Simply White: A Benjamin Moore Classic (Plus Alternatives!) OC-117

If you’ve been shopping for a white paint color, you already know that there aren’t a lot of bright white options on the market.

A warm bright white is a unicorn, but we have found one in Benjamin Moore Simply White.

A set of simple white plaster steps beside a swatch of simply white oc-117 by Benjamin Moore

Here you will see Simply White in real homes, and find out if there are any alternatives.

Is Simply White the white you’ve been looking for?

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What Color is Benjamin Moore Simply White (2143-70 or OC-117)

Very simply, Simply White is a bright white with a hint of creaminess.

Simply White with a black Victorian fireplace — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

It is technically a yellow white, meaning that it is in the yellow area of the color wheel, but it is bright. Like really bright. So in general it doesn’t look like a color.

Is Simply White Too Yellow?

If your tolerance for yellow is zero, you might not like Simply White. Try Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace instead.

That being said, it typically does look pretty classic and crisp, without much obvious creaminess or yellow tones.

Paintbrush swipe of Benjamin Moore Simply White

When the light is just right and you get the maximum warmth of Simply White, it does tend to lean more yellow than orange whites, which will look more beige.

If you want to minimize yellow tones, do NOT choose a cool white for your trim and ceilings. Use Simply White for everything.

Why You Might Want a Subtle Yellow Tone

Stop right there before you write off all yellow based creams! Yellow is the color that appears brightest to the human eye.

This means that a yellow based white will appear the absolute lightest and brightest.

It actually works the same with hair, a gold-toned blonde will appear brighter than an ashy one.

A sunny whitewashed village beside a swatch of simply white oc-117 by Benjamin Moore

Help! Simply White Looks Green!

The most likely culprit for your cream paint looking green, is the green reflections from outside.

We painted our living room in a soft white and it looked so green that our Realtor couldn’t believe it was white.

Is there a solution?

There isn’t really a solution that doesn’t involve repainting, but you can still have creamy white walls.

An orange based white will neutralize green shadows from outside and should not have the same problem.

Sherwin WIlliams Whitetail vs White Flour

Try a sample of Sherwin Williams White Flour, Whitetail, or Greek Villa. All of these are orange based whites, but they also are not as bright as Simply White, so it’s not a perfect alternative.

The fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to test your paint colors, is by ordering a peel-and-stick sample!

Samplize will ship you a large “sticker” made of actual paint. You can reposition it to check out the color in every area of your home.

The best part? It often ends up being cheaper than buying the test pots and sampling the old fashioned way. (Plus you can order all the colors you want!)

Canadian? Hello Paint does the same thing, without the expensive international shipping.

LRV of Benjamin Moore Simply White

The LRV of a color indicates on a scale of 0 – 100 how much light a color reflects (or doesn’t reflect). True black has an LRV of 0 and pure white has an LRV of 100.

In the paint world, we are working in a range of about 3 – 93 because no paint color is purely black or completely white.

Here’s the super power of Simply White: It has an LRV of 91.7, so it is at the tippy top of lightness.

Paint drop of simply white superimposed over a round mirror in a simply white bathroom with a green vanity and framed wall art

In terms of white paint colors that are this light, there just aren’t a lot. Because Simply White is so light, it really helps temper any obvious undertones.

What Are the Undertones of Benjamin Moore Simply White

As I mentioned earlier, Simply White is a yellow white. On a yellow scale, Simply White is closer to green than it is to orange.

This is the double edged sword that makes Simply White as bright as possible, but also more susceptible to green shadows.

I don’t want to overstate that problem though, you will see from the example photos that it’s not a common issue. For the most part, Simply White looks really nice and white.

An angular window framed by all Simply white walls and trim with a scandiavian pendant light fixture — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Is Simply White Warm or Cool

As a yellow white, Simply White is a warm white. It can be used as a neutral, but it will never look cool.

It doesn’t have the same “clean”ness that a couple of other whites have.

Simply White at 75%

We have the rare opportunity to actually show you Simply White at a different strength. This is a popular option when a white is just not quite right.

