The 3 Best White Paint Colors With Wood (Oak, Maple, Cherry & More)

ByKylie M

Popular White (Wall or Cabinet) Colors with Most Woods 

If you have wood cabinets or trim and want the best white paint color, you’ve come to the right place. Or maybe you have wood flooring and aren’t sure which shade of white is best for your cabinets, walls, and trims – whatever you need, I’ve got you covered, literally AND figuratively in paint. 

While the white on white (on white…) home is no longer 100% in style, there’s still a big demand for white with wood finishes, with white offering a simpler contrast with a ton of wood stains. 

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primary bedroom with wood beams and red orange tile around fireplace, black windows, warm white walls

And on the topic of wood stains, let’s see what the main ones are…

  • GOLDEN OAK: tends to center on an orange undertone, but can lean orange-yellow or orange-red.
  • HONEY OAK: can be similar to golden oak, but a bit more likely to have more yellow.
  • MAPLE: often sits on an orange undertone, but it totally depends on the stain used. It can vary from a light-yellow pink or a moderate orange-red, right into a dark red-purple! 
  • CHERRY: light cherry caters to pink, medium cherry is orange-red, and darker cherry can be red or even purple. 

Of course, there are other wood finishes, including alder, birch, mahogany, and pine, but you get the idea. 

Sherwin Williams Pure White painted kitchen cabinets, oak floor and table, brass hardware, black honed granite countertop, 1990s or 2000s kitchen update

Remember, I’m a paint color and home update expert – not a hardwood specialist (or at least not THIS type of wood, wink wink). 

Regardless of which wood species you have, you need to figure out its MAIN undertone (or two).

Here are a few quick images to give you the general idea…

YELLOW-STAINED WOOD 

Woods with a yellow stain are more commonly oak or pine, but there are others. 

They can be similar in intensity to these or a bit more muted…

yellow wood stains and the best paint colors

ORANGE WOOD STAINS

Orange undertones are super common on oak and maple cabinets, but can pop up elsewhere depending on the stain used. 

They can be similar in intensity to these or a bit more muted…

orange wood stains and best paint colors for them

RED WOOD STAINS

The most common red wood stains are in the medium depths, like these. They can be similar in intensity to these or a bit more muted…

orange red pink wood stains for cabinets, trims, floors, colors that coordinate

However, they can get MUCH lighter, in which case they start leaning pink, not red…

pink or red stained wood trims, cabinets, furniture, flooring, the best paint colors to go with or coordinate

And much DARKER, in some cases, leaning into purple…

red, purple, and pink wood stained cabinets, trims, floors or furniture, the best paint colors to go with

BROWN WOOD STAINS

One of the easiest stain colors to accommodate is brown. Sure, there can be a passive undertone hiding in there (most often yellow or red/pink), but it’s not as obvious as the above examples. 

brown wood stain samples of cabinets and floor

GRAY WOOD STAINS

If you have a wood floor or cabinets that look anything like this, your floor might have a gray or white wash on it.

gray wash wood floor examples

This is a whole different ball game, and you should read this blog post: The Best White Paint Colors With Gray Flooring

PHEW, we did it. Seriously, learning which color group your wood belongs to can be helpful when trying to coordinate paint colors and other finishes with it! However…

After reading this blog post, I hope you realize that most wood stains are FAR less fussy about their white paint color partners than you might think! 

Sherwin Williams Alabaster painted warm white cabinets, subway tile backsplash, maple wood lower cabinets, stainless steel countertop. Emerstone Dynamic Gold white quartz countertop

ONE LAST THING before we jump in the deep end (skinny dipping, of course). If you’re picking a white paint color for your walls, your wood flooring (or wood cabinets or trim) calls a lot of the shots.

However, if you’re reading this for the best shade of white for your kitchen cabinets, your wood flooring (and/or trim) plays second fiddle.

Why?

Benjamin Moore China White, best warm off-white paint color, darkened, on painted kitchen cabinets, gold hardware, red exotic wood flooring (2)

No matter how red this floor is, the countertop and backsplash (to be installed) call the shots when choosing white cabinets.

Your countertop and backsplash are the big ‘shot callers’ (a fun reference for those who were teens in the 90s and loved rap – yeah, I know you’re saying it in your head now, you lil’ gangsta, you). 

Now, let’s see what I’ve got…

1. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17

White Dove is a soft, warm white that can look gorgeous with various shades of wood, especially golden oak, honey oak, pine (below), and other yellow-based woods.

