Gorgeous White Homes + White Exterior Paint Colors shares a collection of beautiful traditional house exteriors sporting my favorite color. (You’ll find my own house at the end with a paint color suggestion.) I am sharing the names of the exact white paint colors in some cases and in others, a suggestion in case you need a place to start.
White Homes + White Exterior Paint Color Ideas
My inbox receives a steady flow of questions about paint colors, and I have been helping folks select them for interiors and exteriors for decades and certainly before the dawn of blogging.
The thing about choosing exterior colors is you have to consider the quality of light where you live and understand how the warmth of sunlight affects the color.
For the shutters above? We think this is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (has a natural linen yet grey look) and another possibility while a bit cooler is Sherwin Williams Repose Gray (a neutral and versatile gray that works across a variety of settings).
Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist – This Designer’s Favorite!
It’s always a blessing when a designer shares the name of a paint color, and designer Sherry Hart picks the best exterior colors!
And what is that sophisticated warm gray trim and accent color?
Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray.
Isn’t it a stunning combo? More painted Balboa Mist brick for your consideration:
Notice how the appearance of the color changes with changing light…
Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
Benjamin Moore White OC-151
For this board and batten white cottage below, the exact color used was Benjamin Moore White OC-151 (minimal undertones and a bright modern white).
BTW. The designer also carried the exterior white throughout the interiors – talk about easy to remember!
Here’s a similar color in the Sherwin-Williams line:
SW Extra White
What do I look for when choosing the right white? Is it tasteful and timeless? Does it have staying power? Does it enhance and work with the light?
Ultra bright cool whites like SW Extra White have been popular for exteriors in the last decade.
Bear in mind there are excellent choices which don’t have “white” in the paint color name. Also remember that if the swatch color doesn’t appear white, it may still be the best white for your project.
Our former home’s color was a 50/50 mix of Farrow & Ball Cornforth White and Hardwick White. If you look at the paint card or swatches online, they may not strike you as whites at all!
Warm Stone-like Whites
If you fall in love with an exterior color from a photo of a house, study it to discern what is drawing you to it.
In the houses above and below, you can see how lovely the low contrast of white with antique stone works magic…
It truly is tricky to guess at white paint colors from photography online. After all, all sorts of editing is often at play. The time of day an image is snapped also contributes to its appearance, and even the particular season’s quality of light enters the equation.
Look at clues from surrounding accent colors. Notice how the body of the house above is a warmer creamy white than the trim. Modern white upholstered chairs also reveal contrast. For a similar effect, you may want to take a peek at BM Edgecomb Gray.
Lovely Bright Cool White Victorian Home Exterior
It may also help to look at images online on a larger screen or to expand the image to notice the details.
The white paint color you choose for an exterior should harmonize with its surrounding nature. Imagine how out of place the whites on the homes above and below (with their lush greenery and foliage) might appear on a desert home in the mountains.
Try SW 6258 Tricorn Black for a similar trim color as the above home.
Greyed Whites & Light Gray for White Exteriors
No matter what paint color trend headline you read, don’t count out all the wonderful grey paint colors for a white home exterior. Grey as a paint color is never out of style!
It’s popular for good reason.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of TAKING TIME TO TRY A SAMPLE OUTSIDE! SW Repose Gray looks completely different on my own interior walls than it does on the beautiful house siding above!
Choosing the right white paint for a home with stone or brick poses its own special challenges.
Try plenty of samples before deciding.
Which White for Board and Batten?
Which white paint for brick?
What is a Dreamy Beachy White?
Bear in mind, the white will look different in different light throughout the day.
Painted Brick Beauty in Charlotte
Timeless Tudor
Benjamin Moore Seapearl on an Exquisite Exterior!
Exquisite Renovated Atlanta Cottage
Renovated Historic Farmhouse in Illinois
For a bright white with minimal undertones like on the farmhouse below, try a sample of Behr Ultra Pure White. (Psst. Designer Leanne Ford loves THESE WHITES!)
My Former Home’s Exterior
My own house is not a bright pure white, but a soft greyed-white close to Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White.
In fact, I got a nearly exact match when I mixed equal parts Cornforth White and Hardwick White.
A little music therapy to calm your nerves if you’re feeling at all overwhelmed by the prospect of selecting the best white for your project.