In The Hawthorn House (@thehawthornhouse), the home owners decided to use Benjamin Moore Simply White at 3/4 strength in their whole house.

Simply White 75% strength in vaulted Living Room — Photo Credit: @thehawthornhouse

In this design, they actually opted to use a different white for the kitchen cabinets.

Here you see Chantilly Lace on the cabinets, and Simply White everywhere else:

Chantilly Lace cabinets and 3/4 strength Simply White walls in kitchen — Photo Credit: @thehawthornhouse

The difference is subtle, but in the shadows you can see the warmth of Simply White a little more.

Anyways, that gives you an idea of both Simply White compared directly to Chantilly Lace, and a glimpse of the paint mixed lighter.

Benjamin Moore Simply White Color Palette

Here is how Simply White looks with other popular Benjamin Moore colors (and one classic from Sherwin Williams!) :

Benjamin Moore Simply White in a living room with cream and wood furniture above a selection of coordinating paint colors as listed in the article — Background photo credit: @lexstyleanddesign

Coordinating Colors

Simply White with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

Don’t let the name fool you! Classic Gray is more of an off white than an actual gray.

Here it is on the wall in a bedroom:

Classic Gray on the walls of a bedroom with white bedding and a gallery wall — Photo Credit: @gatheredliving

Simply White would provide some contrast while still keeping things soft and creamy.

Simply White with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

I didn’t originally think that Simply White and Edgecomb Gray would go together, but in real life, Edgecomb Gray is much more neutral than it looks on the swatch.

Baby Fawn walls with Simply White trim and railings — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

I do think Edgecomb Gray typically looks a bit darker than this, but there is a lot of natural light here.

Simply White with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

Revere Pewter is the most popular neutral from Benjamin Moore, and Simply White is a great choice for trim.

Benjamin Moore Simply White in a kitchen with a wooden table and chairs with black seat pads above a selection of coordinating paint colors as listed in the article

Simply White with Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

If you want to emphasize the warmth of Kendall Charcoal (and it does have warmth!) then Simply White is a great choice!

Simply White with Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Hale Navy might just be the most popular navy blue on the market, and it would look very classic with the brightness of Simply White.

The “official” complementary color for Simply White is actually a very soft blue, but Hale Navy could be considered a darker version.

Simply White with Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

Black and white is also a classic color scheme, and Simply White brings the contrast!

Swatch of Tricorn Black with Simply White

The most popular inky black paint color is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, and these two look great together!

More Black and Simply White Inspiration

These stairs are painted in Farrow & Ball Pitch Black, with Simply White on the trim, risers, and banister:

Farrow & Ball pitch black stairs with Simply White Trim and banister — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Farrow & Ball pitch black stair treads with SImply White risers and Simply White board and button — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Simply White Ceiling and trim around fireplace with custom cream walls — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

It’s subtle, but the ceiling and curve of the wall is painted in Simply White, as is the woodwork around the fireplace, but the walls are a custom tinted cream.

Benjamin Moore Simply White Trim Considerations

First up:

Can you use Simply White for trim?

Simply White is a great choice for trim!

It happens to be a favorite for Adrien from Word of Mouth Painting. You will see lots of his projects in this article.

Simply White on banister and door and floor trim. — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

In this room, Simply White provides some contrast against the creamier white of Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee.

In this next home by Word of Mouth, the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn:

Hold up! Isn’t that the same stairwell from “Edgecomb Gray?”

Baby Fawn and Edgecomb Gray are actually the same color!

I have a few more images from this home. Here is the neutral palette that Adrien came up with:

Word of Mouth Painting Simply White palette featuring Baby Fawn, Ashwood, and Balboa Mist — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

You will see the other rooms shortly!

Trim Choices for Simply White Walls

Wood Trim

I know someone will want to know if Simply White can work with wood trim, so here is one example that I scrounged up!

That looks like a walnut color, but Simply White would definitely work with oak or dark wood trim. It’s a very classic white, so the combination just makes sense.

White Paint that Goes with Simply White

I don’t see any point in choosing a white paint other than Simply White for your trim if you are also putting it on the walls.

