With its unrivaled versatility, white is transcendent and timeless.
But how do you choose the right white paint? we can help.
Simple, clean and classic. Whether it’s a traditional farmhouse, a modern white condo, or a lovely living space somewhere in between, white paint is always in style.
Most Popular White and Off-White Paint Colors
Here are a few of our most versatile, tried-and-true white paints, including Simply White, a former Color of the Year.
Chantilly Lace
OC-65
White Heron
OC-57
White Dove
OC-17
Simply White
OC-117
Cloud White
OC-130
Navajo White
OC-95
Chantilly Lace
OC-65
Simply White
OC-117
White Heron
OC-57
Cloud White
OC-130
White Dove
OC-17
Navajo White
OC-95
Recognizing Undertones in White Paint
Paint colors are often created by using two or more colors. If there is a higher percentage of one color over the other, that creates an undertone.
Warm white paint colors have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming vibe,seen in this Capri Coast OC-87 painted entryway. Cooler whites have hints of green, blue, and violet, contributing to a space that looks crisp, clean and fresh.
When looking for the right white paint, layer a range of white color chips from your local Benjamin Moore store on top of one another. Observe the difference between brightness levels and undertones. View the chips against your home furnishings to find which white is most complementary.
Recognizing Undertones in White Paint
Paint colors are often created by using two or more colors. If there is a higher percentage of one color over the other, that creates an undertone.
Warm white paint colors have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming vibe,seen in this Capri Coast OC-87 painted entryway. Cooler whites have hints of green, blue, and violet, contributing to a space that looks crisp, clean and fresh.
When looking for the right white paint, layer a range of white color chips from your local Benjamin Moore store on top of one another. Observe the difference between brightness levels and undertones. View the chips against your home furnishings to find which white is most complementary.
Warm White Paint & Undertones
Warm whites include red, orange, and yellow undertones.
Red Undertone
Orange Undertone
Yellow Undertone
White Opulence
OC-69
Pink Damask
OC-72
Pompeii
OC-82
Onyx White
OC-74
Mayonnaise
OC-85
Acadia White
OC-38
Red Undertone
White Opulence
OC-69
Pink Damask
OC-72
Orange Undertone
Pompeii
OC-82
Onyx White
OC-74
Yellow Undertone
Mayonnaise
OC-85
Acadia White
OC-38
Cool White Paint & Undertones
Cool, crisp whites include green, blue, and violet undertones.
Green Undertone
Blue Undertone
Purple Undertone
Minced Onion
OC-128
Meadow Mist
OC-134
Distant Gray
OC-68
White Ice
OC-58
Mirage White
2116-70
Calm
OC-22
Green Undertone
Minced Onion
OC-128
Meadow Mist
OC-134
Blue Undertone
Distant Gray
OC-68
White Ice
OC-58
Purple Undertone
Mirage White
2116-70
Calm
OC-22
Our Brightest, Cleanest White Paint Colors
One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is “What is Benjamin Moore’s ‘most pure’ white paint?”
We’ve narrowed it down to two hues:
Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152. These whites have little to no visible undertone, making them two of our ‘whitest white’ colors.
We love these two hues for a few reasons:
Adaptable: Color combinations with either of these colors is effortless.
Super Bright: If you are looking for a crisp, refreshing white, these should definitely be on your list.
High Light Reflectance Value (LRV): In color parlance, this means they reflect a lot of light.
Trim and Sheen
For trim, homeowners love Decorator’s White OC-149 for its clean, bright look. Others opt for White Dove OC-17, which offers less contrast and a slightly more muted approach to white.
If you opt for the classic white-painted trim, we recommend painting all the trim in your home the same color white for continuity. For finishes, consider semi-gloss for trim and doors, matte or eggshell for walls, and flat for ceilings.
Sheens help differentiate any paint color, including white. Use a high gloss sheen to turn up the drama and highlight architectural details. The higher the sheen, the greater the shine and durability. On the other end of the sheen spectrum, a matte finish offers an understated, elegant finish when paired with rich surfaces like marble countertops. In the middle, an eggshell sheen—a homeowner favorite—offers a soft hint of gloss and easy-to-clean practicality.
White Paint Colors the Experts Love
Just-right white paint colors are so indispensable that many interior designers have committed them to memory, as seen in this video.
Favorite Benjamin Moore white paint colors mentioned include Linen White OC-146, Atrium White OC-145, Cotton Balls OC-122, Chantilly Lace OC-65, and Steam AF-15, from the highly efficient mix-and-match Affinity® color palette.
Design professionals
share their must-have whites and off-white paint colors.
At Home with White Paint
Layering white and off-white paint colors creates a richly elegant look. Texture, as seen in the throws and pillows of this White Wisp OC-54-painted bedroom, are especially important in an all-white room. Window treatments provide another creative opportunity for white-on-white design.
Color flow—the colors that connect one room to the next throughout your home–is made easier with white hallways, trim and doors. Just make sure the whites you choose for these surfaces “work” with other paint colors used in different rooms. Brushing on paint samples and living with them—even when it comes to hallways, trim and doors is always the best test.
Living Rooms: White Paint Always Works
A living room painted in layers of white is always an elegant choice.
Here Winter Snow OC-63 is the perfect backdrop for a gallery wall and a striking white-painted brick fireplace painted with ADVANCE® Interior paint in a Satin finish. If white walls hold great appeal for you, but you also crave color on pillows, throws, rugs and other furnishings, white works. Keep in mind that when it comes to home accessories:
Red, yellow and neutral colors harmonize with warmer white paint colors. Green, blue and cool gray colors sync with cooler white paint colors.
Classic White Exteriors
A white or off-white exterior is a longstanding homeowner favorite.
White-painted homes effortlessly stand out from surrounding landscapes, as seen here in White Diamond OC-61.
