best white paint for exteriors

You’ve seen them, right? The gorgeous, white, modern farmhouse style houses that are popping up all over the place? Maybe, you’ve even been thinking about painting your house white. White can be a beautiful, but tricky exterior color…too bright, and you risk blinding drivers passing by…too dark, and it just looks “muddy.” If you’re considering painting your house white, keep reading this blog post! I’ve rounded up the best white paint colors for exteriors, so you can be sure to have that gorgeous white house you’ve been dreaming of.

best white paint for exteriors
Source: Vincent Longo Custom Builders (with BM Simply White)

First things first…let’s talk about LRV (Light Reflectance Value).ย  I know you were ready to dive into paint colors, and I’m being a total buzzkill, but LRV is important for white home exteriors. LRV is a measure of how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0 (darkest)ย  to 100 (lightest).

I really don’t want to go into too much detail, because the specifics are a bit boring, but a good rule of thumb is that an exterior LRV should be no higher than 85. If you get higher than 85, you’re gonna need sunglasses to look at your house.

A good white for the exterior of your home should have an LRV between 73-ish to 85. You can find the LRV of a paint color on the manufacturers website. There you go…LRV lesson is over.

Let’s move on to the paint colors, so you can find the best white exterior paint color for your home.

Benjamin Moore White Dove

BM White Dove (OC-17) is one of my all-time favorite white paint colors. It’s the brightest white on this list with an LRV of 85, and is a popular choice for a beautiful, pure white exterior.ย  If you compared it to true white, however, you’d see that White Dove is actually a soft, warm white with a hint of gray, which makes it one of the most beloved whites amongst designers for both interiors and exteriors. Go with White Dove if you have a house that gets lots of shade, and/or you want that crisp and clean white look. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM White Dove.

benjamin moore white dove exterior
Source: J-Taylor Designs

Sherwin-Williams Alabaster

SW Alabaster (SW 7008) is one of the most versatile exterior white paint colors out there. Sherwin-Williams chose Alabaster as its Color of the Year for 2016, and Joanna Gaines painted her own house with it, so you know it’s good! With a slightly lower LRV of 82, Alabaster is a bit softer and slightly creamier (more yellow undertones) than White Dove, but it still reads like a bright white. This is a great choice for a classic, timeless, inviting look! Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Alabaster.

sherwin williams alabaster exterior paint
Source: Meredith Teasley

Benjamin Moore Seapearl (aka China White)

BM Seapearl (OC-19) and BM China White are the exact same color, just a different name (confirmed with Benjamin Moore). Regardless of the name, it has an LRV of 78, and is a fabulous white for exteriors! It’s called an off-white, but it’s really more like a very light, warm greige.

While it can sometimes look a bit dingy when used for interior paint, when you paint it outside it blossoms into a beautiful, clean white. It has a very neutral, soft look – not too creamy and not too bright – with just enough color to stand out against bright white trim. With its greige notes, it pairs just as beautifully with blues and greens, as it does with dark brown or bronze accents, and can give a smoother transition with gray stonework. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Seapearl.

benjamin moore china white
Source: Atlanta Homes Magazine

Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

If you’re concerned about your white exterior being too bright, check out SW Shoji White (SW 7042). With an LRV of 74, it’s one of my favorite off-whites for exteriors, and I recommend it often! Shoji White has warm undertones with subtle hints of gray and beige.

Shoji White can look more like a white, or more like an off-white, depending on how much natural light you receive (shady or cloudy versus direct sunlight). Shoji White is a solid choice for a softer overall look, without being too creamy or too gray.ย  Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Shoji White.

shoji white exterior house
Source: @mrsparanjape (Lori Paranjape on Instagram)

Benjamin Moore Olympic Mountains

BM Olympic Mountains (OC-31) is very similar to Shoji White, in that itโ€™s a very well-balanced off-white, with similar coloring. However, it has the lowest LRV on this list at just under 72, so it could almost be considered a very light beige. Itโ€™s so light of a beige that it will read like a soft, creamy white, and its gray undertones will keep it subtle and fresh for todayโ€™s more muted looks. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Olympic Mountains.

bm olympic mountains exterior
Designed by: Frusterio Design | Image Source: One Kindesign

Sherwin-Williams Moderne White

SW Moderne White (SW 6168) has a slightly muddier look to it than some of the other whites on this list. It is similar to BM Seapearl/China White, in that it has gray undertones, but it has a lower LRV at 74. It won’t be a bright white, but will still look white, and it will pair beautifully with darker gray accents. Great for homes that get a lot of warm, west-facing sun, as the gray undertones can help neutralize the warm light. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Moderne White.

sherwin williams moderne white exterior
Source: Young House Love

Sherwin-Williams White Duck

SW White Duck (SW 7010) is a great choice if you are looking for a creamier, off-white exterior appearance. It has greige undertones, so it stays neutral in a range of different lighting conditions. With an LRV of 74, White Duck is very similar to Shoji White and is a good option for creating a softer overall look. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW White Duck.

sherwin williams white duck exterior
Source: Garden Gate Homes

Benjamin Moore Ballet White

BM Ballet White (OC-9) is the creamiest (most beige) of the whites on this list, and has been a popular choice for exteriors for many years. However, unlike other typical cream paint colors that have a yellow base, Ballet White has a neutral base. Which means that it will look like a nice, balanced, creamy white on your exterior.

