With the popularity of white on walls and trim these days, I wanted to weigh in on my favourite white paint colours and where to use them.
Cloud White
For overall use, a good warm white paint is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White (OC-130) which has a touch of yellow and black in it. It’s a bright option for ceilings, rather than the typical premixed ceiling white you buy from the paint store. With Cloud White your ceiling will appear brighter and this may contribute to the overall brightness of your room in terms of light reflectance.
White Down
For an antique white, I definitely recommend Benjamin Moore’s White Down (OC-131) as it is warm and mellow without looking yellow. It feels very natural but still appears white. This is a great colour for kitchen cabinets if you do not have white appliances and you wish for your space to feel a little more relaxed overall. It really is the perfect antique white without looking old!
Simply White
My new favorite whites are Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117) and Oxford White. Simply White is clean and bright but not tinted to appear gray or blue when rolled on a large area. It is sharp but still on the warm side so it’s great with hardwood flooring or wood furniture. It is more modern than Cloud White as it has even less yellow in it.
Oxford White
Oxford White (CC-30) is a classic white that again, is more modern than either White Down or Cloud White as it is crisp and moves towards gray. It is not drab but clean and bright. A great choice if you want a strong fresh white for a modern look.
Decorator’s White
Decorator’s white is the old but great standby! With its classic gray undertone, it has been out of favour over the last ten years but it is perfect if you wish to decorate with gray, charcoal or black. It is a great returning white that will be popular again as it ushers in the next decade.
Compare and review paint colours
The best way to look at white? Review your choice against all the other elements in that space to ensure it actually looks white. And remember, white is the most difficult colour to select as it will change tremendously depending on the type of artificial lighting of the space and your room’s geographic exposure.
You may want to paint a board in your choice of white paint before applying to a wall. Make sure it has the overall tone you are looking for. These tips should help you get the right white paint colour for your walls.
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