How to Pick the Right White for Trim, Cabinets, Ceilings or Walls
Alright, it’s time to get your tighty-whities on because TODAY you’re going to learn how to pick the BEST white for your trim, cabinets, ceilings or walls!
But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let me save you a LOT of time, energy and sanity by saying this…
If you already have something painted white in your room, ie: trim or cabinets and are NOT repainting them, I would HIGHLY SUGGEST that you paint, whatever it is you want to paint, the exact same colour.
It can be risky to mix and match whites as one can EASILY make another look dirty/warm/cool/etc… If this concerns you, then stick with the white you already have! If you don’t know the name of the white you have, take a cabinet door/piece of trim to the paint store and have them colour match it for you.
Now, moving along to the guts n’ glory of this blog post…
STEP 1
Find your MAIN white
What does this mean? Well, whether you’re building from scratch or updating a space, you should have a white that is ALREADY living in your room and there are 3 main places to find it…
- Find the white or off-white in your countertop. Many countertops have a white or off-white in them. This is YOUR guiding light – and guiding white. So whether you’re building from scratch or using what you already have, look at your countertop selection to see which type of white you’re dealing with. If your choice doesn’t have ANY white or off-white (whether warm or cool), then you’ll want to move along to #2.
The above countertop would call for a clean or slightly cool white. If you put a white with too much yellow in it next to this, it could clash
The creamy tone in the above countertop definitely prefers a soft, warm off-white. If you put a cool white with this, it wouldn’t make sense
2. Find the white on existing cabinets, trim or doors that are NOT being re-painted. Like I mentioned above, if you already have an existing white surface that you DON’T want to paint, I would suggest using this SAME white on your newly painted surface. If you are building and have chosen white cabinets, I recommend painting trim, ceiling and doors the SAME white.
3. Find the white on other surfaces: If you don’t have countertop with white/off-white in it OR existing trim/doors that are painted white, then look to tile, vinyl flooring or another surface that is not being changed any time soon. This can also be your guiding white.
The colour in this tile would be a warm off-white/creamy beige. If you put a stark white or cool white with this, it wouldn’t work
The fireplace stone above calls for a soft white, not cold, but not too creamy warm either
STEP 2
Figure out what TYPE of white you have
Now that you’ve found the main white in your room, you’ll want to figure out what TYPE of white you’re dealing with.
Warm white
Warm whites aren’t stark and clean, they’re softer looking.
Benjamin Moore Cloud White
Clean white
Clean whites are pretty…darned…white
Similar to Benjamin Moore Super White
Cool white
These ones aren’t as common, but they’re still out there. These ones lean to the cool side and often look fresh and a bit ‘icy’
Similar to Benjamin Moore Decorators White
Off-white (warm)
Off-whites might fool you, trying to LOOK like white, but they have more softness and depth to them and are usually on the warm side, but can also be a super light gray/cool colour.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Now you might be like, ‘hey crazy pants, it all looks white to me!’ Fair enough, sometimes you don’t know which type of white you have until you compare it to something different, so let’s do that!
STEP 3
Compare YOUR white to something that IS white
Comparison is one of the BEST ways to see the undertones in a colour. By placing real white against your white, it should be easier to see which type of white you’re working with.
The best way to do this without losing your mind is to take 2-3 stacked pieces of paper (or a piece of poster board) and compare them to your existing white. I say 2-3 pieces because 1 piece can be kind of transparent and we want a solid look (an envelope works well for a more solid white look). Now, there are the anal few (bless your lil’ hearts) who will say, ‘but what type of white is the paper?‘ OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, we’re not trying to save lives here people, we’re just picking paint colours, so let’s all just agree that paper is generally pretty…darned…white.
So now that you have figured out whether you have a warm, cool, clean or off-white, you can head to the paint store with ‘your white’ in mind.
If you were to compare this countertop to a real white (such as the hanging towel), you’d see that it’s slightly soft and warm
STEP 4
Pick your White
You should now be able to go to the paint store knowing which type of white you’re dealing with. Personally, I’m a pinot gris fan myself, but I’ll settle for a nice chardonnay. Oh wait, we’re talking about the PAINT store…right.
If you don’t have an existing white in your home, then you’ll want to look at the colours in your home and your general style to figure out which white is best for you.