It has such a high LRV that many other whites will actually be darker, and those that aren’t won’t really contrast.

If you do want white trim and some contrast, choose Simply White in a semi-gloss for the trim. It’s amazing what a difference that subtle change can make.

Simply White on walls and trim in an upstairs hallway with a natural walnut banister — Photo Credit: @lasservices

Contrasting Color Trim

Not sold on all white ere’thing? What about choosing a color?

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray actually makes a really nice trim color with white walls, but here are a couple other ideas:

Benjamin Moore Fieldstone Gray

Sage green gray trim around a door of the same color with Simply White walls — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

I love how classic this non-traditional gray-green trim choice looks.

Meridith from @lexstyleanddesign has Simply White throughout her home. I have collected some highlights for this post, but if you crave more, head over to her IG after and take a look at alllll of the inspo.

Meridith actually faked the look of the paneled door by using permanent marker! Like what??

Next we have:

Benjamin Moore Smokestack Gray

Not all that gray, but Smokestack Gray with Simply White makes a delightful frame for Meridith’s retro-modern kitchen.

What’s your favorite paint color? Why not try it out as trim?

Benjamin Moore Simply White Home Interior

Rest assured, I’ve got Simply White almost anywhere that you want to see it! This is a great white for your whole home.

Let’s start in the foyer:

Simply White on all the walls in a magnificent foyer with spiral staircase — Photo Credit: @true_colors_painting

It’s still under construction, but you get the idea! You can see how Simply White looks like a pretty true white.

Over by the door you can see a little hint of cream.

Simply White on Shiplap

Simply White might actually be the perfect shade for shiplap if you want a white that is creamy without being gray or muted.

Here it is in Meridith’s kitchen:

Simply White on panelling in kitchen with black and white patterned tile floor and wood table with mid century modern chairs — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

Okay, since it’s vertical I think it’s technically paneling, but I thought it was regular shiplap until I dug up the photo again, so it stays!

Word of Mouth painting used glossy Simply White on a shiplap and beam ceiling:

Semi gloss simply white shiplap panels on a ceiling with warm wood beams and a natural river rock fireplace — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Beautiful!

In the bathroom the walls were painted in Simply White too:

Semi gloss simply white shiplap panels on a ceiling with warm wood beams and simply white walls — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Looking pretty crisp and clean here!

Benjamin Moore Simply White Living Room

Of course we’re going back to Meridith’s because she has Simply White on lock!

Here is her living room:

Simply White on Living room walls cabinets and brick fireplace with stylish mid century furniture and a cozy rug. — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

I do love traditional brick, but here’s your sign to try Simply White if you want to paint over brick in your home.

This is the perfect background for a gallery wall:

Simply White Gallery wall in Living Room with a gray couch — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

The subtle cream of Simply White allows the white frames to stand out too.

Here is Simply White at work in a Scandinavian inspired space, painted by Word of Mouth Painting:

Simply White in a modern home with warm wood floors — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

This home is a great example actually, because there is a LOT of greenery outside, but in this case it is not turning the walls green.

Benjamin Moore Simply White Dining Room

Here’s another shot of Meridith’s chic little dining area:

A view into the dining area of a simply white kitchen with smokestack gray trim around the door — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

This dining room is painted in Benjamin Moore Ashwood, with Simply White on the trim:

Benjamin Moore Ashwood walls with Simply White trim in a dining room with honey oak furniture — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Here is an all-Simply-White room that I think(?) is a dining room:

Simply White dining room with sliding glass door and round funky crystal light fixture — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Again, not green! So that’s good news.

Before we get into this next home, I have to show you the exterior of Old Custom House (@1870customhouse):

An imposing brick home that used to be a government building, on a snowy day. — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

Does it have any bearing on what we are talking about? No, not really. I just felt like you needed to see it.

I suppose it does provide some context for the stunning interior of this former government building in Maine.

Simply White on the walls of a former 1870's government building, behind a long wood dining table with matching black chairs and a chandelier — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

I’m certainly open to dining here!

The walls here are Simply White, but the trim is not.

