The Best White Paint Colors for Gray Finishes

Whites that suit gray cabinets, floors, countertops, tiles, & more…

If your home has gray countertops, cabinets, or flooring, you might be panicking because gray is no longer trendy. Or you might not be worried at all, as gray is your jam, and resale is not in the cards for the next 5-10 years.

Either way, you want to freshen up your walls (or cabinets/trims) and are looking for the best paint colors—in this case, WICKED shades of WHITE.

If you’ve drank my ginger-infused Koolaid for a few years, you know I have a close relationship with the wild world of whites and have my faves. But just because I love a color doesn’t mean it’s fool-proof or destined for every home. And when it comes to gray finishes, you must be careful, as a little undertone can go a long way…or the wrong way.

The first thing to know about your gray finishes is that they aren’t just gray.

Gray will have undertones of violet, pink, blue, or green (often, a mix). 

This carpet has purple undertones

So, when choosing the best color for your walls, cabinets, or trim, it’s about finding one that complements the undertone of your flooring/countertops, and that undertone is probably purple (violet).

Why?

I don’t know; you tell me, but all I know is that manufacturers greatly favor purple undertones. Sure, the odd green and a rare flash of blue pop up, but they’re few and far between. This is why most of the colors listed below are geared towards the most common gray countertops and flooring, whether tile, carpet, LVT, LVP, or wood, with the typical violet undertones.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE SW 7005

I love Pure White for walls, cabinets, trims, and exteriors—heck, I’ll even toss it on my toenails. And with gray rooms being so darn fussy, I love how Pure White offers a slightly warm look without being overtly yellow or creamy.

This carpet in this staircase has a purple undertone

The laminate or LVP in this dining room (below) has a violet-pink undertone. Notice how well Pure White complements the floor—it doesn’t appear too warm or overly stark, and also doesn’t accentuate the purple tones in the flooring.

Pure White is a soft shade of white, not a bright one, but it does the job in the absence of a brighter white.

By the way, if your gray surface has green or blue undertones, Pure White is worth sampling; just remember to check it with your room’s exposure to make sure it shows up the way you want it to!

The carpet on these stairs has a green undertone (compare it to the gray-purple of the ottoman to see it a bit better). 

My FULL Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White

If you love Pure White and think it’s the shade for you, stop there. Never pick a paint color based on how it looks by itself – SAMPLE AND COMPARE similar shades, as you never know which one you’ll end up with!

2. BENJAMIN MOORE DECORATOR’S WHITE CC-20

Decorator’s White isn’t like the average shade of white, and that’s because of its undertones. Whereas the most popular white paint colors have a warm, yellow undertone, Decorator’s White picks up a wink of gray and violet, making it a popular color with gray flooring and countertops.

TOP TO BOTTOM: SW High Reflective White | BM Super White | BM Chantilly Lace | BM Decorator’s White

However, not everyone loves this type of white. Again, the popular shades are warm, and most people lean toward their softer approach over the potentially stark or sterile look of bright or cool whites. However, some tastes and finishes call for a slightly cooler approach, and Decorator’s White answers that call with a HELLLLLS YEAH!

Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White: IMAGES, Info, & More

The countertop in the above bathroom is marble-look quartz with noticeable gray-violet veining. The tile floor is a touch warmer and picks up some taupe along the way.

How to Get The Look of Marble Without The Price

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SNOWBOUND SW 7004

Snowbound has become a popular color in recent years. However, while it sits in the white world with its LRV of 83, its slightly stronger undertones make it tricky in the average home with non-gray surfaces. But, for those with gray flooring, countertops or even cabinets, Snowbound potentially offers a soft, subtle approach to white with an interesting, passive warmth that isn’t as cream-yellow-inclined as some others.

While the floors in this next room are gray…ish, they obviously aren’t done yet. All the same, you can see Snowbound’s subtle violet hue on the walls, especially when compared to the more legit white on the door…

Sherwin Williams Snowbound: IMAGES, Info, & More

Remember, whites have high LRVs, and they reflect a LOT OF LIGHT and can change a lot depending on your room’s exposure – it’s not just about your interior finishes! 

4. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65

I have mad love for Chantilly Lace. Not only does she have a pretty face (yes, I am that old), but she’s a great partner for a wide range of gray surfaces—no matter what the undertones are.

This image (ignore the words ‘new sample’) shows an off-white warm gray cabinet (Benjamin Moore Silver Satin) with Chantilly Lace on the wall…

As shown in the next bathroom, Chantilly Lace offers a simple, clean palette featuring a wood vanity, white quartz countertop, and a dark, charcoal gray tile floor (purple undertones)…

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace: FULL Paint Color Review

Chantilly Lace is one of the brightest shades of white on this page and is certainly one of Benjamin Moore’s whitest paint colors. With its LRV of 90.04, it’s a great way to get white without a stark look (although that can be open to perception).

Here’s another look at a previous image, with the samples up against the marble…

If you love Chantilly Lace, compare it to Sherwin Williams White Snow (coming up next) and these other comparable shades of white. These whites also suit many gray surfaces with blue or green undertones.

The Best Paint Colors to Go With Marble

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE SNOW SW 9541

White Snow is a newer shade of white from Sherwin Williams. While it hasn’t quite hit the ground running, it’s not because it isn’t pretty – it’s gorgeous; it’s because…

a) It’s hard to get a sample of, as they’re only available through Samplize (you can’t even get a sample pot/quart made, urgh)

b) It’s in their most expensive line, so not everyone is lining up for gallons at a time.

Here’s White Snow on the exterior trim with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray siding and a dark gray-blue paint color on the front door…

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of White Snow…

This said, it’s friggin’ gorgeous. White Snow is a bright shade of white, comparable to Chantilly Lace. I love it because of its passive warmth – not as white as Chantilly Lace, but also not as yellow as the popular warm white look of Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (which has a comparable LRV but more warmth).

My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams White Snow

Now, as we dive into the slightly warmer white world, you need to sample and compare carefully, as not every type of gray floor can handle these warmer shades…

6. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17

White Dove is my personal favorite white paint color, but this is because I love soft, warm whites. This said, not everyone loves warm whites, and not every gray floor can handle them.

Just note: The warmer your white is, the more chance there is that it will react with any overt undertones in your gray finish.

The carpet in this next family room has a soft violet undertone that complements White Dove’s subtle warmth without overreacting.

While White Dove works as a trim color in this space, I wouldn’t use it on the walls, as its warmth could show up more on a large scale and be a bit overwhelming for this carpet’s depth (which is considerably light, as far as floors go).

The darker your gray floors are, the more likely they will tolerate a wide range of whites.

This next hallway features White Dove with dark gray tile and Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter on the interior doors…

My Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

If warm whites are up your alley, sample and compare some of my FAVORITE SHADES in this WARM WHITE SAMPLER! 

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER SW 7008

Alabaster is a soft, reasonably warm white (warmer than Pure White and White Dove) with an LRV of 82. This number indicates how dark it is, and 82 is on the edge of the white/off-white worlds.

However, not all gray finishes suit the creamy warmth of Alabaster, and it’s the warmest shade I would sample. The darker your gray surface is, the more likely it will handle a white like Alabaster, as shown in this bathroom below…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster

If Alabaster is the white you love, it’s important to sample and compare it to other shades—you never know, there might be an even better one!

Get my FAVORITE WARM WHITES in this SAMPLER BUNDLE! 

READ MORE

The Best Neutral Paint Colors with Gray Floors

How to Update a Gray Room Without Painting

How to Transition From Gray to Beige

Updating a Gray Home: Quick Guide

Get the best paint color & home update advice.

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting!