Should Walls, Trims, & Cabinets Be The Same White Paint Color?
WHITE ON WHITE: SHOULD THEY MATCH?
When it comes to paint and wine, whites are DEFINITELY the hardest to pick.
- Does this Chardonnay go with my sofa?
- Which shade of white best suits a steak dinner?
While I can’t answer these particular questions (and am personally not that fussy; I’ll drink wine with Kraft Dinner), I can answer almost ANY question regarding the best white paint colors for you and your home!
And hands-down, the most COMMON question I get asked on my Kylie M Instagram feed and Kylie M Youtube channel is…
‘Do my walls, trim, & cabinets need to be the SAME WHITE paint color?’
The short and curly is YES, you could/should use the same white paint color; the long and braided is a bit more complicated.
The thing is, not all whites are created equal – they have undertones. This means that one white can potentially make another look dirty, yellow, pink, blue, etc… in COMPARISON to another.
However, you’ll have some flexibility depending on which type of white you plan to use or currently have on an existing finish.
But the question is, do you REEEEAAALLLY want this flexibility? Or do you want to humor the crazy lil Ginger, make your paint-pickin’ life much easier, and use the same white on everything?
Oh, you are a GLUTTON for punishment…I like that about you.
While I’ve answered the question of ‘Should my walls, trims, and cabinets be the same white paint color?’ with a resounding YES, that’s not where this story ends. Some people don’t want to use the same shade of white.
As long as you understand that one of your whites might not look so white (compared to the other it can look like an off-white or cream). The undertones can also be more noticeable.
Notice how the walls look a bit creamier than the ceiling/trim.
If this is cool beans with you, it’s cool with me. In this case, I’ve got a ton of tips and ideas to share with you. To start, let’s make a list of what the rest of this blog post covers:
- You already have WHITE CABINETS and want to paint your trim and/or walls white.
- You already have WHITE TRIM and want to paint your cabinets and/or walls white.
- If you already have WHITE CABINETS & TRIM (and I pray they match each other), and you want to paint your walls white.
- You’re starting from scratch and want to use TWO different whites in your room (I draw the line at two; three is a hard no – it’s so hard I’m getting excited).
Am I missing anything?
Long story short, if you plan to use two different white paint colors on more than one surface, this info applies.
Sherwin Williams Pure White on walls, trims, doors, and ceiling.
But before we start (seriously, I don’t stop talking in real life either; this stuff LIGHTS ME UP LIKE A FIRECRACKER!), I have one more important point to make…
Regardless of what you read below, if you decide to mix and match whites, your best chance will be to use a TRUE WHITE or BRIGHT WHITE (listed shortly) on trim/cabinets and a white with a lower LRV on the walls – don’t do it the other way.
You’ll also find a helpful blog post to check out at the very end (you won’t regret it).
Let’s start with those of you who are starting from scratch with creating your white palette…
CREATING A WHITE PALETTE FROM SCRATCH
As mentioned above, I’m a big fan of using the same white paint color on all surfaces and letting the SHEEN do the work for you – but I have to let that go (although I do have a great blog post about paint finishes and sheen).
One thing to note about paint finishes is that the way a paint color appears can change from one paint finish/sheen to another.
FUN FACT: This isn’t just because the sheen reflects more LIGHT, but because the formulation can change slightly between the different paint lines.
Here are the usual finishes…
- CEILING: flat
- WALLS: matte or eggshell
- TRIMS & DOORS: satin
- CABINETS: satin
Of course, there are regional exceptions, as well as those for rooms with moisture issues (you may need shinier paint). However, for the average room, those are the ideal finishes.
MOVING ALONG!
There’s an art to starting your paint palette from scratch when using two different shades of white. To keep it simple, here’s what I recommend…
- Choose your trim, door, and ceiling color first (they really should all be the same white…please). Make sure this white suits any interior finishes you’ve chosen or plan to choose.
- Then, coordinate your white wall color from there, making sure your trim has a higher LRV and your wall has the lower LRV of the two.
When choosing your best white, I have some fool-proof ones that work more often than not. All the same, do your research to discover what white best suits your interior finishes and exposure.
