Selecting a paint color (in general) is overwhelming. Selecting a white paint color can be even more intimidating because there are literally hundreds of options to choose from.
Honestly, white can be one of the hardest ‘colors’ to choose, so I’ve narrowed down the vast amount of choices to 10 white paint colors that designers love and use on repeat (because the colors are THAT good)!
Listen to this episode or read the blog post below.
Note: The blog post below has been updated to include two new paint color options since the original podcast episode aired. The core content and tips are the same — just even better now!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Free On-Demand Class: 4 STEPS TO BUILD WITHIN BUDGET AND WITHOUT REGRETS!
Affiliate links are used for your convenience. Read my full disclosure here.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A WHITE PAINT COLOR?
Before we talk about the best interior white paint colors, let’s discuss how to even begin choosing the best white paint color for your home.
Hopefully, you already have some idea of whether or not you want a stark, bright white (i.e. white-white) or a softer white (i.e. slightly off-white).
If you haven’t yet narrowed it down to stark white vs. soft white, here’s a general rule of thumb:
If your home decor style is traditional, stick with softer, warmer whites.
If you gravitate toward a clean/modern/farmhouse aesthetic, use crisper whites.
However, always remember that you can break ANY decorating ‘rules’ and do whatever you want because it’s YOUR home!
I technically ‘broke’ the ‘rules’ by choosing a warmer white in my modern coastal-style home.
I chose Benjamin Moore’s ‘White Dove’, which is a soft, very slight off-white color for my interior trim, ceilings, cabinets, interior doors, and my girls’ bedroom walls. This color isn’t for everyone because it can have a bit of a yellow hue in certain lighting, but I absolutely LOVE it!
What Are the Best Tips for Choosing White Paint?
Let’s go over some quick tips before you commit to a color.
TIP 1: STICK TO ONE WHITE PAINT COLOR FOR YOUR HOME
I prefer to keep all the white paint consistent in my house (i.e. trim, ceiling, doors, cabinets, walls, etc.).
Not everyone agrees with this philosophy, but I’m not a fan of homes where multiple white paint colors are intermixed — one ‘white’ color usually looks too yellow or too stark next to another, and it just doesn’t work.
Sticking to one white color gives your home a cleaner look, and you don’t have to worry about any of your whites clashing.
TIP 2: ALWAYS SAMPLE PAINT COLORS IN YOUR HOME
White paint colors (or any paint color for that matter) can look VERY different in your home than they do in an edited photo in a magazine or on a screen.
It’s very important for you to see a sample of the color in ‘real life’ before you spend money ordering several gallons of paint for your home.
I recommend that you order peel-and-stick paint samples for all of your top white paint color choices.
I personally love Samplize samples and highly recommend them.
I have tested these samples for both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, and the colors are SPOT ON!
TIP 3: CREATE LARGE PAINT SAMPLES BEFORE COMMITTING
Once you narrow down your white paint colors via the peel-and-stick samples, create a large sample of your top two (or three) choices on your wall — or you can use this trick to create a large paint sample.
Look at the white paint colors in various lighting (morning, afternoon, night, and artificial) and in different rooms to determine which white you like best.
Psst … this is another reason I love peel-and-stick paint samples— they can be reused in different rooms. I recommend ordering 2-4 samples of the same color so you can create a ‘large’ square on your wall.
What Are the Most Popular White Paint Colors for Interior Walls?
All right, now for the fun part! Here are the 10 white paint colors that designers love and use on repeat.
I’ll start with an overview of all 10 colors and then divide them into warm vs. cool whites.
Keep in mind that none of these are trendy colors. They’re classic (timeless) white paint colors that designers return to year after year.
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘WHITE DOVE’ OC-17
We’ll start with my personal favorite — the white paint color I have throughout my own home.
Benjamin Moore ‘White Dove’ is a soft warm white with a hint of yellow in artificial lighting.
This is one of the most consistently recommended whites in design, and I have it on all of my trim work, ceilings, interior doors, and kitchen cabinets (as well as my girls’ bathroom cabinets, my office cabinets, our laundry room cabinets, and my girls’ bedroom walls).
The hue changes slightly with lighting. During the day, with sunlight coming in, my cabinets look white. At night, when the lights are on, the color reads as slightly off-white.
Overall, it feels like a true white — just with a soft, warm depth that I love.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of White Dove.
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘SIMPLY WHITE’ OC-117
Benjamin Moore ‘Simply White’ is another extremely popular white — one I probably would have chosen if I had built my home a couple of years later.