Tips for picking white when you don’t already have one
If you don’t have anything white in your room that you have to work with, you’ll want to look at the neutral colours in your room for guidance. Whether its countertop, tile or carpet, the colour of your hard surfaces will help to guide you towards the right white. The exception to this is wood flooring which is far more flexible with regard to whites.
If your hard surfaces are charcoal, lighter gray, blue, green or purple
While you can create an interesting and dynamic look with soft, slightly warm whites, to keep it simple you’ll want to check out clean whites or slightly cool whites.
Get a look similar to this with SW Network Gray and SW Pure White
If your hard surfaces are in the greige, tan or earth-toned range
You’ll want to check out warm or soft off-whites.
Get a look similar to this with Edgecomb Gray and BM White Dove
If your hard surfaces are in the warmer range of beige, cream, yellow, orange and red
You’ll want to look at warm whites.
Get a look similar to this with BM Navajo White and BM Simply White
Now, if you’ve spent any time on Pinterest looking for the right white, you’ve probably realized that there are TONS of whites, but only a few right ones. So, to keep things simple we’re going to focus in on a few of my fave white paint colours. You want a different white? Fill ‘yer boots, but we’re staying meat n’ potatoes here folks and looking at my TOP choice from both SW and BM for each grouping.
If you’re still not sure which white you’re dealing with, narrow it down to the 2 white groupings that seem the closest and bring those samples home.
My Top 2 Warm Whites
SW Pure White
Pure White is one of my faves. It’s pretty darned white with only a weee fraction of warmth in it. If all else fails and I can’t figure out what the heck white I’m dealing with, this is usually my go-to.
BM Simply White
Simply White is a popular choice for a fresh, but warm white
My Top 2 Clean Whites
SW High Reflective White
High Reflective White is pretty darned white, not warm, not cold – just white
BM Super White
Super White is also pretty damn white. It can stretch itself JUST slightly cool…but barely
(I also like BM Oxford White for a simple, but not overly bright white look)
My Top 2 Cool Whites
SW Extra White
Extra White will absolutely act like white, but a more ‘fresh and cool’ version of it – without being an actual colour
BM Decorators White
Decorators White is another nice pretty darned white colour that nods toward cool undertones
My Top 2 Almost Off-Whites
SW Alabaster
Alabaster is a warm, almost off-white. Soft and hinting at creamy, but grounded by a nice neutral base to calm it down
BM White Dove
Definitely my 2nd fave white. White Dove is a warm white like Alabaster but is slightly more neutralized. It tends to flex well toward both slightly warm and cool colours
That should cover it!
Not sure which white is best for YOU and YOUR home?
Check out my affordable and fun E-design and Virtual Paint Colour packages!
Chat soon,
Wow, super timely post… We just had Ikea Hemnes white stain bookcases trimmed out to look built in and I’m trying to find the right white to use that won’t require me to paint the inside of the bookcases. I also need to paint a fireplace on the opposite wall with the same color. I picked two whites and painted them on a board a few hours ago and after reading this post, before even taking them to the shelves, can see they are too warm for the white stain. Back to the drawing board!
I’m in love with the counter in the 1st Kitchen picture under “Warm Whites” (Benjamin Moore Cloud White) I was wondering on your thoughts on how that would look with cloud white on the cupboards and Benjamin Moore’s Natural Linen on the walls? Or would that counter be better suited with a grey wall colour?
Hi Patricia, Natural Linen could look quite lovely, I don’t see any problem with that at all and it might be nicer than a lighter cooler gray…
Kylie, I just love your posts and have learned so much from them (can you say LRV!?). Whites are so hard and I’m wanting to paint my 2 story gambrel roof house white. Which Whites work best for exterior use? I live in sunny Florida…….
Oooo Susan, great idea for a blog post! The only thing is that I use only my own photos and I don’t have any clients exteriors in the best whites – so it would be hard for me to reference them! Mind you, sometimes just info is helpful! BTW, I would check out SW Pure White…
This is amazing. You cut right to the chase and clearly explained what was what lol Compare, compare! I always learn so much when reading your posts. It def sinks in mi cabesa lol. Excellent and so funny!! Thanks again. Not going to be uptight with white!
Lovely comment, thank you Robin! Whites can be SUCH a bugger so hopefully the bits n pieces help!
We just bought a home and wanted to repaint the trim. There are a million whites to choose. I was in a dilemma until I read your blog. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I plan to use your online help once we move into the home.
Wonderful, looking forward to it Cheryl!
Thanks, Kylie, for condensing this subject into a great resource for your readers!