With an LRV just shy of 74, Ballet White has one of the lowest LRV of the whites on our list. Go with this shade if you want a low-key, muted, creamy white exterior. Click this link to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Ballet White.

benjamin moore ballet white
Source: Houzz (BM Ballet White on the brick and SW Attitude Gray on the shutters)

White homes are all the rage today, but they truly are classic and timeless.ย  For a modern-farmhouse look, opt for gray or black trim. SW Iron Ore and SW Urbane Bronze are two of my favorite dark trim colors to pair with whites. Install a wood front door, wood garage doors, and some beautiful landscaping, and you’ll have a house that gets compliments for years to come!

Check out my post on the best paint colors for a white house with black trim for more ideas.

And, if you need recommendations for the best white trim colors for exteriors, I have a blog post all about that!

If you need some more color in your life, paint your front door and add colorful shutters into the mix. With a white house, the options are endless!

How to test exterior paint colors

Now that you have a list of the best white paint colors for exteriors, it’s time to get some samples and try them out to see which paint color is the perfect exterior white paint color for your home. Place the different colors on your home’s exterior, and view them at different times of the day to see how the colors look with your lighting conditions. That’s the best (and only) way to be sure you end up with the right white for your home. You’re one step closer to that gorgeous white house you’ve been daydreaming about!

For sampling, I highly recommend purchasing the peel-and-stick vinyl sample sheets from Samplize. So much easier than having to buy all the supplies and paint directly on your house!ย  For exteriors, the generous size of Samplize sheets are the best way to view and test color options for your exterior.

Need some help choosing the right white for your exterior? Don’t be the white house that blinds passersby, or the one that ends up looking slightly blue! My exterior paint consultation is the perfect solution for you!ย 

exterior paint color consultation ** This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.

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174 Comments

  1. This blog post was SO helpful when trying to pick an exterior paint color for our home. Really appreciate the overview of LRV!

  2. Thank you for this review! We want to paint our brick white, and although we usually use Benjamin Moore colors, are leaning toward Alabaster or Modern white by SW. We have not received good recommendations on dark color, gray or black or charcoal to do the trim and windows. Thoughts?

  3. We limewashed the exterior of our home in romabio avorio white. We did a more solid look. The weird part is the white on part of the house is more of a white white and another part is more creamy white so it looks like a different color. The white white part has landscaping and grass in front and the other part has our concrete driveway. Could that be the difference? The way the light is reflecting off the driveway is giving it a creamier appearance?

    1. Lighting can definitely make the same paint color look different on different areas of your exterior. Light reflecting off of the driveway will have a different effect than light bouncing off of landscaping. It also depends on how much direct sunlight each area gets. So, yes, that could be the difference.

  4. Can I get your thoughts on a new paint job for a Mid-Century Modern home? We’re looking for a palm spring vibe for our Hollywood Hills Neutra knock-off. We face east and get blaring morning sun. Oyster White by Sherwin has us intrigued because of our ipe wood doors and accents.

    No brick, not farmhouse, just a 1965 California Modern, looking for the perfect white.

  5. We are painting our house white dove and we have white retrofit windows. What do you think?

    We also want to do a charcoal grey trim but I notice in all the photos, all the trim is white. Pls help! Thx!

  6. we have a brick exterior to work with- it is not a red orange brick, more of a darker purpletoned with white on it. our roof is gray. I am looking for a coastal, traditional cottage look. White dove? Or something darker like dove wing? I like the warm gray tones-not a stark white. Help:) would alabaster, shoji, or ballet white work? Trying not to have anything chalky when the clouds are out-but nothing yellow either.

  7. I am building a home and itโ€™s time to select paint colors. It is a transitional (white) painted brick, black windows and trim. Located on the golf course. The house faces West and gets a lot of sun. The colors samples we have up are yellow, gray or pink undertones, and I donโ€™t really like any of it. With the color changing with the time of day, do I keep trying samples till I like it at all times of the day? And what about the color in the back, that gets more shade?

    1. For West facing homes, the warm light will always work to bring out any yellow or pink undertones in a white paint. It’s best to choose something with very neutral undertones. If you choose a white with cool undertones, the back of your house may end up looking slightly blue or too much like primer. The short answer is yes, keep trying samples until you have one that works well at most times of the day. Research white paints with neutral undertones for ideas, or consult with your local paint store. If you’d like more help, you can always purchase a paint consultation and I’d be happy to give you specific colors and advice for your home.

  8. Hi this information is so helpful! What is your favorite white that is not too gray nor too creamy that I can test?

    1. For a brighter white, I love BM White Dove. My second favorite white for exteriors is probably SW Alabaster.

  9. We are so glad we came across this (via Pinterest).
    We are changing out our 20+ year old wood siding, and replacing with cement composite, and changing to a farmhouse look.
    Thank you for enlightening us on the different LRVs of whites, as we have little tree cover on all but the north side of the house, and would hate to blind passers-by when the afternoon sun is blasting the west side of the house!
    Your suggestion in a previous post/question of finding a white with neutral undertones is a game changer!
    We are going to load up on sample and compare them around the house at different times of the day/lighting conditions to find one that best meets our desired aesthetic.

    1. Sounds like some great changes are happening to your home! Glad the posts are helping you with your white paint decisions. Yes, be sure to sample, sample, sample!

    2. Hi Lena, just came across this great page! We are currently choosing colors for James Hardie siding and the white trim (arctic white ) is too stark for us . . . . have you been happy with your choices? thanks much!

    3. Hi Lena – We are doing the exact same! Replacing our 60+ year old wood siding with cement composite boards by Allura. Just like Hardie board, but these are a little thicker. We are also trying to choose a perfect white – while avoiding the blinding of our neighbors as well! Our contractor is advising us against getting the pre painted boards for a few reasons, which actually works better for us. We have red, kind of multi-shaded including some bits of white/cream brick only in the front (it’s a cape cod style with siding clad dormers) and siding around all other areas. I’m so happy to have seen this post and am looking forward to hearing what you’re leaning toward!

