The Top White Paint Colors Our Customers Keep Choosing
The real-life whites I reach for over and over again plus their best trim pairing.
By Marybeth Burns
White paint is famously tricky. One swatch looks warm on Pinterest and goes full yellow in your hallway. Another looks crisp online but turns cold and blue in your bathroom. After helping lots of clients navigate this exact struggle—and sampling more whites than I can count—I’ve narrowed it down.
These are the white and almost-white paint colors our customers keep coming back to. They’re versatile, forgiving, and look beautiful in actual homes, not just color chips. If you're overwhelmed with options, start here.
Benjamin Moore White Dove
Crisp white with a soft, warm glow
White Dove is my no-fail white. It’s bright but never stark, warm but never yellow. It works just about anywhere—walls, trim, cabinets—and has this clean, calming presence that doesn’t scream for attention.
Trim pairing: Benjamin Moore Simply White – slightly cleaner and brighter for subtle contrast.
Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa
Warm and creamy, without going yellow
This one feels like an old house white—in the best way. It’s warm and buttery, but not heavy. Greek Villa gives you that soft, cozy feeling, especially when paired with natural wood floors or archways.
Trim pairing: Sherwin-Williams Extra White – adds crispness and helps Greek Villa feel balanced.
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster
Creamy white that still feels clean
This is probably one of the most popular warm whites for a reason. Alabaster plays nice with almost everything—wood tones, color, even cooler grays. If a client says “I want white, but not too white,” this is usually where we land.
Trim pairing: Sherwin-Williams Alabaster on trim too – yes, same color! Just change the sheen (e.g., eggshell walls + semi-gloss trim) for a seamless look.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
Bright, clean, and a little cool
This is the crispest white I use, but it doesn’t lean blue. If you want a modern, gallery-like look, Chantilly Lace is the one. It reflects a ton of light and feels super fresh and sharp.
Trim pairing: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace again – for a tone-on-tone modern look. If you want contrast, try Sherwin-Williams Extra White.
Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray
Technically a gray, but works like a soft white
This is the only non-white on the list, but I use it all the time as a neutral base when true white feels too stark. Agreeable Gray has just enough beige to feel warm, without being taupe-y.
Trim pairing: Sherwin-Williams Pure White – clean and neutral enough to frame Agreeable Gray without clashing.
Sherwin-Williams Eider White
Light greige with cool gray undertones
Eider White is a little more modern and moody. It has this quiet sophistication to it—less creamy, more soft and stormy. If your space has cooler finishes or black accents, this one works beautifully.
Trim pairing: pairing: Sherwin-Williams Extra White – keeps things feeling crisp and avoids looking muddy next to Eider’s subtle undertones.
Final Takeaways
The truth is: white paint is never just white. Undertones, lighting, and even the time of day can shift the feel of a room entirely. I always suggest putting up large swatches and looking at them morning, noon, and night before committing.
If you're stuck between a few, I’m happy to weigh in when you book a project with our team!