Next to a cooler white, in low light, Simply White appears more cream:

Simply White in a hallway in low light with cool white trim and antique pendant lights — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

Here is Simply White on brick, beside a custom tinted cream:

Simply White on Brick wall beside a custom tinted cream with retro furniture — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

You can see that next to an actual cream, Simply White looks white.

Here is the same color scheme, this time with Simply White on the ceilings and trim:

Custome tinted cream on walls with simply white on ceilings and trim — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Moving on to the heart of the home:

Benjamin Moore Simply White in the Kitchen

This is in the same Scandinavian inspired home that Word of Mouth Painting worked on:

All Simply White kitchen with geometric light fixtures hanging above an island with white countertops — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Light and bright! This might be one of my favorite kitchens to date.

Here we are back in the kitchen of the 1870’s refurb project.

Simply white in a kitchen with a long blue island and tall ceilings in a former government building — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

The cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball Pigeon.

Hold up!

Farrow & Ball Pigeon vs Evergreen Fog on a card of several other muted greens

What??

I had to actually check on the cabinet color, because Pigeon is a greenish gray color and this looks smoky blue here, but it is correct!

Here is a better example of Pigeon:

Pigeon front door — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

Now that’s just crazy! What a difference lighting can make.

Simply White Kitchen Cabinets

It’s a little surprising that Simply White isn’t a more popular choice for cabinets, because it is a nice bright white.

Thankfully Meridith came through again with Simply White on her cabinets:

Simply White in a two tone kitchen with onyx black lower cabinets — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

The lowers are Benjamin Moor Onyx.

Simply White works great with the contrasting black paint and light fixture:

Simply White cabinets above white subway tile framing a kitchen window — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

Does Simply White Work With Marble?

You might be worried that Simply White will clash with marble countertops or tile, but in reality natural stone is rarely a super bright cool white.

In Meridith’s kitchen above, the subtle creamy tones of Simply White work just fine with the marble.

Here it is again on this backsplash (although this is mixed at 3/4 strength) :

Chantilly Lace white cabinets wiith Simply White 75% strength on walls — Photo Credit: @thehawthornhouse

It does look a little creamier here, but I think that is down to the cleaner white of Chantilly Lace on the cabinets.

If you like that, great! If you don’t, just use Simply White on the cabinets as well, or paint them a different color entirely.

Graphic reads "Nail down your neutral color scheme in 60 minutes or less" with an image of the foolproof neutrals ebook. Button below reads "Show me how!"

(Check out my post about Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas!)

Can You Use Simply White on Kitchen Walls with Honey Oak Cabinets?

Absolutely you can! In fact, the warmth of the honey oak will likely make Simply White look even crisper.

Benjamin Moore Simply White Bedroom

Here is Simply White on the trim and ceiling in a bedroom with Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist on the walls:

Simply White trim with Balboa Mist walls — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Here it is again on the trim and ceiling, but this time with powder blue walls:

Benjamin Moore Simply White on the trim and ceiling with powder blue walls — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

I love the reflections on the Simply White walls here:

Farrow & Ball Pigeon Doors in a simply white bedroom — Photo Credit: @1870customhouse

It takes me back in time!

Benjamin Moore Simply White Bathroom

Just a few more photos from Meridith now, as we take a look at her chic little bathroom:

All White bathroom with simply white — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

The walls and trim are Simply White, and the vanity is Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.

Simply white on a bathroom wall with a round mirror, framed art, and Farrow & Ball Green Smoke vanity — Photo Credit: @lexstyleanddesign

Benjamin Moore Simply White Exterior

I was only able to find one all-Simply-White exterior for you, but it’s a gooder!

Oyster Bay front door — Photo Credit: @morgan.baswell

I won’t lie to you, Simply White looks much creamier than I anticipated on this exterior.

You will want to swatch it outside and see what it does!

Morgan (@morgan.baswell) chose Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay for her front door:

Simply White Exterior on a sunny day — Photo Credit: @morgan.baswell

One last one at night:

Simply White Exterior with Christmas Lights at night — Photo Credit: @morgan.baswell

I also found some great examples of Simply White on exterior trim and accents.

Let’s take a look!