      1. South facing homes get a lot of light throughout the day, which tends to get a little warmer as the day goes on. Avoid choosing a white that is too blinding (look for an LRV below 80). You can choose a white with cool, neutral, or warm undertones.

  10. Great post on whites, thank you! We are painting our contemporary ranch from a blue to a dark gray (PPG Knights Armor) with white trim. I bought white samples and thought weโ€™d use BM Chantilly Lace white but once painted some samples on the house it looked too severe and felt I needed something creamier or softer. What would you suggest? Maybe the SW Moderne that you said pairs nicely with a dark gray? Any insights appreciated!

  11. Love this review on whites. We are leaning towards China white but am concerned about the โ€œdingyโ€ comment. Is it truly only for interior vs exterior?

    1. It really has to do with the lighting conditions for your home. I always recommend getting samples to see how it looks on your exterior

  12. Thank you for the review! We are looking for cream (neutral to warm undertones) for our exterior against and white brick and trim. We would like there to be some noticeable contrast between the two colors. Do you have any favorite pairings to achieve this?

    1. I love to pair Urbane Bronze with SW Shoji White (a warm off-white), SW Moderne White (a warm white with lots of gray), or SW Alabaster (a creamy, neutral bright white).

  13. Great post thank you. I’m worried about taking such a big step of painting my house from a Tuscan style yellowish/brown color (stucco is colored) to white. Do you have recommendation on a more creamy or beigh? The house is big on a side of a hill in the country. Kind Regards, Cass

    1. If you’re looking for a dark trim color with Alabaster, check out SW Urbane Bronze, SW Iron Ore, or BM Wrought Iron.

  14. This is very informative but
    I am still confused on what color to paint the exterior of my house. I want a white and grey trim and I am getting overwhelmed with so many choices! My house is facing north , I live in Phoenix area and we have stucco home… I’m leaning towards alabaster for the body of my house but I can’t decide what gray pop outs I want ๐Ÿ˜ซ what greay would you recommend that goes best with alabaster?

    1. Great question! There are so many grays out there, and my recommendation would depend on whether or not you’re looking for a lighter or darker gray. SW Dorian Gray is one of my favs, and is a medium-light gray that pairs beautifully with SW Alabaster. If you need more help, my exterior paint consultation would be perfect for you!

  15. I am so happy I found your blog and I absolutely love your information about the best white paint colors for exteriors. I liked and it is wonderful to know about so many things that are useful for all of us! Thanks a lot for this amazing blog!!

  16. You are absolutely correct and thanks for giving information about the best white paint colors for exteriors . I loved your blog and thanks for publishing this!! I am really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!!When you look for same type of great content, like here then check out this https://www.interiorpainting.co.nz/ also.

  17. I am buying a house in OUTERBANKS NC and would love to have some ideas for this 1970,s house very out dated. I need to repaint exterior and ideas on wood paneling inside. I can send pics
    thank you,

  18. Omg ,great tips on how to choose white paint ,greatly appreciated it ,and we love Benjamin Moore paint ,we just finished painting the inside of our house ,but know we want to do the outside farmhouse white but we have windows that are like the beige tone and the soffit s are the same ,any tips would be greatly appreciated.can send you pics if it helps .please thanks so much

    1. A white exterior with beige windows can totally work. Just choose a warm white that compliments your window coloring. Alternatively, you might be able to paint the windows – just ask your painter. If you need some help picking out the right white with your windows, check out my exterior paint consultation

  19. We are about to paint exterior of brick ranch home. Facia/soffits (aluminum), trim, porch column, and gutters will be white. Roof will be Estate Grey shingles. We are struggling with the brick. We are leaning toward SW Shoji White. Not sure about shutters (SW Peppercorn or a lighter grey)?Completely overwhelmed.

    1. With so many paint color choices out there, it can be really overwhelming trying to choose the perfect colors for your home! Shoji White is a solid choice, and pairs beautifully with a range of grays, Peppercorn included. SW Dorian Gray is another one of my favorite grays for exteriors. If you need help visualizing different options, I offer a paint consultation service, where you’ll see rendered images of your exterior painted in the new colors. It can be super helpful to see the “final” look, and feel confident about your color choices.

  20. Hi, I am looking for a good gray for trim that would go well with alabaster walls for exterior, and urbane bronze for garage, soffit and fascia. I am torn between agreeable gray and wordly gray. Any recommendation?

    1. Agreeable Gray and Worldly Gray are both great choices with Alabaster and Urbane Bronze. Of the two, I’m partial to Agreeable Gray, because it’s just a little more neutral, and works well in a variety of lighting conditions. You might also consider Mindful Gray.

      1. I have a North facing house in south Florida. We just put on a multidimensional brown barrel tile roof. It is a 1 story 3200 sq.ft. house, so from the street it appears wide. We are looking to paint it a pretty soft creamy white to complement the brown tile roof and green tropical landscape. What would you recommend for a north facing house?

        1. For a north-facing home, you are on the right track in choosing a soft, creamy, warm white. You’ll need warmth in your house color to compensate for that cool northern light. Some of my favorites are SW Shoji White, SW Natural Choice, SW Oyster White, and BM Ballet White.

        2. So
          unds like my home currently! Trying to decide on a white, nobody on our street has white! What did you decide??? Also, did you decide on a trim color?

  21. My Roof color is dark black which the best white paint for the exterior house??? Shall I paint the trim of the windows different?

    1. You might try an off-white, rather than a bright white, to lessen the contrast between the roof and the body color. SW Shoji White is a good place to start, and you might consider going towards a light greige, like SW Accessible Beige.

  22. I inherited my parent’s home which is painted an adobe color. However, having visited Santorini a couple of years ago and a love affair with Art Deco and Art Nouveau style, I have imagined the house going from Adobe color to the whites from Santorini with Black accents. The interior will be changed completely to a art deco or nouveau style. Could you recommend a white paint for a large home in a location that is hot (over 85F) more than 9 months out of the year but with a lot of pollution? I want the house to stand out over the other mundane colors everyone seems to have in our area.

    1. For a house in a hot location, you’ll probably want to go with a bright white. BM White Dove or SW Pure White for a crisp, clean white look.

  23. Hi! We have a 33 year old stucco house in Florida. East facing, single story, pitched roof, with banding around windows and big pillars at the entry. Just re-did the roof in black. I like White Duck and Simply White. But I don’t know what to do about the banding…ignore it? Paint a trim color? And our doors? Double doors, currently black. What do you think? Thank you!

    1. For the banding around the windows, you could go either way. If you like the banding, make it pop by painting it a trim color. If you’re not in love with it, paint it the same color as the body to help it recede. You can never go wrong with black doors ( a true classic), especially when paired with beautiful whites/off-whites.

    2. I know it has been over a year – but what did you do and would you be willing to share pictures? Please. Your house sounds exactly like our house – banding/pillars/black roof, looking at white stucco. We are struggling with the same decisions and not finding many examples online to help us make the decision. Thank-you!

  24. This is so helpful! Would a deep, rich, dark brown trim pair well with ballet white? Or would you suggest dark grey or black?

  25. The front of our home get’s full sun (west) in the afternoon. We have a roof that has a lot of red, but some grey undertones/fleck as well. We are wanting an off white like White Duck, and we are getting new gutters and downspouts which will be a dark bronze. New garage door, front door and shutters will be a walnut. Should we paint the facia trim to match the brick, or go with a slightly darker white?

    1. I would paint the fascia the same as the body color, or the same as the gutter color, rather than something like a slightly darker white..

  26. I love this blog! A couple of comments about west facing homes above are really interesting. I hadnโ€™t thought it would hard to find a white that isnโ€™t so bright in the afternoon! I tried Sea Pearl but itโ€™s still too bright. Would Lacey Pearl be any creamier? Or Abalone? Or Let me know if you have any other thoughts. Thank you!

    1. If Seapearl is too bright, give SW Shoji White or BM Ballet White a try. BM Lacey Pearl is actually brighter (higher LRV) than Seapearl. BM Abalone is definitely a darker option, but has quite a bit of gray to it, and can look a little muddy in certain lighting.

  27. My painter likes SW simply white on our stucco house (currently yellow). Our house faces south. The roof is various shades of brown. The windows and gutters are a dark brown. What are your thoughts on which shade of white? Do I want to stay away from any greige undertones?

    1. Simply White is very bright, so if your home gets a lot of sun, it could be a bit blinding. With a south-facing home, you can really choose any paint color and it will look great. Personally, I prefer BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee, or SW Alabaster over Simply White. Hope that helps!

    2. Thank you so much. The painter uses both SW and BM and perhaps he was thinking BM simply white which I understand is the same as SW alabaster.

  28. Thanks so much for this information. Truly helpful. I live in a stucco home, east facing, and plan to paint it BM Ballet Wallet. My roof tiles lean more towards browns/grays. Love the tone on tone look. Could you recommend a trim color and gutter color? Right now, I’m leaning towards Revere Pewter or Alaskan skies.

  29. hi there! if we wanted to paint our house Shoji White and wanted a white trim, what color white would you recommend for the trim that would have a sufficient amount of contrast?

  30. HI! My house faces SW ( mostly west) and I just got a new roof ( gray) and painting my house an off white. I am trying to decide between White Duck and Dover white with color Amazing gray as shutters ? With my double door a blue called distance. Do you think this will look good?? Let me know your thoughts? Thanks!

    1. Yes! That’s a gorgeous combination. Dover White can lean a little yellow in some lighting, so White Duck might be a more balanced option.

  31. Which of the above mentioned whites (or others) would be an authentic white/cream for the top of a 1927 Tudor trimmed in dark brown?? Facing West. Thank you.

  32. Thank you for your wonderful blog! For a Cape Cod style corner home, facing east, with dark brown shake roof, white dove or ballet white? Window trim same white? … and shutters a dark grey or black or what greens in your photo? Thank you very much

    1. I’d go with Ballet White, over White Dove, or something similarly warm for an east-facing home. Black, grays, and greens are all classic shutter colors that will look very nice and traditional.

  33. We are painting our 2 story (straight up and flat a rose the front) brick house white. I am so confused on all of the choices. What are your thoughts on Simply White by BM?
    We donโ€™t want white white, but Iโ€™m not a fan of too creamy, either.
    Thanks!

    1. Simply White is brighter than I typically recommend, but can work for heavily shaded and some north-facing exteriors. You might try BM White Dove for a slightly softer, yet still bright white, look that isn’t too creamy.