Would you please share the names of a couple of your favorite SW off- whites that fall into the SUPER light gray family as mentioned above? Perhaps a grayed-white?
Ooo Shari, you know what – SW just doesn’t have great ones in the super light off-white gray – nobody does really! It seems that undertones come up so much in that range. Eider White is a popular off-white, but it can cast a touch purple. Egret White is a bit warmer/greige and same thing. The best as far as I’m concerned is SW Crushed Ice, but it’s getting closer to the ‘light’ range as it has more depth to it. Ice Cube is a lovely, cooler off-white, but again, you will likely see those cool undertones coming up a bit more than you’d like…
Hey Kylie,
I’m doing a color consult with you. Love reading your analysis of whites and all undertones for that matter!
Thanks!
Thank you for your informative articles! I know that once a white is chosen for trim, it should be used throughout the home for continuity’s sake. However, if there is a separation of rooms, can another white be used? i.e. I have a corner utility room that was recently painted SW Vital Yellow with recommended Pure White trim and cabinets. Walking out of that room is my mudroom which has stained wood trim, and into the open area kitchen and family room–all trim and cabinets are stained. The hallway leading to the bedrooms and the bedrooms themselves have painted trim and doors in need of freshening up. The bedroom bath areas have stained cabinets and painted trim. However, I feel that Pure White is not warm enough to compliment all my stained woodwork–I sometimes see a hint of blue in the trim and cabinets in my utility room, and don’t want to see that in the rest of my home. I’m considering SW Alabaster for all remaining trim and doors in these areas. Would that be acceptable? Or do I need to stick with Pure White for the whole house?
Thanks for this post! I think SW Pure White is the best match for my kitchen countertops. If I use Pure White for cabinets and trim, can I use Alabaster on the walls?
I’m helping out with a Church/community children’s area . There are north facing windows only. The prep/activity areas tops are White with some grey bits, not sure of material but easy to clean, may be quartz.. Warmer white would be so nice for the north room but now I see it might clash with the white tops. (thanks to you Kylie!). I think I’m going to suggest pure white now because this sure is a difficulty I have no idea what to do with, and I think you said pure white is great for that 😂) …but hm.. I wonder if the north light is going to kill it.
When you don’t know where to go, I think it’s pure white?
Hi Jed, yes north facing light could definitely kill the glory of PUre White. I’m wondering if you might like the softness of BM White Dove or SW Alabaster? Even BM Cloud White could work? I have blog posts on BOTH of these brands (re: the best white paint colours) that might help you! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-8-best-benjamin-moore-white-paint-colours-undertones-and-more/
Hi Kylie!
I have rainwashed in my entryway (which I just love) but can’t find a color to put on the top of my small dining room. Afraid to go with too much blue or similar shades. Looking for a subtle greyer blue color and failing. Any thoughts?
Thank you!
Dylan
Hi Dylan, thank you for your note! When it comes to questions like yours, I actually created an Edesign business – this way I can look at photos/questionnaire and come up with ideas that work, otherwise I’m TOTALLY guessing on what things look like on your end! It is affordable and fun! If you find that the complimentary blog post info isn’t working, it might be the next step! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Hello. Just started following your blog, which I love. We are closing on a new home soon and I am looking at tons of colors. Your information has really helped. I am absolutely in love with the edgecomb gray and white dove pic by BM that you have posted. The look is similar to the home we are purchasing. Do you have recommendations for similar/equivalent colors in Sherwin-Williams? Thanks for all the great info!
Hi Haddie, unfortunately there isn’t really a comparable in SW – but you could ask them to colour match it for you? It won’t be 100% but close, just check it with the original sample 🙂
Hi Kylie ! I love your site; I think I’ve read every article multiple times in the last 3-4 weeks. We plan to paint our southwest facing DR in BM Newburyport Blue, and the adjoining northwest facing FR in BM Stonington Gray. I was thinking about painting all the trim in White Dove, but the room can we quite dark. What trim color would you recommend ??
Oooo, I’m liking the sounds of that! White Dove is just a versatile, easy white to work with! I also like the slightly more clean approach of Oxford White. If you have a lot of ‘white’ in your home, Oxford might be a better fit, but if you have some softer whites, White Dove could be better (I also love SW Pure White which is kind of in between the 2).
I’d LOVE to see the Newburyport all done!
