The 5 Whites & Off-Whites I Would NEVER Paint My Cabinets & Trim
The 5 Wicked Whites of the West
When choosing the best white paint color for trims, doors, and cabinets, would you rather have a white with the flexibility of a 10-year-old gymnast or one as flexible as an 80-year-old armchair aficionado? Personally, I’d rather have a white in the form of wine – in ma belly.
Now, I know you’re shaking in your cute lil’ boots, hoping that your white or creamy-toned trim or cabinet color isn’t on the hit list—and it might be. I can imagine some of the comments I’ll get from readers who have ‘said whites’ and LOVE them. And I agree—some homes can pull off these whites and off-whites fantastically. Others? Not so much.
Now, you’re probably wondering what’s REALLY WRONG with choosing these colors for your cabinets or trim—what’s the big deal?
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
These colors set the stage for wall colors, finishes, furnishings, and accents. They’re the framework for your walls, windows, cabinets, and floors; they’re the starting point for any successful color scheme. If these colors are limiting, you’ll have a fraction of the choices you might have with a more flexible shade of white or even a flexible off-white.
Somebody chose too creamy of a white for these modern modern, updated finishes.
The colors I’m referring to pop up on cabinets and trims all the time, and they have too much yellow. I rarely come across whites that are too blue, green, or purple (only because they aren’t used very often)—it’s always the warm whites that throw things off-whack in a design plan.
If you love a Tuscan-style kitchen, cream cabinets can be beautiful!
If you have one of these whites or creams and it looks good now, GREAT. However, if you want to change your decorative directions in the future, you could have a big problem.
You see, many fantastic warm whites are flexible and also happen to be some of my favorite paint colors. They don’t even come CLOSE to being too cream or yellow; they’re just ‘subtle and warm.’ They suit warm colors, cool colors, and a wide range of neutrals as it relates to paint colors and finishes. Now the buggery colors that I’m going to reference are ALSO warm – they just aren’t as subtle about it. The stronger yellow in them reduces their flexibility and won’t let them accommodate nearly as many other colors and finishes.
However, if you WANT cream-yellow cabinets and aren’t worried about flexibility or resale, these colors might be right up your alley.
So what ARE these white wonders, you ask? Let’s take a peek…
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANTIQUE WHITE SW 6119
Antique White is number one on my hit list. While it’s a super popular color for cabinets and trims, 1. it’s not white (even though ‘white’ is in its name), and 2. it’s not at all flexible regarding finishes and coordinating wall colors.
On walls? It’s amazeballs. On cabinets and trims? It’s a hard no from this color cowgirl.
As for resale, it’s awfully warm and picks up the early 2000s, Tuscan-era vibe, which many buyers are trying to get away from and update.
With Antique White’s LRV of 72, not only is it not white, but it’s also on the dark end of the off-white range. The darker and creamier your cabinets and trim are, the more limiting your options will be for surrounding finishes.
Here’s a door and trim painted Antique White. Notice the depth and vibe of the surrounding Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples. Pretty? Sure, there’s not much of a range there (more colors can work, but many have similar vibes to these)…
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Antique White
Now, this next white is one I wouldn’t necessarily PICK for trim or cabinets, but if it’s already in place, it’s a bit easier to work around than most others, and that color is…
2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVER WHITE SW 6385
Dover White isn’t the WORST warm creamy white for cabinets and trims because it’s brighter than a few others on this page. This doesn’t mean I’d do it—I still wouldn’t—but it’s better than some.
This is because Dover White has a reasonable degree of yellow, which makes color coordination difficult. Also, try updating your original granite countertops—good luck. As shown in this next photo, even a moderately updated granite countertop can look off with the yellow in Dover White…
While each finish is pretty on its own, Dover White prefers a countertop with a more noticeable cream-yellow OR a black countertop.
My Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Dover White
3. BENJAMIN MOORE NAVAJO WHITE OC 95
At the beginning of any Online Color Consult, I ask, ‘Do you need a trim color suggestion, or do you have an existing trim color that you’d like me to work with?‘ When Navajo White or the previously mentioned Antique White are noted, I make a mad dash for the wine cabinet and grab the nearest funnel, anticipating the glory of explaining why these colors are hard to work around and probably won’t be easy to update.
I’m not even sure why Navajo White is an option for trim or cabinets, as it isn’t white. Don’t get me wrong—it’s an awesome shade of cream for walls, but when it comes to other surfaces, it’s not so hot.
