We need to talk about White Dove by Benjamin Moore. It is a timeless white that designers and DIYers go gaga over. This color is such a versatile one that looks great on so many different surfaces like cabinets, walls, and trim, but I think my favorite place to see White Dove is on walls.
I have suggested this color to friends and family countless times to use. Maybe this color is right for your space? Le’t take a deep dive into Benjamin Moore White Dove!
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White paint colors are hard colors to categorize and get right. The fact that Benjamin Moore White Dove works well for so many different spaces is a good sign. Is there anything wrong with this color? Does White Dove have any flaws? That’s what we are going to answer!
How Will White Dove Look On Walls?
The biggest questions about paint colors stem from how it will look in a space (obviously). What people question surrounding White Dove and other white colors is what color is White Dove? Is it a warm or cool white? Will it be too yellow? Does it look too gray toned? Is it dingy?
What Color is White Dove?
White Dove by Benjamin Moore is a soft, warm white paint color. It has an LRV of 85.38. This makes it a fairly light color that will brighten up a room. It’s neither too warm or too cool, so we have a pretty neutral, creamy color. I think this is one of the reasons it is so attractive to many people.
Because it leans more warm, it is considered an off white color. Off white colors tend to be softer and creamier colors with a yellow base. The problem is is it too yellow for your space?
Warm OR Cool?
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a creamy color in the off white color family. While it doesn’t lean too warm or cool, it is definitely more of a warm white than a cool white. Depending on the lighting or next to other paint colors, it can look warmer or less warm, but it’s not a true stark white either.
Is Benjamin Moore White Dove Too Yellow?
No, White Dove is not too yellow. It definitely has yellow undertones, but white dove is not a yellowy looking color on walls or anywhere at all. Every space has different lighting, complimenting colors, and other variables. The way it looks in your home may not look yellow, but it still could in someone else’s home.
The yellow that is in White Dove is also mixed with some gray that kind of counteracts the yellowness. It gives a warm inviting feel to this paint color. You can see below next to a cool white (decorator’s white) it looks creamy not yellow thanks to the hints of gray in it.
Does White Dove Look Too Gray?
No, White Dove is not too gray toned. The gray in White Dove Benjamin Moore works with the yellow so that it is not too beige, yellow, or gray. It is just a creamy, off white soft color that with the touches of gray and yellow make it a stunning paint color.
Does White Dove Look Dingy?
Yikes, this is my worst nightmare with a white paint color, looking dingy. Yes, it can look dingy in comparison to a cooler white color. The key is to pair White Dove with more complimentary colors to enhance its beautiful creamy tones and stay away from pairing it with more cool whites.
What Are White Dove’s Undertones?
Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a warm white color. The warmth comes from underlying yellow undertones. Let’s call it greige undertones that this color has because there also exists a small amount of gray. The gray with the yellow balances the color into one of the yummiest creamiest whites.
Where Can You Use White Dove?
Now that we know how to classify white dove as a paint color, let’s look at another popular inquiry about White Dove. That inquiry is where can you use White Dove? The short answer is that it looks good almost anywhere.
Here are some places that White Dove can be used and then we will talk about them:
- Walls
- Trim
- Exteriors
- Ceilings
- Doors
- Interior Brick
- Shiplap
- Cabinets
Using White Dove On Walls
The place we all think of paint going is on our walls, but there are so many other surfaces where paint goes. This color is absolutely stunning and is kind of the perfect neutral white. If you are worried that it is too yellow, then it may be a better on a smaller capacity, but it is a spectacular choice for a whole room is as well.
White Dove on walls in a fully saturated naturally lit room is where this color will shine. The natural rays with white dove’s undertones make for the dreamiest, creamiest, neutral back drop for furniture, art, and decor. Is White Dove on the walls a good choice? Yes, absolutely!
Just remember that white walls really shine in natural light, so take this into consideration. If your space has some natural light at some point throughout the day, I would recommend White Dove as a great paint color choice.
However, in a dark space, White Dove will look dull and gray toned on the walls and may not be the best choice.