But remember, just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD…
(Which is my passive-aggressive way of saying I STILL recommend using the same white on ALL surfaces for a true ‘white-on-white’ look. Anyway).
If you aren’t creating a color palette from scratch and are working with an ‘existing’ white paint color, let’s dive a little deeper.
IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ‘TRUE WHITE’ TRIM OR CABINETS
If you have (or want) true white trim or cabinets and want white walls, I suggest using the same white on your walls for ease, of course (okay, I’m done now). However, if you’re not the easy type and want a different shade of white on your walls…
A true white on your trims/cabinets will make it easier to create a coordinating white-on-white color palette that works.
Why?
Because true whites don’t have undertones (or at least nothing obvious to reckon with), it’s easier to embrace bright or soft whites with them without worrying about clashing undertones.
Don’t assume the white you currently have on your cabinets, trims, or walls is actually WHITE.
Go to your local paint store, grab that brand’s WHITEST WHITE, and bring it home to compare to your white – you might be pleasantly (or NOT so pleasantly surprised) at what you see!
The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE WARM WHITE TRIM OR CABINETS
If you have cabinets or trim that are a WARM WHITE and you can’t/won’t repaint them, and reeeeeaaallly want white walls, guess what you’re choosing…WARM WHITE, BABY (with exceptions)!
Benjamin Moore Cloud White, a soft, warm shade of white (north-facing light)
Why?
Just as with cool whites, if you partner BRIGHT, COOL, OR TRUE white walls with warm white trim or cabinets, the new white will make your warm white look that bit…more…creamy. I’ve found that most people with warm white trim or cabinets don’t want to enhance them and would rather calm ’em down and blend ’em in.
Hands down, the best way to blend them in is to literally…blend them in.
For example, take a look at this lovely kitchen below. You could say this kitchen and dining area is ‘white’ and quite lovely at that…
You’re looking at Benjamin Moore Cloud White, a soft, warm white with an LRV of 85. You might notice and appreciate the casual warmth of Cloud White without being overwhelmed by its yellow undertone. HOWEVER, take a look at this same room with one weeee adjustment…
How does it look NOW? A little creamy, perhaps?
Previously, Cloud White didn’t have a whiter white to be compared to. However, as shown, adding a TRUE or COOL white (the two back doors) changes our perception of Cloud White and its visual temperature!
(My Online Color Consulting client hired me to choose colors for her two back doors. I just filled in the doors via computer in the first example and am eagerly awaiting her REAL after photos!)
Look where the wall meets the crown molding/shiplap – sweet!
There are definitely some warm white combinations that work well together (which we’ll get to shortly), but your best, most pain-free chance of using two different whites is if one of them is a true white or darn close (90+ LRV).
IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE COOL WHITE TRIM OR CABINETS
If you have COOL white trim or cabinets and can’t or won’t repaint them, I highly suggest using the same cool white on your soon-to-be-painted surface, and not because I’m obnoxious about using the same white (although I am).
With cool white trims and cabinets, I don’t recommend any other shade of white…ever.
Benjamin Moore Super White walls, trims, drawers, and ceiling.
Why?
If you use a TRUE white on your walls, it will be lighter than your trim and cabinets, making them look icier and colder, and maybe even a wink gray, blue, or purple in comparison.
Here’s Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White (LRV 82.68, making it a soft, cool white) with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (LRV 90.04, a bright white that happens to be BM’s truest)…
- Now, imagine that Decorator’s White is on the trim and cabinets and Chantilly Lace is on the walls. Yeeeeah, no.
- Or, how about Chantilly Lace on the trim and cabinets, and Decorator’s White on the walls? This works a lot better, but you no longer have soft white walls, they look more like an off-white gray with purple undertones.
If this isn’t the look you were going for, you have three choices…
- Paint your walls the same color as your trim/cabinets
- Paint your walls a NON-white color, perhaps a purposeful (not accidental) light gray paint color or a soft shade of blue.
- Repaint your trim (and/or cabinets if they’re white, too) with a more flexible white paint color.
