Want to paint your home off-white? Here are the best off white paint colors and what to consider when picking an off white paint color for your room!
Picking paint colors can be an overwhelming process. And, even once you narrow down to a specific color family, it doesn't get much easier.
White paint colors are a popular choice for people who want their homes to feel light, bright, and inviting.
However, it's not as simple as walking up to the paint desk and saying "I'll take two cans of white, please!"
There are a ton of shades of white paint colors.
When people say that they want white walls - they usually actually want off-white.
Natural light will really bounce off of pure white walls, and having just a touch of color will give your walls depth and interest.
Let's talk about what makes a color off-white and some of my favorite and most popular off white hues!
What is off-white, anyways?
Off-white is when pure white paint is mixed with just a little bit of something else. This can result in a color that is slightly warm or slightly cool, maybe a touch yellow or even a little pink.
There are two things that give a specific shade of off-white it's unique color: LRV and undertones. Let's dive into each!
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) and its significance
Light Reflective Value (LRV) 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.
Generally, a color with an LRV of 83 or higher is considered white.
A color with an LRV between 73 and 82 is considered "off white".
Any darker colors are not white or off-white.
Off-White Undertones
Undertones are the underlying colors that are used to make up each specific paint color. Have you ever seen paint get mixed? The different amounts of each dye that is added determines the color's undertones.
Off white paint colors can be either warm toned or cool toned.
Warm toned whites will have yellow, taupe, or tan undertones.
Cooler toned whites will have gray or blue undertones.
When deciding which shade of off-white to choose for your home, I suggest that you look at your existing fixtures. Think of your flooring, tile, or furniture. Choose an off white with the same undertones as your fixtures!
Remember that white paint colors tend to be very reflective. This means that they will bounce back colors around them - especially bold colors in your space! That's why it's so important to swatch colors in your actual home before committing to a shade.
It's very important to swatch colors on your wall to make 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!
The Best Off-White Paint Colors
Here are my favorite off-white paint colors, broken down by paint brand.
Sherwin-Williams Off-White Paint Colors
Here are my favorite off-white paint colors by Sherwin Williams.
Alabaster
LRV: 82
Undertones: Alabaster has warm, beige toned undertones.
Alabaster is a warm and inviting off-white It is particularly popular for farmhouse or rustic styles.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Alabaster
Extra White
LRV: 86
Undertones: cool, slight blue
Extra white is a crisp and clean off-white It is deal for contemporary or minimalist designs.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Extra White
Pure White
LRV: 84
Undertones: slight yellow
This is a bright white that has just a touch of yellow to it to keep it from feeling stark or cool at all. It's a great option for a modern and fresh look.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Pure White
Snowbound
LRV: 83
Undertones: taupe/beige
Snowbound is a soft off-white paint color. It's slightly warm with a touch of pink to it, and feels cozy without having too much color.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Snowbound
Greek Villa
LRV: 84
Undertones: Greek Villa has yellow and beige undertones.
Greek Villa is a classic and timeless off-white It works well in traditional or transitional interiors.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Greek Villa
Benjamin Moore Off-White Paint Colors
Here are my favorite off-white paint colors by Benjamin Moore.
Simply White
LRV: 91.7
Undertones: slight yellow
Simple White is a very neutral bright off white with slight yellow tones. It is neutral enough to complement a variety of design styles.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Simply White
White Dove
LRV: 83.16
Undertones: neutral and yellow
White Dove is a versatile and timeless off-white. It is neutral enough that it works well with both light and dark accent colors.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of White Dove
Swiss Coffee
LRV: 81.91
Undertones: yellow or beige, warm
Swiss Coffee is a warm toned off white paint color. These cozy tones make it perfect for making a room feel comfortable and welcoming.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Swiss Coffee
Chantilly Lace
LRV: 90.04
Undertones: cool, gray
Chantilly Lace is a crisp and clean off-white with slightly cool gray undertones. This is a great option if your room has a lot of warm light and you don't want the walls to look yellow, or if you have cool tones in your flooring or stone work.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Chantilly Lace
Classic Gray
LRV: 74.78
Undertones: gray/greige
This shade is on the darker side of off-white, but it's a favorite so I had to include it. It is a gray/greige paint color. It's soft and elegant and really easy to decorate with!
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Classic Gray
Other Brands' Off-White Paint Colors
Here are my favorite off-white paint colors by other brands.
Behr
Swiss Coffee
LRV: 84
Undertones: warm, yellow
Swiss Coffee is a warmed toned off white color with yellow undertones. It works great in rooms with bright light where you want just a touch of color on the wall.
Polar Bear
LRV: 90
Undertones: slight yellow
Polar Bear is a very light, warm toned off white paint color. It's one of Behr's most popular whites and is very easy to decorate with.
Linen White
LRV: 85
Undertones: Yellow
Linen White is a creamy off white paint color with yellow undertones.
Valspar
Cream Delight
LRV: 84.94
Undertones: warm
This is a light, bright, creamy off white paint color that is neutral enough to work well with many home decor styles and color palettes.
Bistro White
LRV: 84.7
Undertones: cool gray
This off-white paint color has a good bit of gray to it. I like this color for pairing with gray cabinets or flooring or cool-toned stonework.
Du Jour
LRV: 86
Undertones: slightly warm
This is a super neutral, bright off white paint color. It's a great option if you want a color that will visually read as white without feeling cold or stark.
Any more questions about off-white paint colors?
Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?
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My Paint Color Formula course 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!
Morgan is passionate about home decor and paint colors. She has been sharing DIY home decor tips since 2012 at CharlestonCrafted.com. From there, she learned to love paint colors, and the Paint Color Project was born in 2022!