Thanks so much for visiting – let me know if you have any questions.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Michele I just loved this entire post. What a treat. I’m always thinking about painting my house white and I’ve not made a decision on the paint color at all, so this is so helpful. Also I started laughing out loud when I read the quote about the traumatic hair cut on the way. HAHAHA Oh my god. That’s so me. I can’t believe how long my hair is, and so in need of some layers not to mention a little color on my roots. I’m sending psychic vibes out to my hairdresser. Will keep you posted. stay safe and healthy honey-bunny.
xo
Leslie
Author
hahahaha. I love it when you call me honey bunny, love muffin. I trimmed my bangs this morning! My thing about my dark roots is that I will finally make a fashion statement with my accidental lazy balayage. (i have never understood intentional balayage, btw…please someone educate me). Keep me posted on your house painting, and keep laughing, beautiful. 🙂
Really funny things about #quarantine! 😉 What a giggle! It’s good to have things to laugh about in these really weird times.
But I must say I’m lucky about not gaining 15 pounds….We’re working on the entire grounds of our property which includes an orchard and vineyard…It had been neglected for 10 years by the previous owner….just like the home’s interior which we renovated last fall! Just me and hubby so long days of LOTS of physical outdoor work = weight loss! Yay 🙂
Author
Sounds like a great way to spend time at home, Connie – good for you. Weird indeed. I’m over it! And I wouldn’t mind gaining the #quarantine15!
Thanks Michele,
Great post, to me it’s daunting to try to pick a shade of white for our exterior. This was very helpful! And I loved the quotes- hilarious!!
XO
Holly
Author
Happy to help and tickle your brain a little. Sending sunshine, Holly. 🙂
I hope when I’m late to comment it’s not too much trouble! Of course I loved this post. One of the many reasons I’ve been following your blog is your aesthetic feels like home to me. Your personality that comes through feels similar and your faith makes you my sister! Lovely sums you up, to me!
A couple of posts ago you introduced the Staves to me! Where have I been?! Thank you! Honey Bunny is a favorite endearment of mine, your friend is spot on. It suits you. Peace be with you. 😊
Author
What a gift when you add to the beauty and take the time to leave kindness here. Thank you for being a honey bunny this Sunday morning. The Staves!!! I know!!! Their harmonies for me are otherworldly and give me a taste of heaven, yes? We need to taste it now more than ever. I’ll keep sharing bits of my music that seem to feed my soul in hopes there will be feasting of which I may never know. xox
I’m wanting to paint my house White to make our Stone stand out. I chose White Duck SW. I just bought a tester. We have a Craftsman house. I’m hoping it won’t be too drastic. I was wondering if I could use a soft gray for the trim so it would match the windows that are framed with gray?
Author
White Duck is a beautiful warm white and seems somewhere between my beloved Ben.Moore White Sand and Ben Moore Revere Pewter. I would probably not do gray trim unless you want your eye to go to be drawn to all those elements outlined in grey rather than the whole. Darker contrasting trim over white can be jarring. I know it’s a popular look with black and white modern farmhouses, but for a traditional look that won’t fall from favor, low contrast often is safe. You may want to get creative and take a photo of the house and play around with editing it with color (like canva or picmonkey) or the old fashioned way with markers on a hard copy of the photo. Let me know if this helps at all.
Well heck…..I am just now seeing this! Thanks for including 2 of my projects! You are so special……xoxo Sherry
Author
Thank you for all the beauty, Sherry. Hoping you are feeling well, friend.
Hi! Loved all thesde photos!! I cant seem to find the list of the whites though. I do see the contrasting colors called out but not the whites. Obviously it’s user error, but can you direct me? Thanks so much!
Author
I just added a graphic with the names of paint colors within this post so I hope you’ll be able to take another peek and this will help. Thank you for the nudge to make this post better. 🙂
Hi Michelle, Just found your blog. Love it! Have a question on the Sherry Hart photo. Do you know the color of the painted brick? I saw the trim color. Love the combination!
Author
I went back and checked Sherry’s IG where she posted that home but didn’t come up with an answer – I think it is BM China White. It looks like that color, and so many designers choose that for brick that is a safe bet. I’ll keep looking into it. 🙂
Thank you! Never would have guessed how many creamy whites there are!🤪
Author
Right!?! 🙂
I have just had our 103 year old home painted BM White Dove with SW Anew Gray shutters & lintels over windows. Trim is also White Dove in semi-gloss. Today the front door is being painted in BM Wythe Blue hi-gloss. My heart is singing! Why oh why did I dither so long?
