The 7 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
WALLS, CABINETS, TRIMS: THESE POPULAR WHITES HAVE YOU COVERED
If you’ve been looking for that perfect white paint color for your walls, trims, or kitchen cabinets, you know that white is a force to be reckoned with. If you’re not at that point yet, once you have 20 different shades of white slapped on your walls, are elbow-deep in a wine bottle, and are ready to toss said bottle at the wall, I’m sure you’ll jump on board the crazy train.
But don’t worry, I’m here to de-mystify whites for you. That doesn’t mean you’ll know exactly which white is best for your room and its particular needs, but it’ll help you figure out which whites you DON’T want.
To get this party started, let’s take a quick look at the steps to choosing your best white paint color…
- Determine which temperature of white best suits your space (warm, cool, or true). If you’re unsure, read this (later): The 5 Types of White Paint Colors.
- Decide whether you need a true, bright white, or soft white (based on LRV).
- Decide which undertone suits your home and its finishes.
- Find 3-4 whites that satisfy the above needs, compare them, and then choose your favorite!
And if all else fails, you know where to find me.
1. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17
White Dove is a soft, warm white paint color. It has a warm creamy yellow undertone that’s WELL-grounded with a neutral gray base to calm it down. While some don’t love White Dove’s subtle warmth, compared to legit warm whites, it’s pretty darn passive.
White Dove is my favorite Benjamin Moore White Paint Color.
White Dove is one of the most versatile shades of white, accommodating a buttload of interior finishes and varying paint colors. It doesn’t come off as creamy and warm as Cloud White (below), but also isn’t as clean as Chantilly Lace (below).
With its LRV of 83.16, White Dove is a soft white, so it won’t act like white, but a softer, warmer version of it.
BEST ROOMS FOR WHITE DOVE
- No matter what the exposure of your room is, White Dove is a great option, knowing that it’ll look a bit warmer in southern light and flatter in northern light (as will any warm white).
- It’s a great starting place for rooms with cream, beige, or tan finishes (meaning you probably wouldn’t want a cooler white than this).
- If White Dove isn’t warm enough for you, you might want a creamy warm white or off-white.
WHERE NOT TO USE WHITE DOVE
Here are some situations where White Dove (along with many of the other warm whites on this page) might not look as white as you’d like…
- White Dove is usually too creamy-warm for the average big-box store white subway tile backsplash.
- If you have white kitchen appliances or GE Cafe White, White Dove will look creamy in comparison.
- If you have builder’s white on your trims and doors, White Dove’s warmth will pop against this.
- If your kitchen cabinets are factory, stock, or manufacturer’s white, make sure they have the same type of warmth as White Dove. Sometimes they can be too white and bright.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of White Dove…
Benjamin Moore White Dove: IMAGES, Info, & More
2. BENJAMIN MOORE SIMPLY WHITE OC-117
Simply White is a bright (but not true), warm white paint color with a yellow undertone. Unlike myself, this undertone can be subtle at times, acting more like a true white. On the other hand, partner it with a cool shade of white or even a true white, and it can show up at the party with yellow on (and not much else – also like myself).
With its slightly higher LRV of 89.52, Simply White offers a great, fresh, and warm approach to white. Its yellow undertone is noticeable, but isn’t always obnoxious – adding a touch of life, without too much ‘color’.
Simply White is a popular choice for trims and kitchen cabinets if you want a bright, but not stark-white look. Just be careful, as its yellow hue can pop up. This means that Simply White can act like white (in the absence of a ‘real’ white), but watch out for its warmth if you aren’t a fan of yellow-whites.
Here’s Simply White and a few other popular shades of white that I’ve covered in this blog post…
LEFT TO RIGHT: BM Cloud White | BM Simply White | BM Chantilly Lace | BM Atrium White | BM White Dove
THE BEST ROOMS FOR SIMPLY WHITE
- If you’re looking for a brighter white, not a soft white, and have northern light, it can be a fabulous choice, offering some balance to cool northern exposure.
- Simply White can add energy to flat east-facing afternoon light or west-facing morning light.
- Simply White does its best work when it’s the only white paint color in the room (whether you have it on one surface or 3+).
