This week in my TNT – THE NAKED TRUTH – colour review, I share with you one of my favourite white paint colours: White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
TOP TIP:
Don’t be fooled into thinking that when you hear the name of a paint colour, then that specific paint colour, must be that colour. Confused? LOL
What I mean is, just because White Dove is called ‘WHITE’ Dove, doesn’t mean to say that it’s a true white.
As an example, I’ve noticed that some clients can get put off when I show them a colour that has the word ‘Gray’ in it, if they are not a fan of Gray. However, because all grays have undertones, what one perceives as ‘Gray’ in their own mind, can be completely different than the actual ‘Gray’ colour I’m specifying .
You can see what I mean about Grays in this video.
Plus, *SPOILER ALERT!* I’ll be posting a future Vlog post review of Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore. That is definitely not ‘Gray’ and has a couple of different undertone, so be sure you are signed up to get my updates here and you’ll be the first to know when that’s out.
As for the whites, stick with me and you’ll understand what I’m talking about when you look at the my white paint colour comparisons.
Here’s what I’ll be sharing with you about White Dove in Episode #2:
- The Undertone of White Dove
- Colour Comparisons to other whites
- Best Whites for Ceilings, Doors and Trim
- Fabulous Colour Combinations
- Favourite Applications In Interior Design
Another view of my Toronto clients dining room. Notice how the White Dove paint colour on the walls match perfectly with the custom ripplefold drapery? That’s not a coincidence. 😉
Okay, are you ready? Let’s do this! Watch my video review by clicking the image below.
White Dove OC- 17 by Benjamin Moore
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Undertones:
White Dove is not a true white. They rarely are! It has a creamy undertone that makes it a soft, rich white paint colour to work with for your interior decorating projects.
Colour Comparisons:
Despite what my husband thinks – that all whites are created equal and look the same – this is so not the case! When you begin to compare whites, you will start to notice how very different they all can be from one another.
This is why it really bothers me when contractors or kitchen companies recommend Cloud White by Benjamin Moore for a cabinetry colour, without even factoring in the counter tops, the backsplash or any other fixed elements in a space. That’s a totally backwards way of thinking!!
Below are comparisons between White Dove and Chantilly Lace by BM. As you can see, the White Dove is creamier than the Chantilly Lace. Chantilly Lace is what I like to refer to as one of the rare ‘true whites’.
If you prefer a white that is less stark that Chantilly Lace, but more creamy than White Dove, Benjamin Moore’s Ivory White is an alternative to consider.
Best White Paint Colours
You could use either of the whites above as trim colours to pair with White Dove on the walls, or you could just continue using White Dove.
In my Toronto clients dining room, we chose to keep the natural stain of the wood trim, as it was also the finish on their gorgeous, warm toned interior doors, as well as part of the charm and character of their home.
HAVE YOU USED WHITE DOVE? DO TELL! COMMENT BELOW.
Fabulous Colour Combinations!
Here you can see my large painted board Hale Navy, tucked behind a baseboard painted in White Dove.
In my previous blog post where I reviewed Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams, I recommended White Dove as one of the nicest white trim colours to pair it with.
The image below is the work of a good friend of mine, the extremely talented Kristie Barnett, AKA The Decorologist. I love how Kristie painted Kendall Charcoal on the ceiling. I always find the painted ‘fifth wall’ to be so dramatic, unexpected and exciting in a space. I also included Krities’s work in my video about the Best White Paint colours.
If you are looking for a lighter contrast, White Dove also looks great when paired with the classic greige tone of Revere Pewter HC-172 by Benjamin Moore.
Sea Haze 2137-50 by BM also works wonderfully with White Dove.
The walls in the image below are painted Sea Haze and this is the same clients living room, as the industrial styled dining room shown earlier in this post.
This fun fireplace floor tile that we used has warm tones that pair beautifully with White Dove.
Fabulous Colour Palettes – Perfect for Pinning!
This colour palette graphic shows you how flawlessly all these hues look together.
This pattern below shows a more masculine colour combination in various tones by Benjamin Moore.
