Best white for exterior house

Choosing white paint for your exterior can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of white paint colors to choose from. Plus, those tricky undertones can throw off color in different lighting. So, I’ve narrowed it down to the top 10 best exterior white paint colors to make it easy!

These colors vary in hue and undertone, but all are beautiful, classic, and fresh!

Best White Exterior Paint Snowbound Barn

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How to choose white paint

• This year we finally tackled our exterior painting project. For three years we have focused on the interior of the house. After replacing our windows last winter, we are finally painting our exterior!
• I knew I wanted the exterior of our house to be dark to offset the light brick. However, we also decided to paint our barn.
• For the barn, I wanted to give it a fresh and classic look with white paint.
• Barn before picture
• But choosing white paint can be tricky! So let’s break down the key elements to look for when choosing white paint for your exterior.

• Determine the undertone.
• Determine whether you want warm or cool white.
• Play with natural light throughout the day
• Consider your roof and trim colors.

Painting the exterior of the barn white

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• Undertone

First, determine the undertone of the white paint you’re considering. All paint colors have undertones that go back to the primary colors.

Blue, red and yellow undertones are very common. Some paint colors also have green or purple undertones.

White paint is especially difficult because of these undertones. The best way to determine what color your exterior white paint is is to hold a paint sample against a sheet of white computer paper.

The sheer white of the paper will show what color the paint sample is.

This is one factor you can take into consideration when painting your exterior white.

Warm V. Cool colors White paints

The next factor to consider is whether you want a warm or cool undertone on your exterior.

Warm colors draw orange, yellow, or red hues, while cool colors draw green, blue, or purple undertones. Stark white is often considered the best exterior white paint because the cool hue pairs well with natural colors. Blue skies, green grass, and green landscapes work well with cool colors. Cool whites feel more modern, classic, and fresh. In contrast, warm whites feel more comfortable, relaxed, and timeless.

How Natural Light Affects Exterior White Paint

A third factor to think about is natural light. If your home’s exterior is heavily shaded, the paint color you choose will look different than if it’s in full sun. How many times have you bought paint at the paint store, only to come home and find it’s a completely different color? It’s because of the light!

Most paint stores have fluorescent lights, which have a completely different color than natural light. So the color in the paint store will not look the same on the exterior of the house.

White barn exterior

Your best option is to paint a few samples directly onto your exterior. Make sure you are using samples from the same paint brand as the store you will be purchasing the paint from.

When I painted the exterior of my house, I bought samples from a different store than the painting company. Our colors were completely different! Each store location has a different calibration on their machine which can slightly change the color results.

So be sure to get samples from the same place you’re buying your paint from. Next, paint a few samples on your exterior and see how they all look in different lights.

Be sure to check them out throughout the day. They will look different at sunrise, noon, and sunset due to changes in the intensity of the sun.

Coordinating roof and trim color

White paint is very versatile when it comes to color coordination. However, you still want to consider colors that will coordinate with your exterior. Roof, trim, and door colors all contribute to how the final color looks. Before painting a picture of a barn without a door

As you can see above, the white exterior of our barn looks different based on the accent color of the door.

With the white/cream doors, the white exterior looks a bit different than a more contrasting color.

• White barn with gray doors
• Should I paint the exterior of my house white?
• Yes! Of course, you can paint your house with many other colors and it will be beautiful!

• The Thistle Harvest by Benjamin Moore used the white dove. White Dove is a soft creamy white. It has yellow undertones that give it a warm feel without losing its crispness.

• I use White Dove on all my interior trim. You can also see how it looks inside my kitchen cabinets in this post.

Oyster white exterior paint

Gina Soo Design

Gina Su Design chose Oyster White by Sharon Williams. Oyster White is a very warm white, bordered by light grey. I love how soft it is and how it pops with the black and wood accents.

Linen white paint

The white farmhouse color was matched to her house in a color called Linen (color match to Milk Mustache C2-692 by C2 Paint). It’s a soft white that’s modern with a subtle warmth.

• Ultra white exterior
• Fox Family Dean
• Fox Family Dean used Ultra White by Cabot. Ultra White is a solid white exterior wood stain as opposed to a paint.

• This is a great option if you prefer a stained exterior but want to ditch the wood tones.

• Pure White by Sharon Williams
• Carcaba Road
• Jess of Carcaba Road used Pure White by Sharon Williams for the exterior of her rental. Pure white, contrary to its name, is a soft white with an almost creamy color.