- It can be pretty with some light shades of blue, green paint colors, and even some purples. Make sure these aren’t TRUE colors and have a bit (or more) of gray in them. Whereas a color like White Dove offers a slightly softer white contrast, Simply White has a bit more energy.
WHERE TO AVOID USING SIMPLY WHITE
- It’s okay with grays with those undertones, but not always great with more crisp, clean, cool colors – UNLESS you love the play of that warm/cool contrast.
- I’m a bit hesitant in south-facing rooms as the warmth of the southern light can really jack up the yellow in Simply White.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Simply White…
Benjamin Moore Simply White: IMAGES, Info, & More
3. BENJAMIN MOORE SUPER WHITE OC-152
Super White is a very subtly cool white. But even with this slightly cool vibe, the overall look is simple, clean, and great for modern spaces. Or if you’re Elsa – I hear she’s a big fan.
Above, BM Super White. Below, BM White OC-151
Super White has an LRV of 87.36, meaning it’s in between soft and bright (but leaning a bit more on the bright side).
Colors like this often look the most like a ‘true shade of white’, even though their slightly lower LRVs suggest otherwise!
THE BEST ROOMS FOR SUPER WHITE
- If you have a room with south-facing light, Super White is a great way to balance the warm light without tipping TOO yellow (as it will pick up some of the sun’s warmth).
- Rooms with warm western afternoon sunshine also suit the slightly cool approach of Super White, just make sure you like how it looks in the morning hours too!
WHERE NOT TO USE SUPER WHITE
- With any surface or finish even REMOTELY related to a warm Tuscan style. You’ll find these finishes most often in homes built in the early 2000s.
- Super White is usually too cool/bright for the most popular white quartz countertops.
- The average homeowner that I work with finds Super White a touch too cold/stark, as their homes usually cater to a softer or warmer look.
FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Super White
4. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65
Chantilly Lace is a lovely white that’s one of the WHITEST white paint colors (it’s BM’s best approach to ‘true white’). It has no noticeable undertone, although it has a wee willy wink of warmth tucked deep inside. This means it’s SUPER susceptible to responding to the colors in its environment.
Chantilly Lace is my favorite BRIGHT Benjamin Moore white paint color.
Chantilly Lace is a simple, clean choice if you’re looking to use white. While it can be a tit bit nipply for a cold, north-facing room, it can be pure magic in a south-facing room. It’s often referred to as the best ‘whitest white’ paint color, even though it’s not a true white (thanks to its LRV of 90.04).
THE BEST ROOMS FOR CHANTILLY LACE
- Rooms where you want a fresh white paint colour that acts like white without being icy cold (although it could look this way in cold northern exposure).
- Chantilly Lace is an awesome choice for a ‘whole home’ trim, ceiling, and door paint color.
- It’s flexible with a wide range of paint colors.
- Its coverage isn’t great (common with whites). Make sure you prime first and ask the paint store to top off your gallon with Titanium White to help it cover a bit better.
WHEN TO AVOID CHANTILLY LACE
- If you’re looking for a soft, warm white, this isn’t it, unless you view it in the late afternoon in western sunshine.
Click HERE or on the above image to see your available packages!
5. BENJAMIN MOORE DECORATORS WHITE
Decorator’s White is a popular white paint colour with its subtle undertones of gray and purple, making it a COOL, soft white paint colour.
Decorators White might look like a pretty ‘white-white’ until you compare it to a true or warm white.
For this reason, I’d use Decorator’s White on my walls with a true white trim, but I’d NEVER use it on my trims and cabinets. But that’s me – you do you, boo.
THE BEST ROOMS FOR DECORATORS WHITE
- When you want a subtle, cool, but not overly STARK vibe.
- If you have finishes that crave a slight gray-purple hue without a ton of depth.
- Many grays with purple undertones, such as Decorator’s White.
WHEN TO AVOID DECORATORS WHITE
Again, with its undertones and lower LRV, I wouldn’t recommend Decorators White for cabinets, trims, and doors unless you always want to live in the cooler end of things (specifically, purple).
Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White: IMAGES, Info, & More
Can I Paint My North-Facing Room White?
