re the perfect neutral backdrop. I ended up choosing Chantilly Lace which was the just-right crisp white for the space:
Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Bathroom faucets – brushed nickel | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors – gold | Marble stacking dishes | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Toothbrush holder | Bamboo toothbrushes | Gray & white striped towels | Robe hooks – golden champagne
The color tone of it works beautifully with marble (which is also a cool toned white) so it’s a great choice for many bathrooms and kitchens. If you’re considering using Chantilly Lace, I share more details about it and how it compares to other similar whites in my post on Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
8. Farrow & Ball’s All White (No. 2005) LRV 91.8
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}.
Sources: Upholstered bed (similar) | Gray nightstands | Camp stools (similar) | Table lamps (similar) | Semi flushmount light (available {here} and {here}) | Gray & white patterned linen duvet – no longer available | Gray & white dragon/floral pillows | Quilt in king (color is Flagstone) | Drapes (mine are single-width blackout lined) | Diamond jute rug
How To Figure Out the Best White Paint Color For Your Space
Never choose a paint color just by looking at the paint strip. You need to see what they look like in your home! The same white paint color can look totally different in one home vs. another due to the lighting conditions of the space. I highly recommend that you buy peel-and-stick samples of the white paint colors you’re considering on Samplize (I linked each color’s Samplize sample under the paint color description).
See my post on how to choose paint colors for more tips on testing paint samples.
What Color Should I Use for the Baseboards and Trim?
When painting with whites, I recommend that you paint your baseboards and trim the same white as the walls but a higher sheen. Depending on the room being painted, I used flat, matte, or eggshell on the walls and satin or semi-gloss on the trim. The higher the sheen, the brighter the paint color appears so if, for example, you use matte on the walls and satin on the trim, they will look great together since they have the same undertones. However, the satin trim will look a bit brighter so you still get the perfect amount of subtle contrast between your wall and trim colors.
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What Color Should I Use for the Ceiling?
I typically recommend that you paint the ceiling with the same white paint color that you’re using on the walls (flat or matte is best since in hides roller marks and imperfections). You could also choose to use a single ceiling paint color throughout your home – my favorite is Benjamin Moore Muresco ceiling paint.
How About Color Matching?
It’s possible to have a paint color from one brand mixed by another brand (for example, asking Sherwin Williams to mix paint that’s identical to a Benjamin Moore paint color). Sometimes color matching works and sometimes it doesn’t. But with whites… just don’t do it! There is very little pigment in white paint colors so just a small change can cause a big difference in how the color appears when painted on your walls.
Now that I’ve shared my favorite white paint colors, do you want to know about some of my other favorite colors? Check out…
Also be sure to check out {this post} where I share all of the paint colors in my home! Thanks as always for stopping by!
Glenda says
I painted my bedroom Benjamin Moore paper white in a matte finish and love it!!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks for sharing!!
Kimberly says
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…..
Silvia says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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!
Maeghan Ottrey says
Silvia, did you end up finding a white you like? I’m about to move into a 100+ year old home and I’m looking to narrow down on some whites to go with our golden oak trim! Kris- any suggestions as to whether I should stick with trying warmer whites instead of something more stark like Chantilly?
Kris says
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??
Kris Jarrett says
Try Benjamin Moore Gray Owl or Repose Gray!
Christine L Blum says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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!
Stephani says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Susie Holton says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Diana Dambra says
I moved to a modern condo with great light, but very traditional furnishings and art work. In our old house, we used BM Antique White to have a creamy look, and I am thinking of doing it again, but with all the light, would Linen White be a better choice?
Anonymous says
Natural choice!
Andrea says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
Sorry Andrea – I’ve never used that white before!
Karen Doss says
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.
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Karen,
I’ve used Behr in other colors but unfortunately I’ve never used their whites!
Karen says
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)
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Coco May says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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!
Susan says
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?
Diane says
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.
Dani says
I have Greek Villa everywhere trim, ceilings, and walls and LOVE it. I have found that what impacts the look the most is lighting. I’m sure you are aware of this but look at paint in brightest sun, dimmest cloud cover, and night time lighting. Then go with what looks best. Best luck
R says
Did you ever decide what color? I’m looking Pure White and Greek Villa for my coastal stucco house. I’m going for a Mallorcan/Moroccan vibe.
Kris Jarrett says
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.
Karen @ decorhint says
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.
Kris Jarrett says
If you do, you’ll have to let me know how you like it!
Bree says
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?
Kris Jarrett says
Bree, I appreciate you letting me share your beautiful kitchen!! XOXO
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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!
Karen B. says
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
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Karen! So glad that you found it helpful!