Simply White ceiling and trim on an enclosed porch with acadia white shakes and polished wood floors — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

This first house features Benjamin Moore Acadia White on the shakes, and Simply White on the trim and ceilings.

Acadia white cedar shakes on an enclosed porch with Simply White ceilings and trim — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

The siding on this next house is Benjamin Moore Storm Cloud Gray:

Simply White trim on a gray green house with cedar shake accents — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

I would say that it’s definitely a greenish gray.

Red door with orange trim and simply white wider trim in a front door stoop with gray siding — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

The white of Simply White look super crisp outside in this color scheme:

Back of a Gray green house with white simply trim — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

For more gray green paint colors like Storm Cloud Gray and Oyster Bay, check out this post: Ultra Sophisticated Gray Green Paint Colors

Simply White Compared to Other Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

If you don’t care what the difference is between Simply White and other popular Benjamin Moore shades, feel free to skip.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Alabaster OC-129

First up let’s take a look at Alabaster! If you have heard of this color before, it was probably the wildly popular Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

Benjamin Moore’s version is very pretty, but not quite as popular.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Alabaster, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Alabaster is much closer to orange than Simply White, and it is darker, with an LRV of 87.04.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Acadia White (925)

Acadia White is also known as Benjamin Moore Ivory White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Acadia White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

I’ve already showed you this house under the exterior section of this article, but I just wanted to show it again so you can see the difference between these two.

An Acadia White porch exterior with wood trim on bottom and simply white around windows — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Acadia White is clearly much darker and creamier than Simply White, with an LRV of 83.32.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Ballet White OC-9

Ballet White also has a second name: Muskoka Trail.

Ballet White is not really a white. It has an LRV of 73.54 so it is definitely in off-white territory. It is also more orange than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Ballet White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Classic Gray OC-23

Classic Gray is actually lighter than Ballet White. It has an LRV of 74.78.

It is more orange than Simply White, darker, and obviously more gray.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Classic Gray, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Chantilly Lace OC-65

Chantilly Lace we have already looked at in comparison to Simply White. The main difference is that Chantilly Lace is a green based white, and not a yellow white. It is a very crisp clean white with no obvious undertone.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Chantilly Lace, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

You can learn all about Chantilly Lace (my favorite white!) in this post: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (The Best White? Plus Dupes!)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Cloud White OC-130

Cloud White is also a yellow white, but it is a bit warmer and darker than Simply White.

Cloud White has an LRV of 87.35.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Cloud White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Cotton Balls OC-122

Benjamin Moore Cotton Balls is nice and light like Simply White, with an LRV of 90.7.

You can see that these two are really quite similar:

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to the similar Benjamin Moore color Cotton Balls, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Cotton Balls is a little more neutral (green) than Simply White, and also less gray. Now Simply White isn’t actually gray, but Cotton Balls is even a little more saturated.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Mayonnaise OC-85

Mayonnaise is a fairly light white with an LRV of 88.07.

It is significantly more orange (peach) than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Mayonnaise, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Mountain Peak White OC-121

Mountain Peak White is another light white, with an LRV of 88.64.

It is also an orange-based white, but less so than some other colors here. Still much warmer than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Mountain peak White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Navajo White OC-95

Navajo White is an off white in the same kind of range as Classic Gray or Ballet White. It has an LRV of 78.26.

It is a very saturated beigey-white.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Navajo White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Oxford White CC-30

Oxford White is a much more neutral white than other options here, and you can see that it is much more gray than Simply White.

It is in the green white family, like Chantilly Lace. The LRV of Oxford White is 88.85.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Oxford White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Snowfall White OC-118

Snowfall White is pretty similar to Simply White. The LRV is a lower, at 89.72, but that’s still up there with the lightest whites.

The only difference between these two, is that Snowfall White is a little cooler.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Snowfall White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Super White OC-152

Super White is technically a green white, but it is so desaturated that there is very little actual color to it.

The LRV of Super White is 87.36. Basically, it’s darker and more gray than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Super White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Swiss Coffee OC-45

There are actually a few different white paints named Swiss Coffee, so this is the Benjamin Moore version.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

It is in the mustard area of the color wheel, and it is darker than Simply White, with an LRV of 83.93.

