Which Two White Paint Colors Go Together?
WHICH DIFFERENT SHADES OF WHITE SUIT EACH OTHER?
When painting more than one surface white, such as trims, walls, and cabinets, it can be tempting to do ye ole mix n’ match. However, more so than other colors, white is tricky.
It’s easy to make a hot mess of it with whites, with their varying undertones, temperatures, and depths. This is why, with some exceptions, if you’re painting more than one surface white, you could/should use the same white on both (I’ve written a blog post on this, linked at the end of this one).
Why?
When painting something white, the goal is usually to have it look, well, white.
However, once you partner different shades, one will expose the undertones in another. So, while the SAME WHITE on walls and trims can look more or less white, if you put a brighter white on your trim only, your walls might look CREAM, DINGY, or GRAY in comparison.
Why?
You ask a lot of questions – I like that about you. Sometimes, a white paint color’s actual depth and undertones are only noticeable when compared to a DIFFERENT white.
Now, some people want this look, which is why I wrote this blog post. However, not everyone realizes what happens when you partner different shades of white together. If you want BOTH shades to look white, I highly suggest using the same color on ALL surfaces.
And yes, I love using ALL CAPS as I talk with emphasis in real life too.
Let the shift in sheen between surfaces do the work for you.
ALL of these white surfaces are White Dove
Before we dive in, did you know that there are 5 DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHITE? That’s right, five. And not all pair well together, so when making a color palette with two different whites, here are some tips and guidelines…
- For a more noticeable difference between your shades of white, aim for approximately 3+ LRV points between the two. Any less, and I wouldn’t bother (although you can). If you don’t know what LRV is, get ready to have your brain explode with excitement and awe after reading this.
- Pay attention to undertones. In particular, don’t pair a cool white with a warm white.
- TRUE whites are the most versatile – especially Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, although Sherwin Williams Extra White does the job here and there, as does White Snow.
Look at that pretty shift between the wall and the trim!
And most importantly…
The brighter white, the one with the higher LRV, should ALWAYS be on the trim (or cabinets). The darker shade of white needs to be the wall color.
Are there exceptions? Nope, not really, unless you want your cabinets or trims to look dingy or yellow compared to your walls. Check out this next photo as a GREAT example…
I could say more, but I’m pretty sure that image says it all.
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EXTRA WHITE & ALABASTER
Oh, these two are in a PASSIONATE love affair. But there’s one very important detail in their relationship…Extra White MUST be the trim/cabinet color; Alabaster must be the wall color. You can’t reverse this, or you’ll end up with yellow trim/cabinets against your Extra White walls.
Extra White and Alabaster pair well together because, while Extra White as a wall color can be cool, as a trim or cabinet color (thanks to the formulation of these paints), it leans slightly warm. This bit of warmth coordinates with Alabaster and its soft, creamy white warmth quite well.
The Best Paint Colors with Dark Wood
In the above photo, notice how beautifully warm the walls look. This happens when you partner a warm white like Alabaster with a BRIGHTER white like Extra White. If you love Alabaster but don’t want it to look this creamy, it’s best to use it on the trims, doors, and walls as…
If it’s not being directly compared to a brighter white – it will act more like white.
Alabaster has an LRV of 82, so it’s on the very low end of the LRV range for the white group. Extra White has an LRV of 86, so you’ve got a nice 4-point spread there.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster: IMAGES, Info, & More
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Extra White
2. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE & OXFORD WHITE
This is another example of whites that go together. White Dove is a soft, warm white – not as creamy as Alabaster, but still a gentler approach than the brighter whites. Oxford White isn’t as soft as the usual bunch, but it doesn’t quite hit the bright end either, thanks to its LRV of 86. This offers a subtle shift from White Dove’s LRV of 83.
The Best Creamy White & Off-White Paint Colors
Oxford White does a good job of not overexposing White Dove’s warmth, and more so than the previous combo, the overall palette still reads like two (soft) shades of white. However, this can change a bit depending on the lighting (or lack of)…
I rely on my Online Color Consulting clients for their photos (AND LOVE THEM FOR DOING SO!), so I don’t always have the clearest or largest photos to work with. All the same, the above staircase shows White Dove leaning more into its creamy roots against the brighter Oxford White trim and railing.
This next photo gives a larger, decent shot of the White Dove and Oxford White palette in action…
Benjamin Moore White Dove: IMAGES, Info, & More
Benjamin Moore Oxford White: IMAGES, Info, & More
3. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE & SHERWIN WILLIAMS GREEK VILLA
Chantilly Lace is amazing and goes with a wide range of white paint colors, as long as it’s the trim (or cabinets). In this example, Chantilly Lace is on the trim and built-ins, Greek Villa is on the walls…
To say I’m obsessed with the above living room would be an understatement. My client did so well with her furnishings and home decor – the accent colors are on point, and so are her colors!
