BEHR’S 6 Best White Paint Colors
BEHR’S TOP 6 SHADES OF WHITE & SOFT WHITE
Do you have questions about some of your favorite Behr paint colors but can’t find any answers? I’m here to help.
I specialize in Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint colors on my blog, Instagram, and Online Paint Color Consulting. I figured it was time to dive into BEHR to answer questions you have about some of their best shades of white, questions like:
- What can I expect from these colors regarding undertones and general look?
- What are the LRVs of these colors? Not sure what LRV is? Learn about it here: The Ultimate Guide to Picking Paint Colours with LRV
- What Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paint colors do they COMPARE to?
But truth be told, in the design world (and from personal experience, with one exception), Behr paint doesn’t have a great reputation. Almost every paint brand has lackluster lines (yup, even Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams), but Behr is well-known for off-kilter sheen levels and poor performance (just a little footnote before we carry on).
PLEASE NOTE: I don’t do Online Colour Consulting with BEHR (only BM and SW) and don’t know their colors as intimately. And while I’m usually a SAUCY lil’ Ginger, these blog posts are more straightforward to get you started on your next painting project!
1. BEHR ULTRA PURE WHITE
If you’re looking for a SUPER white – THE whitest paint color – this is your lucky day.
IS ULTRA-PURE WHITE A WARM OR COOL COLOR?
Ultra Pure White isn’t warm or cold—it’s bright white. Here it is on trim and baseboards with Benjamin Moore Dove Wing on the walls.
The Best Off-White Paint Colors
WHAT’S THE LRV OF ULTRA PURE WHITE?
With an LRV of 94, Ultra Pure White is about as white as you’ll get and is EVEN WHITER than Sherwin Williams High Reflective White…which is pretty impressive in my books.
WHAT ARE ULTRA PURE WHITE’S UNDERTONES?
Because it’s not committed to ANY undertone, Ultra Pure White can pick up a bit of gray-blue from your northern exposure or high Kevin bulbs; it can also grab a bit of warmth from your southern exposure or low Kelvin bulbs.
How to Choose the Right KELVINS for Your Paint Color
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO ULTRA PURE WHITE?
- Definitely Sherwin Williams High Reflective White, super close
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is a bit softer but quite comparable
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White Paint Color Review
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
2. BEHR SLEEK WHITE OR-W15
Is Sleek White as smooth as it sounds? Let’s take a look…
IS SLEEK WHITE A WARM OR COOL COLOR?
Sleek White could work for you if you’re looking for a warmer, brighter white.
WHAT’S THE LRV OF SLEEK WHITE?
Sleek White has a pretty darn high LRV of 92, making it a bright white, not a soft or true one (there are five types of white).
WHAT ARE SLEEK WHITE’S UNDERTONES?
Sleek White has a pretty noticeable yellow undertone. Does this make me nervous? Heck yes. This degree of yellow could show up in the wrong way, especially against a cleaner, softer, or more TRUE white.
However, some homes are begging for a bright, warm white – especially those with cool northern exposure, so don’t let the crazy lil’ Ginger sway you too much.
Shown above is a VERY similar color, Benjamin Moore Simply White
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SLEEK WHITE?
- Benjamin Moore Simply White, which is more neutral/less yellow than Sleek White
- Sherwin Williams Whitetail, which is slightly more muted and grounded
The 3 White Paint Colours I Would NEVER Paint My Trim or Cabinets
3. BEHR SWISS COFFEE 12
Swiss Coffee has been kickin’ it for a LONG time as one of Behr’s most popular white paint colors. In fact, I’ve worked with it dozens of times with my Online Colour Consulting clients when they want me to work with their ‘existing Behr Swiss Coffee trim.’
IS SWISS COFFEE A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?
Swiss Coffee is a lovely, warm shade of white. Is it warmer than the AVERAGE popular warm white? Yes, but this made it popular in the late 90s and early 200os, as this extra warmth suited the type of finishes (Tuscan) being installed.
WHAT’S THE LRV OF SWISS COFFEE?