Get my Kylie M. Curated White Color Bundle for Peel & Stick sampling!
6. BENJAMIN MOORE CLOUD WHITE OC-130
Cloud White is one of Benjamin Moore’s best, most timeless warm white paint colors. With its soft cream (yellow) undertone, Cloud White offers warmth without being ‘overly colourful’, as its neutral base calms it down.
Keep in mind that Cloud White won’t always act like white, thanks to its degree of warmth and LRV of 85.05, making it a SOFT white. However, for those wanting a soft, gentle shade of white, it can be the perfect choice.
Cloud White on the left, compared to the slightly softer White Dove in the middle
The 7 Best White Trim (& Cabinet) Paint Colors
Cloud White is my favorite CREAMY Benjamin Moore White Paint Color.
In this next photo, compare the Cloud White walls to the white trim around the door. This is a great way to see the creamy warmth in Cloud White compared to a more standard shade of white…
The Best Green Paint Colors for Cabinets
THE BEST ROOMS FOR CLOUD WHITE
- When you want a relatively versatile white that works well with earth tones, like light-medium depth greiges and varying shades of tans. It’s also an interesting partner to some cool colors, like blue paint colors and shades of green, as long as they have some gray to calm them.
- North-facing rooms and those with a flat, dull light do well with soft, warm whites like this.
- Cloud White often suits homes built in the 1990s and the early 2000s.
WHEN TO AVOID CLOUD WHITE
- If you don’t love warm whites.
- If you want a legit white look.
- Cloud White is too warm for many of the best white quartz countertops, even some of the warm ones.
- If you’re trying to go with white kitchen appliances or GE Cafe White, Cloud White will look super creamy in comparison.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Cloud White…
Benjamin Moore Cloud White: IMAGES, Info, & More
7. BENJAMIN MOORE SWISS COFFEE OC-45
Swiss Coffee is a popular white paint colour, due in part to Studio McGee using it in their own home, but this doesn’t mean it’s best for YOURS.
Since I don’t recommend Swiss Coffee very often, I have only a few photos of it. I do have this one of it on the trim in this living room with Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige walls…
Swiss Coffee is very comparable to White Dove, not just in LRV, but in a general approach.
However, the difference between the two is that Swiss Coffee is slightly more likely to pick up a vague hint of green. For this reason, I’m way more likely to recommend White Dove to my Online Color Consulting clients.
This said, you might not ever even SEE any green. It’s only in comparison to White Dove that it’s my second choice of the two.
As for depth, Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91, making it slightly darker and denser than White Dove. This puts it between the soft white range and the wild world of warm, OFF-WHITE paint colors.
THE BEST ROOMS FOR SWISS COFFEE
- Swiss Coffee’s passive warmth makes it a great choice for any exposure, knowing it can look that bit warmer in southern light.
- If your finishes have a green undertone, they might love Swiss Coffee.
WHERE NOT TO USE SWISS COFFEE
- I would be less inclined to pair Swiss Coffee with finishes that have a pink or taupe undertone, as I would worry about the undertones clashing a bit.
- If I have a choice, I’ll choose White Dove over Swiss Coffee EVERY TIME – I find it more predictable.
PEOPLE ALSO ASK
If your question isn’t covered here, please leave a comment – I do my best to answer as many as I can!
WHAT’S BENJAMIN MOORE’S MOST POPULAR WHITE PAINT COLOR?
Benjamin Moore White Dove is their best and most popular shade of white for walls, cabinets, trim, or exteriors.
White Dove is on the walls, Chantilly Lace is on the cabinets.
Coming a close second is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, followed by Chantilly Lace
This is according to Samplize Peel & Stick – between them and me, we’re likely the two largest referrers (worldwide) to BM).
WHICH BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE IS BEST FOR TRIMS & CABINETS
While it greatly depends on the needs of your interior finishes, Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace and White Dove are the most popular colors for trims and cabinets.
Here’s Chantilly Lace looking crisp and clean in a traditional kitchen…
Here’s White Dove offering a bit more softness and warmth…
Ideas to Update Your 2000s Kitchen | Ideas to Update Your 1990s Kitchen
WHICH BENJAMIN MOORE WHITES ARE RISKY?