AND LASTLY, THE MOST AMAZEBALLS BLOG POST FOR YOU DUAL-WHITE LOVERS…
Just because I prefer one white on all surfaces for the previously said reasons doesn’t mean you’re on board – I forgive you (wink wink). If you want two shades of white, it’s DOABLE, but only with specific colors and a few guidelines…
The Two Shades of White That Go Together
HOW DO I FIND THE WHITE THAT MATCHES MY EXISTING TRIM OR CABINETS?
Take off a piece of your trim and take it to several paint stores to have them professionally color-match it. NO eyeball matches – go to a store that uses a machine. If they want to tweak things from there, great, but starting with a machine-made match is best. Go with the brand that gets it the closest. Remember, there can be a shift in how a white looks based on the paint finish (trim is usually satin or semi-gloss, and walls are usually matte/eggshell).
WHAT COLOR SHOULD THE TRIM BE IF MY WALLS ARE WHITE?
If your walls are white, the trim should be the SAME white in a different sheen. While it can be trendy to paint your trim a non-white, like greige, taupe, or gray, be careful as it won’t be in style forever. It will have a longer life in OLDER homes, but for a more modern home, it will eventually be dated.
Alternatively, you can paint your trim or cabinets a white paint color with an LRV that’s a good whack higher than that of your walls. However, read my previous advice to make sure you get a good combo.
READ MORE
6 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets WHITE
White Dove vs. 10 Popular Shades of White (Cloud White, Simply White, & More)
The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams 3 Best Warm White Paint Colors
Should You Paint Your Cabinets White or Keep Them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE!
Need Kylie’s help?
Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, AWESOMELY UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2025
I’m curious how this advice applies to the ceiling color. In the last set of photos with the light cream mantel and walls, the ceiling seems very white in comparison. Wouldn’t it look better if the ceiling was the same color as the walls, or is it the same color, and it just looks whiter because it’s on the ceiling?
Well, it’s ALWAYS a tough one. 95% of the time I like the ceilings to be the same as the trim for consistency. BUT, in this project, the client already had the trim painted the creamy colour and the white ceiling and wasn’t willing to repaint them. I do agree that the ceiling is much whiter (a bit too white) for the trim and in the ideal world I would’ve loved to see them BOTH painted the same white – something like SW Pure White :).
Thank you for the response. That makes sense!
This article has been so helpful thank you!! Before researching paint colors for our new home I never realized how nuanced choosing the right white paint can be. I’m also wondering about ceiling colors. I love the color SW Pure White does it work to do trim, walls, and ceiling the same pure white? I read your article on Pure White which was also informative but I didn’t see anything mentioned about ceilings.
Hi Michelle, YES, I would recommend staying with Pure White, definitely!
I don’t like to be the “what if” girl, but what would you recommend if my ceiling was planked cedar? It’s what we love most about the house and it’s in its natural state in EVERY room in the house, but with oak floors (already consuming your advice on what woods go together), I am be very thoughtful about cabinets, trim, and walls. Cheers. Your blog is the new bright spot in my new year remodeling adventure.
Thank you so much for all your helpful articles! We are doing a whole house remodel and have chosen pure white for all of the trim and doors. We are doing new white kitchen cabinets but are concerned that pure white will be a bit too stark for our tastes. We like Alabaster on cabinets but not on trim. My question is- is it a good idea to try to darken pure white by 25-50% to warm it up a bit just on the cabinets?
Well, it can be risky as things can change as you lighten/darken colours. It would make me nervous that the cabinets could potentially be a bit warmer/more yellow than the walls and more like a mismatch – get some samples done in the paint FINISH you’ll be using before you jump in feet first 🙂
Hi! We’re painting our master bedroom soon. I want to do a black accent wall (either Benjamin Moore blacktop or black jack) with the rest of the walls white, and I’m thinking BM Chantilly lace for the walls. Should we also do the trim in Chantilly lace, or what white would you use for the trim? And would you use a different or the same finish for the white walls and trim? The rest of the room is all cool tones- light silvery-gray carpet, medium gray tweed upholstered bed.
Thanks!
Hi Samantha, I would definitely stick to using the same white on any surface you want painted white! You’d then do matte or eggshell walls with satin or semi-gloss trim. 😉
Hi,
Thanks for your reply! The room is being painted today, we are definitely doing Chantilly Lace for the walls in matte, and semi-gloss for the trim and doors. The accent wall will be Black Jack in matte. I was torn on the black color as well, but I think the Black Jack will look nice.
