Off white is a timeless, versatile color that brings a fresh, elegant touch to any space. Its subtle warm or cool undertones add depth and ambiance to a room. Unlike pure white, off white wall paint colors are very pale shades of warm cream, cool gray, or neutral greige. These nuances not only make a color unique but can also make it challenging to choose the right shade. If you're seeking inspiration for the perfect off-white paint color, you're in the right place!
We've curated a list of the top 20 off white paint colors from Benjamin Moore—check out these ideas, grab some samples, then tag us on Instagram to show us which ones you chose!
White Dove OC-17
Benjamin Moore’s long-time most post popular off white is White Dove—a smooth, classic off white with barely-there gray undertones. It’s a rich, complex white that will warm up a bit under certain lighting conditions, but a gray base keeps it from appearing yellow. White Dove is an excellent choice for any room throughout the home, as well as trim, ceilings, woodwork, and bath and kitchen cabinets.
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Pale Oak OC-20
Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak rivals the popularity of White Dove. It can be described as a light greige with warm, yellow undertones. Greige paint colors are right in between a gray and a beige, and may appear more slightly warmer or cooler depending on their surroundings, but in spaces with a lot of natural light, Pale Oak resembles a warm off-white or light taupe rather than a true medium-toned greige. If you are dealing with a lot of light in the home and don’t want the interiors to feel cold or washed out, Pale Oak might be the perfect solution.
Seapearl OC-19
Seapearl is a soft, warm greige with subtle hints of gray undertones. A close cousin to Pale Oak, Seapearl offers a lighter alternative that makes an elegant pairing with warm accents and natural textures.
Swiss Coffee OC-45
By contrast, Swiss Coffee has fewer yellow-green undertones than Mayonnaise. It’s a true warm white that works nicely for walls or trim; in warm sunlight it will appear more creamy white than yellow. Swiss Coffee is a cozy, warm white that’s nice for bedrooms and living rooms.
Cloud White OC-30
A more reliably warm off-white is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White. This bright white has slightly yellow undertones that are more likely to appear in sunlit spaces. It offers a clean, white look that won’t take on a cool cast on gray days.
Atrium White OC-145
If you’re looking for a richer, more complex warm white, try Atrium White. It has complex undertones of pink that give it an Old-World feel, without being overtly yellow. It’s a wonderful choice for an all-over white, but keep in mind that it may take on a pink cast if it’s located beside a bright green or yellow.
Linen White 912
Classic warm whites have yellow undertones that are easy to see. Linen White has a creamy richness that adds vintage charm and warms up large spaces like this dining room.
Ballet White OC-9
Ballet White is a deeper off-white with a modern feel. It has yellow and brown undertones that make it appear more greige than cream. This versatile color also changes with the daylight, appearing warm in sunny rooms and greige when the day is cloudy. It’s a versatile neutral for open-plan homes, and is a popular choice for exteriors too.
Frostine AF-5
Frostine is a frosty white that’s a great color for architectural trim and paneling, especially in a home with a cool-toned palette. It has blue-green undertones that help it maintain a cool demeanor in any situation.
Decorator's White OC-149
Decorator’s White is just as the name suggests, a favorite of interior designers for both walls and trim. This slightly-cool off-white looks like a bright white when used as a trim for gray walls.
Distant Gray OC-68
Distant is a crisp white with cool blue-gray undertones. It has an LRV of 88.14 so it will reflect quite a bit of light, so the undertones will show up more in north-facing rooms or spaces with lower natural light. Distant Gray's neutrality makes it a good choice for all-over color—use it on walls, trim, and ceiling to make your room feel larger and more open.
Horizon OC-53
Horizon is pale gray that has cool green-blue undertones. With an LRV of 72.82, its color saturation is deeper than whites like Decorator's White or White Dove. But in rooms with lots of natural light, Horizon is a distinctly airy off-white. Don't confuse this color with Benjamin Moore's Horizon Gray—a darker sage-toned gray—but do check out these two colors together for a complementary pairing!
Paper White OC-55
If you’re looking for a cool off-white to unify an open plan home, Paper White is a great option. It has distinctly cool undertones, but a hint of green keeps it from turning cold in a dark room. Pair it with Benjamin Moore’s Super White trim for a serene, modern interior.