Author
Oh, it sounds glorious, friend!!! Hallelujah for a singing heart!
Help!! I am in the process of painting my shutters on my beach house. The house is a creamy white stucco and I have shutters on each window. I have done samples of SW silver strand, repose gray, and revere pewter. All are too light. I did uncertain gray and it is the right darkness but really blue. I was wanting a really subtle gray/blue/green. Do you have any recommendations on a color I can try next? Thanks so much!!!
Author
How exciting to be choosing a color! A grey I love and have used which may not strike you as a blue-gray until the sun hits it is Classic Silver: https://rstyle.me/+oYj2TNhK5kvG7szJOEpiPg. If you care to peek at a very subtle gray-green, Eon (Behr) is an interesting, more subdued and atmospheric grey: https://rstyle.me/+mkVfXpvu8_bU0OoCSr7W1A
Let us know what you decide.
Michelle, can you tell me how to do a consult with you on exterior paint color? Thanks.
Author
Hi Jane. Email is best, and I’m happy to brainstorm with you – michele at hellolovelystudio dot com. 🙂
White houses are the best! And this post proves it! Haha! Timeless beauty! It doesn’t matter what year the house was built, what style or setting it is in, how old it is, or it’s surroundings…if a house is painted white it will NEVER look dated!! Think about it …anytime you’re traveling & driving thru little towns or perusing thru neighborhoods looking @ homes! The white ones always look fresh and lovely when so many others look like they need updating and such! White houses for President! Haha!
Author
You’ve just earned your white house exterior ambassadorship and are hired as a columnist on Hello Lovely – start snapping pics of lovely white homes for us, Amy! Hahaha. You know I never tire of white – have been painting my newly acquired tiny house interiors, and it’s looking fresher now. 🙂
I love this post. I too, am getting ready to update my house with white. Love, love white homes. This has been informative. I would love to send you an image of my home and get your thoughts on the right color white! I have mainly brown & gray mixed stone to be concerned about. I’m also currently putting in a white stucco fireplace with shiplap. (Color TBD) and have a bone white (more off white slightly yellow tone that I want to play down).. thanks so much for the fantastic read!
Author
I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely transformation and update. White just freshens a space like nobody’s business. Did you happen to notice the mention of the paint color used in this home? Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. Of course, the same color in your space may not be optimal so definitely start with at least three samples. Email me (if you subscribe to the blog, you simply press reply to get in touch!) if you want ideas for samples to try. 🙂
helllo, great post! Do you happen to know the paint color used on Pamela Pierces home and the brick color of the home with balboa mist trim?
Author
Hi there. I have seen Pam’s home online associated with SW Simply White, but I wonder if someone was just guessing since to my knowledge the color has not been shared. I would expect it to be a custom white. It’s also tricky to take guesses since photographs are so often retouched for magazines and also the time of day the photo is taken can affect how a color presents in natural light. As far as the Ladisic home with white brick – the brick is Balboa Mist, and the trim is I think Intellectual Gray. Very often, a paint color which looks grey on a swatch or has grey in the name is actually white, off-white or a greyed-white (such as BM Classic Gray which I have often used as a white). Let me know if this helps.
Hello Michele,
Love your article about white exterior paint.
I have a Mediterranean home with columns and exterior wall fountain.
I love the Spanish look of homes with very sharp bright white also seen in Santorini Greece.
My windows are dark brown.
What is the brightest sharpest brilliant white out
I can send you a picture of my house if you need.
Thanks so much,
Rose
Author
Hi Rose. Your home sounds so lovely. For the brightest white, you would look for the base white from which other whites are made. That is why we chose Benjamin Moore “White” OC-151 – it doesn’t have any undertones of yellow or green. However, it is so cool that it can look light blue without natural light. We needed the brightest white because of very yellow sunlight. Behr Ultra Pure White is another possibility if you want to grab it right from the shelf at Home Depot. Whatever your favorite brand of paint, it is often possible to simply find the base white on the shelf without any tinting or formula. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask more questions.
We build our home 5 years ago. sides and back are white siding and front is all off white brick. I hate the color of the brick. We want an all white home. Should we paint the brick, remove brick, or paint some if it and cover other parts w board and batten or shake siding.