Exterior siding in white paint creates a blank canvas for complementing brick, stone and slate. Other hues we love for all-white homes include Swiss Coffee OC-45, Cloud Cover OC-25, and Distant Gray OC-68. Conversely, white-painted exterior trim against deeper hued siding—think windows, columns, railings dormers and rooflines—highlights architectural details and adds clean, crisp lines for any home exterior.
—Andrea Magno
Colour & Design Expert
“IF YOU ALREADY HAVE WHITE WALLS, YOU CAN PAINT THE TRIM AND CEILING THE SAME COLOR AND USE SHEEN TO CREATE CONTRAST.”
…
Test Your White Paint Colors.
White paint colors are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Purchase paint samples of white paints you like, and test each one on the wall before you buy.
Our Brightest, Cleanest White Paint Colors
One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is “What is Benjamin Moore’s ‘most pure’ white paint?”
We’ve narrowed it down to two hues:
Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152. These whites have little to no visible undertone, making them two of our ‘whitest white’ colors.
We love these two hues for a few reasons:
Adaptable: Color combinations with either of these colors is effortless.
Super Bright: If you are looking for a crisp, refreshing white, these should definitely be on your list.
High Light Reflectance Value (LRV): In color parlance, this means they reflect a lot of light.
Trim and Sheen
For trim, homeowners love Decorator’s White OC-149 for its clean, bright look. Others opt for White Dove OC-17, which offers less contrast and a slightly more muted approach to white.
If you opt for the classic white-painted trim, we recommend painting all the trim in your home the same color white for continuity. For finishes, consider semi-gloss for trim and doors, matte or eggshell for walls, and flat for ceilings.
Sheens help differentiate any paint color, including white. Use a high gloss sheen to turn up the drama and highlight architectural details. The higher the sheen, the greater the shine and durability. On the other end of the sheen spectrum, a matte finish offers an understated, elegant finish when paired with rich surfaces like marble countertops. In the middle, an eggshell sheen—a homeowner favorite—offers a soft hint of gloss and easy-to-clean practicality.
White Paint Colors the Experts Love
Just-right white paint colors are so indispensable that many interior designers have committed them to memory, as seen in this video.
Favorite Benjamin Moore white paint colors mentioned include Linen White OC-146, Atrium White OC-145, Cotton Balls OC-122, Chantilly Lace OC-65, and Steam AF-15, from the highly efficient mix-and-match Affinity® color palette.
Design professionals
share their must-have whites and off-white paint colors.
At Home with White Paint
Layering white and off-white paint colors creates a richly elegant look. Texture, as seen in the throws and pillows of this White Wisp OC-54-painted bedroom, are especially important in an all-white room. Window treatments provide another creative opportunity for white-on-white design.
Color flow—the colors that connect one room to the next throughout your home–is made easier with white hallways, trim and doors. Just make sure the whites you choose for these surfaces “work” with other paint colors used in different rooms. Brushing on paint samples and living with them—even when it comes to hallways, trim and doors is always the best test.
Living Rooms: White Paint Always Works
A living room painted in layers of white is always an elegant choice.
Here Winter Snow OC-63 is the perfect backdrop for a gallery wall and a striking white-painted brick fireplace painted with ADVANCE® Interior paint in a Satin finish. If white walls hold great appeal for you, but you also crave color on pillows, throws, rugs and other furnishings, white works. Keep in mind that when it comes to home accessories:
Red, yellow and neutral colors harmonize with warmer white paint colors.
Green, blue and cool gray colors sync with cooler white paint colors.
Classic White Exteriors
A white or off-white exterior is a longstanding homeowner favorite.
White-painted homes effortlessly stand out from surrounding landscapes, as seen here in White Diamond OC-61.
Exterior siding in white paint creates a blank canvas for complementing brick, stone and slate. Other hues we love for all-white homes include Swiss Coffee OC-45, Cloud Cover OC-25, and Distant Gray OC-68. Conversely, white-painted exterior trim against deeper hued siding—think windows, columns, railings dormers and rooflines—highlights architectural details and adds clean, crisp lines for any home exterior.
“IF YOU ALREADY HAVE WHITE WALLS, YOU CAN PAINT THE TRIM AND CEILING THE SAME COLOR AND USE SHEEN TO CREATE CONTRAST.”
—Andrea Magno
COLOR & DESIGN EXPERT
Test Your White Paint Colors. White paint colors are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Purchase paint samples of white paints you like, and test each one on the wall before you buy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When touching up a hole repair, why do I notice a difference, why is the color different?
Paint ages and loses sheen over time, so even within 3 months of painting, the wall is now less shiny than the touch up, meaning it will stand out more. In time the touch up will dull down and blend in a little, but the touchup must be applied lightly in order to keep the wall looking as close to uniform as possible.
Should I do two coats?
You should always do two coats for the following reasons:
-Uniform color - if you only do one coat there is no guarantee that the color will be uniform if the previous color is showing through due to improper film build.
-When doing a color change you should definitely not rely on one coat, depending on what you’re changing to, 2 coats is usually enough.
Do I need to prime?
Priming is necessary when you have new drywall/drywall mud to seal it so that it doesn’t absorb more paint than is needed. Also if doing a color change from dark to light 1 coat of primer might be recommended in order to achieve the desired color.
Why do I need to wait for the paint to dry?
The re-coat window is necessary to ensure that your 2nd coat doesn’t re-wet the first coat. Applying paint too early can just re-activate the previously applied coat of paint, meaning that you don’t get a proper two coat film build, and so it doesn’t cover as two proper coats.
How long do I wait to be able to wash my walls
Most paints require 28 days to full harden and cure, giving you maximum durability for the product. only ever wash your walls with warm soapy water, avoiding bleach or ammonia based cleaning products.