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Originally Posted On: https://juxtadesignandbuild.ca/post/the-best-benjamin-moore-white-paint-colours/

Which White is Right?

The question of the decade, and white walls continue to be a popular choice today. Not to mention, white continues to reign supreme for kitchen and bath cabinetry and built ins. And while we are seeing a swing towards deeper saturation in paint choices, white will always remain a classic, especially in cabinetry.

But which white is right for your home? Having been certified in Maria Killam’s Colour Academy as a True Colour Expert, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive in.

4 Types of White

It’s helpful to view white on a scale, from cool to warm.

1. Cool Whites (blue/grey undertones)

2. True Whites (no undertones)

3. Warm Whites (off whites)

4. Cream (yellow, brown undertones, deeper saturation)

The first iteration

The Zhush – Decorators White

Beginning with the coolest versions of white, these whites have blue-grey undertones which provide a crispness to a space. Cool whites are a good fit in paired down, modern settings to provide a bright backdrop for artful shapes in furniture and accessories. Cool whites are the correct choice if you are working with cooler toned tile or countertops, such as Carrara Marble which has a blue undertone. If you love grey but want to brighten things up, a cool white may be a good fit for you.

Be aware, a cool white is NOT a good fit if you have lots of warm toned furniture and decor. By comparison it will pull quite blue, which may not be the overall look you’re hoping for.

Good cool white options to sample in your space could be:

• OC 152 Super White: the brightest of the cool white options listed.

• OC 61 White Diamond: a blue undertone adds a crisp factor.

• OC 22 Decorators White: grey undertones create a softer appearance.

• OC 64 Pure White: blue grey undertones work well with Carrara marble countertops or tile.

When would I use True Whites?

Chantilly Lace – Blesser House

True Whites are those that have no noticeable undertone. True whites make for a perfect choice if you have a lot of art and want to create an art gallery effect. They are also favoured by those who want to avoid undertones as much as possible Although a caveat must be inserted here: there really are too many variables at play here to guarantee a pure white at all times. Greenery outside your window, quality and amount of light, and ultimately, because white is HIGHLY reflective by nature, every item in your space will cast a colour on the walls. So if you truly want control over the colour on your walls, you’re better off opting for a more saturated neutral or colour. However, if you have your heart set on white, a true white may be for you.

Another reason you may opt for a true white is if you don’t want any difference or contrast between trim and walls. Because a warm white, next to true or cool white trim, will make it look creamier. Obviously you can paint your trim the same white as your wall white in any case to lessen the contrast. For example, White Dove (warm white) walls in eggshell and White Dove in semi-gloss for base, case and doors.

In the picture above, the true white works because it’s repeated in the artwork, but otherwise a warm white could have also been used.

Good true white options to sample in your space could be:

• OC 65 Chantilly Lace is bright and pure.

• CC 30 Oxford White is slightly more saturated if you’re looking for something deeper, but not cream.

When Would I choose a Warm White?

Cozy & Kiln – Warm White

Warm whites are a popular choice because they work well with homes that have warm neutrals in them, which is most homes. For example, if you have wood furniture or flooring, linen drapes, beige upholstery, etc. a warm white will complement the other warm tones in the space.

A word of caution when selecting a warm white, in certain rooms, or at certain times of day, you will likely see yellow or green. Afterall, that is what they add to the paint in order to create an off-white, and again, due to it’s high light reflective value (LRV) it’s inevitable. If you don’t think you’d be able to live with that, I highly suggest a complex cream or a colour. A true white is a possibility, but I’ll refer you back to my caution on that above.

Tried, Tested and True Warm Whites:

• OC 117 Simply White: a favourite because it has the least noticeable undertones in all the warm whites.

• CC 40 Cloud White: with slight yellow undertones, cloud white feels warm and historic. Perfect for heritage homes. Cloud White is one of the all time most popular cabinetry colours.

• OC 17 White Dove: sits at the happy middle between a true white and a cream. It can sometimes skew yellow or green as mentioned above.

• OC 45 Swiss Coffee: as we trend towards warmer hues, I think Swiss Coffee is the new Simply White of this decade.

• OC 25 Cloud Cover: similar to Swiss Coffee, test both in your space.

Swiss Coffee cabinets – Studio McGee

Creams

Source Unknown

Do you live in a Tuscan-style home with lots of beige? If so, cream is your white! Do not even think about going any cooler than cream, it will just look wrong with your existing hard finishes (granite, travertine tile. etc). If you’re after the look of a white kitchen or white walls, cream will do that in the context of those finishes. Any brighter will look stark, and like you didn’t get past the priming phase.

If you don’t live in a Tuscan home, and you don’t like yellow undertones, you’ll want to avoid creams because that’s what makes cream cream! But if you love a warm, sunny neutral, cream is lovely. Be prepared for it to look decidedly yellow at certain times. If you’re good with that, test these three options.

• AF 20 Mascarpone

• CC 130 Ivory White

• OC 131 White Down: my favourite cream because it has a more neutral undertone and is therefore very versatile.

How to test paints

Don’t take short cuts at this point, friends! Do be sure to test a few options against your fixed finishes (aka stone, cabinets etc). If you’re local, book me to come in with my painted sample boards to do a colour consultation, or paint your own boards with sample pots that you can move around the room.

When you test, be sure you hold the painted board vertical, touching the existing finishes. You want a true white board behind the paint colour your testing in order to isolate it.

When I compare the whites in this tile with a couple warm white boards, it becomes clear that White Dove is the winning match for this tile.

Remember, one bad decision pays for the designer! You won’t regret investing in the plan, it’ll save you money in the long run. Book us for a colour consult today, we’d be happy to set you on the right track with your plans!

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Until next time! Meghan