Posted on March 4, 2023 by KylieMawdsley
THE MOST POPULAR SHADE OF WHITE
When it comes to the best white paint colors, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is definitely in my top three. It’s earned its place time and time again by looking captivating on cabinets, wicked on walls, and tremendous on trim! There isn’t a lot that White Dove CAN’T do, but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some particular quirks (don’t we all…).
IS BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE A WARM OR COOL WHITE?
White Dove is a WARM white paint color. It’s not overly creamy/yellow (depending on who you ask, this IS a subjective point), but it’s DEFINITELY not close to the border of being a legit ‘white’ – it’s softer than that. But most importantly, White Dove is NOT an off-white paint color.
If you have north-facing light, White Dove can be a nice soft balance to the cool light coming in your windows. With south-facing or afternoon western light, you may find White Dove leaning that bit more into its warmth.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
White Dove trim with lightened Edgecomb Gray walls
WHAT’S THE LRV OF WHITE DOVE?
White Dove USED to have an LRV of 85.38. However, changes are afoot, and the new LRV is 83.16 – very curious. Either way, White Dove is a WHITE, not an off-white. However, having this slightly lower LRV, White Dove is softer than many of the popular brighter shades of white.
Not sure what LRV is? It’s a GAME-CHANGER in the paint-pickin’ world – read all about it HERE.
NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR SERVICES!
WHAT ARE WHITE DOVES UNDERTONES? WILL IT LOOK YELLOW?
Many people turn to White Dove expecting ‘a relatively true white’, but as discussed earlier, it has warmth and softness compared to some of the other popular whites. So YES, if you’re overly sensitive to yellow, you might find it too much. However, I DON’T love yellow or cream paint colors for my own home, but I have White Dove plastered all over it and LOVE it. The key is to not partner it with a white that’s WHITER than it.
You might not even notice White Dove’s warmth in a small sample. However, if you partner it with products that are a starker/cleaner white, such as white appliances, a cool-toned marble, or a white subway tile backsplash, it could look more yellow-cream just in COMPARISON.
Situations where White Dove can look slightly more yellow…
- White Dove can look even warmer in south-facing light and pick up some more yellow, but so can a LOT of whites – south-facing light is powerful.
- If you partner it with a cool-toned marble or some standard ‘white’ quartz countertops.
- If you have white appliances, White Dove can look considerably more yellow in COMPARISON to your white appliances.
WILL WHITE DOVE LOOK GRAY?
White Dove doesn’t WANT to look gray, being a soft, warm white, but your exposure or lack of quality lighting could have it looking gray – this is about the surroundings, NOT the paint color itself.
However, when partnered with products with slightly softer tones, it can fall back and look a bit more subtle…
With Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter cabinets
Kylie M E-Design / Lewis Remodelling / Rick Pharaoh Photography
WILL WHITE DOVE LOOK DINGY?
This is open to perception. White Dove is a grounded, more muted, warm white. This neutral base cuts back on the degree of YELLOW you see. If you clean that up, you’ll see more yellow (i.e., Benjamin Moore Simply White). It’s about choosing the look you want. Long story short, White Dove can look dingy compared to a cleaner or cooler white, but it looks softer and warmer compared to a more muted white like Sherwin Williams Pure White.
If any of the above worries you, White Dove MIGHT not be the right white for you and your room.
Decorating a Kitchen With White Appliances
The 3 Best White Paint Colors for a North-Facing Room
ARE THERE PEEL & STICK SAMPLES FOR WHITE DOVE?
Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE.
However, whereas I usually put white paper around my off-white and darker samples, when it comes to white paint samples, I only compare them to ‘paper-white’ for a quick second. Paper-white will ENHANCE and over-expose the look of White Dove, bringing out its warm undertones. These same undertones can settle back on a larger scale when NOT compared to a cleaner white.
Judge White Dove on its own merits, not how it compares to a clean or cool white.
IS WHITE DOVE POPULAR?
Yes, White Dove is THE most popular white paint color. With its versatility for walls, trims, cabinets, ceilings, doors, and exteriors, there’s not much that White Dove can’t do!
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR WITH WHITE DOVE?
- If you have White Dove walls, consider painting your cabinets and trim White Dove as well.
- With White Dove cabinets, your walls and trim should also be White Dove.
- If you have White Dove trim and want white walls or cabinets, consider painting them White Dove as well.
White Cabinets, Walls, & Trims: Do They ALL Need to Match?
Notice some consistency in the above three points? That’s right; if you’re painting one surface white, it’s usually BEST to continue with the same white so you don’t have clashing undertones. This will keep things consistent, and you can let the shift in PAINT SHEEN do the work for you rather than messing around with undertones.
How to Pick the Best White for Your Home
If you choose to paint your trim/cabinets a white that’s BRIGHTER (higher LRV) than White Dove, this white could make White Dove look warmer/more yellow in comparison.
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
IS WHITE DOVE A GOOD PAINT COLOR FOR CABINETS?
