Benjamin Moore Cloud White OC-130: Undertones, Lighting, & More
When it comes to the most popular white paint colors, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that’s more talked about than Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
It’s not just the versatility on walls, cabinets, and exteriors that keep it top of mind; it’s the fact that it’s been kickin’ for a looooong time in the wild world of white, and there are good reasons for that, so let’s jump in…
WHAT COLOR IS CLOUD WHITE – IS IT WARM OR COOL?
Cloud White is a grounded, creamy, WARM white paint color. While its softness and warmth could lead you to believe it’s an off-white, it’s not. In fact, it’s one of the most popular whites because it sits in a great place between ones that are a bit TOO warm, with more yellow, and whites that are more crisp and clean.
Regardless, it’s important to pick the white paint color that best suits the particular finishes in your home, whether you think it’s too creamy/white or not.
If you have north-facing or afternoon eastern light, you may find that Cloud White balances out that cooler, flatter light. If you have south-facing light or afternoon western light, it can look a bit warmer; be careful it doesn’t pick up more yellow than you planned.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S ITS LRV?
According to Benjamin Moore, Cloud White has an LRV (light reflectance value) of 85.05 (its old LRV was 87, but it’s been updated), so it’s getting up there. It’s not quite as white as Benjamin Moore Simply White, but it’s whiter than one of my FAVE go-to white paint colors, Benjamin Moore White Dove.
With this depth of white, a white could normally look like a ‘normal shade of white’, but because of the degree of yellow-cream, it usually looks like a soft, warm white.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors with LRV
WHAT ARE CLOUD WHITE’S UNDERTONES?
The undertones of Cloud White are very soft, with a subtle focus on yellow (which is what makes it a WARM white). However, it doesn’t have a clear yellow look as a neutral base calms it down, making it popular for trims, walls, and cabinets.
Benjamin Moore Navajo White walls with Cloud White trim
Sherwin Williams Wool Skein walls with Cloud White moldings
The term ‘undertone’ is a slang way to describe the way a color leans or its natural bias.
CHECK OUT WITH SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK
SAMPLIZE peel-and-stick paint samples are more affordable and are made with each brand’s ACTUAL PAINT.
And they deliver to your doorstep in 1 DAY!
Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Cloud White!
A Real-Life Review of SAMPLIZE
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR WITH IT?
If your walls are Cloud White, your best bet is to paint your trim and/or cabinets Cloud White too.
Why?
I love the passive warmth of Cloud White – emphasis on passive. The thing is, if you pair it with a different white on your trim or cabinets, this new white will likely showcase the warmth of Cloud White more, making it look more yellow. It’s really at its BEST when partnered with itself (or a non-white). I would rather let the shift in paint sheen do the magical work rather than mixing and matching whites.
The Best White Paint Color Combos
This next photo is a great example…
Notice the walls vs the trim and pantry door. Because the door is brighter and whiter than Cloud White, it makes it look more yellow in comparison. ‘In comparison’ is an important statement; if the door and trims were also Cloud White, it could look LESS yellow because it wouldn’t be directly compared to a brighter white.
Again, in this next photo, compare the brighter white ceiling to the Cloud White walls. And this isn’t to say it’s a BAD look, as both rooms look beautiful! It’s just an important detail if you’re worried about Cloud White being too yellow…
In this next home, because it’s not being directly compared to a brighter, cleaner white, it looks more muted and subtle…
My blog is 99.9% powered by my Online Paint Color Consulting clients and their photos – thank you for sending them in; you make my colorful world go round!
IS IT A GOOD WHITE FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
It depends. Cloud White is the perfect color for many laminate countertops from the 90s and early 2000s, as well as granite countertops. Most of the time, it’s a bit too yellow for marble and today’s most popular white quartz countertops.
In this next photo, you’ll see it on the trim and cabinets with Formica Soapstone, one of my UBER FAVE laminate countertops…
We saved a TON of money with laminate on the perimeter and quartz on the island only! See it all HERE
The 3 Best Warm White Paint Colors
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
WHAT SHERWIN WILLIAMS’ PAINT COLORS ARE SIMILAR?
There will never be a perfect match between brands, especially if you want to color match. Expect shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths. However, there are some shades of white with similar intentions, but different approaches…
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster is the most equivalent to Cloud White, although it’s not as white.
