5 No-Fail white paints top interior designers swear by

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When it comes to choosing a white paint for your interior, designers know that not all whites are created equal. While there may be countless shades of white available on the market, there is a reason why professionals often reach for the same few trusted favorites.

two tone kitchen with chantilly lace upper cabinets by well known designer studio, studio mcgee — Studio McGee – paint colors: upper cabinets: Chantilly Lace. Lowers: BM Midnight Blue

If you’re not working directly with your own interior designer or a decorator, it can be overwhelming when searching for the perfect shade of white paint to grace your home’s walls with!

So to help you cut through the noise a little, I thought it would be helpful to list some of the absolute best white paint colors that top designers turn to on the regular! All of these paints are from Benjamin Moore, but if you find this useful I can cover other popular brands as well! Just leave me a comment at the end of the post, I will see it! 🙂

1. Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117

living room painted in benjamin moore simply white by famous interior designer amber lewis — Amber Lewis – Paint Color: Simply White

LRV: 89.52
Undertones: subtle yellow

I’ve already written an in-depth article on Benjamin Moore Simply White, and it definitely deserves a spot on this list! Simply White is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular white paints and one of the most popular white paints among many designers.

Simply White has a warm, creamy, slightly greyed-out feel that makes it perfect for any room in your home. The color is subtle enough to blend into any backdrop without overpowering, but still bright enough to make a statement. It can work with any design style and it’s a white paint that designers turn to over and over.

If you’re looking for a warm white paint, definitely give Benjamin Moore Simply White a try! It’s many designers go-to white when working on a project. It’s timeless, and it’s one of those colors that will never go out of style. If you’re looking for something classic and comforting, Benjamin Moore Simply White is the right white paint for your project! Give it a try and see why so many designers turn to it time and time again.

Read my FULL GUIDE on Benjamin Moore SIMPLY WHITE here!

Here are some designer spaces featuring Simply White!

grit and polish kitchen painted entirely in simply white — The Grit & Polish – paint color: Simply White

kitchen by designer shea mcgee painted in simply white — Studio McGee – paint color: Simply White

cozy sitting nook painted in simply white — Landschute – paint color: Simply White

2. Benjamin Moore Cloud White OC-130

luxury bathroom by marie flanigan painted in benjamin moore cloud white — Marie Flanigan – paint color: Cloud White

LRV: 85.05
Undertones: yellow, taupe

If you’ve been looking for a perfect in-between white paint, Cloud White could be the one. Not too yellow and not too cool – it’s just right! Its versatility is one of the reasons that designers have been turning to Cloud White as a top white paint for ages. It’s a timeless, classic shade of white with undertones that give it just a hint of warmth and softness.

If you’re looking for an easy way to balance out brighter, cooler light coming in from a north- or east-facing window, Cloud White is the perfect pick! Or if your space has more south-facing sunshine and warm evening western hues – Cloud White will amp up that cozy vibe.

Basically, it’s versatile enough to be used in any room of your home without ever feeling stark or cold. Cloud White an excellent choice for those who want a timeless shade of white with just enough warmth to give it character and charm.

Cloud white is also a very popular trim color and pairs nicely with another all time favorite, Revere Pewter. And if you are using Cloud White on the walls, you can pair it with Chantilly Lace for a beautiful bright, fresh trim.

Here are some designer spaces featuring Cloud White!

bright white hallway painted in cloud white — Downton & Company – paint color: Cloud White

living room using bm cloud white — Salthouse Creative – paint color: Cloud White

3. Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

designer kate marker living room in white dove — Kate Marker Interiors – paint Color: White Dove

LRV: 83.16
Undertones: gray, yellow, green

This exquisite designer favorite white paint combines soft warm whites, subtle yellow undertones and a hint of grey for an ethereal finish. The gray undertones in White Dove give the color depth without overpowering the room, while the slight yellow undertone gives it a warm feel, making it great for creating cozy and inviting spaces.

How does it hold up in different lights? Similar to Cloud White we just discussed above, south-facing light accentuates the warmth while north-facing natural light won’t cause any cooling as its gentle warming properties keep things cozy!

