Insiders recently asked me what my go-to white paint colors were. I had a few I wanted to share with you, but I felt I wouldn’t have done you any favors to simply list some names.
The result: An article series discussing white and its complexities, such as LRV, common pitfalls when searching for the right one, as well as the impact of artificial and natural light. I hope that by now, you feel well-equipped to choose a paint color that you find appealing under various lighting conditions and that is perfect for your own home.
With this last post on the topic, I’m circling back to the initial question that was asked, and I’m finally ready to share my favorite whites!
But first…
Undertones
This is the single most important element to understand and nail down before choosing your white.
In previous articles, I have written about warm and cool whites, and you can identify them with their undertones: Warm white paint colors have red, orange, and yellow undertones, while clear, “cool” whites have tints of blue, green, violet and grey.
The key to selecting the perfect white paint is to first define the mood you want to create, and then consider a room’s unique lighting pattern based on its exposure (read all about it here).
As a general rule of thumb, if you want a welcoming, intimate space with a soft glow, go for a warm white. For a crisp, clean and refreshing space that has that bright and airy look, choose a cool white. Your choice will also depend on the style you want – Modern usually calls for something crisp and cool, while a traditional look is enhanced with something warmer.
When looking at a white individually, it can be very difficult to see its undertone so the trick is to take a look at the full swatch to help you identify its roots. Comparing your top pick with the purest white will almost magically reveal its undertone, too.
Remember to look at the fixed elements in the space as well as their own undertones. Do you want to emphasize them? Go for a complementary color (revisit the color wheel). Do you want to have them blend in harmoniously? Go for similar tones.
To learn more about undertones, you might find this article helpful, even if it pertains to wood; the advice about matching tones is relevant for this topic too.
Photo: via Room for Tuesday
A Few Clarifications
Before I dive on in and present you my go-to whites, there are a few more things I wanted to clarify and explain.
1. One manufacturer
For this roundup, I chose paint colors from Benjamin Moore only, for two reasons: 1) Because their products are available in most countries where Insiders are located, and 2) I like to compare apples with apples.
2. Many options are actually the same
There are so many whites out there, and roundups recommending “designer-approved” paint colors are abundant on Pinterest. But here’s an interesting twist: I often come across “top ten whites” where half of the colors are virtually the same, with nuances barely perceptible to the great majority of people.
For instance, you will see Simply White by Benjamin Moore along with White Flour by Sherwin Williams and Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball, but they are essentially the same according to color measuring tools.
My point is: It is easy to get stuck and confused comparing whites when there are hundreds of options out there, and especially when differences are merely a drop of pigment there, a 0.5% higher or lower LRV here, pretty names, and clever marketing tricks.
This article aims to simplify your options, so much so in fact that you might never need to look at any other white paint color!
3. Only four colors, but dozens of possibilities
I’ve looked at all my past interior consultancy projects, and I’ve analyzed chroma, LRV, color values and families, and what not… I finally consolidated my thoughts and compiled my ultimate list of go-to whites!
My Go-To Whites
Photo: Nordic Design
Image: Nordic Design
Yes, there are only four. But in 90% of cases, these are all that you might need.
With these four options, you get 1) a crisp, slightly cool* white, 2) a warm white, 3) a warm white with a hint of grey and 4) what I call my “wild card” white.
Each of them can be used in a variety of strengths and sheens (see below for more info), giving you dozens of possibilities and surely something that will be perfect for your home.
*Notice that none of them are true cool whites. That’s because I pretty much never use them. They are tricky to work with. They might look good on a tiny swatch but on a large surface, they can quickly turn cold, sterile and flat. You’ll need a lot of trials and errors to find one that looks crisp, clean AND comfortable, which is difficult to achieve with a white that has blue, green and purple undertones. If you live in a warm climate, in a home with large windows and lots of sunlight, then a cool white can work well and balance the visual heat. Elsewhere, you are better off with a white that has the tiniest bit of warmth, but that reads as a neutral because of a soft grey undertone. But that is unless you actually want your walls to be cool, of course, in which case I think you should search for the perfect grey instead.
Some numbers, for the nerds like me out there:
The most colorful whites to the least colorful (the higher the chroma, the more colorful it is):
- Swiss Coffee (0.62)
- White Dove (0.58)
- Simply White (0.50)
- Super White (0.21)
Interpretation: The true undertone reveals itself with chroma, a color’s intensity. Swiss Coffee will bring three times as much color (and obvious undertone) to your walls compared to Super White
The lightest color to the darkest (the higher value, the lighter it is):
- Simply White (9.46)
- Super White (9.30)
- White Dove (9.22)
- Swiss Coffee (9.13)
Interpretation: While all of these colors are whites, Swiss Coffee is the darkest one, the most “shaded”, while Simply White is the “cleanest”.
The most light reflective to the least (the higher the LRV, the more it reflects light):
- Simply White (90%)
- Super White (87%)
- Swiss Coffee (84%)
- White Dove (83%)
Interpretation: In a room with more light variation, the higher the LRV the more the color will be impacted. In this case, White Dove will be the “steadiest” of them all, while Simply White will transform with the environment and lighting conditions the most.
The Wild Card: Swiss Coffee OC-45
LRV: 83.93
Undertone: Yellow
Swiss Coffee actually leans towards ivory and can read quite yellow. It is more of a beige than a white, and it is quite frankly not my cup of tea. It is not the obvious contender for a Scandinavian-inspired look…
But: The magic happens when playing with its strength!
When only 50% or 75% of color pigments are added to the white base, you get a soft, warm, and classic off-white. It is what I choose for clients who want something bright but also creamier than white.
