Painting the House White? What is the Best White Exterior Paint Color (Plus Door Colors)

I hear you. You’re a nervous wreck trying to decide on a white paint color your painter needed YESTERDAY. You know how important it is to get the right shade, and you know you’ll have to live with the choice for lonnnnnnnng time (or move 🙂 hahahaha). So where do you start? Welcome to inspiration with a photo gallery of options to sample. Even if none of these house exteriors resembles yours, by the end of the post you’ll get a feel for the range of whites, have a few contenders to sample, and feel more relaxed about the best white exterior paint color and the task at hand.

Which is the Best White Exterior Paint Color?

How This Paint Guide Will Help

Use this guide as a guide to choose colors to sample and not as a direct formula for getting the perfect white for your unique project. The gorgeous stucco outdoor shower above with its impeccable architecture? Without knowing the exact color used, I can still make educated guesses about how to get the look.

Fortunately, I have learned the exact colors for almost all of the examples in the gallery below so definitely PIN THIS POST so you’ll have it for future reference.

Sherwin-Williams Eider White

I’m starting out with the most recent white paint color I used personally (to paint bedroom furniture and also utility room cabinets).

Eider White is a greyed-white with a touch of pink/magenta. Here’s the paint swatch:

And here it is on the walls of our kitchen:

I like Eider White so much that I may brighten up a guest bedroom with this color soon. Right now, that bedroom is Agreeable Gray which can feel gloomy at certain times of the day. Even if this white feels like just the right one you were looking for, remember to sample at least a couple more to be sure since the sun is going to wash it out, and you’ll want to see how it looks throughout the day in different light.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

This clean bright white is so loved by designers and homeowners that I wrote a whole post on the topic HERE.

It’s considered a classic Benjamin Moore color, and if you want a super reflective color, this may be the one.

Chantilly Lace OC-65 has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 90.04. That means it reflects 90% of the light back!

For this reason, you should definitely sample this white with some other options (for example a creamy white, and maybe a greyed-white).

Need ideas for a trim/window/door color to work well with Chantilly Lace? Take a peek at Horizon, Seapearl, and Edgecomb Gray. If you’re seeking a pink paint color, SEE THIS.

Chantilly Lace may be a great choice if you are pairing it with black and want a high contrast look.

While I’m uncertain of the exact color on this sweet shop/studio above, a great place to start for sampling whites is Chantilly Lace or even Farrow & Ball All White:

What color black for accent trim, doors, etc? Here’s a great option to sample:

And for white color similar to Chantilly Lace, think about Benjamin Moore Ice Mist.

Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

Shoji White SW 7042 is a much creamier white than Chantilly Lace that borders on greige.

It is a popular color for exteriors and works across a range of architectural styles. Here’s Shoji White on board and batten…

Like how the door color looks with Shoji White? Here’s an idea since I don’t know the exact one:

And here’s Shoji White painted brick:

Is it going to be too creamy for your preference and exposure?

It’s a big decision and worth taking the time to be sure you’ll be happy with it for a long time. Sampling it with other whites will ensure you understand undertones and prevent being surprised.

Need ideas for great paint colors beyond white?

Is Sherwin-Williams Snowbound 7004 the Best White Exterior Paint Color?

With its slight gray undertone, here’s a versatile cool white which pairs well with other gray-influenced colors. Does it remind you a little of the Eider White color we started with at top?

If you’re seeking a natural combination of colors to coordinate with Snowbound, consider Colonnade Gray and Autumn Orchid. But Jogging Path aint so shabby either:

The gray paint color on door and window surround reminds me of this one:

or if Charcoal Linen feels a bit too deep or slate, you could opt for:

Benjamin Moore China White OC-141

Here’s an off-white with cool gray undertones and a LRV of 76.63.

China White is similar to Classic Gray (love this one!) and is said to match with Collingwood, Vintage Vogue and a white we considered earlier: Chantilly Lace.

If you’re thinking about painting the door is a subtle color, here’s a possibility:

And do you like the combination with black for window trim? Here’s the door color which appears darker as a swatch because once it is exposed to the natural light, the perception of it changes:

Here’s an English house where I’m unsure of the exact white paint for brick and green-gray for door, but it is very close to Greyhound:

Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008

Adjectives like cozy, peaceful, balanced, and soft arise when you hear about Alabaster and why so many folks are nutty about it.

It’s the sort of versatile white that some people like enough to paint their entire interiors and exterior.

