Painting Cabinets White...But Which White? Try These 5 First!

Painting Cabinets White (But Which White?) delivers an eclectic inspiration round up of white kitchens. While colorful kitchens are on the rise along with wood toned cabinets, for many folks white kitchens are a non-negotiable. Not only because white is a safer choice, but because of daily ease living with white. Because of such experience and history, often it won’t seem prudent to deviate from what served you well. White cabinets can certainly be the right choice for someone who loves rich color. Neutrals have longevity because they harmonize nicely with seasonal accents and even bold accent colors. BUT WHICH WHITE PAINT COLOR? We’ll explore five colors to consider sampling.

SW Alabaster on kitchen cabinets in a gorgeous timeless kitchen with Holborn lanterns over island - Thompson Construction. #swalabaster #sherwinwilliamsalabaster #kitchencabinets — **Sherwin-Williams Alabaster** – Design: Thompson Construction

Painting Cabinets White: But Which White?

Why Sample Multiple White Paints?

Even if you have painted cabinets white in the past, if you live in a different space or are building from scratch, you really are on a new journey. Different white paints have various undertones and different homes various exposure and lighting. The perfect white for your kitchen? A little thought and thorough sampling will get you there.

Warm white kitchen with dark painted island and design by Whittney Parkinson. #warmwhitekitchen #whitekitchencabinets — Whittney Parkinson – try **Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone 241** for a similar neutral tone

You will likely not land on the best paint color for your project by simply browsing kitchens on Pinterest. You’ll need to determine whether a warm white, cool white, greyish white, or off white is what you’re after. It helps to look at lots of photos online, but you can’t simply learn the name of the color used in a particular kitchen and think it will look the same in yours.

Hello Lovely Studio's serene kitchen with window seat, Belgian linen, and white oak flooring. — Hello Lovely Studio – Walls: **BM White OC-151**

Do Designer-Picked Whites Help?

They do in that it gives you a place to start in terms of sampling whites. Designers often become attached to a few favorites they find to be trustworthy. That could mean mean the color doesn’t seem to change a lot over the course of the day as the light changes. It can mean that a certain white tends to work across a variety of lighting contexts.

Two tone timeless white kitchen with floating shelves and design by Whittney Parkinson. #floatingshelves #whitekitchens — Whittney Parkinson – In this two-tone bespoke kitchen scheme, two different whites (a warm tone and a cooler white) harmonize.

Each white hue has gradations, undertones, and formulaic color combinations that influence the paint color’s LRV (light reflectance value). Here are 4 whites to consider and a gallery of photos to help you get a sense of them.

1. Benjamin Moore WHITE DOVE OC-17

A great number of designers and homeowners turn to Benjamin Moore White Dove when painting cabinets off-white. I have been using this shade for more than 30 years for trim, doors, walls, and cabinets.

White Dove (Benjamin Moore) painted cabinets in a lovely custom kitchen by Caitlin Creer. #bmwhitedove #whitekitchencabinets — **BM White Dove** – Design: Caitlin Creer Interiors

Not too warm, but not sterile feeling. I especially like it for vintage pieces where I’m not after a “freshly modern” take on traditional style but rather I want to preserve a feeling of age so it feels established and traditional. Don’t be fooled if this swatch looks tan on your screen:

White Dove BM OC-17 paint color swatch. #bmwhitedove #whitedovepaint #classicwhitepaintcolors — **BM White Dove OC-17**

Benjamin Moore calls this white a clean and classic white, and the rest of the planet seems to agree. What I hope you notice straight away is how different the swatch of White Dove appears from the cabinetry above and below it:

Benjamin Moore White Dove in a lovely modern minimal kitchen by Melanie Davis Design. #benjaminmoorewhitedove — **Benjamin Moore White Dove** – @melanie_davis_design

You truly can’t glance at a little swatch and know how it will be perceived in the unique light of your space. Sampling can save lots of time, money, and headache.

BM White Dove on kitchen cabinets in a gorgeous design by @gablebuilding. #bmwhitedove #whitedovekitchen — **BM White Dove** in a kitchen by @gablebuilding

The light reflectance value of this off white is 83.16 – it reflects serious light. Should you also paint the walls, ceiling, and trim the same color? You totally can. Here’s White Dove on walls:

Benjamin Moore White Dove in a lovely bedroom by @warren_farmhouse. #benjaminmoorewhitedove — **Benjamin Moore WHITE DOVE** – @warren_farmhouse; Painting Cabinets White…But Which White?

