The 6 Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets
Top 6 Shades of White (Sherwin & Benjamin)
Choosing a white paint color for cabinets (or trim) can be a harrowing experience. This is especially true if you aren’t starting from scratch and have to coordinate with existing, and possibly outdated, finishes.
But don’t worry, whether you’re designing a new home, renovating, or doing a budget-friendly kitchen update, I’ve got the best white paint color for your cabinets – this should be white up your alley.
*Updated for 2026 with the best paint colors, home update ideas, and timeless design and decorating tips for today’s homeowner.
1. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC 17
White Dove is one of my most popular, consistently suggested shades of white for cabinets, trim, doors, ceilings, and walls.
Why?
Some whites are too stark or cold for the average home’s countertop and backsplash. Other whites are too warm. White Dove is the middle ground between too white and too warm, with a passive approach. So, while it appears white, it’s neither stark nor overly creamy.
How to Update Granite Counters Without Replacing Them
White Dove is also a great option if you want white walls, trims, and cabinets – all painted the same color. Its warmth and LRV suit various exposures and finishes, offering a softer approach than Pure White and Chantilly Lace.
The Best White Quartz Countertops
This next photo is a great comparison between the most popular whites…
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE DOVE
It’s important to compare different white paint colors. A white can look pretty darn neutral until you compare it to another, at which point the undertones and temperature become clearer. Just remember, there are no exact matches between brands (and brands can’t color-match each other’s whites)—each white will have its own unique look.
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster is one of the most popular, softer, warmer whites (close to an off-white)
- Sherwin Williams Greek Villa offers a bit more brightness than Alabaster, while still being a soft, warm white.
- Sherwin Williams Cold Foam is one of their newest shades of white.
White Dove uppers, a gorgeous green-gray paint color on the lower cabinets
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of White Dove…
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE 7005
Pure White is fantastic and one of my FAVORITE, versatile white paint colors. This super popular white sits between White Dove’s warmth and Chantilly Lace’s simplicity. Pure White is a warm white, but it’s one of the most subtle warm whites on the market.
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White
99.5% 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.
Whereas some warmer, creamier white paint colors can be challenging to coordinate with white quartz countertops, Pure White is generally the most versatile.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO PURE WHITE?
Welllll, nothing compares to Pure White, it’s a creature unto itself. This doesn’t mean there aren’t some great colors to compare with, as some countertops need more warmth than Pure White offers, but no other white is really ‘the same.’
- Benjamin Moore White Dove (a bit warmer)
- Sherwin Williams White Snow (brighter)
Get your Peel & Stick sample of Pure White…
3. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC 65
Chantilly Lace is THE most classic, timeless shade of white. While it does have a touch of softness to it (which we know about thanks to its LRV of 90.04 – if it were a true white, it would be a higher number)…
Chantilly Lace acts like white without being stark or cold.
Many people find TRUE white paint colors a bit too stark for their cabinets or trim – and they can be, depending on the surrounding finishes. Chantilly Lace is popular because it gives a cleaner contrast with finishes (compared to softer, warmer whites), without being edgy or harsh. This is because while Chantilly Lace ‘looks’ pretty darn white, it has a wink of softness to it!
Get your Peel & Stick sample of Chantilly Lace
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO CHANTILLY LACE
Chantilly Lace is definitely my favorite option for this range/type of white. However, there are a few worth comparing…
- Benjamin Moore Simply White – similarly white, but has a warmer undertone
- Sherwin Williams White Snow is a great comparison
NEED HELP?
Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES – let me tell you what to do!
4. BENJAMIN MOORE CLOUD WHITE CC-40
While Cloud White isn’t one of my TOP 3, it’s a great option for kitchens that need a more obvious warmth. Cloud White can look like a real white UNTIL you place it next to a real white (like paper or my butt cheeks). If you didn’t know it was that type of blog, now you do (wink wink).
Cloud White has a subtle yellow/creamy undertone with a grounded neutral base, making it less stark than traditional white. However, if you already have ‘white’ trim, appliances, or windows, you WILL notice the difference.
See more Cloud White here: A Maple Kitchen Makeover with Cloud White
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO CLOUD WHITE?
