The Best Off-White Paint Colours | Emma Courtney Home (2024)

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Are you looking for the perfect off-white paint colour for your home? With so many shades of white to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on the best one. Learn my designer favourites – I’ll share the factors you should consider when selecting a white paint colour, the different shades of white paint available, and tips for using off-white paint to create a stunning interior!

Choosing the perfect off-white paint colour for your home may seem daunting. With a bit of effort and patience, you can achieve a beautiful and cohesive look! White paint colours can range in undertone and intensity, so make sure to pick one that will enhance your home’s existing colours.

Tips for Choosing Paint-Colours

When selecting a white paint colour, don’t forget to consider the natural light in the room, the colours of your furniture and decor, and the overall style of your space. Off-white paint colours can have cool or warm undertones like blue, green, gray or yellow. This may affect how they appear in various lighting conditions.

It is also important to note that paint colours look very different online, in photos, and in the store. In paint stores, they use bright commercial lighting. This often makes paint colours look different than they will look in your home! It is best to take a bunch of paint chips home and try them in your own space before committing. Also, I recommend reading the tips below for testing paint colours!

Picking a Paint Colour for the Style of your Home

Another factor to consider is the age and style of your home. If you have an older home like mine that has a lot of mouldings, you might find a bright white doesn’t feel quite right in some spaces. If this is the case you might opt for something warmer.

In my old home, I personally find that Benjamin Moore White Dove works best in rooms with original crown moulding. Whereas in the kitchen and hallways, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace works well as they have fewer mouldings. Hallways are often darker so it is nice to keep them bright so that they don’t feel like a tunnel.

Tips for Testing Paint Colours

The best way to test the paint in your home is by painting a small test patch on the area you are painting. Surface textures can change how a paint colour will look in your home. Be sure that you check this test patch at various times of the day and in different lighting conditions to truly see how it will look. With the right white paint colour, you can create a light, bright and inviting atmosphere in your home.

It’s also important to note that when you test paint against pure paper white, the sample is going to look much darker in contrast. Even on the graphics below, it is shocking to see how creamy Chantilly Lace looks against the pure white backdrop. In reality, the wall I am staring at in my home right now is the paint colour Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore) and not that off-white creamy!

Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colours

Benjamin Moore offers a variety of white paint colours to choose from, making it difficult to determine the best one. However, some popular white paint colours by Benjamin Moore include:

1. Simply White (OC-117): This is a warm, creamy white that works well in a variety of spaces.
2. Chantilly Lace (OC-65): This is a bright, crisp white that provides a clean, classic look.
3. White Dove (OC-17): This is a soft, warm white that is perfect for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
4. Cloud White (OC-130): This is a light and airy white that can brighten up any space.
5. Super White (OC-152): This is a very bright, true white that works well as a trim colour or for making a statement in a modern space.

Seapearl Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl (as seen above) is a lovely, light neutral-gray paint colour with a cool, green undertone. It has a beachy feel perfect for coastal-inspired areas or any room where you want to evoke feelings of peace and tranquillity. It pairs wonderfully with blues, greens and other cool colours. Plus, it can be used as a neutral base colour that allows other design components, such as textiles and accessories, to truly shine.

Sea Pearl is an excellent choice for spaces filled with natural light; the green undertone will help balance out any cool tones in the room. It is also great for rooms that don’t have a lot of natural light; its cool and tranquil atmosphere will make the room appear brighter and larger.

Chantilly Lace Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (as seen above) is a pristine white paint that has a subtle neutral undertone. It’s a much-loved hue for both trim and architectural features, as it brings a clean and pure look to any space. This hue is great for modern and minimalist areas too, as it gives off a luminous and airy vibe.

Chantilly Lace is the perfect option for any project, as it pairs beautifully with a variety of colours and design styles. If you’re going for a contemporary look, try pairing it with cool blues and grays. Or, for something more traditional, team it with warm wood tones and soft yellows. And for rooms that get lots of natural light, Chantilly Lace helps to reflect that light and make the area appear brighter and more open.

White Dove Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore White Dove (as seen above) is a beloved warm white paint colour with a gentle, creamy undertone. It’s renowned for its timeless look, making it a top pick for trim, mouldings, cabinets, and other design elements in a room.

In traditional and transitional spaces, White Dove can create a cozy ambiance, and it goes well with a variety of colours and design styles. It is a great option when paired with cool grays and blues for balance or warm wood tones and browns for a natural feel. Plus, it’s perfect for rooms with limited sun since the warm undertones can help to neutralize any cool shades in the area.

Best Behr White Paint Colours

Behr offers many white paint colours to choose from, here are some of the most popular ones:

1. Swiss Coffee (12): This is a warm, creamy white that creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
2. Ultra Pure White (1850): This is a bright, crisp white that works well as a trim colour or for making a statement in a modern space.
3. White (52): This is a neutral white that works well as a base colour or in a minimalist, contemporary space.
4. Whipped Cream (DC-001): This is a warm white paint colour that has a soft, creamy appearance. It has a slight yellow undertone that adds a touch of warmth to a space.
5. Blank Canvas (DC-003): This is a light, neutral paint colour with a slight gray undertone

Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colours

Sherwin Williams offers a wide range of white paint colours, here are some of the most popular ones:

1. Alabaster (SW 7008): This is a warm, creamy white that creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
2. Pure White (SW 7005): This is a bright, crisp white that works well as a trim colour or for making a statement in a modern space.
3. Shoji White (SW 7042): This is a light, neutral white that works well as a base colour or in a minimalist, contemporary space.
4. White Sand (SW 9582): This warm white paint colour has a lovely, gentle look to it. With its creamy and sandy undertones, it gives off a cozy and welcoming vibe.
5. White Snow (SW 9541): This beautiful white hue will add a clean and crisp look to your interior. It’s a popular choice for trim, moulding, and other architectural features in a room, as well as walls, to create a modern and minimalist atmosphere.

Extra White Sherwin Williams

Sherwin-Williams Extra White (SW 7006) (as seen above) is a gorgeous cool white paint that looks crisp and clean. It is incredibly bright, making it an excellent pick for moulding, trim, and any other architectural features in a room. Its brightness also gives it a modern and airy feel that is perfect for minimalist spaces.

This colour is also very versatile, blending seamlessly with other colours and design styles. It pairs beautifully with cool grays and blues for a contemporary vibe, or with warm wood tones and soft yellows for a more traditional look. It is also ideal for rooms that get lots of natural light, as its brightness will help to reflect the light and make the space appear brighter and more open.

White Walls and Trim

Pairing the perfect paint colours for your walls and trim can be challenging. My favourite tip is to pick the same paint colour for your walls and trim but use a different sheen. You can learn more about paint sheens here. I would recommend picking something like an eggshell for the walls and semi-gloss for the trim. This gives the illusion that the walls and trim are different but ensures that they pair perfectly.

An alternative is picking a paint colour that doesn’t have much of an undertone such as Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. This pairs well with various off-white paint colours that have undertones, such as White Dove walls with Chantilly Lace trim.

Tips for using white paint on walls and trim:

1. Take the undertones into account: White paint can have subtle touches of yellow, blue, green, pink or gray. Make sure you pick the shade that best suits the existing colours in your room.
2. Try a sample first: Before starting a larger project, test a small sample of the white paint on the wall. See how the colour looks at different times of the day in different lighting.
3. Mix up the finishes: To add some interest to a white room, use different finishes for the walls and trim. For example, you could go for a semi-gloss finish on the trim and a matte or eggshell finish on the walls.
4. Combine with other neutrals: White pairs nicely with other neutral tones such as beige, gray and taupe.

FAQs

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