The 5 Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets
Choosing a white paint color for cabinets or trim can be a HARROWING experience. This is especially true if you aren’t starting from scratch and have to coordinate with existing, and possibly outdated, finishes. So, I’ve narrowed things down to a few of my fave, ‘go-to whites’ that should be white up your alley.
I ONLY use photos from my Online Paint Color Consulting clients to show you the most accurate versions of these colors.
White Dove is one of my TOP suggested shades of white paint color for cabinets, trims, doors, ceilings, AND walls!
Why?
Some whites are too stark or cold for the average home’s countertop and backsplash. Other whites are too warm. White Dove is the middle ground between too white and too warm with a passive approach. So, while it acts like white, it’s not stark nor overly creamy.
White Dove is also a great option if you want white walls, trims, and cabinets – all the same color. Its warmth and LRV suit various exposures and finishes, offering a softer approach than Pure White and Chantilly Lace.
These cabinets look a bit warmer than usual as the painter used a lacquer-based paint…
It’s important to COMPARE whites when looking for your best shade. A white can look pretty darn neutral UNTIL you compare it to another, at which point it’s easier to see the undertones and temperature. Just remember, there are no MATCHES between brands – each white will have its own undertones and uniqueness.
White Dove uppers, Benjamin Moore Antique Pewter lowers
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF WHITE DOVE
Pure White is fantastic and one of my FAVES. This super popular white sits between White Dove’s warmth and Chantilly Lace’s simplicity. Pure White IS a warm white, but it’s one of the most subtle warm whites on the market.
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White
Welllll, not really – like White Dove, Pure White is really a creature unto itself. This doesn’t mean there aren’t some great colors to COMPARE with, as some countertops need more warmth than Pure White offers, but no other white is really ‘the same.’
Read more : How to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF PURE WHITE
Chantilly Lace is a classic, timeless shade of white. While it does have a touch of softness to it (which we know about thanks to its LRV of 90 – if it were a true white, it would be a higher number), Chantilly Lace acts like white without being stark or cold.
Many people find TRUE whites a bit too stark for their cabinets or trim – and they can be, depending on the surrounding finishes. Chantilly Lace is popular because it gives a cleaner contrast with finishes (compared to softer, warmer whites), without being edgy or harsh. This is because while Chantilly Lace ‘looks’ pretty darn white, it has a wink of softness to it!
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF CHANTILLY LACE
NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES – let me tell you what to do!
While Cloud White isn’t one of my TOP 3, it’s a great option for kitchens that need a more obvious warmth. Cloud White can look like a real white UNTIL you place it next to a real white (like paper or my butt cheeks). If you didn’t know yet that it’s that type of blog – now you know (wink wink).
Cloud White has a subtle yellow/creamy undertone with a grounded neutral base, making it less stark than a traditional white. However, if you already have ‘white’ trim, appliances, or windows, you WILL notice the difference.
See more Cloud White here: A Maple Kitchen Makeover with Cloud White
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Cloud White
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF CLOUD WHITE
As it relates to the BEST paint colors for cabinets, Alabaster is the softest, warmest white. This is one reason it’s a hit with my clients who have homes from the 1990s and early 2000s, as it tends to suit many finishes from these times.
See my client, Jenna Christian’s beautiful home and style HERE.
Alabaster has an LRV of 82, so while it’s white, it’s a soft, dark white. Will it ‘act like white?’ Yes, as long as your idea of ‘white’ is, soft, gentle, and warm. However, if you put Alabaster with a whiter shade of white (i.e., GE Cafe white appliances/most white subway tiles), it will look softer and almost creamy in comparison.
Read more : Light vs. Dark Cabinets
Alabaster trim with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray walls – notice how soft and subtle the trim looks.
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF ALABASTER
LASTLY, there is one color that’s not on this list, but it should be, or maybe it WILL be, in the near future…
White Snow is a new shade of white that’s only available in Sherwin Williams Emerald Designer’s Edition (along with eight other NEW shades of white). Because it’s new, and it’s not EASY to sample other than through Samplize, I haven’t had any clients use it (yet). It’s also the MOST expensive line of paint they carry – but damn, does it have a beautiful finish.
White Snow is awesome. It looks like white and acts like white, but it isn’t stark like true or cold whites or overly warm like some other shades. It could be GREAT in a variety of kitchens and I can’t wait to see it in action!
I highly recommend comparing White Snow to several other shades. Noticing the difference between whites is what helps you see which one your interior finishes gravitate towards.
FULL Paint Color Review of White Snow
You can’t get paper chip samples, sample pots, or quartz of White Snow made (Sherwin should REEEALLY remedy this). This means that aside from Samplize, the ONLY way to see White Snow in action is to purchase a full gallon. At $125 CDN, that’s a huge stretch for the average person. Sampling needs to be EASY.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE of White Snow
READ MORE
SHOULD You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets White? And Which White is Best?
The 3 Best Off-White Paint Colors for Trims, Walls, and More…
3 STEPS: Choose the Best White for Your Cabinets, Trims, or Walls
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
Not sure which white is best for your kitchen cabinets?
Check out my affordable Online Color Consulting!
Chat soon,
Originally written in 2017, updated in 2019
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
This post was last modified on 15/10/2023 12:51
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