Just because they’re pretty doesn’t mean they’re versatile or suitable for the average interior finishes. Here are the whites I rarely suggest in my Online Color Consulting (for various reasons)…
- If it has ‘white’ in the name but has an LRV lower than 82, I wouldn’t use it, as it’s not a white, it’s an OFF-WHITE PAINT COLOR.
- Benjamin Moore Atrium White and Benjamin Moore Alabaster, as they both have pink undertones. BM Alabaster often gets confused with Sherwin Williams Alabaster, which is an awesome, soft, warm white paint color.
- Benjamin Moore Glacier White. Its LRV is a bit too low, and its undertones are murky.
- While it has a great LRV, Benjamin Moore Mayonnaise has too much yellow for the average home. Maybe for walls (with clean white trim), but not cabinets or trims.
READ MORE
The 7 Best White Trim Paint Colors
The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colours
The 4 Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colours
White Kitchen Cabinets: 3 Palettes to Create a Beautiful White Kitchen
Get expert color advice…
Check out my Online Color Consulting Packages – I’d love to help!
Originally written in 2018, awesomely updated in 2025
What do you mean by “act like white”?
Hi Stefanie! It means that if you don’t have a pure/clean/crisp white next to it, it will look white. However, if you put it with a clean white, you will see that it’s actually softer.
Your blog is fantastic! Thank you for this amazing and comprehensive post- you included very helpful information and photo examples. I am trying to choose a white to paint the fireplace in our (very sunny) living room, preferably one that will help tone down the orange-y/yellowish tones of my oak floors. I was leaning toward simply white, but now I’m thinking that may highlight the yellow in our floors. Thank you!
Hi Kylie- I have been laboring over the decision on which white to paint our great room and have read this article no less than 10 times over the last month ????. I want to do one white for the base moulding, walls, and ceiling. We have some beams and soffits that are different heights so I think it would really draw attention to that if we did the ceiling a diff color. It’s a north facing room. I am in between Dove Wing and Oxford White. We have modern furniture. I want to do Dove Wing but afraid it might look too dingy and dark if I do it on the ceiling too. Do you have any experience with painting dove Wing all over like this? I am planning on doing diff sheens: flat for ceiling, eggshell for wall, satin for trim. Thoughts ?
Hi Amanda! So, there is quite a difference between Oxford White and Dove Wing and yes, for what it sounds like you want to do, it could be a bit dingy, in which case, you could look at White Dove on the ceiling to off-set this a bit. However, Oxford White in a north-facing room wouldn’t be very warm (I’m a big White Dove fan for what it sounds like you want to do, just sayin’).
And yes, sheen is a great way to play with a single colour – flat for ceiling, matte or eggshell on walls and satin for trim – my fave combo!
Kylie, you are the best! Thank you for breaking down “whites”! Quick question…what if your room doesn’t have windows…only a skylight?! I’m looking to paint our bathroom and can’t figure out which “exposure” it would be!
Hi Kylie,
i’m helping my son paint his house which is BM linen white . most of the house faces North so the yellow actually gets toned down pretty good. I’m wondering what color to paint the trim ? Most of the doors are a factory white paint i’m trying to get as close to that without it looking to stark ? The SW pure white looks the closest but it comes across a little grey., .any suggestions?
Hi! Any suggestions on a white to go with BM Blue Nose? It’s for a boys room (9 and 12yrs), who wanted American Flag theme. So we did an accent wall with the Blue Nose. The rest of the walls are a creamy/yellowy white and it just doesn’t do anything for the blue. Thanks!!
Well, I might just keep it simple with something like BM Super White!
Hi,
Your post are really informative thank you!
If I am painting my east facing living room simply white…which sheen would you recommend?
Thank you,
Rachel
Well, personally, I’m a matte finish gal myself, but it’s NOT as wipeable as eggshell, so it really depends on how hard you are on your home ;).