Thanks! 😀
We plan to paint our walls maritime white and our trim is already pure white, so I planned to paint the ceiling pure white as well. Does this sound like a good combination or would a warmer trim and ceiling color suit maritime better, like white dove? Loving all your tips!
Thanks for the article! We are in the middle of a new build and have already painted ceilings and walls SW Alabaster. We had planned on painting trim and doors in SW Alabaster, but in a semi-gloss finish to make it seem lighter. We got our cabinets in and they are more of a truer white. The tones don’t seem to “fight”, so not realizing this was a big deal, we have already ordered countertops that compliment the white of the cabinets. Repainting the entire house is not an option. So, would it be better to repaint the cabinets in SW Alabaster which would be an extra cost in money and time and risk not complimenting the countertops or paint the trim and doors to match the cabinets which would then make my ceiling and walls look creamy?
What do you think about combining Chantilly Lace trim with White Dove walls?
You bet! As long as you’re comfortable with White Dove looking warmer than expected against Chantilly 🙂
Thanks so much! I have samples, and the CL makes the WD read like a very light greige. 🙂
Hi Kylie,
I currently have Chantilly lace ceilings, and White Dove walls. Trying to decide on trim color. Which would you recommend I stick with for trim? Thanks, Jesse
Well, it depends. If you do Chantilly Lace trim, it will make the White Dove walls look creamier and warmer in comparison (whereas the ceiling won’t have QUITE the same effect as they aren’t on the same vertical sight line. White Dove trim will be a softer transition and reduce this a bit for sure.
Hi Kylie! My cabinets and trim will be alablaster. What’s a good greige wall color you’d pair with that?
Just the article I was looking for!! Would snowbound for trim, cabinets and ceiling go with incredible white wall?
Hi Kylie. My trim, doors and cabinets are going to be alablaster and I was wanting pale oak or classic grey for the walls but worried it will pull out yellow in alablaster and pink/purple undertones in the wall colors. Would it be better to do something with a lower LRV like agreeable grey or gossamer veil?
Hi Kylie. Great article. The more I read, the more I realized I need to learn about paint colors! We just bought a house that has White Dove walls with Simply White trim. The cabinets are an old 1995 oak. We are going to modernize the kitchen affordably by painting the kitchen cabinets. Since White Dove is a warm white, I feel like that would look too warm on the kitchen cabinets and that the Simply White is more appropriate. Does that correctly follow your guidance regarding avoiding creamier darker colors on cabinets when trim is lighter?
YES, thank you SO much for reading as this is SOOO right and will save you some grief :).
Appreciate the response! I will definitely be reading more of your articles as I do more home improvement projects. Thank you!
Kylie,
Your articles are fantastic and very helpful. We are also in the middle of a new build and have simply white shiplap and trim throughout. However in the master bath we have chantily lace cabinets to coordinate a bet better with the cooler white subway tile shower, white quartz countertop and white tub. Should changing the walls and trim paint in the bathroom to chantily lace be a no no because the rest of the house is simply white?
It’s TOTALLY okay. While I do love consistency, it’s always best to do what ‘suits the room itself’ first – you’re all good!
Kylie ,
We are doing a complete remodel. I want to paint kitchen cabinets SW Pure White as well
as trim , walls , and ceilings using different sheens for depth as recommended . However, in the living room we have a plank ceiling with crown molding . If the trim is satin what sheen should the white plank ceiling be? I appreciate your help.
Hi Sandy, satin is about as shiny as I would do on a ceiling, but I could easily be talked into eggshell. Ceilings can be a tough spot to have a lot of sheen on.
Hi Kylie, thank you for being a paint expert! 🙂 Our walls are currently SW Ivory Lace and our trim is more of a true white, and we are about to remodel the kitchen. Would you suggest painting the cabinets Ivory Lace as well, but in a satin finish vs eggshell? Or trying to match the trim (not sure exactly what it is?) We will also be adding white quartz countertops and a white backsplash, so I’m hoping to coordinate all of them without looking quirky! Thank you!