The difference between White Dove and Cloud White is that Cloud White is a smidge warmer and brighter, whereas White Dove is a touch darker and more gray. You can see that clearly when you look at the swatches side by side below:

Overall, Benjamin Moore White Dove is a popular choice for interior designers looking to create a soft, warm atmosphere in their space while maintaining neutrality and versatility.

White Dove pairs well with colors like Revere Pewter, Swiss Coffee, and grays such as Agreeable Gray and Repose Gray.

Read my FULL GUIDE on Benjamin Moore WHITE DOVE here!

Here are some designer spaces featuring White Dove!

benjamin moore white dove in foyer with wood herringbone flooring — Cozy & Kiln – paint color: White Dove

studio mcgee bedroom painted in white dove with large structural wood beams in ceiling — Studio McGee – paint color: White Dove

4. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

bright great room painted in swiss coffee — Studio McGee – paint color: Swiss Coffee

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a favorite white paint among many designers for its creamy, warm-toned white hue. Rather than a white white, it’s more of an off white paint, in fact it’s part of the Benjamin Moore Off White paint color collection.

LRV: 81.91
Undertones: subtle green, yellow

The undertones in Swiss Coffee can read gray, green or yellow, depending on the exposure and the lighting of your room.

Designers love Swiss Coffee for its creamy yet subtle warm-toned white hue. This warm undertone makes it ideal for achieving the classic, timeless look that many people desire in their homes.

Its versatility is also one of the reasons why it’s so popular among designers; the shade can work with both modern and traditional decor styles as its subtle hue helps it blend easily into any background without overpowering the space.

NOTE! → If you are considering Swiss Coffee because you’ve seen Shea McGee from Studio McGee use it, do remember that she used Swiss Coffee at 75% strength! Meaning that she had the paint store lighten the paint for her with additional white by 25%. Obviously this affects the overall look quite a bit and as a result, the presence of the undertones as well.

Swiss Coffee is perfect for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your home without the harshness of bright whites. Swiss Coffee has a warm undertone that makes it great for achieving that classic, timeless look.

Here are some designer spaces featuring Swiss Coffee!

mudroom painted in swiss coffee, built in cabinetry and ship on the walls and ceiling — Whitten Architects – paint color: Swiss Coffee

free standing tub in a bathroom painted in swiss coffee by amber interiors — Amber Lewis – paint color: Swiss Coffee

5. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65

standalone tub in a bathroom painted in chantilly lace — The Coastal Oak – paint color Chantilly lace

LRV: 90.04
Undertones: none

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC 65 is the perfect choice for those looking for a bright and crisp white paint. Chantilly lace is considered a true white, and is one of the whitest and cleanest of Benjamin Moore’s white paints.

Ben Moore calls Chantilly Lace ‘a classic go-to white that elicits images of fresh cotton and pure silk’. It is a pristine white that can be used to create sleek and modern looks. If you are a classic bright white Scandinavian design lover, Chantilly Lace might just be the white paint of your dreams.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace offers a clean and crisp look, but really needs a bright room to truly come alive and shine! Because of the absence of undertones, the paint may feel cool or a little gray in a north facing room.

Chantilly Lace is above all a designer favorite for painting trim, doors and casings, but perhaps not quite as popular as a wall color. That being said, if you have a room with a lot of heavy woods, Chantilly Lace on the walls might be exactly what you need on the walls in order to bring some lightness and crispness back into your space.

Here are some designer spaces featuring Chantilly Lace!

clean transitional living room painted in chantilly lace — Julie Rootes – Paint: Chantilly Lace

bedroom painted in chantilly lace — Studio McGee – paint color: Chantilly Lace

contemporary living room painted in chantilly lace — Leclair Decor – paint color: Chantilly Lace

hallway painted in chantilly lace — @myeastcoastcolonial – paint color: Chantilly Lace

There are many, MANY other popular white paints and I’d love to eventually discuss them all! But in the meantime I hope these 5 popular white paints that designers turn to time and time again, can help steer you in the right direction for your next project!

If you don’t love these 5 designer white paint choices or maybe you’ve have already tried them and they’re not for you, then definitely check out this article where I go over how to pick the perfect white paint for your interior project! The perfect white is just one sample pot away! 🤍