The Best Paint Colors to Update Cream Painted Cabinets & Trim
In the above home office, look at the color of the small window trim vs. the crown molding – that’s the difference between Navajo White and a more flexible white. When we buy a home, we rarely walk into a perfect slate; in this case, the owners didn’t want to repaint ANY of the trim in their recently purchased home. So, it was about finding a happy medium between what worked best for both trims AND the homeowner – and I think we did it! However, if all the trim were a flexible white, our options would’ve opened up CONSIDERABLY.
Whites or creams with too much yellow will be harder to coordinate in the short AND long term.
My Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Navajo White
4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CREAMY SW 7012
Oh, I’ll be burned at the stake like a wicked little Ginger witch, but seriously, please don’t choose Creamy for your trim or cabinets. If you already have it and it’s working for you, then kudos. However, if you’re choosing trim/cabinet colors from scratch, you may want to look elsewhere for your perfect shade of white.
Why?
Creamy has too much yellow. If you dream of longterm flexibility, this color won’t give you any. If you’re considering RESALE and want a trim color that suits a wide range of tastes, this isn’t it.
The one thing going for it is its LRV. Creamy’s LRV is 81, close to the white range. Being this bit brighter than others on this page makes it a bit more flexible, but its yellow still holds it back from being a top shade.
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In the photo of the stairwell below, you’ll see Creamy on the walls and Benjamin Moore Cloud White on the trim—right where they belong! Of course, everything washes out with sunlight, so you’ll want to see the contrast where the baseboard/wall meets to see the shift.
Creamy colors like these are best suited for WALLS – not trims, doors, and definitely not cabinets.
Are there exceptions? Heck yes! The odd granite/backsplash combo begs for warm yellow-based colors like this—that actually need them to look their best. However, they’re few and far between.
How to Update Older Granite Countertops
Certain styles also lean considerably warmer (e.g. those who love more rich beige or cream walls), in which case creamy whites can be gorgeous on trims, doors, and cabinets.
Paint Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Creamy
Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages.
5. BENJAMIN MOORE LINEN WHITE OC-146
Linen White is beautiful…if you want cream walls. However, if you’re looking for a warm shade of creamy white for your cabinets, trims, or doors, this could be a far cry from your home’s best choice.
Again, it comes down to the degree of yellow. Linen White has too much yellow to be flexible. Might you love it? YOU BET, in which case, you can fill your little creamy leather boots. However, many other shades will be better if you want flexibility and appeal for resale.
Is Linen White beautiful on these next kitchen cabinets? You bet your booty it is – it’s stunning with the honed black granite countertops. However, updating the surrounding finishes (even just the wall color) while keeping Linen White in place will be challenging.
Again, some kitchens or homes NEED creams or creamy whites. However, if you have the average home, you’re probably better off with a more flexible shade of white.
Now, you probably want to know which whites I love, the warm but flexible whites. Well, that’s a blog post unto itself…
The 5 Best, Almost Fool-Proof White Paint Colors
The Best Creamy White & Off-White Paint Colors
How to Update Your 2000s Kitchen
Backsplash Ideas to Update 2000s Granite Countertops
How to Update Outdated Granite Countertops
Not sure which white is best for YOU and your home?
Check out my E-Design packages – I’d love to help!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2024
Love this.
Hi Kylie! Do you like SW Incredible white for walls?
I do like Incredible White, but just keep in mind that has a bit of a feminine slant to it and in some lights can have a bit of a taupe look (VERY slightly pink/purple). As long as you’re cool with that!
I recall the trauma of BM Soft Shammy (or something like that) when we started the paint portion of our reno. I had picked it for cabinets and trim throughout the house to work with the biscuit tones in our quartz countertops. Thank goodness we started paint in the bedrooms and were able to bring the process to a screeching halt- the reflections in the moldings looked like heavy smokers had lived in the house for decades. That yellow/green undertone was the worst. Now my cabinets don’t quite “match” my cabinets, but I think they work. Fingers crossed Ill be calling you on a new project soon!
What color is that feature wall? I love it! I’ve got a spot that I want to paint a dark color, and I’d love to test that out.
Hi Dawn! The one down the hallway? That’s BM Gray 2121-10 – it’s really quite beautiful!
Ughh!!15 years ago Antique White was the color to go with. I have it everywhere! Heavy trim work throughout/ mantles and a darker version on all my ceilings. I’m swimming in cream and am sick of it! Time for a total redo I guess.
This couldn’t come at a better time. I am remodeling my basement and it’s mostly painted SW Gossamer Veil. I was debating between several trim colors but now I think I’m going with SW Pure White which actually was my first choice. You just helped reaffirm that choice.
Yes! Pure White would be great!