Notice how warm and soft the Greek Villa walls look compared to the brighter white of the Chantilly Lace built-ins – Greek Villa ALMOST looks like a subtle shade of cream!
This is the contrast I’m talking about, whereas one white will expose the warmth and undertones in another.
Greek Villa has an LRV of 86 to Chantilly Lace’s 90, so there’s a decent spread there.
Sherwin Williams Greek Villa: IMAGES, Info, & More!
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER & PURE WHITE
While they barely make the cut, Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Pure White can look good together, as shown in this charming kitchen with beautiful wood cabinets…
You can see Alabaster’s creamy warmth on the walls, with Pure White’s slightly cleaner look on the trim and shiplap ceiling.
All the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, & 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.
Here’s another shot of Alabaster and Pure White together in a mudroom..
Why do they JUST barely work together? There are two reasons…
- Their LRVs are relatively close, with Alabaster at 82 and Pure White at 84, so there isn’t much difference in depth.
- Alabaster would prefer a white that’s a bit lighter and warmer than Pure White. Alternatively, Pure White would prefer a white with a touch less warmth.
But at the end of the day, they work!
Sherwin Williams Alabaster: IMAGES, Info, & More
Sherwin Williams Pure White: IMAGES, Info, & More
5. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE & SIMPLY WHITE
White Dove and Simply White can be gorgeous in a palette together, AS LONG AS Simply White is on the trim and cabinets and White Dove is on the walls. Again, the white with the higher LRV needs to be on trims/cabinets, or the flow will be off.
White Dove walls AND trim (Simply White isn’t shown here)
Simply White is a brighter shade of white with a yellow undertone. White Dove is a softer white with a yellow-creamy undertone. And while Simply White is a bit cleaner, it’s a pretty partner for White Dove walls to butt up to.
If you like this look, you might also check out Benjamin Moore Cloud White with Simply White.
Benjamin Moore Simply White: IMAGES, Info, & More
Benjamin Moore White Dove: IMAGES, Info, & More
6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GREEK VILLA & EXTRA WHITE
Greek Villa is a popular, soft, warm white, and found a great partner with Sherwin Williams Extra White.
Because you want the brighter of the two on the trims (or cabinets), Extra White goes on the trim, Greek Villa on the walls. While I’d prefer more of an LRV spread between two whites, for those of you who love varying shades of white, it’s worth a go.
Sherwin Williams Greek Villa: IMAGES, Info, & More
Sherwin Williams Extra White Color Review
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TO GO WITH OTHER WHITES?
If you’re attempting a self-made combo, don’t go all willy-nilly, or you could have a hot mess on your hands. Start with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace as the white for your trims or cabinets. Sure, you can dabble with Sherwin Williams White Snow and Sherwin Williams Extra White, but I recommend starting your color journey with Chantilly Lace – and NOT just because she has a pretty face.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace: IMAGES, Info, & More
Chantilly Lace is a classic beauty
Now, I’m sure I’ll get comments about this white vs. that white. Here’s the thing: I happily offer TONS of free info in my blog. If that’s not enough for your needs, please consider hiring me via my Online Color Consulting!
And here’s that as-promised blog post on matching whites…
White Trims, Cabinets, & Walls: Do They Need to Match?
READ MORE
The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colors
5 ALMOST Fool-Proof Shades of White
The 5 Types of White Paint Colors
The 8 Best White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore
LET ME CHOOSE YOUR COLORS FOR YOU!
Check out my Online Color Consulting packages.
Hi Kylie, I’m doin some reno’s and want everything in warm (creamy/buttery) white counters, tile, etc.). Bathroom is all BM CW pearl finish. I am planning on painting the house BM CW (eggshell walls, satin trim). Kitchen, my plan was BM CW pearl (choosing backslash and counter to match) but now I’m wondering about the finish (satin instead?) and what anout White Dove?? I’m also wondering now about doing all the trim in White Dove for a bit of contrast. I would love your input.
We started with the kitchen and used SW Emerald Urethane Trim High Hide White on cabinets and trim, and SW Seattle Gray on walls (previously Frazee). We are now doing the rest of the house (NOT open – concept, it’s 80s style separated rooms). I am thinking about alabaster or pure white on the walls but don’t really want high white trim throughout the rest of my house, but should I continue using the same high Hide white for consistency in the rest of the house? And if so, will that go with the alabaster or pure white walls that I want to use on the walls and carry through the whole house?? Thank you!