And here it is on my piano that I painted:

Serene winter vignette with my white piano as it snows - Hello Lovely Studio. #hellolovelyhome — Piano painted **BM White Dove** – Painting Cabinets White…But Which White?

To decide whether a monochromatic look is for you, keep viewing images (dig into my archives and search “white kitchen”) to determine what your eye prefers. Subtle contrast for walls and cabinets can be beautiful. So can high contrast or almost none.

BM White Dove on a gorgeous brick house exterior with arched entry - @dianarosespier. #bmwhitedove — **White Dove** on an exterior – @dianarosepier

Learning More About What Catches Your Eye

What you’ll do as you browse images (and do expand them so you can see the details in the images) is NOTICE a pattern of what you like. After a tranquil mood? Which kitchens evoke that mood for you?

Coastal style bunk room with built-ins and blue accents is a delightful design by Tom Scheerer, photo by Francesco Lagnese. Elle Decor. — Trim: **BM White Dove**; Design: Tom Scheerer; Photo: Francesco Lagnese for *Elle Decor*

Now look closer. Is the contrast level between walls/cabinetry/ceiling/trim low? Is it high? Or is there minimal contrast visible? If you’re working with a kitchen designer, pictures are worth a thousand words!

Detail of BM White Dove painted cabinets in a lovely design by @amanydesignstudio. #bmwhitedove #whitedovecabinets — **BM White Dove** – Design: @amanydesignstudio

Which Colors Work Well With White Dove?

You could consider these three beautiful neutrals in combination with White Dove for accents, interior trim, exterior details, and walls:

White Dove painted kitchen by Modern Midwest Nest. #whitepaintcolors #whitedovepaint #benjaminmoorewhitedove #whitekitchens — Painting Cabinets White…But Which White? **Benjamin Moore OC-17** – Modern Midwest Nest

Balboa Mist OC-27, Kendall Charcoal HC-166, and Revere Pewter HC-172

BM White Dove kitchen cabinets and walls in a lovely country design - photo by Lincoln Barbour. #bmwhitedove #whitecountrykitchen — **BM White Dove** – Photo: Lincoln Barbour for *Country Living*

Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.

BM White Dove OC-17 on kitchen cabinets and shiplap in designer Sherry Hart's kitchen (Michael Ladisic) in AHL magazine. #bmwhitedove — **White Dove OC-17** – Design: Sherry Hart in AHL (Photo: Anthony Masterson)

2. Benjamin Moore CHANTILLY LACE OC-65

When you’re after a brighter white than White Dove, Chantilly Lace may be a great choice for your cabinetry. Here’s my friend Loi Thai’s gorgeous classic kitchen (Tone on Tone):

Chantilly Lace cabinets in a classic Nordic French white kitchen with light grey painted floors, topiaries near window, and classic pendants (Circa Lighting) over island - Loi of Tone on Tone. #whitekitchens #toneontone #bmshoreline #bmchantillylace — Loi Thai’s kitchen with **Chantilly Lace** – Painting Cabinets White…But Which White?

It’s not modern, yet it has a freshened feel. And here is Erin Fetherston’s California modern farmhouse where Chantilly Lace plays a starring role everywhere:

Come explore California Modern Farmhouse Style Interior Design Inspiration like this charming kitchen (Erin Fetherston) with midcentury and white elements! #modernfarmhouse #interiordesign #breakfastnook #kitchens #erinfetherston #midcenturymodern #californiastyle — Erin Fetherston’s California kitchen with **Chantilly Lace** on walls and trim

It does seem that Chantilly Lace is favored by minimalists, modernists, and Midcentury Modern fans while White Dove is maybe chosen more often by traditionalists.

BM Chantilly Lace painted kitchen cabinets in a lovely design by Plain and Posh (photo by @pictureperfecthouse). #chantillylace #whitekitchencabinets #bmchantillylace — **BM Chantilly Lace** – Design: Plain and Posh (Photo by @pictureperfecthouse)

But even if you have no clue what your personal style is, it’s okay. Just a sample a variety of whites to see the differences in whites when they are side by side. You’ll be surprised! In the end, it may be the lighting in your space that decides which white wins.

BM Chantilly Lace paint color swatch. #bmchantillylace #chantillylace — **BM Chantilly Lace**

This white is a very crisp and bright off white also known as 2121-70. The brand calls it “a classic go-to white eliciting images of fresh cotton and pure silk.”

Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore) painted cabinets in a lovely white kitchen by Simplicity for Designs (photo by Audrie Dollins). #bmchantillylace #whitekitchencabinets — **BM Chantilly Lace** – Design: @simplicityfordesigns (Photo: Audrie Dollins)

How light and bright is it? The LRV is 90.04! That is very pure white since light reflectance is from 0 to 100 with 100 being 100% of reflected light and 0 being the darkest black.

Which Paint Colors Go With Chantilly Lace?

Ice Mist 2123-70 is similar to Chantilly Lace so you may want to look closer at it. Horizon OC-53 is a quiet grey-white that coordinates with it too. Many designers are crazy about Horizon, and it has an atmospheric, ethereal factor you may like.

Shaker kitchen with 30" Reinhard fireclay farm sink, Viatera Minuet quartz, and polished venatino marble subway tile backsplash - Hello Lovely Studio. #farmsink — Hello Lovely – Off white cabinets in my kitchen are similar to White Dove, while the trim, ceiling, and walls were painted BM OC-151 which is similar to Chantilly Lace. Counters: Viatera Minuet quartz.

More Benjamin Moore whites to match Chantilly Lace? Benjamin Moore White OC-151 and BM Brilliant White OC-150.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace in a cozy bedroom with window seat and wood ceiling - Jamie Haller design. House Beautiful - Photo: Jenna Ohtemus Peffley. #chantillylace — Chantilly Lace on walls – Jamie Haller in *House Beautiful*

I share a bunch of photos of White OC-151 in THIS because I’m very familiar with it. I used it for walls, trim, and ceilings in our former home because its very cool blue undertones worked well with the lighting there. You can see OC-151 in Lisa Furey’s kitchen on cabinets, walls, and even the exterior of this beautiful coastal property:

Brilliant White OC-150 Benjamin Moore white color on cabinets and walls. Handmade tile backsplash in blue and white coastal cottage kitchen by Lisa Furey. — Lisa Furey – **BM White OC-151**

Now we’ll switch gears and look at a warm white.

3. Sherwin-Williams SW Alabaster 7008

If you’re after a warmer white that feels calming and cozy, you may want to sample the wildly popular Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008.

What is it like? Sherwin-Williams claims it will satisfy “When you want the brightness of a white without sacrificing a warm coziness.”

SW Alabaster 7008 Sherwin-Williams paint color swatch. #swalabaster — **SW Alabaster 7008**

The brand also refers to Alabaster as “a soft, warm but balanced white to turn up the peaceful.”

Rustic elegant French country farmhouse kitchen with beautiful stucco range hood, copper pots, reclaimed Chicago brick backsplash, arabescato marble counters, and lanterns over island. Brit Jones Design. See more Gorgeous European Country Interior Design Inspiration on Hello Lovely. #europeancountry #frenchfarmhouse #interiordesign — Brittany Jones – **SW Alabaster painted cabinetry**; Painting Cabinets White…But Which White?

I tend to agree that peaceful is an accurate description. If you dig in my archives and search “Brittany Jones” you’ll find that designer’s Texas home where Alabaster plays a starring role.

Rustic elegant French country farmhouse white kitchen with farm sink, reclaimed Chicago brick backsplash, and window overlooking courtyard. Brit Jones Design. — Brittany Jones – **SW Alabaster** in a lovely French country white kitchen

Something I would encourage you to notice? Look closely at how the cabinets above don’t “match” the white of the farm sink or the greyish-white Arabescato marble counters. Creating a beautiful white kitchen isn’t about matching whites. Mixing whites and neutrals is what keeps it all feeling authentic, custom, and rich with character. Even though the differences are subtle, it truly prevents the look from being flat.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster paint color in rustic elegant French country laundry room. Open basket storage, reclaimed Chicago brick flooring, and abundant natural light. Brit Jones Design. — Design: Brit Jones Design. Architect: Tyler Gentry.

Which Coordinating Colors Go With Alabaster and Which Don’t?

You may want to look at SW Townshall Tan 7690 as well as SW Dakota Wheat 9023. So many paint colors work well with Alabaster that I think we all lost count of how many kitchen designs by Joanna Gaines featured the white.

Antique Ridgeway china light blue plates hung on wall near farm sink in timeless kitchen of 2017 Southeastern Designer Showhouse. #bluekitchen #farrowandballlightblue #timelesskitchen #kitchendesign #traditionalkitchen — SW Alabaster – Southeastern Designer Showhouse 2017

Alabaster is often fitting for farmhouse, country, vintage style, French country, and Old World kitchen styles. However, it may be too creamy or appear yellowish in certain lighting conditions which is why it’s so important to sample it first.