Benjamin Moore White Dove horizontal shiplap accent wall in dining room, pine wood floors, pine buffet and hutche, white trinm and ceilings. Kylie M, online expert paint color consulting

However, it’s not limited to golden oak and the like; it handles a ton of stains and undertones thanks to its subtle cream backdrop. 

Take a peek at this next kitchen. The wood floors are likely red oak via the subtle pink undertone. Combined with the STRONG orange-red of the cabinets, this is one hot pot of woody goodness. Repeat after me…

Just because it’s wood doesn’t mean it’s good. 

maple or cherry red hue kitchen cabinets (wood) before being painted warm white. Red oak floor. Warm hue granite countertops, travertine look backsplash.

Because the beige tile backsplash and granite countertop are bossy, they call the big shots – believe it or not, they’re not as flexible as the wood floor. So, since the wood floor is easier to please, we focused on the other finishes. This approach creates a kitchen with a fresh new look where the beautiful oak floors come to life and look far less red-pink.

Cherry, maple wood cabinets. Painted a warm soft white by Benjamin Moore. travertine look backsplash. Older granite countertops. Red oak floor. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy update ideas (1)

Seriously. You don’t need to love painted cabinets to appreciate HOW MUCH BETTER THIS LOOKS. I mean, look at the floor, it’s alive again!

Of course, I’d love to ‘next-level’ this kitchen with a few smart changes, including…

  • You guessed it, a 3×6 timeless subway tile backsplash in a warm, creamy white tone that matches the cabinets.
  • I might also beef up the island a bit, maybe adding some paneling/baseboard so it looks more custom.
  • When the stove needs to be replaced, I’d choose one without the raised back for a more updated look.
  • I might play around with the pendant lights.

But really, this space looks great. And I have to be honest, I’ve never seen a kitchen faucet to the side like that—crazy!

This next image shows a hallway with an oak floor, White Dove on the upper walls/trims with Sherwin Williams Foggy Day on the board and batten lower walls…

Sherwin Williams Foggy Day, blue-gray paint color on board and batten in dark hallway, Benjamin Moore White Dove upper walls and ceiling, trims, oak flooring

Here’s another kitchen with beautiful, updated white cabinets and traditional golden oak flooring…

Painted maple kitchen cabinets before and after. Similar to Benjamin White Dove. Kylie M Interiors Edesign online advice to update

How to Update Your Outdated Granite Countertops

You’ll never convince me that the above kitchen would look better with wood cabinets – that’s a hard no from this cowgirl. 

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.

Overall, White Dove is a gorgeous choice for the average home with wood trim, doors, or flooring…

Best warm white paint color, Benjamin Moore Whtie Dove, white trim, slipcovered sofa, area rug, wood floor, home decor. Kylie M Interiors paint color expert

This flooring is a touch closer to honey oak in depth, but has a touch of pink.

These next wood floors are more modern (as shown by the wide plank style); White Dove is a great complement to them, and the hand railing on the stairs…

Open concept living room, kitchen, dining room, raised 10 foot ceiling, oak wood floor and open railing, blue accents. BEnjamin Moore White Dove walls, cabinets, trims, Kylie M Interiors

4 Palettes to Update Kitchens with Oak Cabinets

As for what stain colors don’t look good with White Dove, I’d be careful with those that have a strong purple-pink hue (common in gray washes). And sure, a wood with a strong red stain doesn’t want too much yellow, but as far as white paint colors go, White Dove can be one of your better options…unless you really want pink-hued walls.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER SW 7008

This next kitchen belongs to the super-talented blogger Jenna Christian. She hired me to help her find a color to update her home, complete with red oak flooring and black granite countertops…

Sherwin Williams Alabaster warm white painted wood cabinets, black granite countertop, wood floor. beige backsplash tile, Kylie M Interiors Edesign, Jenna Christians home

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster

We chose Sherwin Williams Alabaster because, unlike some whites that can fall flat in north-facing rooms or areas with low light, Alabaster has the most beautiful, passive warmth.

Because Jenna wanted this color for her walls, cabinets, trims, and ceiling, we couldn’t choose a one-trick pony; we needed a white that was bright, light, and more than alright – Alabaster was the perfect choice.

One reason Alabaster works is that Jenna’s black granite countertop isn’t super fussy about its paint color partners, leaving the backsplash and the wood flooring to be the big bosses.