A QUICK STORY
For this particular interior decorating project, it was quite tricky to choose a colour for the walls in the living room. Normally, specifying colour comes very easy to me. In this case however, I was a little unsure initially of using Sea Haze. Mainly because the colours that we used for many of the accents in the room such as pillow fabrics and in the area rug, are what I like to refer to as ‘clean’ colours.
Sea Haze is a colour that I consider to be more ‘muddy’ or ‘dirty’. I almost never mix ‘clean and dirty’, but here it worked.
To double check though, I was able to see this paint colour in our 3D rendering software designs that we did for our clients. It’s not a perfect match because we are looking at it on a computer program, but it was enough to give me confidence to give it the thumbs up and move forward with this colour.
As a matter of interest, check out the before photo of this room! Quite the transformation, eh?!
My Favourite Places to Use White Dove
As shown above, I love White Dove in either an entire room, or as trim colour and also for custom mill work.
Below are graphics I designed, I just love creating these! I think they are pretty, do you?
AND, I also love it in a kitchen!
Below, White Dove can be seen on the cabinetry.
I wish I could take credit for this kitchen design, but it’s a client of my good friend and the True Colour Expert Guru herself, Maria Killam.
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// DISCLOSURE: Thank you for trusting me with my truthful and reliable opinion on any future purchase you may make. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information when it is the case. If you purchase Maria’s boards, I will earn a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t affect you in any way, the price remains the same regardless. Thank you for supporting me and entrusting me to be your go-to for all things Colour and Interior Design!
I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!
If you’ve used a paint colour that I’ve reviewed or you want to ask a question, or even if you have a different point of view to mine, please do share!
For colour advice, please note that I can’t always give advice based on simply reading about a scenario. If it were that easy for me to recommend the perfect paint hue, without knowing more about the specific space; the lighting situation; what other fixed elements to consider etc, then I really would be even more magical than I already am. HAHA!
Nine times out of ten, I will always recommend that you either seek advice from a local Colour Professional or I might be able to hook you up with an online colour consultation.
Until then, follow me on Pinterest to see more colour combinations and inspiration for your home.
60 thoughts on “White Dove by Benjamin Moore Colour Review”
Great post, Claire. White Dove is one of my go tos.
I think it’s a go-to for many design professionals, such a pretty tone. Cheers Darla!
I love White Dove! Lovely color, reminds me of Alabaster by SW.
Ditto Julie!
White Dove is the trim color I specify the most…it really does “play well with others”!
Definitely a favourite for many of us design professionals! Cheers for watching Janet!
Is there such thing as too much White Dove? Can I do walls, trim, kitchen cabinets, and kitchen island all in White Dove? If you had to recommend one of those things to do in another color, which would it be?
If you love that colour and the look, then do it! As long as there is something to ground the space. I did a bathroom in all Simply White by BM. The walls, the cabinetry and the tile (we initially colour matched the shower tile to Simply White) with a hardwood looking tile. We love it and so do our clients! See it here in our portfolio –> https://clairejefford.com/portfolio/gallery/gwynne-avenue/
I love these posts, Claire. They’re really giving me the confidence to discuss colors with my clients. White Dove is my go to trim color.
So happy to hear this Jillian!!
I use White Dove quite often as it does pair with so many colors and seems to stay true to itself in various applications. Great videos, Claire.
So fabulous to hear this Bridget! Thanks so much for watching, glad you are enjoying my videos! 🙂
I am using SW Agreeable Gray in my home gym. There are no windows in this basement room. Would you suggest using White Dove as my trim?
Hello Kimberly! Yes, Agreeable Gray and White Dove work well together.
I am thinking of using white dove for my trim. What what do you suggest for the walls? I would like there to be some brown (not yellow) undertones and somewhat of a contrast with the trim. Thanks!
Hi Dee. I would choose your wall colours first, match them up with your fixed elements such as counters, fireplace stone, tile, etc. Then choose the best white to work with the paint colour and those fixed elements too. Do you have my free pdf download on How to Choose the Right Paint Colours the first time? That should help. You can get it here –> https://clairejefford.com/ccd-freebies/
I’ve painted my walls in a finished basement white dove and wonder what color I should paint the ceiling. I want to make the room as bright as it can. I’m not sure if I should paint the ceiling White Dove or if there is a color a little lighter I should try. I’d appreciate any suggestions!
