10 Wonderful White Paint Colors for Home Exteriors

1. China White by Benjamin Moore

Designer Leigha Heydt of Heydt Designs was drawn to this warm shade of white for a Larkspur, California, farmhouse to help temper the architectural details. “Keeping the color monochrome and light helps tone down the viewer’s experience of the details,” she says. “I borrowed this idea from historical homes, which are commonly painted in solid white colors for this very reason.”

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2. Extra White by Sherwin-Williams

To coordinate with the white stucco on the exterior of this San Diego home, John O’Brien of Flagg Coastal Homes covered the exterior bricks in a complementary shade. “I’m building a house a few blocks away from this one, so I drive by it often,” the builder says. “It’s a nice warm white, especially in the afternoon sun.”

Window shutters: Light French Gray, Sherwin-Williams

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3. Snow White by Benjamin Moore

Architect Mark English used color-matched cement plaster and painted sheet metal in the same shade of white for this contemporary gem in Atherton, California. “The color was selected to harmonize with the variety of white tones found in the natural white quartzite ledgestone veneer,” he says.

4. Warm White by Dunn-Edwards

Joel Contreras of Joel Contreras Design selected this alluring shade of white to add a modern touch to a 1939 traditional brick home in Phoenix. “It purposefully contrasts with the black standing-seam metal roof and provides a simplified modern form,” he says.

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5. Origami by Sherwin-Williams

This Jacksonville, Florida, home is covered in a shade that’s not too white and not too creamy, Adam Merrill of John Merrill Homes says. “It allows the architectural features to stand out on this design without being a distraction,” he notes. “Combined with other neutrals like the black accents and wood door, you get a classic, timeless look.”

Window trim: Greenblack by Sherwin-Williams

6. Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Jay Andre of Jay Andre Construction says all of the exteriors materials were considered when choosing the perfect shade of white for this Mediterranean-style home in Saratoga, California. “The color gives a smooth, creamy feeling and works well with the dark bronze windows, red tile roof, stained wood doors and Saltillo tiles,” he says.

7. White Dove by Benjamin Moore

“White Dove is a go-to standard for me and many designers,” architect Donald Lococo says. It’s a color that works well any time of the day, in both sunlight and shade. It was the ideal choice for this traditional-style house in Washington, D.C., and goes well with the dark blue front door and shutters.

Front door and shutters: Polo Blue, Benjamin Moore

8. Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams

Bret Franks of Bret Franks Construction says he went with a shade of white he’s been using for years for the exterior of this modern farmhouse in Little Rock, Arkansas. “It’s welcoming yet still crisp, which is critical when using it against a standard white, factory-finished window,” he says. “Furthermore, it’s the basis of a neutral palette that carries throughout the interior of this home.”

9. Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore

Meg Powell of Vintage Construction Group went with a comforting shade of white for this New Orleans home. “The soft, warm white works well on the brick exterior and brings out the landscaping and calming shutter color,” she says. “The paint color blends harmoniously with the other homes in this traditional neighborhood. It’s a perfect white for all seasons and times of day.”

Window shutters: Mineral Deposit, Sherwin-Williams