Best White Paint Colors for Your Home

Which “white” works best for your home?

So you’ve narrowed down your options to white paint. It may seem like an easy choice, but there is still a lot more work to be done. After all, choosing white is only half the battle, but settling for the ideal white paint for your walls is another story altogether. Choosing your perfect white paint will take a bit more planning, and this article is here to help.

The Deal on White Paint

There are many white paints on the market, and the incredible part is, these white paints are very different from each other. In fact, in the art world, the nuances between white paint can make or break a painting.

While your home is not the next museum-ready masterpiece, the white paint on your walls are still part of a space This can pose a big difference in the way your room can look and feel to the eye. In fact, there are those which designers refer to as “warm whites” and “cool whites”. 

Warm Whites versus Cool Whites

It’s easy to infer that Warm Whites are ones warmer on the eye while the Cool Whites tend to be on the cooler spectrum. The next question is: are warm whites or cool whites better for the wall you’re painting?

The answer to this depends on a number of factors. 

It’s best to go with a warmer white if your room has natural wood for flooring, such as oak or cherry. Warmer whites also work well with red or beige carpets and tiles. Warmer whites tend to look best when going for traditional rooms. And with rooms where the light coming in is cooler and blue, or if the indoor light is cool and blue, it’s best to use warm whites to counteract these tints.

As for cool whites, you can use them for more modern rooms, and for counteracting orange or reddish light coming from the sun– perfect for rooms that have windows facing the sunset. Cool whites also go well with gray tiles. Cool whites can also go well with reddish and yellowish floors if their colors aren’t too intense, or are leaning towards a more neutral shade.

More Tips on Choosing the Ideal White for Your Walls

With all these available whites, it’s definitely not an easy job to choose the perfect one. One of the best things you can do to cut down your decision-making process is to use paint samples and place them on your walls. Paint sample cards and stickers are great, but being able to paint a small cutout of the exact same material used for your walls (cement, wood, etc.) would definitely give a better picture of what the paint would look like on your walls. Also checking the effect of natural light (both day and night) and of the lights available in your room will also help you decide.

Another tidbit to remember is that what makes whites a bit difficult to work with is that they can easily reflect colors of the environment, be it the green grass, the blue ocean, the orange sunset, or the brown wooden floorboards. It can easily take these colors in and reflect them to the whole room, so it’s best to check what undertones each white has or what colors it leans towards in order to see which colors it strengthens and which ones it neutralizes.

Best White Paints for Your Home

Now that you know how to choose your ideal white paint, the next thing to do is to trust your senses, maybe call in a trusted friend to have a bouncing board for thoughts and ideas, and see what works for you.

Without further ado, we’ve listed a couple of amazing white paints for you to start with! 

Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

Swiss Coffee is a popular white with some yellow and a touch of green undertones. The name itself gives off a warm feeling– seeing it on your walls would do the same. Although its yellowish undertones make it perfect for pairing with warm-colored furniture and floorboards, its very subtle green hue also adds amazing contrast to cool-colored furniture as well, such as modern countertops and kitchen counters. Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore is truly one of the go-tos when completely undecided on white paint.

Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore is another recommended white to try for those who are having a tough time deciding on white paint. This is an especially popular choice when you like white for its “clean” look. To top it all off, a lot of designers claim that Chantilly Lace is a “pure” white thanks to its cool gray base color. For a room that’s not trying to be “cool” or “warm”, only “bright” and “clean”, Chantilly Lace is one of those reliable paints that can get you there.

WC-05 by Fine Paints of Europe

Another great white to try for a “bright” look is the WC-05 by Fine Paints of Europe. An environment friendly option, WC-05 is, at its best, an amazing paint to use on walls that don’t get much natural light. It can brighten a room on its own, without making the room feel too cool. Another grand “pure white” to consider when shopping for your next white.

Acadia / Ivory White by Benjamin Moore

Acadia White, also called Ivory White, by Benjamin Moore is a classic blend of ivory. It’s an off-white color that isn’t too yellow or beige, making it a great choice even when paired with black furniture. It’s white enough to be on the more neutral side, but it holds enough color for it to be one of the best partners for wall trim. Acadia White is a popular choice for those who like a warm yet sophisticated traditional room. Great for giving a look of maturity and even antiquity to any room.

School House White by Farrow & Ball

If you’re fond of off-whites, Schoolhouse White by Farrow & Ball is another you should take a look at. Reminiscent of the whites used in old houses and schools, this soft off-white color gives off a traditional and even nostalgic look to any room. Great for rooms that are intended to give a feeling of warmth and familiarity.

Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Simply White by Benjamin Moore is another all around white you can pair with nearly any color scheme– even other whites. It’s a creamy white with slightly warm undertones that pairs well with even the cooler whites for more contrast. It’s another great neutral white that goes well with wall trims, cabinetry, and ceilings.

Whisper by Dunn-Edwards

A warm white that works stunningly well with rooms that receive a lot of natural light, Whisper by Dunn-Edwards can be used to brighten your rooms further. Although only subtly off-white, it can give enormous contrast to even “purer” and cooler whites, making it a great addition or accent to bathrooms and kitchens with a lot of pure whites. Also great paired with black, making it a great choice for both modern and traditional rooms alike.

Calm by Benjamin Moore

Calm by Benjamin Moore does give off a calming vibe. After all, it’s not a “bright” white. Leaning towards the gray, Calm is a white that gives off a muted look. Best paired with other muted colors, but can also work well with vivid ones for contrast. Its most striking factor is the way it can look amazing no matter what light hits it. Both natural light and artificial light gives walls and items painted with it some beautiful depth and shadow while still retaining its sense of whiteness– versatility at its finest.

High Reflective White by Sherwin-Williams

One of the purest whites around, High Reflective White by Sherwin-Williams is the kind of white you can see in modern art galleries where all the attention is intended to be on the art. Since it’s bright and neither warm nor cool, it’s another impeccably neutral white for rooms. Although its name has “reflective” in its name, this white doesn’t actually reflect colors quite like other whites, making it extremely versatile for any environment.

White Wisp by Benjamin Moore

Finally, we have White Wisp by Benjamin Moore, which is a cool white with gray, blue, and slight green undertones. It can make any room look fresh, modern, and bright. Even though it’s bright, especially with well-lit rooms, it is still quite darker than most of the other whites, making it perfect as an accent, even for the warmer whites.