Hi! Thanks for the posts. We have SW pure white for all baseboard and trim in a remodeled basement and looking for slight (warm) contrast on walls – what might you recommend? It is Scandinavian-inspired with white oak flooring. Low natural light. Thanks!
Love love your blog! We just moved into a house that is head to toe honey oak everything with yellow walls through the whole house. We are currently starting to paint everything. It’s an east facing house so I’m finding this very tricky but your blog posts have been guiding me. I’m leaning towards white now, would you recommend pairing BM white dove wainscotting & trim with BM cloud white walls?
Oooo, if it were me, I’d be keeping those whites the SAME! There isn’t enough LRV difference between White Dove/Cloud White for them to play well together. Both whites are SO GORGEOUS. I find White Dove just a bit more subtle, less yellowish, but still warm, whereas Cloud White can come up that touch creamier. OVERALL, I usually favor White Dove as it’s a bit more subtle 🙂
Hi! I’ve painted my kitchen walls and trim BM White Dove, and love the warmth of this color. I’m now trying to select the cabinet color, and am wondering whether you think I could successfully use White Dove again (either full or 1/2 strength)? If not, is there another creamy white you’d suggest versus one of the brighter whites? Thank you!
Hi Kylie! I am obsessed with your blog! It has taught me so much and been a tremendous resource during the building of our new home. I have read so many of your articles but haven’t found the answer to a particular question – walls are going to be mostly edgecomb gray (some pure white) with pure white trim. House is north/south facing but a lot of windows on the north side. The painters have defaulted to SW ceiling bright white for the ceiling… is this a good idea or should I ask them for a different color? Pure white vs ? Chantilly lace? Thanks for any advice you may have!!
OOOOOF, thank you for asking – HECK NO! Ceiling Bright White is a BLUE white – I would absolutely stick with Pure White for consistency and flow ;).
Hi Kylie. I have Chantilly lace on my kitchen cabinets as well, and we put shiplap up on all the walls. Trying to find the right White to paint the shiplap and thinking of doing just white by then more. Will this be enough of a contrast and LRV difference? Ty
If it were me, I would do Chantilly Lace as White will look off with Chantilly Lace :).
As I’m reading this I’m realizing we may be making a mistake with our wall color and kitchen cabinet color… but we haven’t ordered so I think I found your site just in time! We were planning on having the wall color be Dunn Edwards Milk Glass, and the cabinet color be SW 7010 White Duck. Will this make the cabinets look too yellow? We need to use Dunn Edwards on the walls (that’s what our painter uses)… do you have a suggestion on alternate colors? Thank you!
Oh Melissa, I’m just not confident/knowledgeable in Dunn Edwards to say! From what I can see online, Milk Glass is a white, but it has quite a reasonabl ellow in it, whereas White Duck is more mutud and neutral. To be honest, most of DE’s whites scare the pants off me – they’re either too cold, or if they’re warm, they’re too yellow/pink/yellow-green. The only one I might sample is White Picket Fence. I would kindly ask your painter to use SW or BM (you ARE the one paying for the paint and living in your home). In which case, SW Pure White is great. BM has FABULOUS cabinet paints, and I love SW’s Emerald. If he says they’re bad compared to DE it’s because he’s loyal. These are GREAT PAINTS used by great painters. I won’t speak ill of DE’s cabinet paint as I’ve never used it, but they’re white colors, other than White Picket Fence, aren’t great for your purposes :).
We are currently building a house and have to use Sherwin Williams. Do you think Pure White cabinets, doors, and trim will go with Greek Villa walls? I think pure white will be too white on the walls but I don’t want something as warm as greek villa for the cabinets. Or can you suggest a different white for the walls with pure white cabinets? The ceiling has to be the same as the walls.
What did you decide on going with? I’m having similar issue
Hi Kylie! Love your blog!
We are doing a white kitchen in Chantilly Lace and will do the same for the trim. Our kitchen faces north east. Lots of morning sun, but shaded the rest of the day.
Trying to decide a wall color. ***We don’t want Chantilly to look too harsh, but not sure if we should choose a warm, cool or gray paint for the walls. We are considering (all Ben Moore):
WARM: White Dove, Swiss coffee
COOL: Baby’s Breath, Decorator’s White
GRAY: Silver Satin, Calm, Classic Gray
Thanks, Mitch! Chantilly Lace is pretty darn accommodating and will look good with most of those. Really, it’s more about the colors that best suit your countertop, backsplash, and flooring, as I can’t imagine all of those are equally as suitable! Off the top of my head, I’ve had a ton of luck with Classic Gray??!
