16 best off white paint colors

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.

Get paint samples!

Samplize will send you 12″x12″ peel and stick samples of paint colors from many popular brands so you can see exactly how they will look in your home!

Love paint colors? Be sure to check out:

• The Paint Color Formula – my complete guide to picking paint colors!
• My guide to paint sheens
• My guide to paint undertones

Painting for the first time? Check out my video tutorial on the easiest & cleanest way to open a paint can!

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?