  34. love whites! but i don’t want a white that is too light for a body color. I have large bright white round accent columns in front which i love and want them to stand out! and also the trim around my windows is same white i want to keep white columns but i want a beautiful white color to contrast with the white. my roof is Charcoal Black color in the gaf timberline hd . also what would you paint the garage doors? and the front double doors? the double doors are white right now too. my house is mostly all stucco texture and has some hardy board at the peaks of the roof area looking for suggestions please

      1. Looking for the grayest gray (no blues or greens) for a good contrast in a very white bathroom. darker but not too dark. Can you share the exterior paint color, wood stain colors and stone name/manufacturer because Painters Mosman guys in our place is asking me. Thanks

    1. Hi Cheryl,
      I am facing similar design choices, what colors did you choose? I’m thinking Shoji or Ballet White, bright white trim. But not sure about windows, garage and front door. My windows are white casement windows but have a thick trim piece over the tops of the window on front of house. Dark charcoal roof.

      What did you end up going with? Anyone have any suggestions?

  35. Love your blog! So glad I found it. Can you recommend a shutter color to go with baller white body of house and urbane bronze door. The house has a northern exposure.

  36. We are painting our home white and have installed a new beautiful wood door painted in a coffee stain. The roof is a mix of gray and dark brown. We face East (in a southern state so intense sun) Iโ€™m torn choosing white. I like Alabaster but am reluctant bc will it be too bright? Our gutters will be a dark bronze along with all the exterior lighting. Any recommended whites that would pair nicely but not burn out oneโ€™s retina?

  37. I am stuck between grey and white on our old 1905 Farmhouse. My husband thinks white trim makes it look cleaner. Do you have any additional experience with this? It is a stucco home with some siding and a black tin roof. I am having anxiety now on what to paint. I like a creamy look and I think grey can be timeless.

    our painter prefers to use BM colors

  38. Hi there! I have a 1990’s rust (browns, oranges mostly) exterior roof color…wanting to go soft white on the house with a south facing front – you had said something about warm whites – BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee, or SW Alabaster as colors in an earlier blog with a brown roof – would these colors also work with my ugly colored roof LOL? ๐Ÿ™‚ Also, wondering about trim – I have a colorist who suggested a soft black, but we do want to add dark-stained wood shutters and stain the door a dark wood as well. Do you have any other suggestions on the fascia paint?

  39. Hi. Love your blog. I have a colonial style all brick home that is north facing. We are painting it white and removing the shutters, painting the gutters, front door and fascia iron ore. Would you recommend Alabaster, Moderne or Pure white to avoid any yellowish or beige tones? Thank you for your help

    1. Typically, for north-facing homes, I recommend a paint color with some warmth to it. All three of those whites are on the warm side, which is great. Pure White might look a little washed out on a north-facing home, as it leans the coolest of the three. Alabaster is probably your best bet! Just be sure to sample each color on your exterior before committing. I highly recommend the easy peel-and-stick vinyl sheets from Samplize.

  40. I’m trying to choose an off white that is not too bright for exterior. Ballet white looked great on south east side of home but west side of home it looked minty green.
    Why would it change color?

    1. Paint colors can look quite different on east versus west-facing sides of a home, which is why sampling the paint colors in several different areas is so important! Also, a paint color that is placed on top of, or right next to another (existing) paint color can change the way the new paint color looks. For example, if you put a warm white on top of a blue house, the warm white will look much more yellow than it would normally because you’re viewing it next to a cool color. Also, sometimes whites pick up reflected light from landscaping more so than other colors. Try another off-white (SW Shoji White is a good option) to see how it compares to Ballet White on the west side. Good luck!

  41. Hi! Thank you for all the advice! We are about two weeks out from painting the exterior of our house and after reading all of your information I have a few questions. Iโ€™m leaning towards the alabaster white and was thinking about painting the trim the same color until I saw the bronze and urban ore. Now Iโ€™m debating, but I also have ALOT of wood porches/big posts/ ceilings in porches on the exterior. My roof is weathered grey metal. Do you have any recommendations on stain?? And would you paint the door/window trim a different color or do you think painting it alabaster also would look good??

  42. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your post here. It’s very overwhelming and a lot of pressure to know what the white paint will look like after spending the money to painting the exterior. I live in Phoenix and face East. Certainly don’t want a blinding white but a soft creamy finish. Afraid Soji White would be too yellow, but after this post – I might consider. Again, thank you so much.

  43. Iโ€™m painting a coastal home in Florida. It has a wrap around elevated porch and Hardie Trim. Iโ€™m looking for a nice white look and seen SW Pure White. Iโ€™m hoping this does not look bluish? Or to white for exterior.. the mock-ups look good.

    I painted the interior SW pure white and for some reason it has an illusion of a green or bluish hue. The windows do have that tint. Iโ€™m looking for that decorator white white look. Any suggestions?

  44. I have a south facing house with two large trees in the front yard. During the summer months, itโ€™s very shady. I want a white thatโ€™s creamy, not too stark. But Iโ€™m undecided with which white to go with because during the winter months, the house gets lots of sun and I donโ€™t want it to look too bright. My husband has seen Shoji white on a neighborโ€™s house and he thinks itโ€™s not white enough. Can you recommend a good option for my predicament?

    1. I have a sunny south facing wood sided home in southern ca near the beach. I have natural brick accents with the red and white in it and a dark grey roof. The brick is under the front window and walkway and a big brick post next to the front door. Do you recommend I go with something off white and under 80 LVR? What color white/ off white that looks soft and pretty would you recommend? I love your blog. Thank you!

  45. What great information! All the questions that have been asked and the answers you have given has been very helpful. We are getting ready to build a one story farmhouse with vertical board and batten Hardie Board. Unfortunately, our HOA doesnโ€™t allow white exterior paint. They want Earth tones. We were crushed to find out that we couldnโ€™t use white, so can you recommend something close to white that would look beautiful with a dark roof, white vinyl windows, black shutters, wood colored front door and garage doors? We donโ€™t want anything with yellow tones. Our covered front porch will be facing north. Thanks so much!