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster – just a wink softer and creamier
- Benjamin Moore Simply White. It has the warmth, but it’s cleaner and brighter, so the yellow can show up at the party a bit more
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Cloud White…
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Cloud White
5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER 7008
As it relates to the best paint colors for cabinets (with more warmth), Alabaster is the softest, warmest white. This is one reason it’s a hit with my clients who have homes from the 1990s and early 2000s/Tuscan-style kitchen trend, as it tends to suit many finishes from these times.
See my client, Jenna Christian’s beautiful home and style HERE.
Alabaster has an LRV of 82, so while it’s considered white, it’s a soft, dark shade of white. Will it ‘act like white?’ Yes, as long as your idea of ‘white’ is soft, gentle, and warm. However, if you place Alabaster with a whiter shade of white (i.e., GE Cafe white appliances/most white subway tiles), it will look softer and almost creamy in comparison.
Taj Mahal Quartzite Countertop Review
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ALABASTER
- Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Alabaster…
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster
6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE SNOW 9541
White Snow is a new shade of white that’s only available in Sherwin Williams Emerald Designer’s Edition (along with eight other NEW shades of white).
Because it’s new and not easy to sample (you can’t get sample pots made of it), I haven’t had many clients use it on their cabinets (yet). It’s also the most expensive line of paint they carry – but damn, does it have a beautiful finish.
Samplize Peel & Stick is the only way to get a sample of White Snow (short of buying a very expensive gallon)…
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of White Snow…
White Snow is awesome. It looks white and acts like white, but it isn’t stark like true or cold whites or overly warm like some other shades. It could be great in various kitchens, and I can’t wait to see it in action!
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE SNOW
I highly recommend comparing White Snow to several other shades. Noticing the difference between whites is what helps you see which one your interior finishes gravitate towards.
- Benjamin Moore Simply White is similar but a bit warmer
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is similar in depth but not as warm
- Sherwin Williams Extra White is BRIGHTER and whiter
FULL Paint Color Review of White Snow
WHY IS WHITE SNOW SO HARD TO SAMPLE?
You can’t get paper chip samples, sample pots, or quartz of White Snow (Sherwin should REEEALLY remedy this). Aside from Samplize, the ONLY way to see White Snow in action is to purchase a full gallon. At $125 CDN, that’s a huge stretch for the average person. Sampling needs to be EASY.
READ MORE
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
SHOULD You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets White?
The 3 Types of White Kitchen Cabinet Palettes
3 STEPS: Choose the Best White for Your Cabinets, Trims, or Walls
Get the best paint color advice
Check out my affordable Online Color Consulting!
Originally written in 2017, updated in 2025
Thank you so much Kylie, you are a Godsend for all of us.. providing a thorough snapshot of various colors in different lighting and surroundings, certainly helps us to make a great decision.. truly appreciate it!
Quick question for you..
Trying to find the best color for our kitchen cabinets.. a few details
Baltic Brown granite countertop and island.
SW Realist Beige on walls in kitchen – gorgeous color indeed
SW Navajo white (got the cabinets painted in this color a few years ago and they look horrendous now)
Trim is SW extra white I believe
Planning to paint the island and hood in SW Urbane Bronze .. would SW Alabaster or BM White Dove or SW Greek Villa look better on the cabinets? No direct light in the kitchen, only diffused south eastern light .. pls help.. thank you so much
Hey Katie! It’s a tough one, and always easier if I can see the space. Realist Beige is gorgeous, but can be fussy with its partners as it relates to white. It’s also hard to MIX whites in a space, especially with Extra White coming across cleaner than those 3. I can’t say that any of those 3 excite me with the sounds of all of the finishes! Have you considered NON-white/darker cabinets?
Hi, Kylie.
What color of trim do you recommend for a kitchen with Alabaster cabinets?
Thank you!
Hi Brooke, I would definitely use Alabaster. A brighter white could have your cabinets looking a bit yellow in comparison!
Hi Brooke-
Our walls are painted Ben Moore Calm with Chantilly Lace Trim through the condo. Our granite is brown/beige Sensa 4 (?) Can’t change the granite but want to paint the cabinets which are shaker style. Was thinking White Dove so not too stark against the granite…what do you think?
Hey Karen, I’d be very hesitant to mix whites, as Chantilly Lace is a brighter, cleaner white that can make a color like White Dove look a bit too creamy/dingy in comparison – it’s also NOT great with Calm, as Calm prefers Chantilly Lace!
