In Search of the Perfect White

Posted by Anna Applegate on 28 February 2011 | 2 Comments

Painting can be the easiest and often least expensive way to freshen up the look of a room. But nailing down that perfect color is tricky, especially when you’re dealing with whites. With way too many options, it’s hard to know which ones will turn cold and gray and which ones are too drab and lifeless. 

To eliminate stress when it comes to picking the perfect shade of white, I like to keep an arsenal of “go-to” colors that can work with most anything (as a white paint should). These are colors that have proven themselves time and time again and play nicely with just about any fabric or finish you throw their way. After all, painting is only a decorating bargain if you like the color enough to stick with it for a while. And while bright colors and patterns tend to come and go, the perfect shade of white will be with you forever.

So here are my top 10 tried and true whites. Be sure to test these on your walls first — the lighting of each room can make colors look different. But, chances are, one of the names on this list will give you walls that you’ll love for years to come. 

Bone White, Benjamin Moore Int. Room

China White, Benjamin Moore Int. Room

 Decorators White, Benjamin Moore Int. Room

Linen White, Benjamin Moore 912

Navajo White, Benjamin Moore OC-95

Pointing, Farrow & Ball 2003

Soft Chamois, Benjamin Moore OC-13

Super White, Benjamin Moore Int. Room

Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore OC-45

White Dove, Benjamin Moore OC-17

Do you have a favorite white paint of choice? 

Anna Applegate is a designer, writer, and new mom living in Winston-Salem. She also loves to hunt for and refurbish old furniture. You can read more about her at her blog, An Apple A Day.