With an LRV of 84, Swiss Coffee is considered ‘soft, warm white.’ It won’t necessarily act like white if brighter whites are in the space. However, let it be THE white in your home; its soft, pretty warmth will do the job.
WHAT ARE SWISS COFFEE’S UNDERTONES?
There’s no foolin’ around—Swiss Coffee has a legit yellow hue, with a touch of orange for balance (so it’s not a yellow-green undertone). This combination makes Swiss Coffee softer, darker, and more muted than Sleek White and Ultra Pure White.
Shown above is a similar color, Sherwin Williams Alabaster
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SWISS COFFEE?
- Sherwin Williams Dover White is the CLOSEST to Swiss Coffee
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another good comparable
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Dover White
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Click HERE to see available packages!
4. BEHR SPUN COTTON YL-W09
When it comes to whites like Spun Cotton, I start getting twitchy(er) – let’s find out why.
IS SPUN COTTON A WARM OR COOL WHITE?
Spun Cotton is definitely a warm white paint color due to its lovely undertones, which we’ll examine shortly!
WHAT’S THE LRV OF SPUN COTTON?
Spun Cotton has an LRV of 89. This puts it on the edge of soft white, bordering on the bright white range.
WHAT ARE SPUN COTTON’S UNDERTONES?
Spun Cotton has a high degree of yellow, making it hard to decide if it’s a ‘bright white’ or ‘super bright and light yellow.’ This amount of yellow undertones would stop me from putting it in most kitchens and on most trims—it’s just not flexible enough.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SPUN COTTON?
- If you want a bright white with yellow, I will lean more toward BEHR’S Sleek White or Benjamin Moore Simply White.
- Sherwin Williams Whitetail is comparable but a bit more muted than Spun Cotton.
- Sherwin Williams Dover White is another beautiful, warm shade of white for your walls, but I still like to be careful with whites like this on trims and cabinets!
Sadly, BEHR hasn’t signed up with Samplize PEEL & STICK yet, but I sure hope they do.
- samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY
- they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
5. BEHR WHITE 52
Isn’t white just WHITE? Hardly…
IS BEHR’S WHITE 52 A WARM OR COOL SHADE OF WHITE?
White 52 might do the trick for a muted, slightly cool-toned white. But just because it SAYS white doesn’t mean it IS white. Let’s dive in a little deeper…
WHAT’S WHITE 52’S LRV?
With a surprisingly low LRV of 83, White is a soft white that gets a bit close to the off-white range. Want to know what that range is? Read about it HERE.
WHAT ARE WHITE 52’S UNDERTONES?
White has a slightly violet-gray undertone. This undertone makes White 52 pretty fussy about coordinating with other colors. It won’t like any warm colors or those with green undertones.
If you partner White 52 with a REAL white (i.e., Ultra Pure White), you’ll see its depth/undertones more. However, if you paint your walls and trim White 52, it will act more like white.
In the above photo, Decorator’s White is the bottom sample – see how cool-gray it looks compared to the others.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO BEHR’S WHITE 52?
- Similar to Benjamin Moore Decorators White, which has a slightly cool, slightly gray cast.
Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White Paint Color Review
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours
6. BEHR PALAIS WHITE GR W15
Last but not least, Palais White! Let’s see what this shade of white has up its sleeves…
IS PALAIS WHITE A WARM OR COOL COLOR?
Palais White is a considerably WARM shade of white. Does this particular warmth make me a bit nervous? Yes, particularly on kitchen cabinets. However, some finishes demand this extra warmth, so sample it carefully!
WHAT’S THE LRV OF PALAIS WHITE?
With an LRV of 87, Palais White is definitely getting up there. It is kind of in between legit white and a softer white, and it has a pretty passive warmth to it.
WHAT ARE THE UNDERTONES OF PALAIS WHITE?
Palais White certainly has a yellow undertone, but it’s a very gentle, pretty color with a slightly orange-pink backdrop.
Shown above, a similar color, Benjamin Moore White Dove
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO PALAIS WHITE?