• I love how subtle it is against all the beautiful natural colors around it.

• White brick paint nuances by Sherwin Williams
• Room for Tuesday
• The room for Tuesday used Nunes by Sharon Williams for their balcony brick and it’s gorgeous! It’s soft but still fresh and modern.

• Chantilly lace white barn
• Gawler Homes
• Tiffany of Gowler Homes used Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore on this barn construction. I love how crisp this white is, especially against the white brick and wood accents.

• Whisper White by the way
• Halfway Holistic
• Finally, Katie from Halfway Holistic used Whisper White Behr on her porch makeover. Whisper White is a warm white, adjacent to ivory. Heat works perfectly with wood tones.

Stay connected

I hope you found this post on the top 10 best exterior white paint colors helpful! It’s always helpful for me to see the big picture of colors, but always remember to get swatches!

Swatches are the best way to make sure you get the color you want. Especially on such a large project where you don’t want to buy paint twice.

White barn in landscape

Stay tuned for more external articles to come! I’ll also share all the details about my house’s exterior paint debacle. You can subscribe below to be notified when a post goes live! Black exterior with a white exterior barn.

And, if you’re looking for some outdoor inspiration, be sure to check out my article on 20 Low-Cost Ideas for Beautiful Outdoor Living Spaces next.I think you will also enjoy…

While we’re talking about exterior paint colors, I think you’ll also enjoy these articles on related topics!

• 15 Best Tips for Low-Maintenance Flower Beds
• 10 Best Black Exterior Paint Colors
• How to start a garden from scratch

• Design decisions
• The best white exterior paint color

• By Brooke
• Sharon Williams Snowbound
• Design by: David Anderson
• So how do you choose the right white exterior paint color for your home? There are so many whites to choose from, the decision can be overwhelming.

• In my opinion, you don’t want to use a white that is too bright, especially on the exterior of your home. If you do, your house will be blinded to view in full sunlight.

• Going with an off-white or white paint color with some creaminess is the way to go. It won’t be an eyesore, and it will give your home a soft and pleasant appearance.

As you may know, we are in the process of construction, and right now we are trying to decide on an overall color scheme for the exterior. It’s such a difficult decision, but it’s one we have to get right. Since the majority of the house will be white brick, everything will depend on the shade of white we choose!

After sifting through tons of photos, here are five of my favorite white exterior paint colors:

White paint color

Pure white

Despite its name, Sharon Williams Pure White isn’t really pure. It has just a touch of heat, but not so much that it’s creamy. This is probably the brightest white paint I will ever use on the outside of the house.

• Sharon Williams Pure White
• Builder: Barrow Building Group
• Oyster White
• Oyster White from Sharon Williams is a very warm white. You could almost call it a very light greige. If you plan to have wood accents on your exterior, this will complement it.

• Sharon Williams Oyster White
• Builder: Willow Homes
• Just white
• Like Pure White, don’t let the name fool you. Benjamin Moore Simple White is a warm white. It has a slight yellow undertone, and on a side note, it was Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year in 2016.
• Benjamin Moore only white
• Builder: Longo Custom Builders
• White duck
• Benjamin Moore White Dove is a very soft white with hints of warm grey. It has just the right amount of “off-white” if you don’t want too much creaminess on your home’s exterior. White dove is very popular and seems to be the paint color for many designers.

• Benjamin Moore White Pigeon
• Builder: Cross Development
• Update: We recently completed a remodel, and decided to use White Dove on the exterior. We were very happy with how it turned out. In my opinion, this might be the perfect off-white exterior paint color.

The house has been renovated and painted with Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Bound by ice

If you’re looking for a white exterior paint color that’s not too warm or creamy, Sharon Williams Snowbound is a good color. It has just a hint of neutral gray. It’s probably a bit warmer than Pure White, but nowhere near the warmth of Oyster White or Alabaster.

We actually used Snowbound on the exterior trim of a house we flipped a few years ago. I remember how soft it looked.

• Sharon Williams Snowbound
• Design by: David Anderson
• China White
• Benjamin Moore China White is another white with a warm gray undertone. I’ve heard some people say it looks dirty, but I think mostly they’re talking about when it’s used for indoor spaces. However, on the outside where you don’t want bright white, I think it looks amazing.