Dear Kylie: I’ve got an RV whose interior I want to paint white. I live in Texas, with its mildish winters, but brutal summers. When I lived in Seattle, I learned to count on warm colors. Here, I need the opposite. My new (FREE!) floor in south daylight looks white with light gray drybrushing. In lesser lights ranging from greigey tan to downright browny-gray. Except for that, they’re pretty, and I hope to paint the interior a suitable white throughout (if I can find a suitable white that won’t make my horrible summers feel hotter.)
My budget is about 45 cents, so I won’t be re-doing the floor, as it’s new and actually kind of pretty & natural looking in soe lights. In strong sunlight it looks like white & palest gray with very light drybrushing of black. In other lights, they effect darkens to include greigey/beigey tones, making it look resemble weathered wood. By itself, it’s kind of pretty. I’ve already made stark white cotton canvas slipcovers & curtains , which iI can dye when they pass the point of spanking white & slide into the inevitable grimey. Too much gray seems to create a suicidal mood, which I am eager to avoid. but I do want a white paint color that rcan relate to the gray floors and also harmonize with a blue-green (heavier on blue than green). Because the RV is actually a vehicle, it has windows on the front, back & sides, and I’ll be parking it with the front pointed south. Could you possibly give me some guidance regarding the best white paint for my walls & trim?
Hi Jude, I do wonder if you might like the just slightly COOLER approach of Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White, which is a softer white that isn’t warm!
I absolutely adore your writing! It’s rare to find an educated and creative blogger who makes you laugh out loud. I am forever your fan. Thank you for sharing your skills with a grounded, fun and classy perspective.
Wow, well is that every a nice note to get, THANK you! If you can let Tim know that I’m funny, that would be great – he just rolls his eyes ;).
Hi! I’m stumped. What trim would go with Nimbus Cabinet and Walls and Britannica quartz countertops? Thanks!
I might look at BM Oxford White 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, take a look at BM Oxford White, see how it feels 🙂
Hi Kylie,
Great article! I have been comparing whites from different manufacturers and haven’t found one with your detailed ability in comparing them. What are your thoughts on comparing these whites?
Shoelace by Behr
Simply White by Benjamin Moore
Tibetan Jasmine by Ralph Lauren
Wevet by Farrow and Ball
White Tie by Farrow and Ball
Creamy by Sherwin Williams
Pointing 2003 by Farrow and Ball
Hi Kylie – now I regret painting my walls (mostly south facing) Swiss Coffee. Is it worth repainting – will it make enough of a difference to warrant the time and expense?
Well, it depends on what you don’t like about it and what you were HOPING for. In my opinion, seeing as you’re researching and left a comment, that changing it could be a good thing :).
What do you recommend or trim and ceiling color for white walls? All the same color?
Hi Kelly, I DEFINITELY recommend using the same white on a variety of surfaces for consistency. There are some whites that can be mixed and matched, but you have to be so careful as undertones can clash SO fast.
Hi Kylie,
I love your web site and have learned a lot. I wish I had read it sooner. I painted my laundry room Simply White and it flashes yellow. Really yellow. The new appliances and sink we ordered are white. I’m afraid the two will not go together. I’m thinking of repainting the room Oxford White or White heron. Will either of those go with the white appliances? Thanks so much!
Hi Kylie,
Thanks for this amazing information in understanding whites. Very helpful. I’m in the process of choosing the paint colors for my new build. I really like the BM White Dove for all the walls, and leaning towards the BM Simply White for the Trims, doors and Cabinets. Would this be a good combination?
IJAY
Hi Ijay, i HIGHLY RECOMMEND sticking with the same white for all surfaces so you don’t have one making the other look more dingy/yellow/etc… :).
Hi Kylie,
I love the look of a white kitchen with black accents. Right now my kitchen has Oxford white trim and Simply white cabinets and linen coloured walls. What white would I use on the walls? I don’t want the cabinets to look to yellow (they have lacquer in the finish). I’d like to have the clean white look. The kitchen has a east facing window.
Thanks in advance
Ooo, that’s a tough one Cindy. YOu already have two competing whites going on with different undertones. My best thought would be Simply White as any whiter white WILL make your cabinets look more yellow in comparison, especially with a lacquer. This being said, even Simply White walls could make your cabinets look a bit more yellow in comparison BECAUSE of the lacquer – you’re in a very tough spot as far as white goes.
