Whats the Best White Paint Color for Cabinets

Choosing the perfect white paint color for your kitchen cabinets can transform the entire look and feel of your kitchen. But with so many shades of white paint on the market, how do you select the right one? We've consulted top designers to break down the key factors to consider when choosing white cabinet paint colors.

We'll overview popular white paint colors for cabinets, provide guidance on selecting the right undertone, and offer expert tips for testing paint colors before committing. Read on for everything you need to know to pick a white paint that makes your kitchen cabinets look their absolute best.

Popular White Cabinet Paint Color Options

While there are countless shades of white paint available, some specific colors consistently rate as top choices for kitchen cabinets year after year. Here are five of the most popular white cabinet paint colors along with their unique traits.

Benjamin Moore Simply White

This versatile and clean white works well for many kitchen designs. It has a balance of warm and cool undertones, allowing it to complement various color schemes. Simply White is a fail-safe option suitable for a wide range of decorative styles from traditional to contemporary.

Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White

As its name suggests, this bright white reflects light extremely well to make cabinets pop. It has a slightly cool undertone that creates a fresh, clean look. If you want a crisp, bright white, High Reflective White is likely to be near the top of your list.

Farrow & Ball Pointing

Pointing has a grayish undertone that creates a soothing, relaxed vibe. This elegant and subtle white is ideal for transitional or contemporary kitchen designs. The gray influence gives depth without looking sterile.

Benjamin Moore Decorators White

With warm, subtly yellow undertones, Decorators White pairs beautifully with wood finishes and can make small spaces feel bright and open. Its versatility allows it to fit with many styles. Decorators White has a soft, welcoming feel that never reads dull or stark white.

Farrow & Ball Wimborne White

This very subtle off-white has faint gray/green undertones. Its versatility works with a variety of styles from modern to traditional. With darker veins running through, it avoids looking bland. The complex blend of undertones makes this a shade worth considering.

Consider Undertones When Selecting White Cabinet Paint

One of the most important factors in choosing a white paint color for your kitchen cabinets is selecting the right undertone for your space. The undertones blend with other kitchen elements to create different aesthetic effects.

Warm Whites

Shades like Benjamin Moore Decorators White with yellow/beige undertones are warm whites. They pair nicely with wood cabinetry and floors, lending a cozy and welcoming vibe. Warm whites with hints of cream or gold add cheerful brightness.

Cool Whites

Whites like Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White with hints of gray/blue are cooler tones. They create a clean, bright, modern look and complement marble, tile, and stainless steel nicely. Cool whites feel crisp, fresh and contemporary.

Greige Whites

Farrow & Ball Wimborne White is an example of a greige off-white, meaning it blends gray and beige undertones. Greige whites are versatile neutrals that work well in both modern and traditional kitchens. Subtly blending the warmth of beige with the coolness of gray creates a flexible, inclusive shade.

Choosing the Best Undertone

Factors like cabinet materials, countertops, flooring and overall design style should guide your undertone selection. For example, painted Shaker-style cabinets tend to look best in a warmer antique white that draws out the woodwork. Modern flat-front lacquered cabinets often pair better with a cool, bright white to play up the sleekness.

Additionally, whites with greenish-gray undertones complement granite counters nicely while warm beige-influenced whites pair better with butcher block. Always view undertones as part of the whole kitchen picture rather than isolated colors.

Properly Test White Cabinet Paint Colors

Never finalize a paint decision without properly testing it first. Designer tip: test out samples on actual cabinet doors or pieces rather than plain cardboard. This shows the real results of how the shade interacts with the exact cabinets and lighting in your kitchen.

Steps for Testing Paint Colors

Follow this process to properly evaluate shades:

1. Purchase or obtain free paint color samples from the brand you plan to use. Get samples in small cans or bottles whenever possible.
2. Paint sample strips on cabinet doors/drawer fronts and move them throughout the kitchen at different times of day to judge how natural and artificial light affects the shades.
3. Lean doors against walls or actual cabinets. The colors often look different on vertical or horizontal surfaces.
4. View samples from across the room and up close for the full perspective. Fine details show up best nearby while you get the overall effect from afar.
5. Compare samples to wall colors, countertops and flooring. See how shades coordinate rather than viewing white paint choices in isolation.
6. Use painter's tape to indicate favorites narrowed down from multiple samples to clearly see top contenders.

By taking the time to properly test, you gain confidence in your final white cabinet paint color selection before investing time and money into painting your full kitchen.

Keep these extra pointers in mind when deciding on white paint for your kitchen cabinets:

• Consult kitchen design experts for advice on white cabinet paint colors ideally suited to your specific kitchen size, layout, materials, style, etc. An experienced designer spots things you might miss.
• Only use exact matching paint brands without testing first. One company's "white" often looks quite different from another's.
• Consider investing in an online color consultant if struggling to decide between white paint options. An expert eye helps immensely.
• Opt for cabinet paint with built-in primer when possible to achieve full coverage faster with fewer coats.
• When painting walls and cabinets white, use the identical shade and brand for seamless uniformity.
• Look at white cabinet inspiration photos but realize your lighting and finishes may not produce the same effect.
• Test semi-gloss, satin and matte sheens to see which white finish you prefer.
• Buy extra paint for touch ups. Reordering the same shade years later often results in slight mismatches.

Choosing that perfect white paint color for your kitchen cabinets is worth the effort. Properly testing shades and undertones can make all the difference in creating your ideal kitchen environment.