Benjamin Moore China White

Designer: Studio McGee

Sharon Williams White Duck

If you’re looking for a white that’s creamy with a hint of yellow, Sharon Williams’ White Duck is it. It really is a perfect blend of greige and cream. Here you can see it on this beautiful home from Garden Gate Homes.

• Sharon Williams White Duck

• Design: Garden Gate Homes
• Update: We ended up using the Sharon Williams White Duck outside of our house, and couldn’t be happier with our choice! In full sunlight, the texture is very soft and not too creamy. However, on cloudy or rainy days, the creaminess of the color comes out. Below is an exterior photo of our home.

Sharon Williams White Duck

Sharon Williams Natural Choice

Natural Choice is another neutral white that is neither too yellow nor too gray. Compared to White Duck, it appears more on the creamy side. Here’s an example of natural selection on a Dixon Kirby Homes home.

Best White Paint Colors For Exterior

You’ve seen them, right? The beautiful, white, modern farmhouse-style houses that are popping up everywhere? Maybe you’re thinking about painting your house white. White can be a beautiful, but difficult paint color for exteriors…too bright, and you risk blinding passing drivers…too dark, and it just looks “muddy”. Is. If you are considering painting your home white, keep reading this post! I’ve rounded up the best white colors for exteriors, so you can be sure to have that beautiful white home you’ve been dreaming of.

The perfect white paint for exterior

Source: Vincent Longo Custom Builders (with BM Simple White)

First things first…let’s talk about LRV (Light Reflectance Value). I know you were ready to dive into paint colors, and I’m a total buzzkill, but the LRV is prime for white exteriors. LRV is a measure of how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0 (darkest) to 100 (lightest). I don’t really want to go into too much detail, because the details are a bit boring, but a good rule of thumb is that an outdoor LRV should not exceed 85. If you get more than 85, you need glasses to see your home. A good white exterior paint should have an LRV of 73-ish to 85. You can find the paint color LRV on the manufacturer’s website. There you go… The LRV lesson is over.

The White Dove by Benjamin Moore

White Dove is the brightest white on this list with an LRV of 85, and is a popular choice for a beautiful, pure white exterior. If you compare it to true white, however, you’ll see that dove white is actually a soft, warm white with hints of gray, making it one of the most beloved whites among both interior and exterior designers. Is. Go with White Dove if you have a home that gets a lot of shade, and/or you want that crisp and clean white look.

• Order a BM White Dove peel and stick sample sheet here.
• Benjamin Moore White Pigeon Outdoor
• Source: Jay Taylor Designs

Alabaster by Sharon Williams

Alabaster is one of the most versatile exterior white paints out there. Sherwin-Williams chose Alabaster as their Color of the Year for 2016, and Joanna Gaines painted her house with it, so you know it’s good! With a slightly lower LRV of 82, Alabaster White is slightly softer and slightly creamier than Dove, but it still reads like a bright white. It’s a great choice for a classic, timeless, inviting look! Order a sample sheet of SW Alabaster peel and stick it here.

Sharon Williams Alabaster Exterior Paint

• Source: Meredith Teasley

• Sapele/China White by Benjamin Moore
• Chaparral and China White are exactly the same color, just a different names (confirmed by Benjamin Moore). Regardless of the name, it has an LRV of 78, and is a stunning white for exteriors! It’s called off-white, but it’s really more like a light, warm greige.

• While it can sometimes look a little dirty when used for interiors, it opens up to a beautiful, clean white when you paint it outdoors. It has a very neutral, soft look – not too creamy and not too shiny – with just enough color to stand out against the bright white trim. With its greige note, it pairs just as beautifully with blues and greens, as it does with dark browns or bronze tones, and can give a smooth transition with gray stonework.

• Order a BM Chaparral/China White peel and stick sample sheet here.

• Benjamin Moore China White
• Source: Atlanta Homes Magazine

• Shoji White by Sharon Williams

If you’re concerned about your white exterior being too bright, check out Shoji White (LRV 74). This is one of my favorite off whites for exteriors, and I recommend it often! It has neutral undertones with subtle hints of gray and beige.

Shoji White can look more white, or off-white, depending on your lighting conditions (shaded or cloudy vs. direct sunlight). Shoji White is a solid choice for a soft overall look, without being too creamy or too gray. Order the SW Shoji White peel and stick sample sheet here.