Would you do something completely different then? I would like the kitchen to be brighter. The house is over 100 years, it has 9’ ceilings, 8” baseboards and 7” headers over the doorways and has crown mouldings. I have a east facing window over the sink, 4 doorways – one door leads out to a south facing covered veranda, so it does let in a bit of light. The walls in the kitchen are BM Natural Linen and the walls in the dining/living room are Piedmont Grey. The entire house has Oxford White trim. Sometimes the light in the kitchen the trim looks almost the same as the Simply White cabinets as it’s oil based paint, painted over 20 years ago. Thanks so much!
Here’s another vote for Atrium White. It’s definitely pink, but it’s in a house where half the first floor is tiled in porcelain that’s supposed to look like ivory travertine. The tile is seriously pink. Atrium White is basically a non-yellow version of White Dove. I have oil trim (which always yellows over time) and the aging color has stayed an off white instead of turning cream like the previous Cloud White trim color did. The worst it’s gotten is a slightly peachy look in places. But it definitely has its limitations. Don’t even think of pairing warm greens or yellows with it. It doesn’t work. Atrium White LOVES Maritime White as a wall color. Edgecomb Gray is okay but flashes a bit green on my fireplace wall in between two Atrium White bookcases. It also loves all cooler blues and grays. It would probably be gorgeous with anything pink or purple as a wall color. It’s okay with a warmer blue like Woodlawn Blue, but that’s pushing it as warm as it could go in our house.
Hi Kylie, I’ve looked at your post the past couple weeks! It’s so helpful!
I’m really studying a lot about paint, and I just feel like I can get a job at a paint shop. LOL
I know you are very busy! and you like to drink a wine. 🙂
However, The more I look at the posting and paint the sample, the more difficult it becomes, so I leave a message because I need your help!
I narrowed the paint colors to paint in my living room to a few.
The floor is the problem. It’s “travertine”. I saw in your post that Kilim Beige goes well with it, but I want to go in a brighter tone (east and west facing widows I have) because the color feels too dark too toasted and there’s not much lighting in my house.
So I think BM white dove or oxford white or SW aesthetic white. I have no furniture yet.
Could you save me from the paint dilemma that lasted for several weeks? I studied a lot with your post, but it’s still hard for me to choose between these three.
I watched a lot of your YouTube videos as well. 🙂
Thank you very much!!!
thanks for this – i’m on the struggle bus. Semi open floor plan and need wall, trim, cabinet paint. Floors dark walnut – both rooms south facing and lots of trees outside so not as much sunlight as I would like even though lots of windows. i’ve read through your website – my kitchen countertops are more like a venetial gold (more bigger movement but those colors as house built 2000). so your blog says I need to focus on warmer whites (backsplash is a travertine – not gold and the grout is more taupe neutral). Considering Alabaster for trim/cabinets. Heres the catch is the wall color for both rooms. My couch is beige but has cooler undertones. Right now walls are SW Neutral Ground and reads too creamy with the couch. I like light airy and I think I can pull off some cool tones as you said south facing as it pulls in some warmth which warms up the cooler walls. I think colors like repose gray and agreeable gray are darker than what I want to go with. But with alabaster trim I have to be careful. Oh and my fireplace is a limestone with some warmth there.
Kylie, I have to say I love your blog! You helped me pick the prettiest gray to my office: on the rocks! Now onto this post.
I’m a happ person living with Atrium White on my walls on a bright basement. I get southeast and southwest direcisun and the room is warm and cozy. The undertones here come out to a light, creamy peach, but very delicate. Its a room full of light wood accents, white furniture, one dark navy/gray couch and a few plants. It pairs nicely with doors, trims and ceiling snowflake white, also by BM. The floor is a medium dark brown.
Phone cameras don’t do it justice but I jave to say it’s such a pretty colora especially at sunrise and sunset. Perfect for my yoga practice or tea with the girls.
THANK you for this, Petula! It’s comments like yours that really help others see if a colour could work for them – especially one like Atrium White that has trickier undertones – thank you!!!