Hey Kylie!
Love your blog! Really helped us remodel our home. Quick question, we have gone with balboa mist as our all over wall color with chantilly lace as our trim and ceiling paint. But we think that chantilly lace may be too bright for our kitchen cabinets. Would white dove cabinets complement this color scheme or would it look too dingy in comparison to the chantily lace trim and ceiling?
Oooof, no, I wouldn’t mix up the whites – I highly recommend keeping Chantilly Lace on the cabinets. It’s a brighter white and a warmwr white like White Dove could look a bit creamy/dingy in comparison!
Hi Kylie, after much debate we chose SW White Snow for our kitchen cabinets only to find out from our cabinet maker that they only use lacquer not water based enamel paint. We went back to Sherwin Williams and were told that their Sher-Wood Cab blending white is so close to White Snow that they can’t tint it and would just recommend using the blending white lacquer. Are you familiar with this issue?
Oh jeez, this is news to me! And yes, lacquer based paint is tough as it can turn out a bit warmer than you might expect. I would hold them to what they’ve said, but ask your cabinet maker to do up a sample door (fully finished) so you can make sure it’s the EXACT look/match. If not, you’ll have saved yourself from doing the WHOLE kitchen in the wrong shade. I find that sometimes what I THINK is a good match is different from what some paint store employees think is good, you know?
If you do this, you’re welcome to send photos with the White Snow sample on the sample door and I can get my eyes on it! Take it in a few different types of light and send it to kylie@kylieminteriors.ca
love your blog and passion! I have an open concept south facing house and love BM feather down for the walls. Considering BM white dove for kitchen cabinets , trim, ceilings and doors. My kitchen countertops and backsplash are whitish base with some beige greige small veining trough it and floors everywhere are engineered white oak. You always advise for kitchen cabinet color LRV to be at least 15 points higher and in this combo it won’t be. Any thoughts? thanks so much
You know, I think you can do this (I say that without seeing your finishes in person, of course :). And yes, 15-20 points is ideal, but when it comes to WHITE cabinets, there’s a ton more flexibility :).
Hi Kylie… I am a Kylie M “addict”! We are building a new home in Florida and I have been pouring over your blog for all of my color selections. I watched your video on the best quartz right now and have fallen in love with the Silestone Calacatta Gold. I went and viewed a slab in person and it is beautiful! What color white cabinets would you pair with that in the kitchen? I am fluctuating between BM White Dove and SW Pure White. My open area wall color will be BM Classic Gray. Thank you!
BM Classic Gray is gorgeous .. not a gray at all. Without seeing the space or the light, it’s difficult to pick the perfect cabinet white but SW7005 Pure White is pretty safe, especially if that’s your trim throughout your condo. I agree w all Kylie advice!
Pam Sather
I Pick Paint
Jacksonville FL
Hi Kyle,
We have a north west kitchen dining room combo where we put white dove cabinets with an island base of Farrow and Ball Treron,.I have narrowed down my wall colors to BM Baby Fawn and BM Edgecomb Gray. My kitchen designer said the former has pink undertones while the latter has green undertones. Which would you recommend? Also important to add that we have a backsplash of Soho Baroque Glass Adwick Series Grigio which is a very light greenish tinge. There isn’t too much wall space in the kitchen but the dining room will have plenty – it’s all one space. My gut is leaning towards Edgecomb Grey given the green undrtones, Thoughts?
Uh oh. Sooooo, Baby Fawn and Edgecomb Gray are THE same paint color, so I’m not sure what she’s talking about! I know many people compare the two as they’re in the same fan deck under differnet names, but they are the same color!
Hello,
I am having my cabinets painted next week. My kitchen is small with dim lighting, and I’ve painted the walls White Dove. What white cabinet colors would you recommend that will pair well with White Dove walls?
Thank you so much!
Oh boy, with White Dove walls, I’d have to go with White Dove cabinets. It can be tricky business to try to mix and match whites, as any other white will make White Dove look creamier or dingier in comparison!
Hey Kylie! Love your blogs so much! Quick question, I want to paint our home mostly Loft SW (just the walls). And then do our kitchen cabinets in White Dove BM. It’s a south facing open concept large room with vaulted ceilings. Would this look okay together?
Hey Morgan! With City Loft, I’d lean a bit more into SW Pure White 🙂