The Only Five Trim Whites Paints You Need to Know

Are you someone who has  just as much trouble selecting a trim color as you do the main wall color? Over the years of color consulting, I have found  that 95% of the time, I use the same few whites for trim again and again. I have worked with these Benjamin Moore trim colors so I know they work well and I trust them.

Here are my five favorite Ben Moore go- to trim colors that you will ever need to know:

White Dove OC -17

I love White Dove because it works so well with many paint colors. An off-white , not a bright white,  I think it as a creamy warm color.  White Dove works best with the popular greige paint colors such as Revere Pewter and Edgecomb Gray:

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I also love White Dove for cabinets:

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Simply White OC-117

A clean, crisp white that is one of my go to top trim colors. Simply White looks great in every light and pairs well with dark wood and white trim. With no obvious undertones, it is a fresh and clean color and at the same time warm. I like to use for trim with clean, crisp wall colors such as  Stonington Gray, Quiet Moments and other fresh colors. Here is White Dove on the walls with Simply white as the trim:

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Simply White Cabinets:

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Pure White OC-64

With it’s blue undertones, it is always a great color match with Carrara marble. I learned this invaluable lesson from my teacher and friend, Maria Killam .  Because of it’s  blue-gray undertones in the stone, it works perfect every time!

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Pure White Ceiling:

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Cloud White OC-130

This trim color has been a long time favorite of mine, which I wrote about here. Cloud White is a touch brighter than White Dove, a great non-yellow white, but still warm. Here is is paired with Manchester Tan which looks beautiful:

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Decorators White- Int. Rm.

If you are wanting cooler walls that will relate to the blue indigos and gray or you have cool, blue-gray undertones in your hard surfaces you may want to use a blue-gray white. These whites will read crisp and clean. Decorator’s White is a cool white with a very slight gray undertone that will instantly lighten up a space via the trim, interior doors and cabinetry and it compliments every wall color.  A great neutral white that is fresh and helps to make a space light and airy:

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Tip- White trim looks best when it’s a subtle crisp white contrast to the wall color but not so crisp and bright of a white that is a bright jarring white.

TIP- To find the undertone of a white paint color, COMPARE it with Ben Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65, which is a clean white and you will be able to see the undertone color right away, either the blue,  yellow or gray undertone of another white.

Tip- Remember that an off white trim color such as White Dove, works best with off white wall colors such as beiges. A brighter trim white such as Simply White goes best with the cleaner, crisper wall colors.

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White Dove OC-17       Simply White OC-117            Pure White OC-64       Cloud White OC-130       Decorators White Int.Rm.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Laura CoxComment