White & Off-White Paint Colour by Family

With its unrivalled versatility, white is transcendent and timeless. But how do you choose the right white paint? From online inspiration to retailer support, we can help.

Simple, clean and classic. Whether it’s a traditional farmhouse, a modern white condo, or a lovely living space somewhere in between, white paint is always in style.

Most Popular Whites and Off-White Paint Colours

Here are a few of our most versatile, tried-and-true white paints, including Simply White OC-117, a former Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year.

A white painted entryway in Capri Coast OC-87 features vaulted ceilings and a chandelier.

Recognizing Undertones in White Paint

Paint colours are often created by using two or more colours. If there is a higher percentage of one colour over the other, that creates an undertone.

Warm white paint colours have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming vibe—seen in this Capri Coast OC-87-painted entryway. Cooler whites have hints of green, blue, and violet, contributing to a space that looks crisp, clean and fresh.

When looking for the right white paint, layer a range of white colour chips from your local Benjamin Moore store on top of one another. Observe the difference between brightness levels and undertones. View the chips against your home furnishings to find which white is most complementary.

Warm White Paint & Undertones

Warm whites include red, orange, and yellow undertones

Red Undertones

Orange Undertone

Yellow Undertone

Cool White Paint & Undertones

Cool, crisp whites include green, blue, and violet undertones.

Green Undertones

Blue Undertone

Purple Undertones

Bathroom painted in Chantilly Lace OC-65 featuring a wooden bathtub and striped rug.

Our Brightest, Cleanest White Paint Colour

One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is “What is Benjamin Moore’s ‘most pure’ white paint?”

We’ve narrowed it down to two hues: Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152. These whites have little to no visible undertone, making them two of our ‘whitest white’ paint colours.

We love these two hues for a few reasons:

Adaptable: Colour combinations with either of these colours is effortless.
Super Bright: If you are looking for a crisp, refreshing white, these should definitely be on your list.
High Light Reflectance Value (LRV): In colour parlance, this means they reflect a lot of light.

Corner sitting area with paned window and walls painted with Horizon OC-53 and Gray Owl OC-52.

Trim and Sheen

For trim, homeowners love Decorator’s White OC-149 for its clean, bright look. Others opt for White Dove OC-17, which offers less contrast and a slightly more muted approach to white.

If you opt for the classic white-painted trim, we recommend painting all the trim in your home the same colour white for continuity. For finishes, consider semi-gloss for trim and doors, ulti-matte or eggshell for walls, and flat for ceilings.

Sheens help differentiate any paint colour, including white. Use a high gloss sheen to turn up the drama and highlight architectural details. The higher the sheen, the greater the shine and durability. On the other end of the sheen spectrum, a matte finish offers an understated, elegant finish when paired with rich surfaces like marble countertops. In the middle, an eggshell sheen—a homeowner favourite—offers a soft hint of gloss and easy-to-clean practicality.

Design professionals share their must-have whites and off-white paint colours.

White Paint Colours the Experts Love

Just-right white paint colours are so indispensable that many interior designers have committed them to memory, as seen in this video.

Favourite Benjamin Moore white paint colours mentioned include Linen White OC-146, Atrium White OC-145, Cotton Balls OC-122, Chantilly Lace OC-65, and Steam AF-15, from the highly efficient mix-and-match Affinity^® colour palette.

Canopy bed in front of a white gallery wall painted with White Wisp OC-54.

At Home with White Paint

Layering white and off-white paint colours creates a richly elegant look. Texture, as seen in the throws and pillows of this White Wisp OC-54-painted bedroom, are especially important in an all-white room. Window treatments provide another creative opportunity for white-on-white design.

Colour flow—the colours that connect one room to the next throughout your home–is made easier with white hallways, trim and doors. Just make sure the whites you choose for these surfaces “work” with other paint colours used in different rooms. Brushing on paint samples and living with them—even when it comes to hallways, trim and doors—is always the best test.

A white living room with a gallery wall, fireplace and walls painted in Winter Snow OC-63.

Living Rooms: White Paint Always Works

A living room painted in layers of white is always an elegant choice. Here Winter Snow OC-63 is the perfect backdrop for a gallery wall and a striking white-painted brick fireplace painted with ADVANCE^® Interior paint in a Pearl finish.

If white walls or floors hold great appeal for you, but you also crave colour on pillows, throws, rugs and other furnishings, white works. Keep in mind that when it comes to home accessories:

Red, yellow and neutral colours harmonize with warmer white paint colours.
Green, blue and cool gray colours sync with cooler white paint colours.

Explore our Off White Collection online to find paint colour pairings, compare similar shades, and more.

A white-painted covered patio with concrete flooring and multiple seating areas.

Classic White Exteriors

A white or off-white exterior is a longstanding homeowner favourite. White-painted homes effortlessly stand out from surrounding landscapes, as seen here in Cloud Cover OC-25.

Exterior siding in white paint creates a blank canvas for complementing brick, stone and slate. Other hues we love for all-white homes include Swiss Coffee OC-45, White Diamond OC-61, and Distant Gray OC-68. Conversely, white-painted exterior trim against deeper hued siding—think windows, columns, railings, dormers and rooflines—highlights architectural details and adds clean, crisp lines for any home exterior.

A wooden console table styled with art frames sits in front of a gallery wall painted with White Opulence OC-69.

If you already have white walls, you can paint the trim and ceiling the same colour and use sheen to create contrast.

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ANDREA MAGNO

COLOUR & DESIGN EXPERT

Test Your White Paint Colours

The appearance of wall colours tends to shift throughout the day. White paint colours are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Purchase a sample of the whites you like and test each one before you buy.