- Palais White is like a lighter version of BEHR’S Swiss Coffee with similar warmth.
- Sherwin Williams White Flour is similar in that it has a yellow but almost slightly pinkish hue.
- Of all of BEHR’S gorgeous whites, it’s the closest to my FAVORITE WHITE EVER – Benjamin Moore White Dove.
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
Shown above, Sherwin Williams Pure White – stands alone!
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
WHAT IS BEHR’S WHITEST WHITE?
Without a doubt, Behr’s brightest white is Ultra Pure White. With an LRV of 94, it’s a popular choice for trims, cabinets, and walls.
IS BEHR SIMPLY WHITE THE SAME AS BENJAMIN MOORE SIMPLY WHITE?
Heck no. While they might have the same name, BEHR’S Simply White is coming in HOT with a considerably stronger yellow-orange undertone when compared to Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. BEHR’S version is also a touch darker, with its slightly lower LRV of 87.8 (Simply White is 89.52).
IS BEHR POLAR BEAR A WARM WHITE?
Polar Bear didn’t make the TOP 6, but it’s a beautiful option if you want a white with an almost pinkish-peach undertone. This makes Polar Bear a warm white, and its LRV of 90 makes it a BRIGHT one.
WHAT ARE BEHR’S VERSIONS OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER & PURE WHITE?
BEHR’S Snowy Pine is reasonably close to Sherwin Williams Alabaster. As for Pure White, I suppose BEHR’S Gallery White or Melting Icicles, but they’re not close enough, and they ain’t got NOTHIN’ on Pure White – I don’t trust their undertones as much.
Sherwin Williams 3 Best Warm White Paint Colors
WHAT ARE BEHR’S VERSIONS OF BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE & CHANTILLY LACE?
BEHR doesn’t have a white that’s as soft and subtle as White Dove. The closest would be Palais White, but it’s really not that ‘similar.’ BEHR’S Ultra Pure White is similar to Chantilly Lace; it’s just a touch whiter and brighter.
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
So, there you have it; I hope this helps you pick the right white for your project! If you’re looking for OTHER colors, stay tuned as I’m putting together these blog posts as quickly as possible!
READ MORE
The ULTIMATE Guide to White Paint Colors
How to Pick the RIGHT White: 4 Tips and Ideas
BEHR’S 6 BEST Light Gray Paint Colors
Should I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A Questionnaire
The 8 Best White Paint Colours from Benjamin Moore
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages!
Chat soon,
KYLIE M INTERIORS E-DESIGN, E-DECOR, AND ONLINE, VIRTUAL PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING SPECIALIZING IN SHERWIN WILLIAMS AND BENJAMIN MOORE PAINT COLOURS
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2023
Hi Kylie! I was thrilled to find a review on Behr paints ! If i was to use SW creamy , Timid white , of Ballet White which Behr trim color would go with those? I personally love the way Behr paint is so easy to work with.. no brush marks😊 Thank you in advance for your advice!
I want to use Behr paint toasty grey for dining room .I would like to use. A white that’s warmer for baseboards and doors. Any other ideas?
Hi Kylie,
I love all of your blogs! I am so happy you wrote about behr paint. I have been stuck for sometime trying to figure out a white to paint my walls if all of my trim and doors are behr ultra pure white. Can you throw any idea out? Thank you so much.
I am SO glad to see Behr paint getting some love. I’ve used SW, BM and Behr and find Behr paint to be the best when it comes to application.
Have you seen Oxford white on cabinets? Would love your opinion. I was going to go with dove white and last minute I just told my painter Oxford instead. Now I’m getting nevervous!
Hi Holly! Oxford White is beautiful! It’s cleaner AND whiter than White Dove, so if it was the warmth of White Dove making you nervous, this could fix that :).
I LOVE the look of the first photo (with the “stay cozy” sign), can you tell me which of these whites are closest to that? Thank you in advance!
Hi Desiree, that’s actually Sherwin Williams High Reflective White!
