Best White Paint Colors for Exteriors
Transform your curb appeal with 10 beautiful white paint colours for home exteriors.
White paint is a great way to refresh the exterior of your home. It’s easy and effective. The timeless appeal of white has made it a popular choice for homeowners and designers. White paint is a versatile colour that can be used to complement any architectural style. It’s a great choice for those who prefer a creamy, soft hue, or a bright, crisp finish. There are so many different shades of white that choosing the one you like for your home is a difficult task.
We’ve gathered 10 recommendations from professionals who have recently used white in their projects to help you navigate the wide selection of colours. These experts explain why they chose the particular shade of their white, and how that contributed to the aesthetics of the home. Continue reading to discover the perfect shade of white for your exterior project.
1. China White Benjamin Moore
Leigha Heydt of Heydt Designs was asked to update a farmhouse located in Larkspur California. She chose China white from Benjamin Moore. The warm, soft colour was perfect for balancing out the architectural features of the home. Heydt says, “Keeping it monochrome helps to tone down the viewer’s experience of details.” This technique was inspired by historic homes that are painted in white.
China White will create a warm, inviting exterior. It is a great choice for homes that have traditional or farmhouse-style architecture. This shade is perfect for homes that want to exude elegance and comfort.
2. Sherwin Williams Extra White
Sherwin Williams’ Extra white was chosen by John O’Brien, a builder at Flagg Coastal Homes for a coastal house in San Diego. The white exterior of the house is complemented by a bright, white shade that adds a feeling of freshness and airiness. O’Brien says, “It’s an attractive warm white, particularly in the afternoon sunlight.” He loves how the shade catches light at various times of the day and creates a beautiful glow.
White works well in homes near the sea or in warm climates. It is a beautiful shade that reflects the light and creates a bright, welcoming home. This colour is ideal for minimalist, modern homes and Mediterranean-styled exteriors. It gives a clean, crisp look that feels inviting.
3. Snow White Benjamin Moore
Mark English, an architect from Atherton in California, chose Snow White Benjamin Moore to create a contemporary house. This bright, crisp white was used on sheet metal and cement plaster to complement the white quartzite veneer. The colour chosen was to complement the white tones of the natural stone.
Snow White works well in modern homes that have clean lines and sleek finishes. Pure, bright white is a great choice for minimalist and contemporary designs. It complements many materials from metal to natural stone. This white creates an elegant, clean backdrop for architectural details.
4. Warm white by Dunn Edwards
Joel Contreras, of Joel Contreras Design in Phoenix, chose Warm white from Dunn-Edwards to paint a traditional brick house built in 1939. This particular shade was chosen to contrast the black standing-seam roof of the home, adding a modern touch without losing the vintage charm. Contreras says, “It contrasts with the black roof to bring a modern twist to vintage brickwork.”
Warm white will add a modern touch to any traditional home. Warm and inviting yet sharp enough to contrast with darker accents such as black trim, roofing or siding. This colour is perfect for homes in deserts or places with lots of sunshine because its soft tones keep the exterior from looking too harsh.
5. Origami from Sherwin Williams
Adam Merrill, of John Merrill Homes, chose Origami from Sherwin Williams for a home located in Jacksonville, Florida. This shade is the perfect blend of not being too bright and not being too creamy. It’s a neutral yet warm shade of white. Merrill says that the colour allows architectural elements to be highlighted without becoming distracting. The colour is a perfect match for other neutrals, such as black accents or natural wood tones. It creates a timeless and balanced look.
Origami works well in homes with a mix of materials, such as wood, metal and stone. This shade is perfect for homes that have a mixture of traditional and modern elements. The subtle warmth of this shade makes it ideal for an exterior that is sophisticated and understated.
6. Simply White Benjamin Moore
Jay Andre, of Jay Andre Construction, chose Simply White Benjamin Moore to paint a Mediterranean-style home in Saratoga. This creamy, soft white goes well with the exterior of the home, which includes dark bronze windows and a red tile roof. It also pairs nicely with stained wood doors and Saltillo tiles. Andre says, “The white gives off a creamy, smooth feeling, and it works well with dark finishes and natural materials.”
Simply white complements earthy tones in terracotta tiles and natural stone. It’s a shade that is warm enough to feel welcoming, but not overwhelming. This shade is perfect for those who want a timeless and fresh look that can blend seamlessly with traditional architectural elements.
7. White Dove by Benjamin Moore
White Dove is a Benjamin Moore favourite of designers. Donald Lococo was no exception. This shade was used for the further exterior of a traditional style house in Washington, D.C., creating a classic, elegance. Lococo states, “White Dove has become a standard colour for myself and many other designers.” The colour is versatile and can be used in all light conditions, including shade.
White Dove has become a popular shade in traditional and colonial-style homes. This shade is the perfect blend of warmth and creaminess. It’s versatile and works well in both classic and modern homes. This shade is also a great choice for homes with a timeless and consistent appeal. It performs well under different lighting conditions.
8. Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Bret Franks, a builder in Little Rock, Arkansas chose alabaster from Sherwin Williams for the exterior of his modern farmhouse. This shade has been used by Bret Franks for many years. It is “welcoming but still crisp,” and it’s perfect for creating a neutral palette in the entire home. Alabaster adds warmth to white factory-finished windows while maintaining a fresh, clean look.
Alabaster can be used for contemporary homes or modern farmhouses. It is also a great choice for craftsman-style houses and even modern builds. This warm shade is versatile and pairs well with wood or metal finishes. This shade is perfect for homeowners looking to create a warm, fresh look while still feeling sophisticated.
9. Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore
Meg Powell, of Vintage Construction Group, chose Grey Mist Benjamin Moore for a traditional New Orleans house. This soft white with a slight grey tint works well on the brick exterior of the home, bringing out its landscaping and shutter colour. Powell states, “The paint colour blends harmoniously with other homes in this neighbourhood” It is a perfect shade of white for any season and time of day.
Grey Mist can be a good option for people who are looking for a white that has a bit more depth. Whites with grey undertones have a soothing, cool effect. They are perfect for homes with brick or landscaping. This colour is perfect for traditional, colonial coastal-style homes. It helps the home blend in with its surroundings.
10. Winter White by Benjamin Moore
Jacobs Classic Construction, MAD Architecture, and Benjamin Moore chose Winter white for the exterior of a Victorian house in Petaluma. The home needed extensive repairs but the soothing, soft white paint gave it an updated look while still respecting its historic character. The white exterior is now a soft backdrop to the chartreuse front entrance, which stands out against the white.
Winter white will appeal to homeowners who are looking for a classic, yet modern, soft and almost ivory-white. This shade is perfect for Victorian and historic homes in need of a subtle update. This colour is great for creating contrast when paired with bright accent colours.
Choose the right white paint for your home exterior.
It can be overwhelming to choose the right white colour for the exterior of your home. But by taking into consideration the surrounding environment and the mood you want to create you can make a well-informed decision. There’s a white for every style and home, whether you choose a warm, inviting shade like China white or one that is cool and contemporary like snow white.
Lighting is a key factor in the appearance of pain colours. Try out your white choice on a small area of the exterior of your house at different times during the day. To complete the look, consider pairing your white choice with complementary colours or on trim, doors or landscaping.
These 10 expert recommendations will give you a variety of options for whites. Each has a unique aesthetic, ranging from subtle and warm to bold and crisp. Your home’s exterior will reflect your style beautifully and forever with the right white paint.