Silvery Blue Kitchen Get the Look on Hello Lovely Studio. #bluekitchens #getthelook #kitchendesign

1. Farrow & Ball Light Blue No. 22

2. Polished Marble Mosaic Tile

3. Visual Comfort Gramercy Double Sconce

4. Goodman Hanging Light

5. Hyannis 30 Farm Sink

6. Lifeproof LVP Flooring

7. Champagne Bronze Pull

8. Cabinet Knob Hardware

9. Ogee Edge Laminate Countertop

10. Seagrass Bowl

11. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster Paint

4. Benjamin Moore COLLINGWOOD

The first thing to note about this interesting white is how it doesn’t have “white” in the name. Also known as OC-28, Collingwood is a lovely, sophisticated white Benjamin Moore calls “A widely appealing shade of gray with lightly cool undertones.”

BM Collingwood on kitchen cabinets in a lovely white kitchen by @jlv_creative. #bmcollingwood #whitekitchencabinets — **BM Collingwood** – Design: @jlv_creative (Photo: Margaret Wright)

Why are we including it with whites when the brand calls it gray? It is versatile and chameleon-like. And as long as you see the above kitchen and think, “yep, that’s a white kitchen,” it may be a contender. It can appear slightly warm despite this hue’s cool undertones. Does it look grey? Putty? Stone-like? The mystery around this color and the fact it isn’t easy to pin down actually makes it a more appealing and sophisticated option.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood 859 paint color swatch. #benjaminmoorecollingwood #puttypaintcolors — **BM Collingwood**

The LRV for Collingwood is 61.52 which means it is still at the lighter end of the spectrum, reflecting a fair amount of light. However, Collingwood reflects a lot less light than Chantilly Lace which has an LRV of 90.

BM Collingwood on kitchen cabinets in a beautiful white kitchen with Chantilly Lace walls - design by AKBDesign. #collingwood #bmcollingwood #chantillylace — A lovely kitchen designed for actress Karine Vanasse by AKB Design; Cabinetry: @cuisinesmiralis

One of qualities I appreciate about Collingwood is the magic it works with cooler walls and marble counters. A lot of folks freak out when they have to choose a white countertop material that will work best with their white cabinetry. However, if you view enough images online, you’ll begin to see how the variations are endless.

See more of the kitchen with above in this house tour.

Which Colors Look Great with Collingwood?

As far as complementary light neutrals to contrast lightly, see Icicle OC-60, which is a warm white that works well with Collingwood. Also consider BM White Dove OC-17. A taupe hue such as River Reflections 1552 and the deeply sophisticated blue-gray Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20 both harmonize with it too.

Is a Light Grey the Right White for Your Cabinets?

There are plenty more colors without “white” in their name that may be the right option for your kitchen cabinets. In my own home (a traditional Georgian), we wanted to keep things light, understated, and neutral in the kitchen. A custom light grey worked best.

Renovated kitchen with Viatera Muse countertops and Sherwin Williams Eider White paint color. Cabinets are 50% Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray - Hello Lovely Studio. — Hello Lovely – cabinets: **Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray 242** at 66% strength (2/3 Pavilion Gray, 1/3 pure white); walls: SW Eider White; Counters: Viatera Muse quartz

At full strength, it was too dark. Since the kitchen receives plenty of natural light, the cabinets often appear light blue from the yellow sunny light…just what I was after. I didn’t choose the cabinet color until after the counters were installed, but I know this isn’t often possible.

Hello Lovely's kitchen with modern French style - come shop the look! #modernfrench #frenchkitchen #hellolovelystudio

1. LVP Flooring

2. Wall Paint Color

3. Calacatta Gold Marble Subway Tile

4. Gilded Iron Darlana Mini Lantern

5. 30″ Hyannis Nantucket Farm Sink

6. Perrin & Rowe Edwardian Kitchen Faucet

7. Cabinet Color (Mixed at 66%)

8. Viatera Muse Quartz Countertop

9. Swivel Adjustable Height Stools

5. Benjamin Moore WHITE SAND 964

Here’s a color with which I have experience since I chose it for nearly all of the walls of a French country house we built. White Sand is warm and will look great with a range of countertops.

Benjamin Moore White Sand 964 paint color swatch. #benjaminmoorewhitesand #bmwhitesand — **BM White Sand**

What I love about a color like White Sand for cabinets is how it is similar to the tone of a wood species such as white oak. It also reminds me of natural linen, and various whites for wall color, trim, and counters will work well.

