Behr Polar Bear: a complete color review

Looking for the perfect bright white paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Behr Polar Bear and if it might be right for your home!

White paint is so popular because it's a blank slate and easy to pair with virtually any decorating style!

But there are so many whites out there, and many have undertones that can include gray, blue, green, purple, yellow or pink.

This can make it a bit tricky to pick a white paint color without diving into the specifics.

A popular white paint color is Behr Polar Bear, so let's chat about the details into what makes this shade of white so popular!

Polar Bear, Behr 75

Behr Polar Bear is a bright white paint color.

It looks white in most situations; however, it can sometimes show subtle pink or yellow undertones.

Its undertones are very slight when compared the undertones of other paint colors, which often makes Polar Bear look very white.

Color Family

Polar Bear is in the white color family.

Light Reflectance Value

90

Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.

With an LRV of 90, Polar Bear is very light and bright. It will reflect a lot of light back into a room. However, note that even at 90, it's not a pure white.

RGB Colors

R: 245 G: 244 B: 236

RGB describes the amount of each color - red, green, and blue - present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!

When all three values are close together like this, it means the paint color is a neutral.

Hex Code

#f8f5ef

Undertones

Polar Bear has almost no undertones, making it a strong white paint color. However, in some situations, it has been known to show slight yellow and pink undertones, making it a warm paint color.

In north-facing rooms, Polar Bear will appear cooler and more of a bright white, sometimes even a bit gray.

In south-facing rooms, Polar Bear may show a little warmer, and those subtle yellow undertones are more likely to appear.

Best uses

Polar Bear is neutral enough to work as a whole house paint color. You can use it for:

• Living rooms
• Bedrooms
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Home exterior
• Interior doors
• Cabinets
• Furniture

Similar Colors

• Sherwin Williams White Snow
• Benjamin Moore Cotton Ball
• Behr Cotton Ball
• Benjamin Moore White Opulence
• Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

Coordinating Colors

Polar Bear is a bright white, which means it pairs with virtually any color. It pairs especially well with warmer colors due to its subtle pink and yellow undertones.

Polar Bear pairs well with warm yellow-greens, pinks, reds, yellows, tans, light blues, navy blues, grays and blacks.

Warm greens

• Green Charm
• Laser
• Reviving Green
• Pineapple Crush
• Back to Nature

Light pinks:

• Funny Face
• Rosewater
• Funhouse
• Premium Pink

Light blues:

• Sunken Pool
• Streetwise
• Half Sea Fog
• Offshore Mist

Trim Colors

For white paint colors, the best option is to use the same color for the walls and for the trim. Just choose a different finish for tone on tone contrast.

So, choose Polar Bear in eggshell finish for the walls and Polar Bear in semi-gloss for the trim. This gives a nice, soft finished look. 

Behr Polar Bear FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Behr's Polar Bear paint color!

Is Behr Polar Bear a true white?

With an LRV of 90, Polar Bear is a very light and bright white. However, a true pure white has an LRV of 100.

Polar Bear has minimal undertones, making it a good white for many spaces, but it can have subtle pink or yellow undertones in some rooms with warmer light.

It's always important to swatch paint colors before committing.

What colors pair well with Behr Polar Bear?

As a light and bright white, Polar Bear pairs well with virtually any color. It pairs especially well with warmer colors due to its subtle pink and yellow undertones.

You can pair Polar Bear with with warm yellow-greens, pinks, reds, yellows, tans, light blues, navy blues, grays and blacks.

What color trim should you use with Behr Polar Bear?

For white paint colors, it's best to use the same color for the walls and trim. You can just use a different finish for tone on tone contrast.

For example, use Polar Bear in eggshell finish for the walls and Polar Bear in semi-gloss for the trim.

Is Polar Bear by Behr warm or cool?

Polar Bear is considered a warm paint color. It has subtle pink and yellow undertones that are more apparent in some spaces than others. In cooler rooms, it can appear as more of a pure white.

What is the difference between Behr Polar Bear and BM White Dove?

Polar Bear is lighter and brighter than White Dove. Polar Bear has an LRV of 90, and White Dove has an LRV of 85, which means Polar Bear will reflect more light back into a room.

Polar Bear has very subtle undertones of pink and yellow. White Dove has yellow and greige undertones.

What is the difference between Behr Polar Bear and BM Simply White?

BM Simply White is slightly lighter and brighter than Behr Polar Bear. Simply White has an LRV of 92, and Polar Bear has an LRV of 90, which means Simply White will reflect more light back into a room.

Simply White has yellow undertones, and Polar Bear has very subtle pink and yellow undertones.

Thanks for reading!