Using White Dove On Trim and Doors
So now you’ve painted white dove on your walls, so what about the trim? Finding matching and complimenting whites to pair together on trim and walls can be difficult. One way to fix this is simply by using the same color! Use White Dove on walls as well as white dove to paint the trim.
This is a little painting trick to making a room feel bigger and brighter. For variation so the eye can distinguish where the wall ends and the trim begins, use different sheens. Typically, you can use a satin, eggshell (my preference), or flat sheen on the walls and a semi gloss on the trim and doors.
This is also an opportunity to do a contrasting color. All the trim in my downstairs is a beige color (shocker I know), but I love the historic feel this gives my home. If you live in a historic home, I recommend trying to find some authentic colors to pair with the white dove walls.
Some colors that work well along side White Dove Benjamin Moore are Classic Gray BM and Gray Owl BM. I personally love Revere Pewter and Edgecomb Gray as well. If you want another white to pair with White Dove, Simply White and Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore are great choices.
Using White Dove On Ceilings
Don’t forget your ceilings now! Ceilings are usually an afterthought, or completely forgotten by folks, but it is the 5th wall in your room! White is always a good option for your ceilings, especially when ceiling paint is usually limited to white or lighter colors.
I think painting ceilings the same color as the walls is a great way to make the room feel bigger and brighter, especially with a white paint color. White is also so versatile for a complimenting many different colors and being a neutral ceiling color.
Not all whites are created equal, so when choosing a paint color for your ceiling, remember that white dove is a warm white with gray and yellow undertones.
Don’t paint white dove on the ceiling and then a cool white on the walls. Choose colors that will compliment the warm tones of White Dove like Agreeable Gray, Revere Pewter, etc.
Using White Dove On The Exterior
If you are considering painting the exterior of your home white, you may want to consider White Dove. It is a stunning choice for a white home exterior. Because of the gray undertones, the yellow won’t be too yellow. It is not a stark, white as well so it will make your home look warm and inviting.
Full on natural sunlight changes how the color looks dramatically, but it mostly makes it look brighter. White Dove will look like a creamy, but still bright, neutral and clean white on your home exterior.
Use White Dove On Shiplap
Can you use White Dove on Shiplap? Absolutely! You can absolutely use White Dove by Benjamin on Shiplap. Not all shiplap has to be painted white, but if you have your heart set on a white, White Dove is a great choice. The creamy, soft white will make the shiplap look bright and warm in your space.
Use White Dove On Interior Brick
Can you use White Dove on interior brick? Again, absolutely yes! When you are painting brick, use a masonry or brick specialty paint for the best results. For the same reasons it looks good and is so popular, are the same reasons it will look absolutely gorgeous on your brick fireplace.
Use White Dove On Cabinets
White Kitchens may seem like a dated idea like been there done that as of 2023. I’m here to tell you your wrong. A white kitchen is timeless and classic. White Dove on cabinets would look warm and inviting, but still bright especially in a kitchen with lots of natural light.
You could also do a colored cabinet that will pop with White Dove on the walls. Either choice will make your kitchen gorgeous because white kitchens are a trend that will stick around forever some say.
Colors Similar To White Dove By Benjamin Moore
Many white colors have the same attributes such as LRV or undertones, warm or cool, but are still vastly different. White paint colors are complicated which is one reason it’s so hard to pick the right one. (That’s where I come in!) Here are some similar white colors to White Dove:
- Alabaster by Sherwin Williams
- Simply White by Benjamin Moore
- Pure White by Sherwin Williams
- Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
- Snowbound by Benjamin Moore
Just so you are aware, these are SIMILAR colors, not equivalent matches. We will talk about equivalent or really similar dupes by brand later on.
White Dove BM VS Alabaster SW
White Dove and Alabaster are both warm, creamy off white paint colors. They are very similar to one another, but do have slight variations that set them apart from one another.
White Dove is a smidge brighter with an LRV of 85 vs Alabaster’s 82. Still both are nice bright white colors. This makes White Dove a bit more “white” than Alabaster. It has those really handy gray undertones that keep it from going too warm. Both colors are neither too warm or cool.
You really can’t go wrong with either choice. I recommend both colors over and over.
