If I was stranded on a deserted island, and could only choose one white paint color to take with me, it would be Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17). Seriously! It’s one of my all-time favorite whites because it can be used practically anywhere, from walls, to trim, to cabinets, and even exteriors. Yep, it’s that good!

If you have anything in your home you’re planning to paint white, you just have to try a sample of White Dove. Keep reading to find out what makes BM White Dove one of the most versatile interior white paint colors, and which colors to pair with this popular white. And, you can order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of White Dove HERE.

benjamin moore white dove

Benjamin Moore White Dove

Is Benjamin Moore White Dove Warm or Cool?

As with any paint color, whites have their own subtle undertones (sneaky colors hiding under the surface that show themselves in certain lighting conditions). The undertones are what makes it so darned tricky for homeowners to find the perfect white paint color for their room. 

White Dove is a warm white, which means that it has a hint of yellow in it to give it a subtle creamy quality. The great thing about White Dove, however, is that it also has a touch of gray in it. The gray keeps it from looking overly yellow or beige. In general, we say that White Dove has a subtle greige (mix of gray and beige) undertone. 

The great thing about warm whites is that they typically won’t end up looking too cold or gray in a room, even when the room is north or east facing. As a designer, I choose warm whites over cool whites most of the time, because warmer whites have a more timeless, inviting nature.

Where to Use White Dove

White Dove is the one white you can feel comfortable using everywhere in your home….no joke. White Dove is a brighter white, so it works great as a trim, ceiling, or cabinet color. If you want a nice, soft white on the walls that you can use throughout your home, White Dove is perfect for that, too. And, if you’re on the hunt for an exterior white that will read a little brighter and crisper, be sure to give White Dove a try.

Let’s take a look at some eye candy pictures, so you can see why White Dove is such a beloved white, and how versatile it can be. It truly can be used in any room of your home!

In this gorgeous ranch house by Studio McGee, you can see a great example of White Dove used on the walls, ceilings, trim, and cabinets in a main hallway of the house. I’ll show you several examples of this house down below, because a) they used White Dove a lot, and b) the photos are super yummy.

studio mcgee bm white dove

Source: Studio McGee

Next up is a bedroom (in the same house) painted with White Dove. I love how the warmth of White Dove accentuates wood accents, and how it works as a bridge between the other brighter whites and off-whites used in the bedroom. You can find a similar bed frame here, and the rug is on the McGee & Co site. 

benjamin moore white dove bedroom with beams

Source: Studio McGee

Here’s a kids play space from the same ranch house, showing BM White Dove on the walls and trim, paired with BM Dark Olive on the cabinetry. You can snag those cute baskets here and here.

BM White Dove and BM Dark Olive

Source: Studio McGee

Not just for adults, you can also use White Dove as a soft, blank canvas in a nursery or kids bedroom. When White Dove gets a lot of natural light, it will look like a bright white, but never too harsh, which is just one of the many reasons I love it so much.

nursery painted with Benjamin Moore White Dove

Source: Willow Design Studios via Home Bunch

Here’s another great example of BM White Dove used as a whole-house color on the shiplap walls, ceilings, and trim. White Dove always tends to look bright and fresh…rarely cold or stark. Oh, and check out that brick inlay floor under the dining room table. Very cool idea. Especially if you don’t like to use rugs under your table.

BM White Dove is a go-to color for built-ins and cabinetry, like in this next space. If you have some well-constructed, but dated built-ins, try a fresh coat of White Dove on them. A little paint and some new cabinet hardware could be all you need to breathe new life into them.

bm white dove built ins

Source: Willow Design Studios via Home Bunch

For kitchen cabinets, White Dove is a beautiful choice. The great thing about using White Dove is that you can also use it on the trim and ceilings, for an elegant and seamless look. Love those pendant lights? You can get them here.

Here’s another kitchen where all of the ceilings, walls, trim, and cabinetry are painted with Benjamin Moore White Dove. With the lighting in this photo, you can really see how soft and warm White Dove can look, while still not being overly yellow or beige. Gorgeous!

White Dove is lovely in bathrooms, too. Here you can see it on the walls, trim, cabinetry and ceilings for a clean, traditional look. Even though White Dove is a warm white, it is bright enough to work with the cooler whites and grays you’ll find in marble (or marble-like) countertops.

You know how I said that White Dove looks amazing with wood? This office pic is yet another toe-curling example, and wow…that view! I could definitely feel inspired working in this office.

benjamin moore white dove office with floating wood shelves

Source: Becki Owens

White Dove also happens to be a white I recommended frequently to my exterior paint consultation clients. It’s a great option when you want a brighter looking white that will appear crisp and clean on your exterior. Pair it with the same white on the trim, or choose a dark trim, for that perfect modern farmhouse exterior.

Here’s another stunningly gorgeous exterior painted in White Dove. We already know it looks great with wood tones, but see how pretty it is with other warmer tones, like stone and copper accents?

studio mcgee exterior painted with benjamin moore white dove

Source: Studio McGee

So many beautiful homes, I can’t stand it! Now that you’ve seen White Dove in action in a variety of rooms, including on the exterior, hopefully I’ve convinced you just how versatile this white paint color can be. It might be the only white paint color you’ll ever need.

Colors to Pair with White Dove

White Dove is a brighter, warm white with subtle greige undertones, so it will coordinate beautifully with a wide range of colors.  Here are a few of my favorite colors to pair with White Dove.

benjamin moore white dove coordinating colors

Is White Dove Right for You?

White Dove an amazing white white, but that doesn’t guarantee that it’s going to be the right white for your room.  That’s why sampling is sooooo important! Lighting conditions vary from house to house, and from room to room within a house. The best way to know if White Dove is right for you is to get samples of it, and test the samples in the space you plan to paint it.

My absolute favorite source for paint samples is Samplize!  The sample sheets are inexpensive, and super easy to move around, so you can see the color in different parts of your room, or in different rooms of the house.. Get your peel-and-stick sample of White Dove from Samplize HERE.

paint sample sheets from samplize

After sampling, you may find that White Dove looks fabulous in one room, but looks a little too gray or dark in another. Here’s some guidance for shifting your white paint color, in the event White Dove just doesn’t work for you.

Need some more paint color recommendations?