HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLOR is definitely one of the popular topics on this blog, and I am consulted every single day about this mystery! Is Benjamin Moore White Sand the Best Warm White won’t just hurl a bunch of any ol’ interiors with warm white paint color possibilities. We’ll look at my own home and personal experience. Then we’ll chat critically about the process of whether this warm white may be a good choice to sample for YOUR particular space.
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Is Benjamin Moore White Sand OC-10 the Best Warm White?
Two of my friends painted their interiors this color in the past week! I was able to see it in person at one of those homes, and it is stunning with her stained woodwork and much better than the too-yellow former color.
1. BENJAMIN MOORE White Sand
A Personal Favorite Warm White
This warm white paint is one I discovered when seeking the best shade of white for the interiors in our prior home:
This European country inspired manor home is on the edge of a lush forest (and just a few houses around the bend from where we live now!).
While I’m not a huge fan of living with brown undertones in anything, I wanted a color that would play nicely with the white oak hardwoods.
This soft, gentle, beachy white reminiscent of seaside vacations was the perfect choice. Need some others to sample before making your final decision?
We used BENJAMIN MOORE White Sand in every room of that huge home except for our sons’ bedrooms which were blue. Benjamin Moore calls OC-10: A muted, easygoing beige that looks appealing in both traditional and modern spaces.
If you’re a fan of Belgian linen, there’s a fair chance you’ll also like BENJAMIN MOORE White Sand. It has a LRV (light reflectance value) of 66.95. That means the color reflects about 67% of light back into the room and is on the lighter half of the spectrum.
How Long Did I Keep This Color?
Tone on tone may not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet this color worked well enough that I left it for 8 years in the spaces we wanted to feel serene, peaceful, and cozy.
After a couple of years, I did feel the itch to change the wall paint color in the kitchen and breakfast room.
So I painted those spaces Benjamin Moore Ashley Gray for a bit more contrast with white trim and coolness with the strong sunlight.
With abundant light in the kitchen, Ashley Gray was not too dark. The same color might actually read “purply-charcoal” and not “warm white” in a poorly lit space.
So don’t get too wooed by any one particular paint color when you see a photo – sample a handful!
See BM White Sand in More of My Interiors
I do miss my grand entry with those wide arched Andes walnut doors with speakeasies!
The ceilings were soaring, and that’s reason enough to take your sweet time choosing the right warm white since good gracious, you don’t want to be repainting soon!
In the studio through the French doors, the strong Southern light washes out White Sand:
Remember my swing in that space? So many of our sons’ friends have memories attached to this home and the indoor swing. 🙂
White Sand is also soothing and lovely for bedrooms. Ours was very simple and cottage-like.
You can see the color here in our bathroom too:
Similar to White Sand: BENJAMIN MOORE Revere Pewter
If BM White Sand is too light for your taste, you could sample Revere Pewter which we used on our bedroom furniture when we moved to our next home.
Revere Pewter for Trim & Furniture
For me, Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter is reminiscent of soft natural linen or gentle garden stone.
This paint color works wonders in a variety of spaces and was used to refresh tired, antique white bedroom furniture.
Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
This subtle change to the furniture was needed with the cool whites on the walls.
I also drybrushed a black leaner mirror with Revere Pewter for a distressed look:
Need more ideas for a soothing bedroom retreat?
Warm White & Natural Lovely Things!
Tips to Choose the BEST Warm White for You
1. Try Multiple Samples
Bear in mind that the perfect white paint color for a particular space may be completely wrong for another space. The light in Northern Illinois where we live is quite different from other regions like the Southwest where we bought a second home.
So as you search for a just right white, don’t forget YOU’LL FIRST SELECT A HANDFUL OF OPTIONS and then SAMPLE THEM in your unique space TO BE SURE.
2. Understand Warm vs. Cool Whites
If you understand what makes warm and cool whites different, you’ll have an easier time sifting through possibilities.
Warm whites will have warm undertones of green, brown, etc. Cool whites may have blue and grey undertones.
Sometimes it is helpful to clarify what is even meant by warm vs. cool white paint.
For example, in our last fixer upper, we painted interiors a very cool and bright white (Benjamin Moore OC-151 “White”). That cool white might be all wrong in a different home since it was chosen to counter the harsh yellow light we received there.
The coolness of OC-151 with its blue undertones tempered the way the white color was perceived. It added a modern mood and because of the yellow sunlight, did not read too sterile or blue.
3. Search Online for Ideas
While plenty of paint color experts advise against searching online and Pinterest for the best warm white, I find it helpful to begin the search by viewing photos online where the paint color name is provided. It truly beats standing in a hardware store under fluorescent lighting, anxiously studying cardstock swatches.
Have a Pinterest board devoted to your favorite white paint colors yet? Create a devoted board and PIN THIS POST there to have a handy list of paint names you can refer to when you head to the paint store to buy samples (I’m sure I don’t have to remind you to bring your phone).
4. Consider Objects & Amount of Natural Light
Make sure you take into account the temperature of the objects and furnishings in the room you’ll be painting. If they are mostly cool, in many cases you’ll want to lean towards cooler toned whites. Are they warm? Then a warmer white is likely the wise direction.
More Warm White Paint Colors to Sample
Wondering which white we used for trim and doors in that French Country home with White Sand?
BENJAMIN MOORE Dove Wing
FARROW & BALL Pointing
Here’s another warm creamy sophisticated white paint that may be the perfect white for you. Designer Greet Lefevre of Belgian Pearls shared this when I asked for her fav:
“It is hard to name a favorite white as using the right color of white is dependent upon the room that has to be painted. Is it a small or a large room? Is there a lot of light coming in or not? Another factor….fabrics to be used in the room for curtains and upholstery. But I often turn to FARROW & BALL Pointing White“
Hope this helps, and for related stories see these:
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Another great combination from Ben Moore is Strand of Pearls paired with York Gray. I used this in my bedroom and it is so restful. I also used it in my foyer and just love it with some nautical inspired furniture and art. The white is a pure white but does not yellow in different light, and the gray is a very soft tone with a taupe cast.
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Thank you! I’ll peek at those so I can weave that combo into a future post. So happy to have you here adding to the beauty!