White Wisp OC-54
The distinctly gray undertones of White Wisp add a modern touch to open plan homes. This cool, refreshing gray contains some blue to help it maintain its cool even in warm, South-facing rooms. White Wisp has just enough tint to create contrast between the walls and ceiling in this bedroom.
Moonshine OC-56
Benjamin Moore’s Moonshine is another cool-hued off-white paint color. It’s a versatile shade that usually has a gray appearance, which is enhanced on gray days and in North-facing rooms. It does contain a hint of green undertone, so in warm lighting it can appear neutral and less gray. However it’s still a predominantly cool shade of white, so don’t expect it to lean greige. Moonshine is a cool neutral that makes an ideal backdrop for furniture and art.
Mirage White 2116-70
Mirage White is a cool off white with distinct undertones of gray and violet. It’s a gorgeous, velvety color that can balance the moodiness of a deeper gray color like Stonington Gray, or add a soothing hint of lavender to spaces with greens and blues.
Simply White OC-117
Simply White is another neutral white that works beautifully for both walls and trim. Using a matte finish on the walls and a semi-gloss or glossy finish on the trim creates contrast in a white-on-white scheme.
Silver Satin OC-26
One of the most neutral warm whites is Silver Satin, which has undertones often described as “pale greige”. Greige has gray in it, which Silver Satin expresses through a hint of purple undertone that keeps it from looking too creamy. A perfect companion to marble countertops, it’s a changeable off-white wall paint that feels warm, but may turn cool on a cloudy day or in north-facing rooms.
Classic Gray OC-23
Classic Gray is a darker off-white that’s perfect for creating slight contrast between walls and trim. It has warm undertones, but also contains some purple which helps it maintain a distinctly neutral cast in different types of lighting. Classic Gray is a favorite of interior designers for open plan homes and traditional interiors.
White Heron OC-57/Oxford White CC-30
White Heron—also known by the name Oxford White—is another bright off-white that has cool undertones. Even in a sunny room, it’s reliably white, since its blue undertones help to counteract the yellow rays of late afternoon sun. It’s a popular color for both walls and trim in kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms.
Since off white paint colors are actually shades of white with specific undertones, there aren’t as many neutral whites as you might expect. Most interior color schemes will use a white that has distinctly cool or warm undertones, to compliment the other colors in the room.
Remember, the most important step in choosing an off-white paint color is to order samples of several shades and try them in your home.
Sample Benjamin Moore Off Whites
Try our favorite designer tip for testing paint swatches in the home; paint a large poster board using a Benjamin Moore paint color sample; then move it around the room to observe the color on different walls and in different lighting conditions. To learn more about testing paint samples, be sure to read How to Test Paint Samples the Interior Designer’s Way.
Ring’s End carries a wide selection of Benjamin Moore paints in-store and online, shipping anywhere in the U.S. For more helpful tips on selecting paint products, check out our Interior Paint Guide.
Want to keep exploring the world of off-whites?
What Makes a Paint Color "Off White"
Undertones
While bright whites tend to read as pure neutrals, off-white paint colors have more distinct undertones that make the paint look either warm, neutral or cool depending on the lighting conditions. These hints of color show up once the paint is on the wall and make the paint color unique.
Warm vs. Cool Undertones in White Paint Colors
Brightness
Paint color brightness is measured on a scale of 1-100 with a value called LRV (Light Reflectance Value). The brighter a paint color is, the more light it will reflect. The lower the LRV, the more likely the color will show undertones and color shifts in different lighting situations. If a white paint color has an LRV higher than 90, it is likely to appear close to a pure white; the lower the LRV, the more off-white the color will appear and the stronger the undertones will come through.
What’s the best off-white for your walls?
Before you head to the paint store, consider the style of your home, your interior colors, and whether your spaces have a lot of natural light. Narrow down your options by sampling whites that have similar undertones as other paint colors or fixtures in your home (such as cabinetry, counters, furniture, and home decor). Think about the colors in your home now and the colors you want to incorporate down the road.
If you like warm color combinations like beige, yellow, rust and green, then a warm off-white might be best. If your home is decorated with cool shades like gray, black, blue, or purple, check out the cool-toned white paint colors. Neutral shades of white are also very popular for interior paint, so be sure to include one or two in your paint sample order.
We recommend sampling three to five paint colors to give you enough comparison range to find the right choice. It’s well worth investing your time in the paint selection process, so you can find the perfect off-white wall color for your home and avoid repainting because the color wasn't what you expected.