Have you used the lo-sheen Sherwin Williams HRW? I have a 5 gallon of this and was wondering if the lo-sheen works for walls/trim/ceiling so I don’t have to buy another sheen 🙂 Thanks!
Oooo, I’d be awfully nervous about low sheen on trims, satin is usually a bare minimum with FLAT on the ceiling :).
Hi Kylie,
Thanks for your articles. Looking for a suggestion for which Behr white that I have narrowed down for wall paint in our kitchen will work with New Venetian gold granite, American English stain oak cabinets, and not installed (yet) cream white subway tile (Latte- Guastavino by Medici Mosaics). Behr Palais or Behr Swiss Coffee?
Hi Kylie – what are your thoughts on Behr Nano White? Was recommended to pair with my Cambria Travella Quartz. My palette is white, gray and blue. Cabinets are white.
What about Behr’s Whipped Cream? The company says that it is their version of Chantilly Lace. I can’t find it in any reviews.
Thank you
Hi there! I’d like to paint my brick fireplace a white color but not too stark. I want my living room to feel cozy and bright. The fireplace is currently painted a very real dark grey. Any recommendations?
Hey Denise, if you currently have white trim or ceiling, this is usually the best white for the job! If your trim is whiter and you do a softer white on the fireplace, your fp could look yellow/dingy in comparison, which is why using the same white is best ;).
Great call on suggesting Behr’s Melting Icicles as a close dupe for SW Pure White. I was looking for a Behr white that had very little in the way of undertones and Melting Icicles is an absolute stunner! I have it all over my south-facing living/dining area as well as two poorly-lit hallways and it looks fresh and clean no matter the lighting. I was worried it would look drab in the hallways but it actually brightens up the space compared to the olivey-beige the previous owners slapped up. Thank you!
Have you seen BEHR’s Blank Canvas (their supposed dupe for one of your faves… White Dove)?
I realize BEHR isn’t typically your jam but SO appreciate this post for those of us who have painters requesting it.
Hi Kylie, I read your blogs and watch your videos a lot. Thank you for your knowledge. Pls note that Behr paints are rated the BEST by consumer reports for many years in a row. Consumer reports does scientific testing and it is trustworthy as its non profit. I am just a consumer and have no connection with Behr. Another thing I like about Behr is that it displays colors according to pure, muted, shaded or neutral in the same hue be it red, yellow, orange etc. So without too much wondering, its easier to pick neutral or shaded colors from their display if you know the approximate hue of your fixed elements. I agree, I wish Behr offered Samplize. I DO HOPE YOU WILL GIVE A SECOND LOOK AT BEHR DUE TO THE REASONS I HAVE MENTIONED AS I DO LIKE HOW THEY HAVE CLASSIFIED THEIR COLORS AND THE FACT ITS CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST QUALITY BY CONSUMER REPORTS. Thank you. MM
You know, it’s been a few years since I’ve used them myself! I hear a lot from painters who don’t love it, but I might have to try out a gallon and do some comparisons! Thank you for this note :).
Hello, I love your writing and learning from you. I just painted my small galley kitchen walls that have eastern exposure SW Pure White 7005 satin and it made my existing cabinet color (who knows what its painted) look dingy/yellow. Should use the pure white for the cabinets in a semi gloss or a brighter white? I was going to purchase HRW only to be told that the Emerald trim doesn’t come in HRW and that HRW is now SW UltraWhite 9500.
What color do you recommend for trim, door and cabinets- SW UltraWhite 9500, stick with SW Pure White, or use Behr ultra pure white? Rest of house is Pure White with unknown brighter trim.
My husband thinks I am crazy that I can see undertones as paint, thank you for being a resource so I can show him that ‘white’ isn’t always white!
Thank you!
I would definitely stick with Pure White! And personally, I lean into satin/pearl on cabinets rather than semi-gloss, which can be QUITE shiny for cabinets :).
Hello Kylie! What about Behr natural white with HRW on ceiling and trim? Would that work? I would like a hint of warm but not too yellow. I have lots of natural wood decor and furniture. Thanks!