Swiss Coffee is a good color for spaces where light is limited and can counterbalance the cool, greyish cast of a North-facing room because it adds visual heat. It is best suited for warm browns, tans, and other earthy tones, and it also harmonizes beautifully with touches of brass and brushed nickel.
Avoid it if you have a lot of grey or taupe in your décor; they will just enhance the yellow undertone. Same thing for clean, cold white accents or materials like Carrara marble, for instance.
Three ways I like to use Swiss Coffee:
- At 75% on walls and at 50% on trims and doors.
- At 50% everywhere, with a higher sheen on trims and doors.
- At 50% on walls and at full strenght on trims and doors, for a look similar to this.
The Elegant: White Dove OC-17
LRV: 85.38
Undertones: Yellow and taupe-ish grey
Light, soft, elegant, and very versatile. It is similar to Swiss Coffee, as it has a hint of yellow, but it is less saturated and whiter.
It has a good dose of grey undertones, which gives it some depth, so it is a good choice when you want something visibly warm but without obvious yellow undertones. It might even look grey in a north-facing room or in a space that doesn’t get a lot of direct natural light.
It is great at balancing out cool light, but still very pretty in south-facing rooms, especially when you have a cool color palette.
If you find that White Dove’s undertone is right for the space but it still looks too yellow because of the light available or the fixed elements in the room, try it at 75% strength.
White Dove is particularly great as an exterior paint color.
The Versatile: Simply White OC-117
LRV: 91.7
Undertones: Yellow, slightly greenish
A go-to color if you like a white look that isn’t stark yet fresh, luminous, and inviting. It is cooler than Swiss Coffee but it still has a warmer, yellow tint compared to White Dove, but on its own, it holds up as white.
It is a rich white that evokes a bright yet relaxing atmosphere, and it is suitable for most rooms. However, it might still appear too yellow in a south- or west-facing room (in the afternoon), and when compared against a crisp white tile, white appliances, cool Carrara marble or white quartz countertops, for instance.
It is better than White Dove at making a room feel livelier when there isn’t a lot of natural light.
The undertones are subdued, and it is a good all-around color. You can use it for walls, ceilings and trims, all with different sheens for subtle contrasts. It looks lovely with natural timber.
The Brightest: Super White OC-152
LRV: 89.09
Undertones: None detectable
Super White is a brilliant white with slightly cool undertones that are not truly detectable. It is my go-to neutral white, bold, bright and adaptable. Like a chameleon, it pairs well with practically anything, particularly with cool stones and white-washed timber flooring.
Super White balances out a warm color palette beautifully, and it provides a crisp background for art or colorful accents. It is a great choice if you like a graphic look with contrasting black elements. I personally like it for modern and minimalist spaces.
You can use this white on the walls, ceilings, trims, and doors – Just use different sheens for subtle contrasts.
Note that it can be a bit cold in North-facing rooms, but just make sure you warm up the space with layers of tactile and visual textures. It can pick up on the surrounding colors though, due to its high LRV, so keep that in mind when trying it out.
As opposed to the other whites in this roundup, I wouldn’t recommend playing down the strength of this color too much. Don’t go lower than a 75% strength, otherwise, it will look utilitarian, and even unfinished as if only primer was applied.
Photos: via ColorShop
One Last Thing: Sheens
There is one more thing that might affect your whites: Sheen. The level of gloss (or shine) of your paint color will determine how much light is reflected off a surface, which has a lot to do with how porous or smooth a surface is.
Good to know:
- Rough and porous surface = Mat/flat = Will make a paint color appear slightly lighter because it absorbs light.
- Smooth and non-porous = Glossy = Will make a paint color appear slightly darker because it reflects light.
Usually, you can make your pick between flat, matte, low luster, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. There is no set industry standard, so paint companies might use different names to identify the gloss level – Ex. eggshell, pearl, satin, low luster, velvet, soft gloss, etc. You can compare sheen at your local hardware or paint store, which is likely to have a scale showing the different finishes.
Sheen is chosen for aesthetic, practical considerations and/or applications. For instance, the glossier the paint, the more resistant to stains and dirt it will be, but it will also show imperfection much more than a flat finish.
In general (but not exclusively) we use flat finish for ceilings, matte or eggshell finish for walls, and a satin sheen for doors and trims. Your white can look a lot different just by trying different sheens!
Top tip: Whites often appear yellower with a glossy finish. So if this is your sheen of choice but you still want a crisp white look, go for something with a cooler undertone.
When looking at pictures of beautiful white interiors, always keep in mind all the editing and styling that went into each one of them. Even if you paint your home in the exact same white as an influencer or your neighbor, it might turn out completely wrong for your home. Its fixed elements, positioning of windows, unique lighting pattern, lightbulbs used, etc. – So many things impact how we perceive a white.
Next time you see a beautiful home, try to analyze what appeals to you. What is the style? What is the mood? Is it warm and inviting? Is it crips, clean and modern? What are the fixed elements in your home, and what do you have to work with?
Let your answers guide your choice of white, by first defining the undertone you need. Then, choose Super White, Simply White, White Dove or Swiss Coffee accordingly. Playing with sheens will save you the headache of matching undertones for your ceilings, trims and doors. Same thing with strengths and exposures – For instance, you can manipulate the perception of a white by using it at full strength on a north-facing wall, but at 50% or 75% strength on a south-facing wall, so it appears the same throughout the room. Experiment and have fun!
I am truly confident that with one of the four options mentioned in this roundup, combined with your knowledge of what your home needs, you will find your perfect white!
First photo: Sissy + Marley