5 Popular White Paint Colors For Your Home

You know I love a neutral home with a subtle pop of color so white paint is kinda my jam. I have sampled my fair share of white paint colors in the past few years. It took me literally three weeks to find the right shade of white for my exterior. Was it a bit excessive? Maybe! Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY, and yes I am totally yelling because I love it so much. It was the perfect shade of white for our home, not too white, not too cool, not too warm, JUST perfect!

We are definitely seeing more color now but I think white paint will always be a classic. It goes with every style and can be used in any room. However, if you have ever gone to a paint store to shop for white paint, you will quickly realize that this decision is a lot harder than you think. You are face with literally hundreds of different shades of white. So today, I’m sharing some my favorite tried and true white paint colors with you that I think you will love as well.

1. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams

You may have heard of Alabaster. It’s a very commonly used warm white paint color, rightfully so. It’s a soft creamy off-white that adds just the right amount of warmth to a space. I have Alabaster all over our new house. Some of the rooms I will be painting later to add more color but it’s such a great base or starting point while you decide what you want to do with a room. My bedroom is Alabaster and will remain that way. When it comes to my bedroom, I’ve learned over the years that I feel my absolute best in a bright an airy bedroom. We have a lot of natural light in our bedroom and Alabaster gave it the perfect amount of warmth and coziness without being too yellow.

2. Simply White by Benjamin Moore

This beautiful shade of white was Benjamin Moore’s 2016 color of the year. It is a bright, crisp white and will definitely light up your room. Simply White has yellow undertones that will disappear in strong natural light. Some paints can look stark when applied on larger surfaces. Simply White will not.  It adds warmth to any space. You can use this white color in darker rooms with confidence.

3. Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

Chantilly Lace is a great way to get a gorgeous white look! According to Benjamin Moore, this is their truest white paint with almost no undertone. The tricky part about working with whites is that they might look white in the can, but they are different once they are on the wall.  What I love about Chantilly Lace is that overall it looks very very close to a pure white. If you are looking for a white that feels soft and fresh, this is the perfect shade for your project then!

4. Pure White by Sherwin Williams

This is one of the most versatile and popular paint colors you can use just about anywhere. Unlike its name, it is not a true white as it has a warmth to it without being too creamy (very slight yellow undertone). Pure White just like any other white can pick up the color of its surrounding. It will appear crisp and clean paired with cooler colors and will show more “creaminess” and is softer with warm ones. In a south-facing room it will show more like a warm white, so if that is something you do not like you might want to consider other whites. I used it in my previous bed bedroom and it works well paired with my color palette.

5. Decorators White by Benjamin Moore

Decorators White is an other amazing white paint color to consider and is on the cool side of the spectrum with a touch of grey and purple to it. It is a modern bright white and a great choice for trim or decorative woodwork too because it won’t yellow over time. Decorators White pairs well with stone and marble which will make it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. In sunny south-facing light it will come off as a softer shade, but not a creamy white. In a north-facing room the cooler undertones will be more dominant and it will appear grayer. It truly is an amazing white color that can be used in smaller and bigger spaces as well.

Now that I shared the white paint colors that I love, let’s talk about deciding on the right color for you. In order to pick the shade that works best it is important to consider a few things:

Probably the most important one is the amount and direction of light coming into your room.  With a north-facing room (it does not get any direct sunlight) a clean white will feel too chilly, so consider whites that have underlying red or yellow notes through them.  Whites with cooler undertones will help balance out the intensity of the light in a south-facing room (has direct sunlight).

You also want to consider how your white in question will work with the rest of your color palette, if using whites on your trim and moldings goes with the chosen wall color. Depending on the project I sometimes paint everything the same color, just with a different sheen.

I normally use this matte paint (flat) paint on my walls. It has high pigment levels therefore it provides great coverage and it is easy to use.

Feel free to play around with the colors until you find the one that suits your home the best. If you want to check out some moody inspiration, here is dining room I converted to a home office for a my friend in a much darker color palette.