Its LRV (light reflectance) is at a sweet spot: 82, and it’s neutral enough that it should go on any short list of whites to sample for an exterior.

Glidden WHITE

While the exact high hide paint used on this next low country cottage may not be available, this is probably the closest alternative by Glidden, and the bonus is the ease to buy it. It’s right on the shelf!

I thought this historic cottage (1800s) renovation was beautifully renovated with its huge porch, 28 feet by 8 feet. The black porch swings, the symmetry, and the understated charm are hard to beat.

Small Low Country South Carolina Cottage Before/After

And isn’t this a modern yet sweet placement of house numbers above the door?

Tour an Eclectic White Brick Tudor!

Sherwin-Williams REPOSE GRAY

If you’re looking for an atmospheric grey with a bit of warmth, you may want to consider Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray even though it isn’t a white. I have written about this color here. Why? As an exterior color, it will get washed out and warmth and may be the look you’re after. Here it is on a traditional exterior:

Do you like the look of it with contrasting white trim on this cedar shake siding?

The entry, dining and living room in my own home are painted SW Repose Gray, and it’s a very easy to live with neutral.

Again, it is not going to look like a mid-toned gray on an exterior as it present here for interiors.

Even in shadow, you can see it appears more of a light gray:

Also notice the front door is painted a darker gray.

Sherwin-Williams EXTRA WHITE

I’m a fan of the wood tone of the porch ceiling with all of the white (above). And look at the beautiful curb appeal of this:

While I’m not certain of the exact gray on the sets of French doors below, SW Uncertain Gray is a great start for sampling to get the same look.

Don’t you love how black gooseneck sconces just pop against white siding?

Here’s another SW Extra White home with a gray color accent to consider:

The shutter color is Benjamin Moore 1479:

SW 7006 is considered to be an EXPERT PICK by Sherwin-Williams. They say this of it: “For a clean and crisp look, this white does the trick. Its high light reflectivity makes it an ideal choice for trim and ceilings.” How reflective?

They say the light reflectance value (LRV) is 86…so definitely a bright white reflecting 86% of light back.

Additional Sherwin Williams Whites to Sample

NUANCE

Isn’t the name of this beautiful white color gorgeous (and doesn’t seeing the window boxes inspire you to do the same if you have a garage or shed with windows?).

Sample NUANCE here.

MODERNE WHITE

I think one of the reasons we saw a surge in bright cool whites for interiors and exteriors that began about a decade ago is an interest in a modern vintage or freshened traditional style look.

Sample MODERNE WHITE HERE.

When an older home is given a modern color, there’s a tension and something new that is created. We don’t always recognize such tension, but it’s there.

Isn’t the pastel door stunning? Not a big surprise that I’m a fan of the door color’s name…Tranquility!

Before/After of SW Moderne White Painted Brick Home

Would you, could you, paint your brick house white?

DOVER WHITE

A stained wood door with white painted brick is such a pleasing combination…what do you think?

It certainly is a less formal look and popular with modern country and modern farmhouse design lovers.

Benjamin Moore BALBOA MIST

Whenever I post a home with this exterior paint color, the image seems to go viral so I know this color is resonating with a bunch of discerning eyes!

It’s a reliable exterior color that I discovered when my friend Sherry Hart began choosing it for a number of high end projects in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

You can see how well it works on brick and with lush green landscapes as well as warm grey trim colors.

This Tudor style home was renovated by Ladisic Fine Homes and strikes all the right notes. With color selections this smart, is it any wonder the name of the accent color is…

So here’s more evidence that just because you’re seeking a white house color doesn’t mean the tone is going to be considered a true white or even have “white” in the name.

Benjamin Moore White OC-151

Could this be my favorite cool, crisp, bright white of all time? Maybe. I like it so much that I painted all of the interiors in our former home Benjamin Moore OC-151.

It definitely has cool blue-grey undertones, but that can work swimmingly with natural yellow-y sunlight.

The designer of this home loved the color enough to wrap all three structures on the property with it as well as every room within them!

One last bit of advice as far as the stress of choosing the perfect paint color for your project? Approach the search with curiosity rather than feverish anxiety. This applies to so much of life’s journey in general. There’s so much mystery involved, so much uncertainty. But learning to become more resilient involves a willingness to be awed, humble, and ready to experience wonder.

Hope these images and color ideas help you choose a few to try. Easiest way to see if a color is right? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.

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

Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.