You might remember that there was a photo of Simply White trim with Swiss Coffee walls earlier in this post, but if not, here is another one:

Swiss coffee walls with Simply White trim — Photo Credit: @word_of_mouth_painting

Swiss Coffee is definitely much creamier than Simply White.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Linen White OC-146

Linen White is a much peachier color than Simply White, and darker, with an LRV way down at 82.9.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Linen White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs White OC-151

Benjamin Moore “White” is a neutral to cool-toned green white with a bit of gray.

The LRV of White is 85.27.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to "White", beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs White Heron OC-57

White Heron is a little darker than Simply White, with an LRV of 88.85.

It is also a little cooler.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to White Heron, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs White Dove OC-17

Finally for the Benjamin Moore comparisons we have White Dove.

White Dove is warmer and darker than Simply White, with an LRV of 85.38.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to White Dove, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Simply White Sherwin Williams Version

Sherwin Williams makes a lot of really great creamy whites and off-whites, but they really don’t offer a lot by way of bright whites.

The closest color match that they offer is High Reflective White.

Simply White vs Sherwin Williams High Reflective White on a wall

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs High Reflective White (SW 7757)

High Reflective White is Sherwin Williams brightest white with an LRV of 93. It just happens to be pretty similar to Simply White, which is good news because there are no other close options!

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Sherwin Williams closest dupe hih reflective white, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

If you look closely, you can see that it is less creamy than Simply White.

Before we move on to other Simply White dupes, here is Simply White compared to the most popular Sherwin Williams whites.

(If you want, you can skip.)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008

We already talked about the Benjamin Moore version of Alabaster, so here is the Sherwin Williams version:

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Sherwin Williams Alabaster, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

The LRV of Alabaster is right on the edge of white and off-white. It is much warmer and darker than Simply White.

You can read more about SW Alabaster here: Sherwin Williams Natural Choice vs Alabaster (Which to Choose?)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Whitetail SW 7103

Whitetail has an LRV of 86, and you can see that it is warmer than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to SW Whitetail, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Read more about Sherwin Williams Whitetail here: Sherwin Williams Whitetail (Review and Comparisons!)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Extra White SW 7006

Extra White has an LRV of 86, and it is cooler and more gray than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to SW Extra White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

You can see a lot of Extra White in the main home featured in my post about Tricorn Black.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Greek Villa SW 7551

Greek Villa is darker than Simply White, with an LRV of 84. It is also warmer.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to SW Greek Villa, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Read more about Sherwin Williams Greek Villa here: Sherwin Williams Greek Villa Review (and Dupes!)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Snowbound SW 7004

Snowbound has an LRV of 83, and it is almost a red-based white.

You can see more of Snowbound here: Sherwin Williams Snowbound Review (Plus Dupes and Similar Shades!)

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to SW Snowbound, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005

Pure White is actually not a very pure white at all. It is warmer and more gray than Simply White, and also darker, with an LRV of 84.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Sherwin Williams Pure White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Valspar Equivalent to Simply White

Unfortunately for us, Valspar doesn’t deal in really bright whites. The one and only super bright white that they carry is Ultra White.

Simply White vs Valspar Ultra White on a wall

Ultra White is a green white with very little pigment. It has an LRV way up there at 93.5.

It is not super similar to Simply White, but if you need to go with Valspar for the lightest possible white, I guess it would be Ultra White.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee 23

I have actually never covered a Kelly Moore color before, but I have seen a lot of people asking about the difference between their version of Swiss Coffee and Simply White.

Simply White vs Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee on a wall

You can see that the Kelly Moore color is much warmer, in fact it is almost red. The LRV is similar, at 93.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Farrow & Ball All White 2005

I’m a tinnnyyy bit skeptical that All White can really be as white as the hex code claims!

I should probably order a sample from Samplize and see it for myself.

Farrow & Ball does not share their hex codes or even LRV’s, so we have to trust the best guess of other sources on the internet.

Simply White vs Farrow & Ball All White on a wall

Anyhow, the reason I am comparing these two, is again because someone asked, not because they are super similar.

