Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is one of the most popular white paint colors available. It’s so pretty and goes with so many different decor styles you simply won’t go wrong. Today I am going to share all the details on this color so you can decide if it’s right for you!

Light, bright, and airy has been the most popular way of decorating for a few years now. People want spaces to be bright and light-filled. They don’t want dark at all.

This is what I did with my home, took it from two tones of medium and dark gray and went white and I couldn’t be happier!

When I was a kid my Mom didn’t paint anything white because it was too cold and sterile. Gave the feeling of an institution rather than a home.

That is not the case anymore. Choosing white for the wall color is a great backdrop to showcase your amazing decor.

There are as many shades of white as there are of gray. Today we will go through all the details of Decorator’s White so you can decide if it’s a good option for your home.

If you want more colors to look at I have several other whites linked at the bottom of this post.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more details see my full disclosure.

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White Stats

Here are all the stats on what makes this such a great color.

• Hex code – #ECEDEA.
• Red – 236
• Green – 237
• Blue – 234
• Color Collection – Designer Classics

What Color is Decorator’s White? Is it warm or cool?

Decorator’s White is not a true white paint color. It’s a slightly off-white color that leans a little more on the cool side.

What are the Undertones of Decorator’s White?

Decorator’s White has slight gray undertones. And that’s what makes this color so versatile.

If you have been around awhile and read some of my other gray paint color posts, you know gray typically has blue, green, or purple undertones. So if Decorator’s White has gray undertones then it will have one of those three colors in it as well.

For this color the one that typically sneaks out is purple. You won’t see a purple color on the walls but what you might see in certain light is a slight hint of purple which comes from the undertone.

What is the LRV of Decorator’s White?

LRV stands for Light Reflective Value. It’s a scale from 0-100 that measures the amount of light a paint color reflects. Zero being the darkest black and 100 being the brightest white.

The LRV of Decorator’s White is 84.61.

While 84.61 is a pretty high number it isn’t as high as true white paint colors. This paint color has a slight off-white look which brings the LRV down slightly.

Don’t get me wrong though, this is still a very bright paint color, it’s just not as bright as true white paint colors.

How does light affect Decorator’s White?

Lighting can affect the way a paint color looks. Here is how different lights affect Decorator’s White.

• North-facing rooms have a light that tends to be a little cooler in nature and will come off slightly blue. Light colors will be a bit more muted or washed out while darker colors will be stunning.
• East-facing rooms will have brighter light in the morning and less in the evenings. The evening light will be a bit cooler. In the morning with sunrise, the bright sun will be warm. Warm color palettes are great for these spaces because they will help balance the cool feel of the evenings.
• South-facing rooms have consistent warm light throughout the day. The light really shows off the colors, dark will be very bright, and light colors will shine. Both warm and cool color palettes look good in a south-facing room.
• West-facing rooms have warm light in the evening and cooler light in the morning. Basically, it’s the opposite of east-facing.

When Decorator’s White is used in a north-facing room you will see a very bright white color that is very cool.

In a south-facing room Decorator’s White gets a little softer. East and west-facing rooms will have a bit of softness as well during their light times.

How to Know if Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is for you?

You can go to any paint store and get a sample paint can. You can paint a swatch on the wall and look at it over several days to see if it’s for you.

But then you are left with a sample paint can you can’t do anything with and a mess on the wall. I highly recommend using Samplize instead.

Samplize is a company that will send you a 12X12 inch peel and stick paint sample that you can put on the wall, look at over a few days then when you are done, peel it off the wall and toss it.

No mess, no fuss just easy peasy.

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White Whole Home Color Palette

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Where to Use Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White

You can use decorator’s white anywhere and with any other decor. All decorating styles look good with this color.

Decorator’s White in the Kitchen

This kitchen by Paper Moon Painting is a lovely example of how Decorator’s White can be warm and inviting. Even though it’s a cool white in this room it feels very warm. Don’t you just want to sit down for a spot of tea?

I love everything about this kitchen by Think Chic Interiors. The cabinets are painted in Decorator’s White and the island is done in Hale Navy. These colors look amazing together because they both fall on the cool side of the spectrum. This backsplash is amazing too!

Decorator’s White in an Entryway

This entryway by Alina Druga Interiors shows how Decorator’s White can look on trim next to a light gray wall color. Doesn’t it just pop, especially next to the dark door.

Decorator’s White on Trim

Here is another example of Decorator’s White used on trim, but in this case there is a lot more trimwork. This beautiful music room is done by Sherri Olson Architecture.

Decorator’s White on Walls

Here is a great example of Decorator’s White used on the walls. Here you will see how Residents Understood used a darker color on the trim and a lighter color on the walls! This is a beautiful boys room.

What colors look good with Decorator’s White?

Decorator’s White is a great paint color that looks good with just about any color. But here are the colors that would be best to use with Decorator’s White:

• Cool-toned Gray Paint colors will look amazing with Decorator’s White because of it’s gray undertones. Make sure you check out my Best Cool-Toned Gray Paint Colors post for some great options.
• True white paint colors will look amazing with this color. If you were to use Decorator’s White on the wall with a truer white on the trim would really be a great choice.
• Purple paint colors will be amazing because of the hint of purple in Decorator’s White.
• Blue paint colors will pair really nice with Decorator’s White because of the coolness in the white color.

What is the Best Trim Color to Use with Decorator’s White?