ABSOLUTELY! But you must ensure it’s the right TYPE of white for your countertop, backsplash, or flooring. White Dove can be too warm for some quartz countertops and marble backsplashes but not quite warm enough for some of the more traditional granite countertops – make sure you pick the RIGHT WHITE for your products, not just the one that you love the most.
WHAT WALL COLOR GOES WITH WHITE DOVE CABINETS?
Your White Dove cabinets should be the LEAST of your concerns. When choosing the best paint color for your walls, White Dove will be flexible; it’s more about finding the color that best suits your countertop and backsplash – DON’T let White Dove call the shots!
See the FULL REMODEL HERE
While White Dove can be sensitive to some off-whites and grays, the countertop/backsplash connection is more important regarding the wall color.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE DOVE
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster (warmer and slightly darker)
- Sherwin Williams Pure White (not as warm, but similar LRV)
When it comes to white paint colors, it can be hard to find ‘comparable whites’ between brands – and you should NEVER color match (which you can read all about here).
WHICH IS BETTER – BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OR SWISS COFFEE?
White Dove and Swiss Coffee are KISSIN’ cousins. However, there are some subtle differences…
- WHITE DOVE LRV: 83.16
- SWISS COFFEE LRV: 81.91
The above means that White Dove is WHITER than Swiss Coffee. Swiss Coffee borders on the off-white range. Personally, I believe that White Dove is better than Swiss Coffee.
Comparing Swiss Coffee to the white in the light shade will help you see its softness.
Also, of the two, Swiss Coffee is SLIGHTLY more likely to pick up a vague green undertone (vague is an understatement). However, with these two whites being VERY similar, of the two, I prefer White Dove as it’s a bit more predictable.
Not sure if White Dove is right for you? Want a bit more warmth, white, or gray? I’ve got them all!
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs. Cloud White, Swiss Coffe, & 10 Other Popular Shades
READ MORE
Is White Still Trendy for Cabinets, Walls, & Exteriors?
The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams 4 Best White Paint Colors
QUICK Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Simply White
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colors
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2023
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Hoping to paint my walls in White Dove. My trim is KM Swiss Coffee and is in good condition and am hoping to get by without painting it all. I would love to hear your thoughts on how these two colors might work/or not together.
Kylie, would you mind sharing the nice creamy beige color used on the kitchen cabinets in the photo with White Dove on the walls and what looks to be an off-black for the island space? I’m looking for other colors that pair well with White Dove. Thank you!
Author
Hi Jennifer! Believe it or not, but that’s actually Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter slightly darkened. It’s a warm gray with a subtle green undertone! But it sure looks nice with White Dove :). If you want more warmth, considering BM Edgecomb Gray, perhaps 25% darker for a bit more body.
Kylie, I have been following your website for years and it has gone from a simple straight forward website/blough, to a website where I can’t find anything and it doesn’t matter anyway because it is mostly covered with google ads. I don’t like it anymore. Amy Shaffer
Author
Hi Amy, I totally understand! The tricky thing is that I blog for free, I give information out to help others for free and the ad revenue is one way that I support my family. Without it, I actually can’t blog at all!
Hi Kylie,
I just want to thank you again for all the amazing guidance and information you give your readers! You are head and shoulders above the rest and I have never found your ads to be hurdles to accessing the excellent information you provide!
Thanks so much!
Heather
Author
Heather…thank you. This made my day 🙂
Hi Kylie, I hope you’re doing well. Though I only recently stumbled upon your blog due to an unexpected but necessary remodel in our home, I have to kindly disagree with previous comments that insinuate your website is unhelpful and difficult to navigate – if anything, there is almost too much amazing and helpful info for a novice like myself to take in, and I’m incredibly grateful for your time, talent, and humor! That being said, I’ve been religiously pouring over your blog posts the past few days and have a quick question (if you have time). As I mentioned, we are left doing some unplanned remodeling in our kitchen because of a leak. We have the dated tropical brown granite countertops we are stuck with, but need to paint our cabinets. I’m hopeful to brighten up our kitchen (and simultaneously lighten up the look of the countertops) by painting the cabinets “white.” I know because of the colors in the granite that it needs to be a warm white, but I don’t love “creamy” whites or whites with obvious yellow (i.e. Navajo white). My kitchen has north-facing windows, and I was thinking either ballet white on the walls with white dove cupboards/trim, or white duck walls and edgecomb gray cabinets. Do you have strong thoughts about one combo working better than the other with tropical brown granite countertops? And what things do I need to consider with the color of our wood flooring? Again, super appreciate any time or insight you have – I’d love to do a consult but unfortunately, I have neither enough time or money at the moment. Your blog has been INCREDIBLY helpful getting me started, and I can’t thank you enough!
Author
Teri, what a NICE note to get, thank you! I take those comments to heart and they’re hard for me to read, so thank you for this :).
Normally I wouldn’t answer questions like this, but I LIKE you and appreciate you. So, I see no problem with trying White Dove on the cabinets and trim (yes, they should be the SAME white), as long as White Dove suits your backsplash too!
