Our Top Five Favorite White Paint Colors for 2024, Designer-Tested-and-Approved

The dining room of our Mid-Mid Organic project, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White.

There’s no easier transformation for a home than paint, and yet for the uninitiated, there is almost no harder task than selecting a paint color! Especially when it comes to white paint. White is one of the hardest paint colors to get right because its effects are so subtle. So, if you are looking for the best white paint colors, whether for walls, cabinets, or trim, read on for my go-to whites—a list of some of my absolute favorites—and if you’re still not sure, don’t forget we provide Color Consultations, a quick and easy way to get a professional palette designed for your home. 

1.

White Dove by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

White Dove is one of my favorites because it's such a soft shade of white (with just a feathery touch of grey). It's the right white for walls and ceilings when I want a white that feels fresh but not too modern—it pairs well with a transitional style home, or an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings. It's such a popular paint color because it's a true neutral, a soft white that's not too stark or too creamy.

Seen here on our Coastal Eclectic in Sausalito project.

2.

Cloud White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Cloud White 0C-130

Cloud White is my new favorite white. It feels like a pure white lit by sunshine into a subtle glowing warmth. It is bright without feeling cool or stark, and warm without feeling yellow or creamy. 

It pairs miraculously well with tricky warm or deep wood stains in trim or flooring, elevating rooms that might feel a bit dated into luminous spaces that can handle modern furnishings. If you want to create a bright white space in an old dark home, this is the perfect white for you.

Seen here in our Modern Drama project in the Oakland Hills.

3.

Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

The classic! The reason Swiss Coffee is that universal paint, everyone's go-to? This warm white is just so versatile. A white with just the right hint of earthiness, it’s great in Spanish or Craftsman homes that want to retain their historic character. A subtle cream white, it works well on all surfaces, including exteriors. If you want to create a white space that is warm, this white may be the perfect wall color for you.

Seen here on a Rockridge home for which we provided an exterior Color Consultation.

4.

Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117

Simply White is my go-to white paint for bright contemporary spaces. As close to a true white as I think most interiors can handle, it feels crisp, bright and pure. Bouyant and cheerful, it’s bright without being stark. I think it works best when the overall design palette includes some cool colors. 

Seen here in the living room of our Mid-Mod Organic project.

5.

James White by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball James White No.2010

If you're looking for a different white, something close to white but richer and more interesting, try this favorite of mine. James White has the slightest touch of green, a white that feels so fresh it's like the shade of a garden haven, airy and cool. Almost a greige paint, I love it in a home with millwork—paint the trim James White to create contrast against a brighter white or use it on kitchen cabinets for a traditional look.

While no means an exhaustive list of the best shades of white, this is a perfect place to start looking for the right white for your project. Yet, even starting with these paint choices, the selection process can be confusing if you aren't sure how to test color in your home.

My advice is to skip paint decks and the tiny paint samples you can get at paint stores. Instead, order large, removable stickers from Samplize, or swatch walls in big patches (over white primer in two coats). All colors, including white, may look very different at different times of day, and white on walls can reflect greenery or other colors from outside, so make sure you look at the paint over an extended period before making a choice. I love to paint corners so I can see the light hitting the color in multiple ways at once. It can be an extended process, but do the work and you should be thrilled—there is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to transform a home.

Thanks for reading, and let us know below—what colors are you looking for?