Thanks!
Hi Missy. First thing to remember is that a light colour will not make a dark room bright. You will need good lighting for that to happen, even if natural lighting is not possible, pot lights tend to be better than one central fixture for the best light. There are quite a few whites that will work with White Dove, but I would just paint the ceiling the same white, but in a matte finish. With shadows from lighting, the same colour will often look different when applied onto different surfaces and with different sheens.
Where can I get white dove for cabinets please
Hi Evelyn! You can have cabinets either custom made and ask your carpenter to do them in White Dove or if they are existed cabinets, you can seek out a painter who sprays cabinetry.
Hi! I am using white dove for the trim for my entire home. I would like a brighter color for the ceilings. What white would you recommend for the ceilings?
Whites that are lighter than White Dove which you may wish to consider are Snowfall White, Oxford White, Simply White. All of these are Benjamin Moore colours.
Hi Claire, I have white dove as the trim color thoughout my entire house. We built 9 years ago and I want to change my current beige walls to a “white” that coordinates well with white dove. Any suggestions? My house has beachy tones, light blues, beige, ivory. Thanks!
Hi there! My husband and I just bought a second home and the walls are a grey color and the trim and doors are white dove. There isn’t a ton of natural light in the downstairs portion of home where the main living spaces are and the wood floors have a little grey tone to them, so we change the s from grey to white. I want a brighter starker white because of the lack of natural light — and I am wondering if you have any suggestions for a brighter white that would pair okay with white dove trim and doors. Any insight is so so appreciated! Thanks 🙂
Hi Jenny! Simply white and Chantilly Lace are more white and they both look nice with White Dove.
Excellent post. Keep writing such kind of information on your site.I’m really impressed by your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers for reading!
Hi Claire: our whole house is white dove. We are doing some remodeling and want a brighter white but will leave the cabinetry in white dove. Floors will be walnut and accent wall will be prettier. Do you suggest Simlly white to be a little brighter but look Good together? Thank you!
Hi Laura. Simply White and White Dove look lovely together. Remember to look at what else you have going on in the space though, such as any tile or stone to ensure it works with the lighter / whiter walls.
Our kitchen cabinets and family room built ins are White Dove and we are thinking about painting our walls (open concept family room-dining-kitchen) a white as well. I would like to brighten up our space but wondering if we go with a “whiter” white that maybe our cabinets would appear dingy or more yellow?
Remember that brightening up a space doesn’t happen simply by adding a light colour on the walls. The lighting itself (artificial or natural) is what will make a space lighter. I’m not a big fan of white on white, especially when it’s a white and a cream or off white. I think it is tricky to pull off without making whichever one is more off white appear dingy, just as you mentioned. Is there a fireplace stone that you can pull from or another fixed element in the space which would be a key factor in choosing a wall colour? That is where I would look to first.
Hello. My kitchen cabinets are white dove and my countertops are basilica by Cambria. My island is chelsea gray by BM and wall color is usuful gray by SW. I am trying to figure out what my trip should be . I am getting 4.5 inch shutters and need to tell them the color. Company trying to tell me pearl 009 is best match but not too sure where this color comes from. Should I go with white dove trim and tell them I want to do white dove bm shutters to match. ? do you know anything about this pear 009 color? thank you so much.
Yes, white dove looks beautiful with those colours, as you know because you have painted your cabinetry that white. I don’t know what they are referring to in terms of the Pear 009, but yes, would do the trim White Dove.
Hi Claire. I have Cambria Ironsbridge countertops and can’t decide which Ben Moore cabinet color to use. My kitchen faces north but I’m afraid of a very bright white. Cambria recommends white opalescence which is completely wrong. Please suggest colors that could work.
Thanks
Hi Marilyn. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have a sample of Cambria’s Ironsbridge. However, I agree with you that by looking on line at the suggested colours, the Opalescence doesn’t seem to be a good match with it – but I also appreciate that looking at elements such as this on line is not best practice.