Shoji white outhouse

The Olympic Mountains by Benjamin Moore

Olympic Mountains is very similar to Shoji White, in that it is a very balanced off-white, with a similar color. However, it has the lowest LRV on this list at just under 72, so it can almost be considered a very light gray. It’s so light of a beige that it will read like a soft, creamy white, and its gray undertones keep it subtle and fresh for today’s more muted looks.

• Order the BM Olympic Mountains peel and stick sample sheet here.
• The exterior of the BM Olympic Mountains
• Designed by: Frusterio Design | Image source: One Kinddesign
• Modern White by Sharon Williams
• Modern White looks a little muddy compared to some of the other whites on this list. It is similar to BM Separl/China White, with gray undertones, but has a lower LRV of 74. This is

• For white color schemes, you can design with the following color combinations.

• All white with no trim or accents.
• White with black accents
• Note: This post contains paint colors taken by us or our Color Concierge clients. They are not color accurate so you can see how colors react honestly in sun and shade. These are all real life photos of people’s homes.

Tips for the perfect exterior white for your home:

If your neighborhood has houses with earthy or muted finishes, choose a warm white so it doesn’t look too harsh with the neighboring houses. A great option for neighbors with an earthy palette is oyster white.

If your home is usually shaded, use bright white.

If your home is exposed to strong sunlight or has mudstone or brick, choose a warm white color.

• Always test your white paint colors. Remember that colors look completely different in the sun than they do in the shade or indoors.
• Below is a great schematic that shows the soffits, fascia, and gutters that we will discuss later in this post. House with a label showing fascia, soffit, and gutters.
• Photo by M. Marceny – Fascia, Soffit, and Gutters
• What color for gutters and downspouts in a white color scheme?
• If you want a farmhouse look, blacken your gutters and downspouts.

• For a less trendy but classic look, paint the gutters the same color as your fascia and the adjacent downspouts.

What color for the garage?

You can paint the garage white or black. If the house is quite simple, I like to paint it black. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming.

How do you choose window frames and colors in a white paint color scheme?

We love dark windows with a white house, but not everyone has that option. Most homes we see have white vinyl windows that cannot be painted.

When the windows are white vinyl, we usually paint the window trim the same color as the siding. White siding may be warmer or darker in color than white vinyl windows. In the sun, no one will notice, and it looks great.

If you have black windows and your window trim is wide, don’t darken the trim. Wide black trim with black windows will look too heavy. Instead, paint the window the same as the siding is white.

Consider homes with light white body colors, black trim, and simple architecture with white windows. See the image below. It was a drive-by, but I took the picture because I liked it.

In most cases, we do not recommend dark window frames with white vinyl windows. Of course, there are exceptions, such as complex Victorian schemes, or when the body of the house is white, and the trim is not too thick. White windows will match the white body color. See the house below. This was a drive-by photo (not one of our plans), but I love it!

White house with black trim and white vinyl windows

The best white color schemes

There are many paint schemes that are absolutely stunning. These are some of our favorites, so if your favorite isn’t on the list it doesn’t mean it’s bad, just that we didn’t include it. These white LRVs are between 72 and 85.

Pure white SW 7005

This white is the brightest of our favorites, and the lightest we’d choose for an exterior. This beautiful home has a modern farmhouse exterior white paint color scheme. Mix it up with Benjamin Moore Pure White which is a cool greige color and totally different!

Use Sherwin-Williams Pure White (LRV= 82) when you have bright white elements like white vinyl fences in the picture, on the north side, or in lots of places.

Avoid this outdoor color in a sunny location in the south or in the mountains. You may need sunglasses to see it. Also, avoid neighborhoods with lots of muted earthy colors and finishes. It will look out of place.

Another word to the wise: it’s like a bright white mirror. Avoid when your next-door neighbor has a red or yellow house. Otherwise, your house will look pink or yellow next door to the neighbor.

Since the windows are white vinyl and the construction details are complicated, we kept the window white and used a little black accent color. Gutters and downspouts were painted black for a distinct farmhouse look. We kept the garage doors white to keep the dark tones light. Finally, the front porch ceilings were painted light blue for a classic southern farmhouse look! For more details about this project link here. Order a sample through Samplizehere. The farmhouse’s white paint color and the house with the white picket fence color scheme are below. You can’t see the “haunted” blue front porch roof in this photo, but it’s there. The garage doors are white but have black numbers, hardware, and lighting. The balance between white and black is perfect. Bright white house with black accents and a ghost blue roof.Color placement, Iron SW 7069.