Home | The Best White Paints

White paint. It seems like such a trend, but when you look back, it’s always been there in one way or another. Maybe the walls were filled with color, but the trim was white. Or, the cabinets were white with wallpaper on the walls. Whatever it is, white has always been a traditional color to bring into a room to quiet the space.

I have loved white houses and white trim for years and years. I remember being a kid and always loving homes with white siding on them. I would instantly feel like it was the most charming home on the block. Back when I was expecting our fourth baby, I had my mom paint our bedroom white. I couldn’t wait to quiet the space and make it feel calm and peaceful. She painted it and I remember waking the next morning to the sunlight dancing around the room in a way that I hadn’t seen before. That’s when I discovered that white was my favorite interior paint color ever.

The hardest part about white is that white isn’t just white. There are cool whites and warm whites. There are yellow undertones and green or pink undertones. Whites can also look different depending upon how much natural light is in the space. Oh, by the way, I also think that white is only a good choice for rooms that have windows and natural light. Otherwise, they look sterile and the beauty of the white walls will be lost.

I have painted many a white walls in the past 8 years. I have found some tried and true whites that look beautiful layered about a home. I love mixing my whites in my home to add softness and layers, which also helps to keep the space from looking sterile. To the eye, you might not notice the subtle changes from one white to another, but it definitely makes a difference.

My Five Favorite Whites for Interiors:

1. Snowbound by Sherwin Williams- this white is one of my go-to whites. I first painted it on our bedroom walls here in our current home and gasped when I saw how soft and lovely it was. It is a cool white that goes with anything. We have it in our kitchen and master bedroom.
2. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams- This is a warmer white that I love for trim. We painted our built in dining room cabinets and the brick on the outside of our home in this color, too. It is neutral and doesn’t look muddy or yellow next to truer whites. This was also a Pottery Barn color pick, once upon a time.
3. White Dove by Benjamin Moore- This used to be my favorite white, until I saw Snowbound, but it’s still a top white, in my opinion. This white is a warm white with a bit of a yellow undertone. Our last home was all painted this color and our current home has it on the living room and dining room walls.
4. Simply White by Benjamin Moore- This white also has some warm undertones and pairs beautifully with the White Dove. It is often used on trim and cabinets to give a bright, but not blinding finish. I have also seen it as a wall color and I love it so much. In our last home, we used this white on our kitchen cabinets and all of our trim, paired with White Dove on the walls. It is truly a beautiful white.
5. Pure White by Sherwin Williams- If you are going for a true, true white, then this is the one for you! It has neutral undertones and looks lovely in any lighting. It was also a Pottery Barn color choice, which means its a good one.