  46. We are painting the exterior of our home with SW Peppercorn. What white trim compliments Peppercorn?

    Thank you.

  47. Would love to know what these colours look like with snow on the ground- we were leaning towards BM ‘simply white’ – but reassessing based on “maybe it would look too yellow with the snow on the ground…?” any insight would be so helpful! thanks so much, Diana – Toronto, Ont, Canada

  48. really great article!
    One thing I would love to know what these colours look like with snow on the ground. I am leaning towards BM ‘simply white’ – but reassessing based on “maybe it would look too yellow with the snow on the ground…?” any insight would be so helpful! thanks so much, Diana – Toronto, Ont, Canada

  49. I have so many questions, but I will read the previous questions/answers first!

  50. Can you tell me the shutter color on the plank and plow home that is painted ballet white? Thanks so much

  51. Can you tell me the shutter color on the plank and plow home that is painted ballet white? Thanks so much

  52. Love this post! We are painting our full brick home and currently have samples of SW Snowbound and BM White Dove on the back of the house. They actually look fairly similar! I am leaning toward the White Dove (hello Studio Mcgee home!) but my painter told me about a home he did recently and the clients felt the White Dove was too “creamy.” So it’s interesting to hear you say it’s the brightest white you suggest! We are a SouthEast facing home… is there a particular white you’d recommend for the trim on a White Dove home?

  53. This is a great post! We just painted the stucco part of our brick home Dove Wing (a slightly toned down white from White Dove). The windows are an unattractive taupe vinyl colour. What colour would you paint them, Dove Wing to blend or Iron Mountain? Would love your advice!

  54. If the front of my house is facing north west, what type of white would you lean towards – something brighter or less bright? Any recommendations? Thanks!!

  55. This is a great post! Based on my experience we just painted the stucco part of our brick home dove wing. The windows are an unattractive taupe vinyl color. Thanks for your kindness!

  56. I have gray/tan pillar stone on the front of my house. With a beautiful warm brownish wood door. My house is currency a light tan -beige with white trim yellow under tone. I hate the yellow undertone. Iโ€™m thinking of painting my trim work and house the same white to really set off the pillars and make the house appear larger. Is this a mistake and what color white would you suggest? Iโ€™m thinking alabaster, shoji, or timeless white. Thoughts?

  57. Hi, I loved this article. I see a lot of questions about a White House with darker trim suggestions, but what if you want to keep everything white including trim? Is their a rule of thumb for this? Do you recommend a different shade of white for trim? Iโ€™m wanting to do White Dove on a North Facing house. Thanks!

  58. Hi, which black color would you use for garage door, front door and trim for a house with White Dove board and batten exterior? There is also Acme Highstone Brick which has some dark browns. I am debating between SW Tricorn Black or SW Black Magic but I am afraid they may be too black. House faces East. Thanks

    1. Tricorn Black is very dark, and not one I usually recommend for garage doors. With your brick, I’d give SW Black Fox a try since it has a nice warmth to it. Other good off-blacks with White Dove are SW Iron Ore and SW Urbane Bronze.

  59. What color would you say BM Old Prairie (OC-42) is closet to of the best white colors that you have reviewed above? We currently have Old Prairie trim and it matches the gutters etc quite well but not sure what other color I might want to consider before repainting. The front of the house is Northern exposure so of course the back is Southern so what I like in the front not so much in the back and vice versa. The front is a brick elevation of a slightly brownish color with some grey to it with some limestone on the elevation too. Pashmina AF-100 is the siding choice – most of the siding is primarily Southern exposure (of course Eastern and Western too) but only some dormers with siding on the front elevation and lots of trim with a large porch. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

    1. BM Old Prairie is fairly close to SW Oyster White, which is close in LRV to SW Shoji White, but with a bit more green to it.

  60. Please look up 2447 Hickory Glen Drive Bloomfield Hills Michigan. The co-owner painted the front door tricorn black. The condo faces north. Please let me know what you think. I think it is too dark and looks stark. It used to be brown like the garage. Some co-owners are now also allowed green or red. It is a small complex of 41 units and I would have left the front doors all brown as now only one co-owner picked red and a few black and all the rest brown. Thank-you.

    1. Tricorn Black is a great color for front doors, but it is definitely one of the darkest black paint colors out there. With the neutral color scheme of your complex, I think Tricorn Black is a nice choice, but if you feel like it’s too dark for you, then I would recommend you stick with the same brown as the garage door.

  61. I’m so glad I found this blog! I have a brown stucco spanish style house that I want to paint white. It is NE facing and has a round rotunda entrance to the side and the garage is prominent in front. (a bit of an awkward looking house) I want to keep the garage the same color as the house to not enhance it any further. There are brown wood corbals/accents on the front of the garage and around the rotunda. I’m wanting to paint the front door Tricorn as well as the 6 double doors that walk out to the side courtyard

    I sampled alabaster and it looks stark. Then I tried White Duck and it looks super gray. Followed by Creamy and it looks really yellow. What white would compliment the best?

    1. North-east facing homes can be tricky. You’re on the right track with a warm white, you just have to find one with the right undertones for your lighting. Based on what you’ve tried so far, I would also sample SW Moderate White. It doesn’t have quite as much yellow to it as Creamy.

  62. We have a brown roof ,and thinking alabaster for the brick. My question is . What color siding above the garage ,and do you match the siding to the trim and gutters

  63. We opted for SW Modern White for our colonial. We are west-sun facing and would love your thoughts on if we should go with a satin or flat finish? Not sure how I feel about a shiny/plastic look, so am thinking maybe a flat would look best. Also looking for a finish that is somewhat easy to clean. Thank much!

