The Best White Paints for the Inside Walls of Your House

If you’re anything like me, your style of home decor involves a lot of bright light, and that means, white walls. White walls are trending majorly this year, because bright, airy, clean styles to homes are trending big time, and a good white paint creates the perfect backdrop for any home style, because they create a clean slate for your decor. It’s so much brighter (seriously, just paint one wall white and see how much brighter it makes the whole room and house feel!), and just so much better in my opinion than colored walls. White brings a clean calm to any room, and even makes a room look larger. Plus, white is simple. Or at least that’s what you thought before you went to the paint store…

I’m sorry…. 200 different whites??? And then there’s different glosses, too??? It’s easy to feel like a novice when choosing paints for your walls. Because, seriously, which white is the best for giving your home that crisp-bright feeling you’re going for? It shouldn’t be this hard! I’ll just take the ‘house white’, please!

But, like with wine, there are a ton of important differences between ‘house whites’, and I’m here to make sure you’re getting the best one.

My favorite white paint: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

I was recommended this paint by SO many people, and read so many Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace paint reviews online, all which RAVED about this color, so I had high expectations going in, and it is every bit as great as they say. 

Now, the lighting in your particular house and room will dictate a lot of how whites will look on your walls, but the other thing that will dictate it is the paint’s undertone. Some whites have a blue undertone, some a yellow undertone, so depending on what you’re going for, you may steer in either one of those directions. The beauty of Chantilly Lace, however, is that it has very little undertone, making it about as crisp-white-white as you can get, but, that doesn’t mean you won’t get natural undertones of your space! It’s just very universally compatible for any space. Chantilly Lace will flex depending on your exposure, lighting, and interior finishes. Like I said, it’s the blank slate for creating your perfect space, looking super bright without looking TOO plain, since it picks up on its environment’s tones.

Where I used Chantilly Lace in our home: The kitchen, cabinetry, the dining room, the living room, and the master bedroom!

Where to buy Chantilly Lace: Benjamin Moore paint store, or online here

Is Chantilly Lace a good color for the outside of a home?

It definitely can be! Especially if you’re wanting to paint your exterior siding or brick white. It’s also a great choice for trim, crown molding, and garage doors for a crisp, clean contrast with the main color. 

Photo credit: Studio McGee

The interior designers’ favorite: Benjamin Moore Simply White

Benjamin Moore named it the “Color of the Year” in 2016, and Simply White hasn’t gone anywhere in terms of being a favorite ‘house white’.

“Simply White has just the right amount of warmth to go with anything from warm tones to cool tones, and it has enough depth to stand on its own as the only color in a room.”— Pamela Chelle of Pamela Chelle Interior Design, whereas Susan Hall of Buttercup Home Custom Interiors called it, “a warm and happy white that complements all colors.”

Photo credit: Lesley Graham

The whitest of whites from Benjamin Moore: Super White

Super white is a crisp bright white without yellow or blue undertones. This is the paint to use if you want to highlight any architectural detailing, or make artwork pop like a museum gallery wall! 

Photo credit: My Domain

What gloss is best for your home when it comes to white paint?

We did semi-gloss for our walls and ceiling of the dining room. The paint sheen makes a big difference, whether you choose matte — a flat paint —, semi gloss or high-gloss. Most people want flat paint on the ceiling, but if you want to bring focus to the ceiling, a semi-gloss or high gloss can look really, really beautiful, especially in a room like a dining room that has a chandelier.

High gloss is what you’d usually see on cabinetry or doors. For most rooms, semi gloss tends to be a happy medium where it has a nice sheen, but isn’t too too much on walls. Satin has a little luster so people like it in living rooms. And flat or matte is perfect for you if you’re looking for no sheen and more of a matte look.

Why you should invest in a higher quality and cost paint for your home

When it comes to paint, you really do get what you pay for. And as it relates to whites, higher quality paint is going to cover better, and need less coats, so it actually ends up saving you money in the end. I personally like Benjamin Moore’s high-end paints because they are durable, easy to spread, and are fast drying, and come in a variety of colors and finishes.

What are the best whites for trim?

Benjamin Moore white heron, Benjamin Moore decorators white, and Benjamin Moore super white would be my picks!

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Christina is a leading luxury lifestyle and travel blogger with over 2 million readers. Follow her on instagram @jetsetchristina.

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