White Dove BM VS Snowbound SW
White Dove and Snowbound are very similar colors. They are both light, bright, and versatile white paint colors that can be used in many places. The main difference between the two colors is their undertones.
Snowbound has a warm undertone, while White Dove has a yellow undertone. This means that Snowbound will appear slightly warmer than White Dove in some lighting conditions.
White Dove has an LRV of 85 vs Snowbound’s 83, so slightly brighter, but not by much. Both of these colors are really pretty, the best way to choose your right white paint color is to test it out.
White Dove BM VS Pure White SW
White Dove and Pure White are bright white colors with similar LRVs at 85 (White Dove) and Pure White (84). Next to each other, Pure White pulls more gray and White Dove more yellow. They are both a far cry from a stark white and their undertones help with that.
Pure White has VERY subtle gray undertones that keep it from being too stark white. White Dove also has gray undertones, but they work with yellow undertones to keep the color warm/neutral.
White Dove BM VS Swiss Coffee BM
White Dove and Swiss Coffee are both colors that fall in the warm, off white category though I would say Swiss Coffee is more creamy. It has warmer undertones than White Dove as well.
White Dove has an LRV of 85 vs 83.93 for Swiss Coffee. We keep getting closer in brightness. These are both extremely bright white colors with hints of warmth, but Swiss Coffee is going to be much creamier and warmer than White Dove.
White Dove VS Simply White
White Dove and Simply White are both white colors with slight warmth. This means they have undertones bringing in warmth to help balance out the brightness. Both white paint colors are still bright whites.
Simply White has an LRV of 91.7 vs White Dove’s LRV of 85. That is quite a bit of difference in brightness. These two colors, while being similar, also compliment each other very well. You may have White Dove on walls and Simply White on Trim or White Dove on Trim with Simply White on walls.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with either color. They work well in so many places either together or standing on their own.
Sherwin Williams Equivalent To White Dove
There is no exact match or dupe for any paint color. Each paint color is uniquely formulated and cannot be duplicated exactly even when color matched. That being said, there are a few paint colors that come really, really close.
The closest color from Sherwin Williams to match White Dove is Alabaster. I mentioned this under the similar colors because they are so similar, but not an exact match.
Across brands, you will not find dupes because each brand has their own system for mixing their own colors from that particular brand. When you cross brand lines, the colors may be close, but not a perfect match.
Coordinating Colors
White Dove is a warm white paint color with a slight yellow undertone and a hint of gray. This means that it will go well with other warm colors, such as cream, beige, yellow, gold, coral, peach, and salmon. It will also go well with cool colors, such as gray, blue, green, lavender, and mint.
Basically, it is a creamy neutral white color that can pair nicely with just about any color. Here are some of my favorite coordinating colors for White Dove:
- Revere Pewter (BM Recommended)
- Edgecomb Gray
- Wickham Gray
- Kendall Charcoal (BM Recommended)
- October Mist
- Hale Navy
- Country Redwood (BM Recommended)
- Pale Oak
- Balboa Mist (BM Recommended)
- Savannah Clay
Why is White Dove So Popular?
White Dove on walls, white dove on trim, white dove anywhere is a stunning color. It has slight gray undertones that give it a slight warmth and yellow undertones that are not too yellow. This paint color is a warm white in the off white color collection.
White Dove is super neutral, not a true or stark white, but still really light and bright with an LRV of 85. She’s so versatile that she works almost anywhere and with any color. (Yes, I said she)
These are all facts we have learned about White Dove so far, and I think it’s pretty obvious why this is one of Benjamin Moore’s Top Selling Paint Colors.
Final Thoughts
Benjamin Moore White Dove is an absolutely gorgeous white color. I recommend it to a lot of people, and I’m already looking for a place to put it in my home. The off white color is so scrumptiously creamy, yet bright, warm, yet neutral.
It’s not only versatile where you use it and the colors you pair it with, but also it’s versatile in it’s ability to be a neutral backdrop. Whether your style is farmhouse, midcentury modern, grand millennial, or boho, White Dove will work in your space.
Don’t sleep on this white, go give it a try. Also, SAMPLE BEFORE YOU COMMIT!
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