    1. The paint sheen for exteriors depends on the material you have. For stucco, you want a flat sheen to hide imperfections. For siding, go with a satin. Satin will be easier to clean, and not too shiny. Happy painting!

  64. We want to paint the exterior of our home white (don’t like yellow or cream) but not convinced with the color choice of Dunn Edward’s Whisper White (body) and Espresso (trim). Our home has a terracotta tile roof and faces south (front) and north (back) in the sunny state of Arizona. Is this an overall good color choice combination? Would it be too bright? Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. A white with Espresso trim will look beautiful! Whisper White is a bright white, and with a lot of sunlight could appear a bit too light. You can always ask the paint store to mix it at 75% strength (darken it a bit), or try a white with a slightly lower LRV. Just be sure to sample it on your home before committing.

  65. With Dunn Edwards color Whisper being too bright with a lot of sunlight, what white color would you suggest with the Espresso trim?

  66. Hello! Iโ€™m painting my brick today and having second thoughts on my color choice ๐Ÿ™
    I have a north facing home that gets no sun on the front of the house. I decided to go with snowbound because it seems the truest white sample. Oyster white, white duck, and heron plume all looked too dark or muddy in the shade.

    Is snowbound going to be too bright? Iโ€™m going with black doors (color suggestions appreciated ) and have lots of mature landscaping.

    1. Snowbound should be just fine on the front of your house, and shouldn’t be too bright (especially if you get so sun). It will look a bit brighter on the back of the house, but not overwhelmingly so. Sounds like you sampled, which is key, and Snowbound is a popular choice for exterior whites. For blacks, I would go with an off-black to reduce the contrast. Something like SW Urbane Bronze or SW Iron Ore both would look great with Snowbound.

  67. Hi! I am looking for a recommendation for a white exterior paint colour that would go well with a silver galvalume roof and white trimmed windows. Thank you in advance!

  68. Hi!

    I am working with a designer and he has suggested SW Shoji White for our home which will have an east coast vibe with Hardie straight shingles, stone base, and weathered wood roof shingles. The stone base we picked has a lot of texture with a little gray and gold in it (Halquist Beaver Creek Ledge)We get southern exposure on the front of the house. What are your thoughts on this color and which shade of white do you suggest for a home that gets southern exposure? We do not want it to look ultra white or have yellow undertones. More creamy and neutral.

    1. I think Shoji White is a great choice, and should work well with your stone option. It is soft (not ultra bright white), warm, and doesn’t typically look yellow at all.

  69. We’re looking to paint our home white. However, part of the front has that typical red exposed brick. We will likely leave it in its natural state. Is there a type of white we should focus on (or avoid) so that it works with the brick? Thank you!

    1. With red brick, you’ll want to go with a soft, warm white. I would avoid anything overly bright or overly cool, as it will look very stark an uninviting next to the brick. Also avoid any whites with pink or pinkish-taupe undertones, which could be amplified next to your brick.

  70. Wonderful blog. I’ve searched and don’t see any questions regarding a blue roof that is steeped on the sides.
    I have an 1886 home with a front porch faces south, but situated on a corner lot that also faces west. The porch floor is a cherry hardwood so I’m leaning toward a creamy or neutral white, with minimal gray.
    Shoji and Ballet White seem to be the samples I should send for…any other suggestions?

    1. Going white sounds like a good option for your exterior. BM Seapearl is another good one to try, and BM Olympic Mountains might work well.

  71. We have a cedar sided house with major woodpecker damage thatโ€™s being repaired next week. The house house a rusty brown colored roof and taupe windows. I plan to add natural cedar shutters and posts. Which Benjamin Moore color would work best?

  72. Hi Melissa – I’m about to paint my 1935 large cottage-style house in the Catskill Mountains. I want this to be a sophisticated, yet soft update. Something that will blend in with the woods to the south and mountain view to the north. Kind of an English cottage / French country house feel. I like the old style of the original shutters so I’m keeping them (darkish weathered gray). The front of the house faces south and gets a fair amount of shade from trees.

    I like the look of houses with soft, warm white with gray/brown/pink undertones, especially when paired with pale gray/brown or pale gray/blue trim. I’m thinking SW Shoji White for the body (mostly smooth stucco with some wood), but am wondering if it’s too pink. Do you think Shoji is a good white for this house? and what would you suggest for the trim and front door? I’d prefer a trim with a muted contrast. Thank you!

    1. Shoji White is a great exterior color, but it all depends on the lighting, so you’ll want to sample it first. SW White Duck is another good option, especially if Shoji is trying to lean too pink (which is very rare). For trim that would give a subtle contrast, you could try SW Pure White for a lighter shade, and maybe SW Fawn Brindle or Anew Gray for a darker shade..

  73. My HOA says that the same white color on stucco vs. brick looks completely different, they say on brick it is way brighter and lighter than stucco, so they request we can’t go over 80 LRV in our neighborhood for brick, is this true?

    1. Paint can look different on different surfaces (due to light absorption/reflection), and is most noticeable when comparing rough and smooth surfaces. However, I wouldn’t expect the color to look so different that you would need to go a shade darker. It could also be that the paint they use for stucco versus brick is a different formula, and the color is off. Would they consider viewing a sample of a lighter shade on both stucco and brick, and then you could always have a backup color if they don’t approve?