I was excited when I found the North facing good color choices then I found this… I will agree with this article 200% – I have cabinets painted Canvas Tan at 50% which is basically Creamy with Roman Column trim I obviously didn’t find you before I painted – LOL. I now have 20 paint samples (maybe just 6) on my walls and can’t find one that goes – at least I know why now and can tell my husband I am not crazy there is a reason I can’t pick one, NOTHING goes with it! I really kinda love my Creamy cabinets 🙁 but I also want a change 🙁 but I also don’t want to paint my cabinets …. sigh. Does anything go with creamy cabinets besides creamy (which is what I have now along with a chair rail in the eat in area of kitchen)
Hi Christy! Yes, it’s challenging and sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know! Now it actually depends a lot on your countertop/backsplash Creamy can suit some really pretty tans (along the lines of Canvas Tan) and with the right countertop/backsplash can even entertain some green undertones too!
Hello! We are giving our kitchen a facelift. New countertops, solid surface Arctic White & new backsplash(white subway with black grout)We have been struggling to find the perfect gray & I think we’ve decided on silver satin. It doesn’t compete with the cabinets, which I like. The other choice was Coddingwood, still seemed to competitive. What color trim would you use? Thank you in advance
Hi Kylie,
We are in the building process of our new home I have sw alabaster on my master bath and sw silver mist on my master bedroom trying to decide on bathroom cabinets between silver mist or what color white would look good with alabaster walls.
Thank you
Donna
Kylie, you’re a life saver to a novice paint expert like me. We have been looking into painting kitchen cabinets in our home but have been uneasy about what shades of white would be good to lean towards. Definitely taking note of these. Thank you so much!!
I already have SW Extra White for all of the trim in my house. I want to paint my living room in SW Gossamer Veil, will that work together?
You betcha!
I’m doing a remodel and using Useful Gray for walls with High Reflective white for trim! Eeks!!!
A rep in my BM store recommended mascarpone, as a popular white here in Seattle. I do love it, in my bathroom on walls, and trim, with an accent wall in a dogwood pink (i can’t remember the name of the color, but it matches the dogwood in our yard you can see thru the bathroom window in the spring). I keep looking for a review from you on mascarpone, and haven’t seen one yet. I like gray in others’ homes, but in my home in seattle winters, i do not want gray. we actually choose a pale-ish yellow in the living/dining room, with very light yellow trim (I know, it’s not white trim, but i didn’t want the contrast of white trim and yellow walls in our smaller living/dining room area, and we do love it. I love your reviews and blog!!
If I were to paint my wall with Navajo white what would you recommend for baseboards?
Take a look at BM Cloud White, it could be quite pretty!
Would simply white on trim go well with Navajo white or Indian white? (also which do you recommend for a west facing bedroom?) thanks!
Oh lord I am in trouble! I just had my husband start painting our small dark hallway Navajo White including door, trim and ceiling in a satin finish because I read that painting a warm off white one color would make it appear bigger. Am I wrong? What trim would work with Navajo White?
Hi Momo! I might lean more into an eggshell finish on the walls, satin on trim/doors and flat on the ceiling. And Navajo White can be lovely on the walls, but I might lean towards Cloud White on the trims/ceilings/doors :).
I am going to be painting my walls Extra White and my trim alabaster. I like the reverse contrast. What is your opinion of that combination?
Oh, Jennifer, you’re scaring the HECK out of me – I’m sorry to say! With Extra White being a COOL soft white and Alabaster being a WARM soft white, they’re each going to enhance each others undertones and I worry about the ‘colourful’ combination you’ll be left with. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t do it…
Thanks! What color are those bookshelves behind you in the video? I love those! They look like a soft white.
That’s funny, I get asked that all the time! They’re actually Ikea Hemnes bookcases, so they came that colour!
Hi, Kylie! Is there a white you would recommend on the walls with Alabaster?
Hi Jennifer, I’m not super inclined to mix whites as they can REALLY set each other off in a bad way, so if it were me, I’d keep it simple and do Alabaster!
Hrllp Kylie, I am painting my walls worldly gray, I have wood floors, stained cabinets and a black island. I have chosen Greek villa for my trim. I have white windows.. How do you think this will look? They start painting in 2 days.
Thank you so much,
Marsha
Sounds alright to me, Marsha! My only hesitation would be if Worldly Gray DOESN’T grab the touch of green undertone it can have. PERSONALLY, I trust SW Pure White more :).
We just bought a house that house loads of gorgeous deep baseboards and crown molding painted SW Creamy. We want the walls to be very light and bright. Our painter suggested painting the walls half strength SW Creamy. Thoughts?
That makes me SUPER nervous, as it can be really awkward to have the trim DARKER than the walls with this type of colour – I wouldn’t. I would stick with Creamy on the walls for sure – as-is.