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
- Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
Sherwin Williams Alabaster
IS CLOUD WHITE THE MOST POPULAR SHADE OF WHITE?
While it’s not the best in MY books, it’s definitely in the top five. When it comes to whites, unless the products in a space need more warmth, I’m more inclined towards a more muted white, along the lines of Benjamin Moore White Dove or even Sherwin Williams Pure White.
Benjamin Moore Cloud White with Ocean Air
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
While these aren’t the most popular questions, they do pop up once in a while…
WILL CLOUD WHITE LOOK YELLOW OR GREEN?
Yes, Cloud White can look yellow when compared to a clean or cool white (e.g., white appliances). As mentioned earlier, it can look more yellow or creamy when paired with whiter cabinets or trim.
Another way to enhance the warmth of Cloud White (if you’re so inclined) is to partner it with a cooler color like Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. The cool blue-green hue of Sea Salt brings out the yellow in Cloud White a bit more than usual – great for a coastal look…
As for exposures, if you have south-facing light, Cloud White can lean even more into its warmth courtesy of that lovely southern sunshine (same with the afternoon western sun). However, in a north-facing room (or on eastern afternoons), the warmth of Cloud White can help balance out some of the flat, gray light.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
Regarding green undertones, Cloud White doesn’t look green, but if it does, it’s likely being reflected from the outside (grass/trees), which is what any white will do.
CLOUD WHITE vs. WHITE DOVE
Many people want to know if Cloud White is whiter than White Dove, and the answer is YES. While there isn’t a huge difference, Cloud White has an LRV of 85.05, while White Dove’s is 83.16. This difference makes it a touch brighter. As for undertones, White Dove comes across a bit more muted, while still being warm.
In the next photo, White Dove appears softer and more muted, whereas Cloud White appears brighter.
And while White Dove does look creamier in this image, don’t be fooled; Cloud White’s yellow undertone is definitely there (we’d see it more if the trim were a brighter white).
READ MORE
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams 4 Best White Paint Colors
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
UPDATED IN 2023 FOR PHOTOS & CONTENT
Hi Kylie. My kitchen cabinets are White Down (semi-gloss) and my walls and bulkhead above the cabinets are Revere Pewter (eggshell). I want to repaint my cabinets to a whiter colour. Would Cloud White work or would you suggest a different colour. Thanks.
Great post thank uou! In the last picture with arrows pointing to Cloud White and White Dove, what is the trim colour? I think it pairs with the White Dove better. can you please tell me what it is? Thank you!
I want to paint the walls in my kitchen a creamy white color with a light beige or tan cabinets to brighten up my kitchen. My lighting isn’t that bright. What do you think about the cloud white on the walls?
I LOVE Cloud White but it can be fussy about its beige-tan partners! I think you should pick the cabinet color first and then coordinate the best white from there 🙂
In the picture above with the green cabinets and Cloud White walls, what is the green cabinet colour? About to do a new kitchen with green cabinets, white quartz w a grey and gold veining and cloud white trim (cause that’s the existing trim in the rest of the house). Trying to choose my green for the cabinets first and then find my wall colour (likely another creamy white with a high lrv because it’s in a basement).
Ahhh, that’s Sherwin Williams Cascade Green – it’s pretty darn fun! You might like reading this, too… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-green-paint-colors-for-cabinets-islands-vanities/
What about for using Cloud White on exterior trim? The house has natural cedar siding that will turn gray over time. Simply White also being considered but the LRV is a little higher than Cloud White. Any other white choices I should consider. House faces NE. Thanks
Hmmmm. It could work and be quite lovely. If you have white windows you WILL see that shift. I also love the slightly more subtle BM White Dove :).
My living room, hallway and bedroom are all painted cloud white and I love it. I have a darkish lite house so I don’t really pick up on the yellow undertones. Even in the mornings when the sunlight hits the living room and bedroom, the color just looks like a beautiful soft white and is so calming to me. It’s a color I will use again but good to hear your advice on where to use it.
Mmmm, I love to hear this! I was just at a friend’s home for a few days and she had Cloud White in most spaces, and it really is the most lovely, soft warm white.