If you are using Decorator’s White on the walls I suggest using it on the trim too. This is a very good look.

Just make sure you go one sheen higher on the trim than the walls. For example, if the walls are satin go with semi-gloss on the trim.

If you want something different you could go with Sherwin Williams Extra White. Another option is to paint the trim a light gray, this provides a great contrast.

What You Need to Know if Painting on Your Own

If you are thinking about painting a room on your own then good for you! This is one of the easiest things you can do yourself and you will get so much satisfaction out of it. Just make sure you have the right supplies.

You need a good quality paintbrush and roller cover. This is the most important thing! If you don’t use high quality the finish will not be to your liking.

Here are some other posts to help you with your DIY paint project that you should check out before you get started:

• The Right Way to Test Paint Samples in Your Home
• The Best Paint Brushes for Latex Paint
• 11 Must-Have Supplies for Painting a Room Like a Pro
• 5 Tips on Choosing the Perfect Paint Color for Your Home

Color Comparisons

Decorators White vs White Dove

You can see here these are actually quite different colors. Depending on the feel you want and the other colors in your space determines which is better for you.

• Decorator’s White is slightly brighter
• Decorator’s White LRV is 84.61
• White Dove’s LRV is 83.16
• Decorator’s White is a cool white paint color
• White Dove is a warm white paint color
• Decorator’s White goes better with other cool paint colors
• White Dove goes well with both warm or cool paint colors.

Decorator’s White vs Chantilly Lace

I like these two colors together. They have more similarities than you might think!

• Chantilly Lace is brighter than Decorator’s White
• Decorator’s White has an LRV of 84.61
• Chantilly Lace has an LRV of 92
• They are both cool white paint colors
• They both have gray undertones
• Chantilly Lace is more neutral with only a touch of gray undertones

Decorator’s White vs Simply White

There are more differences here than similarities as you can guess by looking at these colors side by side.

• Decorator’s White is darker than Simply White
• Decorator’s White has an LRV of 84.61
• Simply White has an LRV of 89.52
• Decorator’s White is a cool white
• Simply White is a warm white
• Decorator’s White has gray undertones
• Simply White has yellow undertones

Decorator’s White vs BM White

Yes there is a paint color that is just called White! Here are some similarities and differences between these two:

• Both are cool white paint colors
• They are very close in brightness
• Decorator’s White sits at 84.61 and White sits at 83.56

Decorator’s White vs Sherwin Williams Snowbound

There are a lot of similarities between Snowbound and Decorator’sw White, as well as a few differences.

• Decorator’s White is brighter than Snowbound
• Decorator’s White sits at 84.61 in LRV
• Snowbound sits at 83 in LRV
• Decorator’s White has gray undertones
• Snowbound has slightly gray undertones leaning more towards taupe
• Decorator’s White is a cool white
• Snowbound is a warm white

Decorator’s White vs Sherwin Williams Pure White

Pure White is one of my favorite whites. I used it in my daughter’s Young Adult Bedroom and it’s just stunning! Here is how it compares to Decorator’s White:

• Decorator’s White is just a tad brighter
• Decorator’s White has an LRV of 84.61
• Pure White has an LRV of 84
• Decorator’s White has gray undertones
• Pure White has yellow undertones with a touch of gray
• Decorator’s White is a cool white color
• Pure White is a warm white but more neutral than most because of the gray

Decorator’s White vs Sherwin Williams Extra White

These two are the most similar between the manufacturers.

• Decorator’s White is slightly darker than Extra White
• Decorator’s White has an LRV of 84.61
• Extra White has an LRV of 86
• Decorator’s White and Extra White are both cool white paint colors
• Extra White tends to pull blue in some situations

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chantilly Lace warmer than Decorator’s White?

Yes, Chantilly Lace is definitely warmer and it’s also brighter with an LRV of 92!

Is Decorator’s White a true white?

No it’s not a true white. There are very few colors that are “true”. That being said, it’s very close to a true white…close.

Will it look blue, purple, green, or gray?

Since it has the gray undertone and gray always has these colors as it’s undertone it’s possible, depending on your other decor. But it’s highly unlikely.

Can I paint my kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanity Decorator’s White?

YES! That’s a fabulous idea! It’s been done a lot because it’s a great color to use on cabinets.

Is Decorator’s White a good color for the exterior of the home?

You bet it is! It’s a bright white color that will give a great contrast to other colors you use for trim, doors, and shutters.

What is the Sherwin Williams equivalent?

There is no exact match between paint manufacturers. They all have subtle differences.

That being said, if I had to pick one I would say Sherwin Williams Extra White.

Is Decorator’s White too white?

The answer to this depends on what you think is too white. It’s not creamy, it’s also not too stark. If you are looking for a white that has cool undertones I think this is a great choice.

Recap

We went through a lot of information today on Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White so let’s do a little recap:

• Cool White Paint color
• Has an LRV of 84.61
• Undertones are gray leaning slightly purple
• Works in any room in your home
• Great for trim, shiplap, ceilings and more!
• Pairs best with other cool toned colors
• Looks great with blues, purples, blue-grays, and true white colors

More white paint color posts:

• Benjamin Moore Simply White
• Sherwin Wiliams Pure White
• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• The Best White Paint Colors
• Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Benjamin Moore Cloud White
• Sherwin Williams Nebulous White

I hope you have lots of information and inspiration to see if Decorator’s White is for you. Don’t forget to check out the other white paint color posts too!

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