In your post above, you said, “Check out my previous good partnerships for a white that looks good with Alabaster.” Are you referring to Extra White? Do you have other white trim colors that look good with Alabaster listed somewhere? Thank you!:)
Extra White is one of the better ones! Alabaster can be a bit fussy due to its increased warmth 🙂
Thank you so much! I thought I had decided on Alabaster walls and Alabaster trim and ceiling in different sheens for the whole house, but now I’m wondering how Alabaster will look in the bathrooms next to “true white” sinks and tubs….wondering if I need to use Extra White for the trim. Well, I guess I need to keep reading your info!:) I hope you have that somewhere – how “all Alabaster” looks in a bathroom with no brighter white trim used…
I painted a hallway using Greek Villa on the walls and Chantilly Lace on doors/trim. I think it looks pretty good. I did change the recessed lighting to 3000K.
Chantilly Lace can be a great partner to whites – thanks for letting me know that this is a good combo!
I have cloud white cabinets, I would like a brighter white ceiling and trim colour. Would simply white work?
Ooo, I wouldn’t do it – a brighter white will only make Cloud White look more creamy/darker. I would stick with the same white if it were me!
Hi there! Right now we have SW Pure white for allll the things (kitchen cabinets, walls and trim) but I want to change walls to another shade of white that will complement the pure white but wont be AS stark- what would you suggest? Thanks so much- love your blog!
We are leaning towards GV on our walls and Chantilly Lace/whiter trim. But our interior doors are medium stain grade alder. Does a stain wood door change any of the rules for this combo?
Hmmmm, Greek Villa can have a reasonable yellow undertone, especially up against the cleaner white of Chantilly Lace. If the Alder has a typical red undertone (which it often does) I’m not sure I love the degree of yellow in GV with the thought of it.
Hi! We are building a house and just had our cabinets installed. We have a mix of painted white dove and stained. My original thought was to do white dove on walls and trim as well to not compete with the cabinets, but where I have painted samples… I hate it on walls, way too yellow. What would you put on walls/trim with white dove cabinets?
Oooo, that’s a BIG question as White Dove will be ‘somewhat’ flexible – it’s more about the color that suits the countertop, backsplash, and flooring. Off the VERY top of my head BM Edgecomb Gray can be pretty!
Hello! I’m in love with Simply White and how my Samplize stickers look creamy and warm in the dark spots and bright in the light spots of my 70s home. I’m not sure what to for the ceilings. I have 8ft textured ceilings. Should I go with a flat Simply White on the ceilings or some other, brighter white? I’m starting in the north facing dining room, and the wall will be eggshell Simply White and the trim semigloss Simply White
Hey Kristi, if it were me, I’d keep going with Simply White. A brighter white will enhance the yellow in Simply White 🙂
A bit confused. Did you say Chantilly Lace cabinets, doors, trim will work with White Dove walls?
Would it work with Swiss Coffee walls?
Thanks for clarifying.
Yeaaaah, they’re all okay together AS LONG AS you know your walls will look more yellow/creamy against the white trim/cabinets :). Swiss Coffee more or less ‘acts like white’ until it’s partnered with a BRIGHTER white 🙂
Hi Kylie!
Our cabinets are white dove and our trim/doors are chantilly lace – having a lot of difficulties finding a white for the walls that will look different than the cabinets but also didn’t want to go to dark! We were looking for more a beige than a grey! Any suggestions?
Thanks!!
My cabinets and trim are SW 7012 Creamy satin (home built in 2014). I’m trying to update/refresh the wall color and I’ve read a lot about the dangers of choosing a wall paint that can make the cabinets look too yellow (which I don’t want). The roomy has large picture windows (south facing) and the floors are medium dark wood. Here are some wall colors I am leaning towards. SW7542 Naturel; SW7506 Loggia; SW9173 Shiitake; SW 7037 Accessible Beige, & SW7037 Balanced Beige. Do you see any problems with any of them? Thanks!
Hi Kylie, still following your hilarious and informative blog after a couple years, even though I pooped out on my own decorating but now I’m back at it and OMG! Did I make a big boo boo? I have done all my trim and doors (outside the kitchen) in SW High Reflective White and walls in SW Creamy. I am finally having my kitchen cabinets painted and chose Pure White…. I have a can cupboard door next to my cabinets and French doors right next to that…should all kitchen doors be High Reflective White like the others in the house, Pure White like the cabinets or should I start from scratch? I am a disastrous so called decorator AAAAAAGHGH!
Oh, don’t be too hard on yourself, you’re doing GREAT! Send me an email with photos of your kitchen (large scale) so I can see where these doors are in relation to the trims/cabinets, and I’ll tell you what I might do :). kylie@kylieminteriors.ca