HomeThe Best Paint ColoursBENJAMIN MOORE & SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Paint Color ReviewsBenjamin Moore Linen White OC-146 / 912: QUICK Paint Color Review

Benjamin Moore Linen White OC-146 / 912: QUICK Paint Color Review

Posted on January 6, 2020 by KylieMawdsley

Benjamin Moore Linen White: The Quick and Dirty on LRV, Undertones and a Little More

When it comes to choosing the best cream paint color for your home, it can be hard to commit – some are too yellow and day-glo others are just flat and bland. And THEN there’s Benjamin Moore Linen White…

Paint colour review by colour expert Kylie M Interiors. Benjamin Moore Linen White, warm creamy off-white paint color. Edesign, online paint colour and decorating advice blogger

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I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need (hence the ‘QUICK Review’), but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!

What type of paint color is Benjamin Moore Linen White? Is it warm or cool?

Linen White is a soft, warm white with paint color with gentle, but noticeable undertones. This warmth comes across soft and creamy rather than crisp, fresh and yellow.

What’s the LRV of Linen White?

Linen White has an LRV of almost 83, so while it is in the WHITE range, it’s giving a solid nod to the off-white range, so don’t expect it to act like traditional warm white paint colors, which can be brighter and less yellow/creamy.

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

What are the undertones of Linen White? Will it look yellow?

Linen White definitely has some decent color to it and less of a neutral base than I’d want if I were looking for a warm white – it’s that added depth that really tips the scales for me as it really comes across more creamy. Will Linen White look YELLOW though? Yes, it has enough colorant in it that it will look yellowish, especially if you partner it up with a cool tone like blue, green or purple. That being said, it’s LESS yellow/creamy compared to Benjamin Moore Windswept and has a wink more orange/beige in compared to the popular Benjamin Moore Timid White. Cool yellow undertones can lean slightly into green. Warm yellow undertones can lean slightly into orange – Linen White is warm.

This warmth can be a great choice if you have a north-facing room, but will ONLY get warmer looking if you have intense southern or afternoon western light, so you have to sample it carefully in your space before you start slappin’ paint on the walls.

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

What’s the best way to sample Linen White?

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 Linen White, bringing out its warm undertones – the same undertones that can settle back on a larger scale, when NOT compared to a cleaner white. Judge Linen White on its own merits, not how it compares to a clean or cool white.

If I’m painting my walls Linen White, what white paint color should I do my trim and walls?

While there are MANY whites that I’d do on trim and walls, Linen White is NOT one of them, just because it’s that bit stronger and warmer. And there isn’t a white that I 100% LOVE with Linen White, so I might ask the paint store to mix up a pot 50% lighter to see how that looks before I jump into the more standard warm white paint colors. Of the standard whites, I would lean the most into Benjamin Moore Simply White.

Read more: SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE

Read more: The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

Is Linen White a good white for the exterior of my home? 

Ermmm, not my fave. I think it has too much colorant in it and will act LESS like a white and more like a subtle creamy yellow.

Why isn’t Linen White as popular?

Well, it’s kind of stuck in between being a warm white and being a cream – leaning a BIT more on the cream side of things, but without the slightly richer warmth that some cream paint colors offer. I wouldn’t say that it’s NOT popular, I just think there are some cream paint colors that are MORE popular, such as the slightly darker Benjamin Moore Navajo White, the more SUBTLE Sherwin Williams Creamy and the even MORE subdued, Benjamin Moore White Down.

Not sure if Linen White is right for you? Want something a bit warmer, creamier, cooler? I’ve got more!

BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOWN (more muted than Linen White)

Paint colour review, best cream by Benjamin Moore, White Down. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online decorating and diy design advice blogger

Read more: Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Linen White

THE BEST CREAM PAINT COLORS

Benjamin Moore White Down, warm brown stone fireplace and gold sectional. Best cream paint colour. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour advice

Read more: The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors

BENJAMIN MORE GENTLE CREAM

Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream paint colour. With kids art gallery on the wall and black wine cabinets. Kylie M Interiors E-decor and Online Colour Consulting

Read more: Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream

Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?

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

The best cream paint colours for your room. Benjamin or Sherwin. Edesign, Kylie M Interiors online paint color consulting. Home Decorating and diy ideas blogger.market

KYLIE M INTERIORS    ONLINE PAINT COLOR EXPERT, SPECIALIZING IN BENJAMIN MOORE & SHERWIN WILLIAMS   DIY DECORATING AND DESIGN ADVICE BLOGGER



Comments

  1. I was convinced Ben Moore’s Linen White was the best choice … until I read your opinion on it. Back to square one. Yikes!

  2. Hi Kylie,
    I’m trying to find a trim color I like for my linen white walls. Simply white seems a little bright. I’ve seen other blogs suggesting cloud white or white Dove. I was even thinking of darkening Simply White by 25%, thoughts? Thank you Kylie!

  3. We painted our home office with BM Linen White. Our whole house trim paint is BM Base 1X white, a neutral white. The linen white walls look nice with the trim paint.

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