Wall color in the living room is painted Benjamin Moore White Sand - a soft and warm creamy shade with green undertones and an elegant earthy feel. #hellolovelystudio #benjaminmoorewhitesand #warmwhitepaintcolor — BM White Sand – Hello Lovely (trim color is BM Dove White)

Here’s another shot of White Sand on walls in our dining room where the hutch and furniture is painted BM Whit Dove:

BM White Sand in our French country dining room with antique grainsack runner and galvanized bucket of hydrangea - Hello Lovely Studio. #hellolovely #bmwhitesand #frenchcountrywhites — Hello Lovely – BM White Sand walls and White Dove on furniture

Is The Thought of Making a Mistake Paralyzing You?

A word of caution. Even when you feel confident you landed on the right white and other design elements for your kitchen design, second thoughts may surface as each layer takes shape. It’s very common to freak out. It’s a big investment. With the sea of choices you may think you chose poorly.

Hello Lovely - traditional kitchen with black island, white custom cabinets, Taj Mahal quartzite, farm sink, Bluestar range, and Chippendale stools. #traditionalkitchens #twotonekitchen

1. Paint Color

2. Backsplash

3. Sink

4. Faucet

5. Flooring

6. Similar Pendant

7. Hardware

8. Exact Counter Stool

9. Similar Runner

But you probably don’t have enough data yet to freak. (I don’t mean you shouldn’t lose your mind if appliances don’t fit…that’s a problem). Just bear in mind that when just one layer is in place, you probably aren’t able to assess the final look. When all of your attention goes to the one thing before others are in place? Inaccurate assessments can happen. I’m a real life renovator where premature freakouts are routine along the journey.

Hello Lovely's breakfast nook in a kitchen with modern French style - come shop the look! #modernfrench #frenchkitchen #breakfastnook #hellolovelystudio

1. Similar Woven Placemat Set

2. Everlasting Hydrangea Vase Filler

3. Slipcovered Dining Chair

4. LVP Flooring

5. Wall Paint Color

6. Similar Modern French Vase

7. Thomas O’Brien Elizabeth Chandelier

8. Similar Pedestal Table

Choosing the best white is never a cake walk since every project is different. Sometimes you’ll know a sample is wrong immediately. Other times, it’s a mystery. One thing that isn’t mysterious? Nobody likes re-painting when it’s wrong! So it pays to be thorough with sampling.

Elegant Lighting Ideas on Hello Lovely Studio. #chandeliers #sconces #pendantlights

1. Gramercy Double Sconce

2. Medium Ring Chandelier – Gramercy

3. Goodman Medium Hanging Light

4. Dalarna Mini Lantern

5. Honore Lantern

6. Moravian Star Lantern

7. Fremont Hanging Lantern

8. Camille Small Chandelier

9. Hicks Large Pendant

10. Classic Single Sconce

11. Pondview Medium Jar Lantern

12. Paris Flea Market Chandelier

BONUS TIP for Choosing the Best White

BONUS TIP:

If a paint sample isn’t providing enough confidence to choose a cabinet color, paint a piece of cast-off furniture and live with it in the space. (It’s easy to score curb-side finds or a free FB Marketplace piece for experimentation.)

Hello Lovely's white European country modern French kitchen with Minuet Viatera quartz counters, farm sink, industrial cart, and marble subway backsplash.

1. Terracotta Urn Vase

2. 30″ Fireclay Farm Sink

3. Bridge Faucet

4. Polished Marble Subway Mosaic

5. Stainless Cabinet Hardware

6. Similar Rustic Accent Stool

7. White Ruffle Bowl

8. Wood Boards

9. Cast Iron Dutch Oven

10. Bosch 800 Series Appliances

11. Paint Color

Ready to order samples of a few of these colors? Visit Samplize to get them delivered directly to your door.

Country French kitchen - get the look on Hello Lovely Studio. These pieces are inspired by HGTV's Fixer Upper "The Club House" episode. #frenchcountrykitchen #kitchendesign

1. 10″ Porcelain Tile

2. Enamel Tea Kettle

3. Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

4. Round Oak Bread Board

5. Chandelier

6. Crock

7. Bar & Counter Stool

8. Bridge Faucet

9. Striped Tea Towels

10. Jute Runner Rug

11. Pitcher

12. Seagrass Produce Bowl

13. Mug Holder

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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