Looking for the perfect white paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Simply White and if it might be right for your home!
White is a popular paint color because it’s a neutral that goes well with all decor styles and finishes.
White can serve as a clean neutral or backdrop for a bolder style.
There are so many whites out there!
Whites can be warm or cool and have undertones, including gray, blue, green, purple, yellow, or pink.
One of the most popular whites is Simply White. Let’s dive into the details!
Benjamin Moore, Simply White, OC-117
Simply White is a crisp white paint color with the slightest hint of warmth.
Simply White was Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year in 2016, and it’s remained popular since.
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Simply White
Color Family
Simply White is in the white family.
Light Reflectance Value
90
Light Reflective Value measures 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, Simply White 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 pure white.
RGB Colors
R: 247 G: 244 B: 235
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!
Hex Code
#F7F4EB
Undertones
Simply White has slight warm yellow undertones.
Simply White often appears as a true white, not too creamy or too yellow. However, if paired with a true white, it may look yellower.
Its yellow undertones may appear in south-facing rooms with lots of natural light.
Simply White may appear colder and whiter in north-facing rooms with less natural light.
It’s very important to swatch colors on your wall to be sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
Best uses
Simply White is neutral enough to work as a whole house paint color.
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Home exterior
- Interior doors
- Cabinets
- Furniture
Similar Colors
- Behr Snow Day
- Sherwin Williams White Snow
- Benjamin Moore Mountain Peak White
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White
- Benjamin Moore Cotton Balls
- Benjamin Moore Snowfall White
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Simply White
Coordinating Colors
As a white, Simply White pairs well with virtually any color.
Simply White pairs well with blues, greens, greiges, pinks, reds, yellows, tans, grays and blacks.
Dark blues:
- Blue Note
- Van Deusen Blue
- Hale Navy
- Patriot Blue
- Evening Dove
Mid-toned greens:
- Herb Bouquet
- Rosepine
- Sherwood Green
- Georgian Green
- Kennebunkport Green
Mid-toned greiges:
- Revere Pewter
- Brushed Aluminum
- Edgecomb Gray
- Balboa Mist
- Athena
Trim Colors
For white paint colors, the best option is to use the same color for the walls and the trim.
Just choose a different finish for tone-on-tone contrast.
So, choose Simply White in eggshell finish for the walls and Simply White in semi-gloss for the trim. This gives a nice, soft, finished look.
Benjamin Moore Simply White color palette
Join the (free!) PaintColorProject+ community to access this exclusive color palette! Once you join, you can right click & save the palette image!
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Simply White
FAQS
Here are some common frequently asked questions about Simply White.
What are the undertones of Simply White?
Simply White has subtle warm yellow undertones that will be more apparent in south-facing rooms with lots of natural light.
What is the difference between BM Simply White and Mountain Peak White?
Simply White is slightly lighter than Mountain Peak White, with an LRV of 90 versus 89.
This means Simply White will reflect slightly more light back into a room.
Both whites have warm undertones. Because they’re so similar, it’s always best to swatch colors in your specific space before committing!
Does Simply White look dingy?
Because Simply White is a crisp white, it does not look dingy. It may look creamier or yellower in rooms with warm lighting.
What is the difference between BM Simply White and Chantilly Lace?
Simply White has warm yellow undertones, and Chantilly Lace has neutral undertones, meaning Chantilly Lace is more of a true neutral white.
Simply White and Chantilly Lace both have LRVs of 90, which means they reflect the same amount of light back into a space.
It’s always best to swatch colors in your specific space before committing!
Is Simply White too white?
Simply White has an LRV of 90, and true, pure white has an LRV of 100. This means Simply White is not a true white.
Simply White also has a subtle warm yellow undertone that is more apparent in some lighting situations than others.
In south-facing rooms, the undertones can be more obvious.
What greiges go with Simply White?
As a true crisp white, Simply White pairs well with many other greiges, including Revere Pewter, Brushed Aluminum, Edgecomb Gray, Balboa Mist, and Athena.
What color trim goes with BM Simply White?
It’s best to use Simply White for trim if you’re already using it for the walls, so you don’t have to worry about two white paint colors clashing.
Choose a different finish for the trim for tone-on-tone contrast.
For example, use Simply White in eggshell finish for the walls and Simply White in semi-gloss for the trim. This gives a nice, soft, finished look.
Before you go…
So, you’ve found the perfect paint color, but here’s the thing – there’s another big decision you have to make: picking the right paint sheen. Seriously, the level of glossiness can totally change how your color looks on the walls and how long the paint lasts!
Check out our complete guide to understanding paint sheens.
Still not sure what paint color to choose?
My Paint Color Formula ebook walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.