As for wall colour, there are quite a few variations on Tropical Brown, so I can’t be too specific. I can say that I would lean away from anything like White Duck/Ballet White, thinking the could have a touch too much of a yellow base for your countertop. I like the idea of Edgecomb Gray MUCH more.
I hope this helps or at least ELIMINATES a few thoughts for you :).
Kylie, you are the BEST, and it helped TREMENDOUSLY- it’s a big relief to know I’m in the ballpark! 😉 Thank you so much! Again, I super appreciate your time and am hopeful that if we ever do a PLANNED remodel, I can budget for your E-design services and work with your funny, sassy self directly. All the best. 🙂
I am hoping to paint my cabinets in Dove white but worries it might be too white with my granite.. I have bianco Antico granite… which is a variation of creams/white browns and grey. My walls are Collingwood so if I go with a warmer white I am worries it might just blend in too much with the Collingwood on the walls. What are your thoughts Please…
I love your page.. your color review videos helped me choose Collingwood for my walls and I am so happy with it.
Hi Kylie – wanted to add to the chorus comments letting you know how great your site is. The way you lay out information is SO helpful for taking notes on different colors and combinations so that I can compare across different colors. Thank you for the wonderful resource. I don’t usually post comments anywhere but the thought that you might have been left with any negative feelings from the previous feedback compelled me to want to try and balance it our by expressing my gratitude and letting you know that your approach and distillation if information is really helpful.
Author
Shawn, what a GREAT comment to get, I really appreciate this a lot! You’ve made my day/week/month ;).
Hi! I was wondering if you knew what percentage the Edgecomb Gray was lightened in the photo with the White Dove trim with lightened Edgecomb Gray walls? Also, do you by any chance know the details for the floor in that photo? Thank you so much!!
Author
Hi Caroline, that’s Edgecomb 75% lighter! The floor is Goodfellow and I believe it was in the Riverside Heights collection or something – stain colour ‘stone’ :).
You had mentioned somewhere that you can brighten up trim paint by adding an additional 4-6 drops of white to the paint. Will that mess with the undertones i.e., whitetail?
Author
Hi Jennifer! Nope, it really shouldn’t. It can make it seem that bit whiter/brighter, but the undertone should still stay soft and yellow 🙂
Hello Kylie – Love your blog and Youtube content.
We are currently renovating our master bedroom in a minimalist “Japandi” style. I picked out a soft light grey ceramic floor tile, matte black fixtures and a light walnut color vanity cabinet. The bathroom has 2 windows (south and west facing). I would like to keep the wall paint color warm even with white in mind; I was wondering if you would recommend BM White Dove or Plaster of Paris as the wall paint. As well, any recommendations for ceiling and trim color with these 2 potential wall colors?
Hi! I am using alabaster white paint and was curious what color you painted your interior doors! I love the look of the light gray with the white. Thank you
Author
Ahhh, that’s Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, 25% darker (maaaybe 50%, I can’t remember), but the difference is subtle :).
Your website has helped me so much, and I can’t wait to get the results of my e-consultation! I have one question with Dove White walls/trims/cabinets…what color should the ceiling be? Ceiling paint OK or a mistake? (NW exposure, 8′ ceilings w 3 skylights on the exterior side of the room, large room.) TIA!
Hi i love the color combo of the white dove with the deeper doors and the coordinating staircase baluster post… can u share what the door color and the post color is? Thanks!
Author
Ahhh, that must be the photo with BM Revere Pewter 50% darkened 🙂 That’s my own home and I have Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on the railings!
Hi Kylie. Love your paint color reviews. My factory painted kitchen cabinets are similar to White Dove. My backsplash is pale blue glass subway tile and my countertop is a warm, white quartz that reads gray. My trim is SW Extra White, and I don’t want to paint it. The kitchen/great room gets Southern exposure. Can I use White Dove on my walls? Or should I go with something like SW City Loft on walls?
Thanks for all the great advice! We always turn to your website when we’re starting a new project. Your blogs make color suggestions for walls and trim but not ceilings. How do you chose a ceiling color? Is there a standard color you use for ceilings?
Thanks
Love your blog. I’ve followed it while building my home. I am looking to paint my exterior in White Dove but cannot because the LRV is too high and our architectural review board only allows paints between 10-80 LRV. Can you suggest a color as close to White Dove with an LRV of 80 or below?
Oh wow, was this ever helpful! I currently have my north facing library with wedding veil and it has funeral vibes. I’m planing to use that space as my counselling office and I’m so happy to find your site – I’m white doving the hell out of that room asap. Thanks!!
Author
What a great comment to get, thank you Melanie! Having used many counsellors in my life – thank you for the work you do ;).
Excellent! Thanks for the update in ’23. My oldest son moved out and we repainted his bright blue room White Dove, to use as a guest room. We were debating the color of the ceiling/trim, but are gonna go with White Dove there, too. TY!!
Author
You’re most welcome! And GREAT choice, as the best white partner for White Dove IS…White Dove!