It became a phenomenon when it was named Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, and it has never really faded.
‘Simply White’ is a warm white, but it isn’t too creamy.
It sits closer to the crisp white side than the off-white side, which makes it incredibly versatile.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Simply White.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS ‘CREAMY’ SW 7012
Sherwin Williams ‘Creamy’ is another soft and subtle warm white that looks beautiful on walls, trim, ceilings, doors, and cabinets.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Creamy.
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘LINEN WHITE’ OC-146
Benjamin Moore ‘Linen White’ is a soft, slightly warm white with the faintest hint of yellow and grey — which somehow makes it feel incredibly grounded and livable. It’s not as obviously creamy as Swiss Coffee, but it has a quiet depth that looks stunning on walls, ceilings, and millwork.
Designers love this one for its versatility — it shifts beautifully with the light throughout the day, never looking flat. If you want a white that feels layered and intentional without going full off-white, Linen White is worth sampling.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Linen White.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS ‘ALABASTER’ SW 7008
Sherwin Williams ‘Alabaster’ is a soft, almost off-white with warm beige undertones. It’s creamy, but not too creamy — a beautiful, approachable warm white that works in almost any room.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Alabaster.
Psst … looking beyond white? Check out my list of 8 popular Sherwin-Williams neutral paint colors — Alabaster makes that list too, which tells you just how versatile this color really is!
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘SWISS COFFEE’ OC-45
Benjamin Moore ‘Swiss Coffee’ is a warm white with a definite hint of a yellow undertone. I’d consider this one a true off-white — beautiful if you want something cozy and warm, but not the right pick if you’re aiming for white-white.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Swiss Coffee.
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘DECORATORS WHITE’ OC-149
‘Decorators White’ is a true cool white with grey undertones. Clean, crisp, and very architectural — a great choice if you want white-white without any warmth at all.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Decorators White.
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ‘PURE WHITE’ SW 7005
Sherwin-Williams ‘Pure White’ is a designer staple that sits between Alabaster and Extra White — warmer than a stark white, but not nearly as creamy as Alabaster.
Pure White is an especially great choice for trim, doors, and cabinets if you want something crisp without the blue-grey undertone of a true cool white.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Pure White.
BENJAMIN MOORE ‘CHANTILLY LACE’ OC-65
Benjamin Moore ‘Chantilly Lace’ is a very cool, crisp, and clean pure white. The hint of blue/grey undertone gives it a distinctly cool vibe. If you want white-white — true, bright, clean white — this is the one.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Chantilly Lace.
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ‘EXTRA WHITE’ SW 7006
Sherwin-Williams ‘Extra White’ is crisp and clean, but not too stark. There is no yellow undertone so it pairs great with blues and grays.
Order a peel-and-stick sample of Extra White.
What’s the Difference Between Warm and Cool White Paint Colors?
Now let’s categorize these into warm and cool whites — because that’s usually the first decision you need to make.
BEST WARM WHITE PAINT COLORS
Warm white paint colors are softer and creamier than cool whites. They range across the off-white spectrum, from barely-there warmth to noticeably creamy. They are soft, welcoming, and cozy.
Warm whites work especially well in rooms with little natural light because they create a soft, inviting glow.
WARM WHITES DESIGNER FAVORITES
Click on the links to order a peel-and-stick sample or shop samples below.
BEST COOL WHITE PAINT COLORS
Cool white paint colors are much crisper and brighter than warm whites.
These are your true whites — they can sometimes feel stark or cold if your room doesn’t have a lot of natural light.
But in rooms that get a ton of sun, or in minimalist and ultra-modern homes, cool whites look absolutely stunning.
COOL WHITE DESIGNER FAVORITES
Click on the links to order a peel-and-stick sample or shop samples below.
Benjamin Moore ‘DECORATOR’S WHITE’
Benjamin Moore ‘CHANTILLY LACE’
Sherwin-Williams ‘EXTRA WHITE’
How Do You Know Which White Paint Color Is Right for Your Home?
Now you’ve got a list of 10 white paint colors that designers love and use on repeat — but the only way to know which one is right for you is to see it in your own space.
Colors look very different in real life vs. on a screen, so go ahead and order peel-and-stick samples of your favorite white colors so you can see exactly how the color looks in YOUR home.
If you’re building your home and haven’t broken ground yet, that’s okay — just look at the samples in your current home for now.
Do NOT order gallons and gallons of paint until you can see the samples in your brand-new home as it goes up.
And remember … I love and recommend Samplize paint samples because the color is SPOT ON!
