There’s a Goldilocks complex to white paint. Too cool, and suddenly your space feels sterile; too warm, and it can veer into yellow territory. It’s surprisingly difficult to get white paint just right. To help narrow down the many (many, many) options on the market, we asked five interior designers to share their tried-and-true white…
Editor’s Note: Prices are reflective of sample pots or swatches.
1. Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa
Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams is interior designer Alicia Hassen Roche’s favorite warm white. “It’s soft and inviting without feeling too yellow or flat, and there’s a subtle depth that gives a room dimension rather than just a backdrop. It works beautifully in spaces with a mix of natural and low light, staying balanced and consistent throughout the day,” she says. Hassen Roche especially loves how it pairs effortlessly with an array of other colors — think emerald green, coral, and dusty blue — as well as how it complements natural wood and stone.
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2. Alkemis Floating
Ask Chandler Collins-Barnes, co-owner of Gaggle Home, for his go-to white paint, and he doesn’t hesitate: Floating from Alkemis. “It’s warm, classic, and anything but sterile. It’s one of those fabulous whites that feels fresh, and like it’s always been there at the same time,” he says. “Alkemis is always my top choice for a paint base when working in a historic setting, but even in other settings. Because of the natural crystalline composition of the paint, the white tones are able to be manipulated to complement whatever scheme I’m working in.”
3. Donald Kaufman Color DKC-51
Interior designer Larysa Sendich, founder of NESTA STUDIO in New York City, uses this milky white when she needs a white paint with depth. “I tend to specify this color in slightly more eclectic or traditional projects where a bit of warmth is needed,” she says.
4. Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
Designer Dawn Ianno of Dawn Interiors is a fan of Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore. It’s a clean, modern choice, especially for ceilings and woodwork. “It’s a go-to when you want a bright, crisp white with just a hint of cool gray,” Ianno says.
5. Sherwin-Williams Creamy
For interior designer Shelby Adamson of Little Black Fox Design, Creamy by Sherwin-Williams is a bright white with barely-there yellow undertones that reminds her of the soft, powdery sand on the beaches of the Gulf. “It’s a classic in my book,” she says. “The warm undertone allows you to pull in a monochromatic palette beautifully, and works especially well in a traditional sense when using buttery yellows, warm wood stains, and sagey greens.”
6. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
Designer after designer after designer agrees: Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace is a perfect pure white paint color. Collins-Barnes calls it an “easy win” for a paper-white tone, especially for contemporary spaces that want a gallery-like white to present art against. It’s Sendich and Ianno’s top pick too; both note it’s the truest white with nearly no undertone. “This color works in just about every setting,” Ianno says.
7. Farrow & Ball All White
True to its name, Farrow & Ball’s All White is a crisp white with no undertones. “This is a fantastic white for galleries or art studios where you are looking for a clean bright white,” Sendich says.
8. Benjamin Moore Simply White
It’s, well, simple to see why Benjamin Moore’s Simply White is a favorite among designers and homeowners alike. “If you’re after a warmer white that doesn’t veer too creamy or yellow, this is it,” Ianno says. “Simply White brings warmth and softness while still reading as fresh and neutral, perfect for spaces that need a gentle glow without skewing beige.” It’s especially suited for rooms lacking natural light.
9. Farrow & Ball White Tie
For a soft, creamy white, turn to White Tie from Farrow & Ball. “It is the perfect milky color for spaces where I want a cream, but want to avoid any substantial yellow undertones,” Collins-Barnes says. “In true Farrow & Ball fashion, it’s an extremely English white that evokes images of good bone china and fresh milk from the dairy.”
10. Benjamin Moore White Dove
“White Dove gives the clean neutrality of a white paint, like a warm hug,” Adamson says. She loves drenching an entire room — walls, ceiling, and trim — in Benjamin Moore’s popular white color, no matter how much (or how little) natural light the space receives.