My advice would be to take a sample of the Cambria counter (if you can get it from your rep) to a Benjamin Moore store. Pick 3-4 whites that look best and then bring them home to view them in your own space/light. From there, if you can confidently narrow it down to 2, consider getting small sample pots and painting large boards in those 2 colours. Place the painted boards vertically and the counter horizontally, in the same way that they will be oriented in your home. Then view the counter with the paint at a few different times of the day to see which works best. Also, be sure to consider other tile or flooring in the space. Whites can be tricky! Good luck and let us know what you decide. Thanks.
I loved your videos! Thank you!
I just renovated my entire 2nd floor and would like to paint ALL of the bedroom and hallway walls in White Dove and all moldings, doors, and trim in super white, both by Benjamin Moore.
In your opinion, will these colors look nicely together? Will there be a nice, subtle contrast?
Hi Claire – if we have white dove shiplap walls — what color would you paint the ceiling?
Hi Candy. I would paint the ceiling in White Dove as well. It will look slightly different anyway because not only is it being applied to a different texture (shiplap vs drywall) but it’s also going to be a different sheen. Don’t over complicate it. 🙂
hi, I recently used white dove on my walls in a second home. I have always loved white dove and use it on my trim so was confident that I would love it painted on walls. When I saw the paint job, I was convinced it wasn’t right. I looked again at the paint can and the formal for white dove purchased from a different hardware store was different from the one I had always used. What is the correct formula for white dove?
and btw, I’m thinking of using white dove on walls flat with cottontails semi-gloss on trim. what do you think?
We just remodeled our first floor, and we opted for White Dove on walls and ceiling. Entryway cabinetry is BM Sea Haze. I need a color for my brick fireplace. Considering Kendall Charcoal, would that be too dark? I want it to be neutral, and a different shade, but complimenting our new entryway cabinets. Kitchen is redone with Natural Cherry and Soapstone. Thanks for your thoughts!
Hi Jessica. This colour combination is lovely. As to whether or not the Kendall charcoal is too dark a colour for the fireplace will depend on a few different factors. One, do you like dark colours? For me I love the contrast and dramatic look, so I’m never afraid of using dark colours. Secondly, you need to create balance within the space. If there is a large dark fireplace on one side of the room and the rest is all white walls, it won’t feel right. It could be as simple as having a dark gray sofa opposite the fireplace and black framed windows and now it all comes together nicely. Good design is all about looking at the big picture.
Hi! Thank you for this informative site! I am repainting a bright south exposure sunroom. The existing color is an old restoration hardware color in a sage green. While the color is nice I am just feeling ready for a change. I am considering painting the walls White dove. The trim in the room is bright white and all windows (9 of them ) are covered in plantation shutters in white as well. The ceiling is flat white with 4 large sky lights. So obviously the room gets lots of natural light! Do you think that it is just too much white? I envision a creamy white that will contrast a bit with the trim and shutters to make the space fresh and clean looking. The living room that looks into the sunroom has a griege color paint ( my gray sofas go very nicely with the walls so I know there is gray undertones). I’ve got my white dove sample to try but wanted your thoughts on the white on white. Any advice is appreciated!
Hello Shauna, thanks for your comment. You may have already made your decision based on the date that you posted, apologies for my late reply.
That will definitely be a lot of white. While white walls are on trend right now, it’s important to know how to decorate and style a space in the right way to make it look fabulous like the rooms we see on line or in magazines. I’m personally not a fan of mixing off white and bright white, which sounds like that is what you will be doing with all the bright white shutters and trim. But again, that is a personally preference. Let us know how you got on, it can be tricky to comment when I’m not in the space to see.
What are we to do with all of these sample pots after our painting is complete?
If you don’t want to hang on to them for possible future use, you can take them to somewhere like Home Depot and they dispose of old paint cans safely.
Hi Claire, I am remodeling my home and basically changing all paint colors and most fixed elements (stone, cabinet color, countertops). I would love to do a white throughout the home, and get my color from furniture/accessories etc. I am very torn between Sherwin Williams Alabaster and White Dove. I plan to do the ceilings, wall, trim and cabinets all in whichever one I go with, different sheens. I’ve painted poster boards and put them all around. Both are very pretty, I’m just concerned about undertones that I may not see from the poster boards. I have covered porches around my home adjacent to the main living rooms which dims the natural light some. Can you give me any advice on which of these two colors overall tends to work best for the long run? I plan to do neutral furnishings also. My floors are all hardwood, a mix of provincial and special walnut. I would appreciate any input you can give me. Love your blog :).