Technically All White is a pinky-purple white. It is supposedly lighter than Simply White, and it definitely doesn’t have any creamy tones.

Simply White Behr Equivalent (Home Depot)

Behr actually does white pretty well. They have a lot of whites and many have subtle differences from one another.

The closest Behr dupe that I could find for Simply White is Night Blooming Jasmine.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Night Blooming Jasmine (YL-W10)

Night Blooming Jasmine is a near perfect dupe for Benjamin Moore Simply White. According to Behr the LRV is 93, compared to Simply White’s 91.7.

Night Blooming Jasmine vs Simply White on a wall

Since Benjamin Moore does not round their LRV numbers, it’s safe to assume that the difference in lightness could be 1 or less.

So what is the difference?

Night Blooming Jasmine is a little warmer than Simply White. It is in the orangey-yellow area of the color wheel, as opposed to the yellow bordering on green area that Simply White is in.

Here in the smaller swatch, you can see the difference better than in the side by side:

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr dupe Night Blooming Jasmine, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

This Behr color is also a little more saturated, meaning that Simply White is technically more gray. However, since Simply White isn’t actually gray at all, and these colors are so light, these distinctions are basically null.

Eyes are funny things, looking at the room and then at the swatches, I thought I had done something wrong. I can very clearly see the difference in the swatch and not at all in the room!

Here I removed the white border, and much of the contrast melted:

Interesting!

If you like Simply White, Behr’s Night Blooming Jasmine will get you there!

Don’t Forget Your Supplies!

This little brush might look funny, but it’s my absolute ride or die!

Rollers like these hold the most paint and make the job faster. Get a metal roller cage for easy on and off.

DryDex is the fastest (and funnest!) way to make chips and dents disappear. (Make sure you get a small spackling tool that actually fits in the container, and a sanding sponge.)

This tool will save your back and limit time on a ladder.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Simply White BWC-01

We can’t forget to compare the Behr shade of the same name: Simply White.

You might be wondering if Behr intended to make a copy of the Benjamin Moore color, but unfortunately it isn’t as simple as that.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr Simply White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Behr’s version of Simply White is significantly darker than the Benjamin Moore one, with an LRV of 88. It’s not quite in off-white territory, but it’s not a super bright white either.

Behr Simply White is also an orange white, and not a yellow one. This color is far more similar to Sherwin Williams Whitetail, than it is to Simply White.

Before we move on, here are a few more popular Behr whites compared to Simply White:

(Or skip this section.)

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Swiss Coffee 12

Another Swiss Coffee?

Oui!

Behr’s version of this popular white color, is darker and warmer than Simply White.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr Swiss Coffee, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Behr Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 84.

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Polar Bear 75

Polar Bear is another nice bright white like Simply White, with an LRV of 90. It is just a touch warmer, which you can see in the swatch.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr Polar Bear, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Ultra Pure White 1850

Behr’s Ultra Pure White has an LRV of 94, and is often regarded as the brightest and cleanest white on the market.

It is in a similar area of the color wheel to Simply White, but much less saturated.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr Ultra Pure White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Behr Whisper White HDC-MD-08

Behr’s Whisper White is just a little warmer than Simply White, and a bit darker, with an LRV of 89.

A swatch of Benjamin Moore Simply White compared to Behr Whisper White, beside a number of other white color chips as mentioned in the article

Simply White Final Moody Musings

Wow! That was a doozy! I just LOVE to share all the great photos when I find them. Thanks for sticking it out!

Let’s summarize:

Simply White is a bright white that can have a hint of creamy yellow
Minimize yellow tones by using Simply White as your only white (maximize with a cool white trim)
Simply White is great as an exterior or interior trim color, and almost always looks like a crisp white when used sparingly

Simply White isn’t your first choice? I’ve got more!

Sherwin WIlliams white flour on a paint lid on a floured butcher block surface.

Chantilly Lace paint lid over image of woman in a lace wedding dress.

A circle swatch of Valspar cream in my coffee over a picture of a black farmhouse tap in a creamy stone countertop.