White paint can be so tricky or so easy depending on the way you look at it. Don’t let all the overwhelming white options out there confuse you. Compare and contrast some of the most popular white cabinet paint colors to help you make your decision for your home.
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Once you make a decision for your painted white cabinets you probably won’t be questioning if you chose the right color palette. No matter what white paint you chose, you will be amazed how it can brighten your space. Go for it and don’t look back.
Also, check out this post with more information about our DIY cabinet painting tips.
Before we talk all about color, you may have a few questions about the type and brand of paint to get for your kitchen cabinets. Here are a few frequently asked cabinet painting questions DIY painters would like answered before starting.
Best Finish For Cabinet Paints
- Recently I was shopping for new paint colors I was told the most common paint finish in kitchens was satin. A high-quality satin paint will clean well and it will have enough shine to showcase your cabinetry while hiding imperfections.
- However, if you are like me, we always use semi-gloss on our cabinets. I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. Semi-gloss will show imperfections a little more, but we will never have a problem wiping our kitchen cabinets clean!
- The most important part is to truly make sure you are using high-quality paints and don’t go below a satin finish.
Want to know more about our cabinet painting supplies? Find the best roller for cabinet painting in this post.
What line of paint is best for DIY kitchen cabinet painting?
Sherwin Williams Pro Classic
We used to be Sherwin Williams Proclassic Latex Enamel users and always had great success with it.
Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
However, recently we tried the SW Urethane Trim Enamel Paint and we will always use this line on our cabinets and molding. Yes, we have tried Behr Latex Enamel as a cheaper alternative, but I would stick with the Sherwin Williams line.
Benjamin Moore Pro Advance
As for Benjamin Moore’s paints, the Pro Advance line seems to be what decorators and designers recommend. According to DIY Painting Tips, Advance helps bridge the gap between oil-based enamels and latex for easier DIY cabinet painting ideas.
Behr Cabinet and Trim Enamel
This is the most budget-friendly option. We did have a great experience using it to paint our bathroom cabinets. However, it has had a little wear on our painted oak stair railing.
Our Favorite Line
We are just Sherwin Williams people by nature being from Ohio but know that Benjamin Moore paints are another great option (and their colors do have a cult-like following).
We like Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel paint because of the convenience of using a paint that you can clean with water while getting the finish of oil-based paints.
Read more>>>The Most Detailed Cabinet Door Painting Tutorial
How to easily test paint samples?
I would recommend using large peel-and-stick paint samples when testing out a color or painting your own large boards. A wall is more forgiving when it comes to extra brush strokes or textures showing where you sampled the paint.
Most Popular White Paint Colors
Here are a few of the best white paints for kitchen cabinets. Keep reading to see examples of real white kitchen cabinets in these colors.
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White-Base color to the Urethane Trim Enamel Paint
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Behr Polar White–Definitely the coolest color of the paints listed.
- Behr Polar Bear White
- Behr Ultra Pure White–Base paint color for the Cabinet Trim Enamel Line
What does it mean if the paint is more warm or cool?
This is referring to the undertones of the paint. You will notice that Alabaster is a pretty warm paint where it is more of creamy white paint and Behr Polar White definitely goes on the cool side where some people can see greens.
Best White Paint Colors For Kitchen Cabinets
Here are 12 real-life white kitchen cabinet ideas & images to help you in your search for that clean and crisp kitchen.
Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors For Cabinets
BM White Dove, BM Simply White, BM Decorator's White, and BM Chantilly Lace & BM Swiss Coffee are cult favorites among designers.
Benjamin Moore White Dove
White Dove is a very popular Benjamin Moore paint color. This warmer white paint complements the brown and tan undertones of the countertops. Natural wood elements and the white subway tile backsplash also complement the warm white paint color in this DIY kitchen remodel.
Don't worry though, the warm tones in White Dove are not overbearing. It has subtle yellow undertones, which give it a creamy, warm appearance. This kitchen receives enough a lot of natural light, making this BM color a perfect choice.
Benjamin Moore White Dove #2
BM White Dove is so popular that it is a good choice in this kitchen as well. Here you can see how the gray island paint complements the surrounding kitchen cabinetry.
Simply White By Benjamin Moore
Simply White by Benjamin Moore really brightened and modernized this kitchen. It is a versatile and neutral white paint color with a balanced mix of warm and cool undertones. It's a popular choice among interior designers and homeowners as it complements a wide range of decorating styles for a timeless look.