~Kylie
Thanks Kylie! I will definitely send you pictures once it’s done. But it looks like the room actually has a northeast / north / slightly north west orientation (as opposed to NW-SW). I’m worried that the Stonington will read too cold with the northern light …. so now I’m shifting to Silver Satin (FR) and Newburyport Blue (DR) instead. What do you think about Simply White trim? The southwest side of the house will be Smoke Embers … lots of sunlight there, so no issues there.
Hi I’m having my kitchen completely redone. I have to pick a white for my cabinets. I don’t want that cold steel look. I’m looking at both cloud white and dove white. I have one white shutter in my kitchen that is in between two cabinets- I would like to keep that shutter and would like the new white cabinet to match my shutter. Is that going to be problematic? I worry about how it will match my new cabinets. I’m going with a warm wood look on my floor, stainless steel appliances. Considering the anthracite silgranite sink, or cinder colour. I want to add warmth to the room. My countertop will be quartz- Looking at callacatta tuano which is white, but has warm greyge tones,I also saw another that is cooler, but nice and I like it as well. It has a black vein with a cooler grey in it. What’s a safe white with my current situation??
Hi Paula, without knowing the exact white of your shutter, there just won’t be a safe white that I can recommend! Between Cloud White and White Dove, I would lean MORE toward White Dove, but again, we just can’t know! If you want it to match the shutter perfectly, you’d want to take it into the store and have them colour match it for you… 🙂
Hi Kylie,
Thank you for this post and all your responses to your reader’s questions. It has been very helpful! I have narrowed down my wall paint choice to Cloud White. I’m stuck as to what color to paint the trim (the painter just started using a basic white w/o checking with me first). Before he goes any further, what do you recommend- should I be using cloud white on all the trim as well? I am concerned about different undertones competing… Just not sure if there should be contrast between the walls and trim or not.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Kim
HI Kim, well if it were ME, I would do Cloud White trim too! The cool thing is that because trim is generally a satin or semi-gloss finish and the walls are either ulti-matte or eggshell, there can be a weeee subtle shift between the 2 surfaces to set things off slightly, without worrying about undertones. I wouldn’t do white…I hope that helps 🙂
Hi Kylie, thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge! We are trying to find the best white paint color for our kitchen cabinets. Our trim and crown molding is a close match to BM’s Super White but I’m afraid the kitchen will come across too stark if we go with that. I’m wondering if BM Simply White or SW Pure White would work without it clashing or looking awkward with the trim. If it matters, our walls are Revere Pewter (1/3 darker), Verde Peacock granite (black with green and brown) and yellowish oak floors. I’m also open to other neutral paint colors for the cabinets as long as it won’t go out of style any time soon! I so appreciate any direction and insight you can provide.
Hi Jen! Without knowing what that trim is, it’s hard to say, but i AM a big fan of matching my whites for consistency…definitely. From the sounds of it, Pure White might be a better choice as it isn’t as yellow as Simply White, but not AS stark as some whites (but it is more white than not…)
Hi Kylie, you are very color savvy! Hope you have some advice for me.
We are building a new home, so a fixed white starting point for me is the Alpine White of my maple Homecrest brand kitchen cabinets. I also fell in love with LGHausys Viatera Minuet quartz for the countertop. I asked Home Depot to do a custom color match of the cabinet sample – I saved the formula but did not buy a sample pot. They also analyzed which of their current colors would be the closest match – Behr Arcade White (Behr is the brand our builder suggested, but could use another brand perhaps at additional cost). When I brought some swatches home to compare, it did seem to be a close match to the cabinet sample, but I was shocked at how dark it was! Not sure I want that on all the trim and doors in the house, and not sure that it would look ok with the other wall colors I like. I want a light bright, but warm feel to the house – we are building in a Great Lakes beach town. Our floors will be a light finished red oak hardwood. Would using the matching formula, but requesting to lighten it 50% be a possible solution? How should I proceed? Colors all look different depending on weather, time of day, light direction, and what they are paired with! Any advice would be most welcome! Thanks!
Hi Nancy! When it comes to Behr, I’m just not as familiar with their colours to really be able to touch on that for you – my focus is primarily BM and SW. There is no harm in asking them to do 50% lighter, but at that shift you can expect the undertones to change, so be sure to do a LARGE sample to make sure you like it. Personally, I’m inclined to keep cabinets/trim/ceilings all the same, but that’s not always possible 😉
Thanks for the reply – I’ll keep working on it!