Hi Sarah, I WOULDN’T do Ivory Lace on the cabinets. I would try to match the trim as much as you can, and make sure the whites between the trim/cabinets/quartz/backsplash all more or less blend :).
In the last set of photos with the light cream mantel, can you tell me the wall color that was used? I love your article and desperately needed the lesson you taught in mixing colors. I have now avoided a huge mistake and changed my way of thinking.
Sincere Thanks!!!
ooooo, I think the one you’re talking about would be Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray 25% darker ;).
Hey Kylie,
Thanks so much for the info! It’s incredibly helpful. Our current home has SW Creamy cabinets, trim and doors. I want to lighten up and paint the walls cream as well. I’d planned on doing Creamy walls to make sure the whites don’t clash, but my painter just told me he only uses Benjamin Moore and doesn’t like to match paint across brands. Help! I’ve sampled White Dove, Swiss Coffee and Vapor. So far, Swiss Coffee is the front runner. Would this be okay? Their LRV’s are a touch different but not by much. I’m am honestly losing sleep. I don’t want our cabinets and trim to look dirty or dingy in comparison. Thank you for your help!!
Wellllllll, to be honest, when I have a painter do that, I insist on using the paint brand I like or find another painter. I know, they can be hard to get, but there’s NO reason for a painter not to use SW paint. I have both in my home and they’re great, although the contractor-grade in BOTH is pretty bad. Often a painter is just familiar with a line and its consistency and often haven’t tried another brand or tried a low-end version of another brand (ie. contractor grade). OR…just go out and buy the paint yourself, ask them to colour match it and have them dry two coats on a swatch for you in-store. If the painter gets a discount, explain your situation and ask for the discount. Compare their colour match and make sure it’s as CLOSE as possible. Doing it this way will be closer than trying to find a comparable in BM :).
Losing sleep too & feeling pressured by the painter…. !!!
Kylie, you are a true color expert. Never read anything this thorough on mixing white! And I’ve read a lot! It can get super tricky unless you’re a pro.
In that case, if I was to dream about an all Alabaster white bedroom, can I skip the whole white trim/door thing and go a with a super soft grey, green or taupe? I’d love to do that but Alabaster is tricky. Can you recommend?
You definitely can, keeping in mind that Alabaster can look that bit MORE yellow up against gray/greige/taupe trim. I might look at something like…hmmm…BM Coventry Gray, maybe SW Amazing Gray – just a few to get you started :).
Hi! Your article was a godsend! I have “creamy” cabinets which I love. And I was going to paint the walls and trim to match. Would the ceiling be to much? Or a lighter shade of creamy? I also have blue slate tile floors, which I don’t love but I don’t want to change just yet.
Hi Jennifer, awesome! How about getting a sample pot of Creamy made 50% lighter, see how that looks? Maybe even 75%? You’ll also want to know that all Creamy WILL look that much more yellow against the blue slate :).
I’m doing a White Dove kitchen. Can I do Chantilly Lace trim and walls?
Nope, I sure wouldn’t. I would stick with White Dove on the walls too, unless you want your cabinets to look that bit more yellow/creamy than the walls. 🙂
I recently discovered your blog and I have learned so much! Unfortunately I didn’t find you sooner…I’m in the middle of having our house painted before we move in, and I am so discouraged. The walls will be Behr Sandy Clay, and we are struggling to find a trim that won’t look “too white” that will also provide the right amount of contrast. Behr doesn’t have LVR printed on their paint chip cards so I can’t use your “at least 20+ between walls and trim” rule. Would it be better to just paint the trim/doors the same as the walls??! The trim isn’t necessarily anything interesting to look at, just your basic strip. Cabinets are oak and I’m dreaming of eventually painting them a dark or bright olive green, but for time and budget constraints, that’s not happening anytime soon. Floor is travertine with dark grout.
I am remodeling our house and we have decided to do BM white dove paint for walls, ceilings, and trim. As far as our kitchen cabinets go, should we stick with white dove as well? And if so, what finish do you recommend?
What did you end up going with for the cabinets? We have white dove walls as well and I need to make a decision by Friday lol