Painted white kitchen cabinets, black granite countertop, beige taupe backsplash tile, Sherwin Williams Alabaster cabinets, Kylie M and Jenna Christian

How to Update Your 1990s Kitchen

Here are some Alabaster painted kitchen cabinets with a light, white oak wood island…

white oak in Classic Gray and Weathered Oak stain with quartzite island and Alabaster cabinets

This next kitchen has what looks to be cherry or light maple cabinets, along with a wood floor with considerably strong red tones. Alabaster looks soft and subtle on the walls, letting the wood do the talkin’…

Cherry, maple wood kitchen cabinets, marble countertop and subway tile backsplash, island, red-orange stain wood floor, floating shelf, Alabaster and Pure White, painted wood tongue groove ceiling

The Best White & Off-White Quartz Countertops

This next kitchen (with Alabaster cabinets) looks to have alder wood cabinets on the island and an unknown wood on the floor…

Sherwin Williams Creamy and Alabaster, painted kitchen wood cabinets, wood floor, wood island, granite countertops, cream subway tile. Kylie M Online paint color consultant, update ideas

Now, Alabaster is a reasonably creamy, warm shade of white that borders on the off-white world. I’d be cautious of Alabaster with…

  • Wood stains that cater to purple
  • Lighter pink-stained woods could be touchy with the degree of cream in Alabaster

Alabaster is often as warm/yellow/creamy as stronger red-stained woods can handle. 

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE SW 7005

Pure White is one of my top 3 favorite white paint colors.

Why?

Sherwin Williams Pure White in transitional living room, shiplap on fireplace and wood mantel, black piano, home decor, sofa, arched cabinet

While other soft white paint colors are creamier (more yellow) or grayer, Pure White is a soft white that doesn’t have a huge commitment to its warmth, although it IS a warm white. 

Because it has less warmth than the previous two shades, it’s a bit less likely to suit the ‘average’ home—it can come off a bit stark on walls (especially in a north-facing home).

This isn’t a RULE, it’s just something to consider if you’re painting your walls white. 

off-white warm gray quartz countertop on island with wood, wood flooring, Sherwin Williams PUre White kitchen cabinets, gold hardware (1)

The above wood has a slight pink/taupe undertone and looks pretty with Pure White cabinets

I find this next image so INTERESTING, as it looks like the lower cabinets are benefitting from some warmer light and maybe some reflection from the warm, golden oak flooring…

Oak flooring, painted white kitchen cabinets, Sherwin Williams Pure White, black honed granite countertop, tile backsplash, stainless appliances, brass hardware

How to Update Black Countertops

However, the upper cabinets look like they’re hit with a light bulb that has higher Kelvins. 

Remember, white is the most reflective paint color. Don’t just consider your wood, think about your room’s exposure and the Kelvins of your light bulbs! 

Here’s Pure White looking amazeballs in this dining room and kitchen with darker, red-stained wood flooring. However, in a room like this, because there’s a countertop and backsplash involved, the floor plays a bit of second-fiddle…

Dining area in kitchen, Sherwin Williams Pure White walls and painted cabinetse, dark wood floor red stain, home decor

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White

Your flooring can play a larger part when it comes to wall color OUTSIDE of the kitchen. But in the kitchen, the floor is usually your last worry.

Look at the previous image – this floor has a red undertone. Does this mean we need a white paint color with red or pink in it? Heck no. We listen to the needs of the other finishes, as well as the floor, and make the best choice.

Cabinets painted Sherwin Williams Pure White, walls Benjamin Moore warm gray Classic Gray, Vadar White Aura quartz, wood floor, Serena Lily rattan stools, blue accents. subway tile

The Best Paint Colors with Golden Oak

As for wood stains that don’t go with Pure White, there aren’t any.

Really, it’s about listening to your room’s exposure and the needs of other finishes, as Pure White SHOULD work with your wood.

By the way, do your countertop and backsplash need an update? Do you need finishes that complement your wood cabinets?

Check out my CURATED PALETTES – I’ve done the work for you (you’ll find them on Pg 2 of that link)! 

Palette color, countertop, backsplash tile, paint color, cabinet ideas to update wood, oak, maple, cherry kitchen cabinets. Kylie M, online color expert

Now, those are my top 3 whites with wood finishes. However, there are a few outliers if you want a few more options…

4. BENJAMIN MOORE CLOUD WHITE OC-130

If you love a more traditionally warm, creamy type of white, Cloud White is a stunner. 

Benjamin Moore Cloud White, best warm white paint colour, modern farmhouse dining room table, home decor. Kylie M paint blogger

With its LRV of 85.05, you might think it’s a brighter white. And sure, it’s a bit lighter than the above shades, but it still has a beautiful, creamy, warm softness. It’s a great one to compare with Sherwin Williams Alabaster (#2), which has a lower LRV. 