Author
Paint that brick! As long as you like the shade of white of the siding, paint the brick the same color. It may take a few color samples for you to get the right shade. i would recommend an off white or a greyed-white such as Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist.
I am in the process of having to replace my roof, siding and gutters due to damage from hurricane ida. I’m leaning towards painting the brick on the front of my home while we’re at it! I think we will go with estate gray for the roof and maybe alabaster for the brick. I can’t decide what color for gutters and siding!! I would love to consult with you on what to do!!
Author
Hi Christy. Sounds like you could go in just about any direction with that neutral palette chosen for the foundation. Are you thinking low contrast or high? I highly recommend road tripping and snapping photos of color combos you like. Most of the time we never even notice things like gutter colors. I think that is the wisest way to choose. 🙂
Thanks for your response! I’ve been riding around looking and taking pics of houses and think I’m drawn more to low contrast. I didn’t realize how stressful this would be!
I love this post! I live in Florida on the water and want to pick a white that won’t blind my neighbors. Ideally a color palette that incorporates the coastal surroundings, Any ideas?
Author
I do have ideas! Look at colors that you may not think will read white, but actually WILL and will be warmed by that wonderful sunshine. Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist is a favorite of a designer friend of mine for exteriors. Even a color like BM Classic Gray is actually more of a white. Whatever you do, buy a few sample pots before pulling the trigger on a color. Let us know what you decide!
It was such a pleasure to read your recent article on painting. I loved the honest and refreshing tone that you used, it really resonated with me! You’ve inspired many people who work in this industry as well so keep up all of those good efforts because we need more writers like yourself out there today telling us about what matters most when doing business as a painter or hobbies etc., thank goodness someone is finally speaking from experience here-not just talking but conveying knowledge through expression instead which makes them seem trustworthy enough for others want listen too without feeling judged themselves! Good on you, keep up the excellent painting!
Author
🙂
White is such a dull color when it comes to exterior paint. Unfortunately, everyone seems to be going for the color white, making it all the more boring.
Author
Not at all dull and not at all a bad choice for an exterior. This post is for folks who have already decided on white and just want a place to start with samples. White is gentle, can quiet and recess things you don’t want to stand out, and evokes a particular mood. As far as an exterior color, there are too many other factors to consider. If for example, there is not much colorful nature surrounding the exterior, then a shade of green, suggestive of nature or greenery might be a smart choice. But with a lush landscape, a white exterior could be wonderful to enhance and counter the nature around it. If you live between two white houses and want contrast rather than the same white, a color might be appropriate. Every single project is different, and it’s not a decision you’ll be changing any time quickly so it is prudent to be be more conservative than for example picking a sofa.
Hi, great article! We live in a south facing home in Florida, so it’s bright! We have a gray roof and would like a white exterior with something like a greige trim but have no idea how light affects it. We were thinking alabaster with maybe agreeable gray but not at all sure. Thank you! Tamie
Author
Definitely peek at this post to see the combination of BM Balboa Mist and Amazing Gray – don’t be afraid of light greys to get a white effect because of that natural light: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2023/05/balboa-mist-oc-27.html
Hi there. On the first home with copper or brass like gutters, is that painted and if so, what color is that? Trying to debate on off white/warm white color on stucco and garage with possibly dark grey roof and light wood door. So many options and want it to look natural and another question is brass or black exterior lights? Thank you!
Author
It is painted brick in the color Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist. It will look light grey, but the sun washes it out and warms it. The link below the image takes you to Samplize where you can order a no-mess peel and stick sample to know for sure whether it’s right. I would choose at least 3 samples. For a warm white – look at BM Ballet White. For off-white – look at BM White Dove. Not sure about the black vs. brass exterior lights but iron rubbed bronze would be a great choice since you get some warmth from the brown undertones yet it looks soft black and provides lots of contrast. Let me know if you have other questions.
I just want to thank you so much for this blog! I have been struggling, trying to figure out the color scheme for our 120-year-old Dutch Colonial, and thanks to you, finally have the actual names of the paint colors I like. This article was the most helpful of the many I have read! Thank you.
Author
Thanks for letting me know! Wonderful to hear that you are so passionate about finding the right color story for the home you must care deeply about. Best to you as you make lovely changes. xox