Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White (OC-149): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is a soft, white paint color with a subtle gray base. It works well on interior walls and occasional cabinets and exterior trims.

Its purple-leaning undertone can influence how Decorator’s White coordinates with interior finishes and surrounding finishes. 

To be honest, if you’ve been looking for the WHITEST white paint color, you’ve come to the right place – but the wrong blog post. Because while I do have a blog post specific to that topic, Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is FAR from being the whitest white on the market, and today you’re going to find out why!

99.9% of the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, talented photographers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.

WHAT TYPE OF WHITE IS DECORATOR’S WHITE? WARM, COOL, TRUE?

Decorator’s White is definitely a cool white paint color, thanks to some sneaky little undertones (which we’ll chat about shortly). However, it’s not a true white, as its LRV is lower than the whitest white paint colors.

In the above photo, you’ll see Decorator’s White at the bottom below some much whiter whites!

If you have a room with north-facing light, you may find Decorator’s White looking a bit too cold and chalk-like. However, it can be an interesting choice for a warmer south-facing room or one with a lot of afternoon western light. 

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?

Can I Paint My North-Facing Room White?

WHAT’S THE LRV OF BENJAMIN MOORE DECORATOR’S WHITE?

Decorator’s White has an LRV of 82.68, so it’s actually a considerably soft white paint color compared to some of the whiter options. In fact, it winks at the off-white range. 

In the above photo, notice how Decorator’s White compares to the CLEAN white of the door (especially on the right-hand side).

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

WHAT ARE DECORATOR’S WHITE’S UNDERTONES?

Decorator’s White has a wee wink o’ gray in it, which means it can pick up blue, green, or purple undertones, of which it favours purple (slight purple-blue).

Here’s the perfect example of Decorator’s White compared to a more genuine white paint color…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

This next image supports the idea that if you don’t have enough interior lighting (or natural light), NO paint color will save you!

Sure, white’s have higher LRVs and reflect more light, but if they aren’t GIVEN light to reflect, they can’t do their job. Anyway. 

Also, being a white paint color (high reflectance), if you put it in a room with a lot of greenery outside or tinted windows, it can pick up green quite easily. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Decorator’s White.

WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH BENJAMIN MOORE DECORATOR’S WHITE?

Well, it depends…

• If you want to keep things simple, use it on your trim/ceilings/doors and just let the shift in SHEEN do the work for you
• If you want to show off its soft white look (along with its undertones), partner it with a clean, bright white, preferably Behr Ultra Pure White, for the WHITEST, cleanest contrast. 

SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE

Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colors

IS DECORATOR’S WHITE GOOD FOR CABINETS?

That’s a tough one as there are several considerations…

• If you paint your kitchen cabinets Decorator’s White, there’s a GOOD chance you’d paint your trim/ceilings/doors the same white for consistency. Then, because it’s best to have the trims and whatnot the SAME white in your main living areas, you’d want it in your other rooms as well. At this point, you’ll be super limited by its undertones and lower LRV – it’s NOT a flexible white.
• If you want to do a white subway tile backsplash, most won’t match Decorator White’s LRV and undertones
• You could paint only your cabinets with it, but you’d need a VERY CLEAN WHITE on your trims, and they will expose the lower LRV/undertones of Decorator’s White in comparison.

Would I paint my cabinets Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White? 

Helllllls no. It’s way too limiting. 

The thing is, with its lower LRV and undertones, Decorator’s White ISN’T a white I’d use in my home on any cabinets or trims, as it would limit me too much.

IS IT A GOOD COLOR FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

Decorator’s White can definitely work on exterior trim, depending on the look you’re going for.

• If you have COOL-toned siding with similar undertones (ie, gray with blue-purple undertones), Decorator’s White can be a nice trim color without the starkness of white.
• If you want a white exterior (siding/brick), it can be a clean, cool look, but note, if you have white windows, you WILL see a shift between the house/trim/windows as they’ll be different whites. Personally, I’d shift to a warmer white or shade of off-white. 

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO DECORATOR’S WHITE?

Sadly, the elusive ‘perfect color match’ doesn’t exist. Every color has its own particular nuances, and you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths. 

Because Decorator’s White’s undertones are so different, your best alternatives are…

• Benjamin Moore Super White (I personally prefer it)
• Benjamin Moore White OC 151
• Sherwin Williams Extra White (lacks purple and will be warmer)

And if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (ie, getting BM to make an SW paint color), you might want to read THIS first.

Remember, the temperature of your LIGHT BULBS affects how a paint color looks!

WHAT COLORS GO WITH BENJAMIN MOORE DECORATOR’S WHITE?

You’ll want to be CAREFUL, as being a white with purple undertones, it’s pretty particular about its partners. Ideally, it likes colors such as…

• cool grays with similar undertones in a VARIETY of depths
• clean whites
• blue paint colors with a purple undertone
• purple paint colors with a subtle blue undertone

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

Sherwin Williams White Snow Paint Color Review

Sherwin Williams Pure White Paint Color Review

Get the best color advice…

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

Originally written in 2018, updated in 2025