The ‘Best’ white paint color. It is really more a personal choice and what fits your home. But we definitely have some favorites that have been on repeat for awhile now. And since I always get so many questions about what color paint we have in our home, I thought I would share why I love the color and sheen about it again today.
The Best White Paint Color
There was a time back in the day when I went to Home Depot to grab paint chips for refreshing the house. I grabbed probably 3 dozen different ones. I chose the ones with the prettiest shades and the prettiest names. And when I brought them all home, I spread them out on a table and stared at them. And all together you could see the different shades, tones and color values they each had.
We chose a paint called Asiago for the outside of our house. Not too white. Not too bright. And with just enough ‘tint of almond’ undertone to balance the strong sunlight. But that was probably the only time choosing the color based off the vibe of the name worked well. Most often, that name just sounds good but doesn’t translate to being THE color that you are looking for so the first tip is to not choose the color based on the name.
Pay attention to the shade of white and undertone. As you can see in the photo above- that blue, yellow, purple, etc. undertone really sets the overall color. You can see ‘Nice White’ in the photo is more gray blue, Summer Lily is more pink and Intricate Ivory leans beige. Those tones will make a difference on your walls and whether the room feels brighter, cooler or warmer.
Favorite Shade
Simple and sweet and Simply White by Benjamin Moore. It is literally simply white. I don’t get a strong undertone of yellow or blue coming through. No beige or pink tint, or anything other than creamy white. For our house, it works well on our wood walls and with the light we get from the windows.
We are currently refreshing the paint in the living room, bedroom and kitchen with a fresh coat of Simply White in all semi-gloss.
Why Sheen Matters
Wait did I say semi-gloss? Yes indeed. I know that it is not the most common sheen for interiors. Most folks prefer a satin or eggshell for interiors- and when I first tried to get semi-gloss for the living room- the paint folks talked me out of it. So we tried the eggshell and it is lovely but now that we are refreshing- we are updating since we prefer the semi-gloss. The wood plank walls absolutely look better with a bit more sheen- and that goes for the ceiling too. I am a big fan of light bouncing rather than being absorbed in the room and so, semi-gloss it is. If you prefer less sheen- go with an eggshell or satin. A little bit of bounce but not too shiny. And if you prefer a more chalky finish- use a flat paint.
How To Choose
So now you know my current favorite shade of white paint- but how do you find and choose the perfect white paint color for your home?
I suggest you start with narrowing down the undertone you prefer considering the light in your home. Then pick up some sample pots and paint in several areas- by windows and away from windows for the best representations and look at them in light at various times of the day and night. And when you find THE one, save the color formula so you can have it mixed again.
All that aside- I have more info in this post with Tips for Choosing White Paint Colors– so head on over there for more.
We are working on a fresh coat of paint this week-including updating the eggshell ceiling paint in the living room with a fresh semi-gloss. So, I will share the difference that makes in another post soon.
Happy Monday all.
I did yhe samething when i was try to find the right shade Of white, pain parts of the wall i a couple different places.love the photo of the bathroom especially how the light from the candles bounces off the wall.
My cape cod is entirely Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. I am obsessed with how lovely it looks with all of my vintage furniture, that I painted white. Between the vintage mirrors and the New Schoenbeck chandeliers in every room, my little cape is Like a Fairytale! thank you for your beautiful blog. Always filled with such beauty and lovely ideas.
Benjamin Moore has such lovely shades of white!
Hi!
I love white, its elegant, clean and simply beautiful. I was wondering if the white tablecloths will be available at any time soon?
I love your blogs, always look forward to them.
I love Benjamin Moore paint and never use anything else on my walls and i do prefer a semigloss as well. We are updating a very neglected 1960 cape cod cottage and boy has it been challenging but still very dreamy. Chantilly lace, alabaster and simply white ard my favs
I also wamted to tell you that your blog and IG sites o follow and have since about 2015 i think. We finally foind a place in Lake Guntersville Al. To make my cottage amd garden passions come alive. Thank you for your inspiration.
how do you pick a white color if it’s new construction?
I would sample the white shades against the woodwork you installed.
I too, am a white lover and now wonder how to get my HUSBAND to agree to the semi gloss. Maybe if I do the foyer and start going from small spaces to larger ones it will be like Spoon feeding the color! So, tomorrow to Benjamin Moore I go to get sample pots and then to Target to get foam core boards to paint and move around the rooms. Happy Independence Day to y’all!!