We love the crisp and clean look of these custom-painted cabinets. You honestly won't believe this is the same kitchen as the before pictures.
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
The "before" kitchen is a must-see. Swiss Coffee was an excellent choice for a classic look in this modern French country kitchen makeover that really pulled existing and new elements together. It's a soft white color that can bring warmth and coziness to a room without being too overpowering.
Best Sherwin Williams White For Cabinets
SW Pure White, SW Highly Reflective White and SW Alabaster are Sherwin Willams most popular white paint colors. If you like a warmer tone, Alabaster may be the way to go. Pure White and Highly Reflective White are more true whites, but some may find them a little too bright.
SW Highly Reflective White Upper Cabinets
The purest of pure whites was used to create this two-toned kitchen cabinet design. These oak kitchen cabinets were first painted with Proclassic straight out of the can, but a fresh coat of SW Highly Reflective white really refreshed our space and backsplash (yes, we totally painted a tile backsplash).
Due to the nature of the bright white painted molding, this color was the best choice for our DIY painted kitchen cabinets.
Bright White By Sherwin Williams
This coastal kitchen is beautiful, crisp and clean looking. To get a bright and airy feel, they painted the cabinets and the walls the same color. This kitchen just proves that white doesn't have to be boring.
Sherwin Williams Pure White
Before we repainted our kitchen island, all of our molding and kitchen cabinets were painted using the base color of Proclassic which is Pure White. It doesn't lean too much toward warm or cool tones, making it a versatile option that can work well in different types of spaces.
Depending on the lighting it may appear a little cooler than other whites but it still manages to look crisp and clean.
Best Behr White Paint For Cabinets
Polar White and the base Behr white are two white colors that can work for your kitchen cabinets.
Polar White
This full kitchen remodel actually put in new frameless, maple cabinets that were painted with a matching color to Polar White. Even though there is slightly bluish undertone in this paint color, the white cabinetry looks modern and clean. The warm-colored stools and shelves really pop in this space giving a cohesive vibe.
Also, did you see that amazing island? Such a great and unique kitchen remodel idea.
Behr White Semi-Gloss
You won't believe this kitchen transformation cost around $1000. This awesome DIY blogger says she just used the base Behr color right out of the can.
We just love how bright the newly painted kitchen cabinets look and couldn't believe that the floor was painted also. I am a total paint girl, so I get it!
Other White Paints To Consider
Sometimes you might want to try other white paint options or just get cabinetry in the base white color. Here are a few other white kitchens for your inspiration.
Deco Satin Enamels Paint In Pure White
Using spackle, a good primer, and Decor Satin Enamels helped to cheaply makeover this kitchen.
Forevermark Cabinets in Uptown White
These new cabinets are in the color of Uptown White and surely added a clean look to help brighten this kitchen.
Update Your Older White Cabinets With New Accessories
If you don't want to fully paint your kitchen cabinets and they are in okay shape, then maybe just updating the kitchen decor and items around them can make the difference.
Adding a new butcher block countertop and backsplash made all the difference in this budget-friendly kitchen idea.
White Paint FAQs
Benjamin Moore White Dove is one of the most popular choices for cabinet colors as you can see in our real-life examples above. There are
Ultimately cabinet color choice will depend on your personal preference. Both white and off-white can work well for kitchen cabinets. Pure white cabinets can give a modern and clean feel. While off-white cabinets may help create a cozy farmhouse or traditional vibe. Just make sure to test large cool samples in your own space since colors may look different due to a variety of factors.
Pure White: A bright, clean, and versatile white that works well in any style of kitchen.
Snowbound: A warm and creamy white with a hint of gray that can create a cozy and inviting feel.
Alabaster: A soft and subtle white with a warm undertone that can add depth and character to a space.
Extra White: A crisp and bright white that can create a modern and minimalist look.
High Reflective White: A pure and brilliant white that can make a space feel larger and more open.
Simply White – A classic and versatile white that works in any space.
Chantilly Lace – A bright and crisp white perfect for trim.
Decorator’s White – A cool and clean white for modern spaces.
White Dove – A soft and warm white with a hint of gray for a cozy feel.
Cloud White – A warm and creamy white for traditional or farmhouse-style spaces.
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Painting your kitchen cabinets white is one of the easiest ways to elevate your home without breaking the bank. With these top picks for white kitchen cabinet paint colors, your space will be stylish, modern, and inviting. You will love any of these white kitchen cabinet paint colors you choose to help with your kitchen renovation.