Apologies for the blurry image (I’m just happy when clients send me after photos!), but you can see how pretty Cloud White sits with this stronger, cherry red wood flooring…

Benjamin moore Hale Navy with arches into dining room, cherry red wood exotic floor, Cloud White moldings and wainscoting

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Cloud White is one of the oldest, most popular white paint colors. Now, this doesn’t make it the BEST for every project – your home and its finishes need to appreciate its pretty warmth. 

With its stunning, natural fir front door and heart pine flooring, Cloud White is a gorgeous white for the board and batten and trim in this next home…

Entryway, solid fir door, reclaimed wood flooring, board and batten walls. Cloud White board and batten, Gray Owl walls Kylie M Interiors Edesign,

Cloud White gets 4 out of 5 woofs from Milo.

Here’s Cloud White with a slightly orange-pink laminate flooring and solid cedar island supports…

Gray quartz island countertops, Benjamin Cloud White and rustic, reclaimed wood island legs or supports

If you have lighter, pink-stained wood finishes, I would be cautious with Cloud White, but otherwise, it’s pretty darn flexible. 

Benjamin Moore Cloud White: IMAGES, Info, & More

FUN FACT: If a paint color you’re looking at has an LRV lower than 82, it’s not white, it’s OFF-WHITE! 

5. BENJAMIN MOORE SIMPLY WHITE OC-117

I do love Simply White. Along with Cloud White, it’s one of Benjamin Moore’s most timeless, classic white paint colors. With its HIGHER LRV of 89.52, it’s a reasonably bright white. It also has a pretty warmth, brought to you by the color yellow. 

Check out the before of this kitchen in all of its woody goodness…

before kitchen with maple or alder wood cabinets and floor, stainless steel. Black laminate countertop

After, it looks more updated and brighter – PLUS, the maple (I think) wood floor finally comes to life as it has something to play with…

Kitchen after painting alder wood cabinets, maple floor, Benjamin Moore White Down and Simply White, black laminate countertop, stainless steel appliances, dark cherry red dining room wood set

Remember, the best, most flexible warm white paint colors have a yellow undertone; it just comes down to how MUCH yellow you want to see. 

In this next image, the buffet has a reasonably strong pink undertone (possibly cherry wood). If it were lighter pink (more washed out), I wouldn’t like it with Simply White. As-is, I love the dynamic between the walls and the wood…

Benjamin Moore Simply White warm white on north-facing walls and ceiling beams in dining room.

The Best Paint Colors with Pink-Stained or Pickled Woods

Here’s a space with maple flooring, Simply White on the trims/doors with Benjamin Moore Collingwood (a warm gray with purple undertones) on the walls…

Benjamin Moore Simply White , Collingwood gray walls, oak flooring, Kylie M Interiors Edesign, (3)

The Best Paint Colors With Light Wood Finishes

If you like Simply White, be sure to compare it to some similar shades, including…

Benjamin Moore Simply White: IMAGES, Info, & More

And of course, there’s always…

6. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65

Why ‘as always?’ Well, as far as white paint colors go, Chantilly Lace is pretty darn simple. With its higher LRV of 90.04, it’s just shy of ‘true white’ and has a barely there wink of warmth. 

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, popular white paint colour. Wood vanity, white marble look quartz countertop, vertical shiplap, gray tile floor. Kylie M Interiors

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This lack of commitment to being really warm or cool makes it an easy choice for any wood stain. The BIGGER question is whether it’s the right shade of white for your room’s exposure and other finishes. 

Not every home/room can handle white walls; regardless of wood stain.

Here’s Chantily Lace on the walls, main cabinets, and trims in this gorgeous kitchen remodel (Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray is on the island and board and batten)…

Kitchen remodel, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace painted white cabinets, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray painted island, warm gray greige trim and board and batten. Wood flooor. Marble backsplash. Kylie M online paint color expert with Truley Home

He’s obviously a big yoga fan, doing the downward dog.

While it’s paired with red oak flooring and red-orange maple dining chairs, it’s easy to see how Chantilly Lace can vibe with just about any wood. 

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace: IMAGES, Info, & More

Here’s another look at Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace on the wainscoting in this dark hallway with Classic Gray on the upper walls…

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray in dark hallway, wood flooring, white wainscoting Chantilly Lace or close to

If you like Chantilly Lace, make sure you compare it to…

Get the best color advice…

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The best paint colours for any room from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Popular Edesign blogger Kylie M Interiors. Diy decor and design advice. Market

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2 Comments

  1. I have a golden oak ceiling and pure white walls and a dark floor. We are renovating our kitchen and am stuck on what color to paint my new cabinets. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Actually, your biggest considerations should be your backsplash and countertop, as they’re the most directly related to your cabinet color!

      Reply

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