  74. Thank you so much for this post.
    I read the comments on West facing homesโ€ฆbut what if you have a North West facing home? Would love to hear your thoughts. We get shade in the morning and by the afternoon we get the sun so itโ€™s pretty bright. Of course during the winter months we get less sunlight on our home in the afternoon.
    Thinking we should steer clear of making the white too yellow but not sure if going more of a neutral undertone white would be a good choice once the sun hits the house.
    We thought of BM Chantilly Lace? Or Dove White? W

    1. I think a warm white with a slightly more neutral base is a good place to start. You may find that you need to go warmer to counteract the northern light, but sampling is the best way to know for sure. I would try BM White Dove and BM Seapearl to start with, and then adjust as needed after seeing some samples up.

  75. Hello. Love your blog. We purchased a home painted Nantucket Grey and the fascia is beige. We hope to change the color one day but not for a few years. We have re-done the backyard with a pool and deck, installed a new bar cabana and pool equipment cabana. The yard faces south, we have sunlight there for most of the day. I don’t want to match the Nantucket, so thinking of doing both cabanas white. Thinking white dove, but should we do the doors and window trim the Nantucket grey, brown or a black trim. The door with the deck is a dark brown, not sure if we should change the color to match the cabana doors. Include ideas for the fascia. Any great suggestions would be great. Your consultation was full.

  76. I ended up on this blog by click some links on another blog you posted about best Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors. That is to you, we have chosen to paint our house mega greige. I came here to find the best white trim. We have a south facing house and I am debating between SW alabaster and SW pure white. Any advice?

  77. I am building a linden (American Classic) house on rockford homes and it’s south facing and we have selected White color exterior , Unfortunately the builder said there is a white house next to ours and we can not do white and our design consultant suggested heron white,

    We are having second thoughts on exterior with white and could you pls help with selecting exterior color

    https://rockfordhomes.net/new-home-designs/linden/

  78. Which white would you recommend for a west facing home in New England – knowing that a snowy foreground is often how it will be viewed. With perhaps BM Coventry Gray shutters or matching white shutters ? Do you think China White, Cloud White or White Dove would be best?

  79. White is sooo hard. We have a south facing stucco house – but it also backs onto a public space on the north with a pathway. Black eaves/soffits etc, and a black roof with slight variation into grey – leans a tad blue/grey in bright sun. While I like my sample boards of Simply White and Chantilly (I had both paints at home from previous use) I am afraid the house would blind the neighbours? White Dove, Glacier White, Atrium White have all come recommended – and I’m leaning white dove simply because I hear it is used so frequently. Just making a sample board of that one today.

    1. Just coming back to say – we painted a White Dove sample on the house and found it too creamy. I initially thought we had a winner, and then by mid/late afternoon the south side of the house picked up alot of color. Back to the drawing board and we ended up with Oxford white. And a couple months in, it is just white. Both north and south sides, and all times of day. No regrets.

  80. Grateful I landed on your website! We are having our home painted presently and I have to make a final decision within the next couple days on whether I paint the body of the house the same color as the trim (our house is being painted Shoji), or do we paint the trim a slightly brighter white (such as Alabaster). Would you recommend painting a white house trim in the same color as the body of the house or in a brighter white color?

  81. Hello,
    We are using LP smart siding on our new home. I received a sample of White Dove on an LP board and it appears very cream/yellow. I was shocked as I had done a lot of research and was sure it was going to be the one. Iโ€™m back to the drawing board. We are having copper gutters, driftwood shingles and extra dark bronze metal over the porch. So I feel we need a warm white. What are your thoughts of pure white? Our house will face SW. we live in the country so we are surrounded by grass and trees. I did also get a sample board of simply white and it is warm but more neutral than the dove white but I know you feel the LRV is too high for exterior. Would pure white work? Thank you!

    1. Yes, give Pure White a try if White Dove looks too creamy/yellow to you. Simply White could also be a good option if your exterior gets more shade.

  82. Wow! This is amazing information and your responses are so helpful. I have a modern ranch with Hardie Board siding in North Carolina at the ocean. We sit on a corner lot so it is south facing but the garage is west facing. Full sun! It has a pewter gray roof with silver/gray metal shed roofs under the gables. I want to paint it white. Beach cottage vibe with a blue door color. Can the siding be white with a different white on the trim so that the trim shows up? Lots of nice trim work. Window frames are white.

  83. It can be challenging to decide which white paint to use on the exterior of a building, but these choices are beautiful. When choosing a color, it is essential to take into consideration a variety of variables, including the lighting and the surroundings. Many thanks for providing the motivation!

  84. It can be challenging to decide which white paint to use on the exterior of a building, but these choices are beautiful. When choosing a color, it is essential to take into consideration a variety of variables, including the lighting and the surroundings. Many thanks for providing the motivation!

  85. Welsh Design Studio’s blog post on the best white paint colors for exteriors is very informative. The author provides great suggestions for white paint colors based on the type of exterior and the surrounding environment. I appreciate the author’s expertise and attention to detail, and her willingness to share her design knowledge with readers. Thank you for the great post!

  86. HI My house is North facing and we went with Alabaster and a white trim, my question is what color Metal Roof would you go with?
    Black, Charcoal Grey or Slate Grey?? Thank you Colleen

  87. We are in Winter Park Fl where whits are the big trend. We have a home faces direct north on a cul-de-sac of 4 homes 2 are in the creamy tones of white, the other 2 in tones of grey. Would love to see my home in a white but not sure how it would do in rainy season with mold, also we have veneer facing on the entry way.

    1. Hi Staci, I neighbor you in the College Park area. Did you decide on a white? I am so lost choosing a white. I have around 15 8 x ll peel-and-stick samples. I drive around our neighborhood looking for the white I like. Any insight would be appreciated. I live in a mid-century modern, west facing home so I get bright sun directly on my house all afternoon.

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