You need to be guided by those new fixed elements you are choosing for your space. Looking at those and which white works best with the tones in counters, stone etc, is what you need to be doing. It may not end up being either of those whites depending on what you choose for finishes. Be sure to choose paint last and as you know, not all whites are created equal!
Hi Claire, I have 1950 metal kitchen cabinets that need to be repainted. They are currently white… No idea what brand or color, they are definitely a true white. I love the freshness of a white kitchen but am lost as to what products to use and the steps to take to successfully refinish my cabinets. Any direction and support you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!
Hi Shelly. That’s a great question, one that I truly do not know the answer too. I did a search in YouTube and very little results came up that were helpful. Consult with a local paint store to get their advice on this. Then be sure to document the update in a video, because it clearly needs to be addressed!
Firstly, I love your videos. Lots of examples, which are very helpful.
Undecided re: color for my kitchen walls, cabinets and trim. I inherited “Steamed Milk” plantation shutters (color was chosen and shutters installed without my input 🙁 but they’re not bad. I have Luna Pearl countertops,white subway tile backsplash and LVT called Enchanted forest (Alterna Armstrong)… same colors as the fireplace you did. Will White Dove be a good choice? Just don’t want the shutters to look beige. It seems pretty close to the color of the shutters…a little lighter but doesn’t seem to turn the shutters beige. Also, should I use a satin or semi gloss finish on the trim and cabinets? Thanks so much.
Hi Connie. I just googled Luna Pearl granite and this will definitely be where you need to take direction from when choosing any of the colours for your kitchen. It appears to have white and some grey taupe blotches. Please look at paint boards with your counter and then your shutters to determine what will be the best choice. I like a semi gloss on the trim of baseboards, as it’s more easy to wipe.
I have maple wood kitchen cabinets and looking to paint and glaze I was thinking about white dove but not sure what glaze color I should use we don’t want a lot in the cracks just enough to see a little contrast. Do you have any suggestions?
I have maple wood kitchen cabinets and looking to paint and glaze I was thinking about white dove but not sure what glaze color I should use we don’t want a lot in the cracks just enough to see a little contrast. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Louise. Whenever we paint cabinets, we hire a company to spray them – the doors/drawers off site. I’ve never actually used a glaze so cannot comment on that specifically.
Hi, love all your suggestions and ideas! I’m painting our kitchen cabinets BM white dove and our island BM newburyport blue, our counter will be Pietra Quartz and I’m torn on the wall color. I like both SW agreeable gray and BM collingwood. Which paint color would be better? Have south and south west facing windows. Would love your suggestions! Thanks so much
Hi Cheryl. Thanks for your kind words, I’m glad you are enjoying my posts!
I’m not familiar with Pietra Quartz specifically, so please take large samples of all of your finishes and possible paint colours, then display them the same way as they will be put into the space. (IE counters horizontal, paint and cabinetry colours vertical)
This way you should get a good idea of which colour will work best.
Hi Claire,
I am remodeling my pool house and am thinking of either BM Gray Wisp or SW Sea Salt for the walls and BM White Dove for the cabinets. Should I also do the trim in White Dove or a whiter white? Thanks in advance.
Dottie
Hey Dottie, I recommend using the same white for the trim as you are doing on the cabinets. There is no need to introduce another white and remember that the trim will likely be painted in a different sheen to the cabinets and the light hits them both differently so they won’t look exactly the same. Don’t overthink it! Cheers for watching.
Hi there – I’m painting the first floor of my rowhome (open plan kitchen, dining, and living room) White Dove – the main windows (living room) are west-facing. What finish do you recommend for the White Dove – matte or eggshell?
Thank you and love your posts!
Mike
Hello Michael. In the past and for a very long time, the eggshell sheen has typically been the most popular to use when painting walls. As of late, we are seeing a trend of more homeowners and designers using a matte finish. Consider whether you want the walls to have any sheen to them. Benjamin Moore carries a line (cannot recall which one exactly at this time) of matte paint that is easily wipeable. That is something else you want to think about, especially if you have kids or a busy home where walls get easily dirty AND with the colour being so light.