Whether you’re aiming for a warm, inviting atmosphere or a crisp, clean backdrop, understanding the subtle differences between Simply White vs. White Dove can help you make the best choice for your next painting project.
When it comes to choosing the perfect white paint for your home, two names often stand out: Simply White and White Dove. Both of these shades from Benjamin Moore offer timeless appeal, but they have distinct characteristics that can influence how they look in different spaces.
In this post, we’ll compare these two popular whites, highlighting their undertones, uses, and ideal settings.
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Simply White vs. White Dove
These two are Benjamin Moore’s most popular white paint colors. They look very similar but there are so many shades of white.
You have heard of 50 shades of gray right? Well there are that many shades of white as well.
We are going to look at the two biggest aspects of paint colors, LRV and Undertones, and see how Simply White and White Dove stack up against each other.
Then we will take a look at both paint colors in real life situations to help you decide which one is right for you.
LRV
LRV stands for Light Reflective Value. It’s a scale from 0-100 that measures the amount of light a paint color reflects. The higher the number, the brighter the color. The lower the number the darker the color.
Both of these colors are bright with high LRV’s but one is definitely brighter than the other.
Simply White is brighter with an LRV of 89.52. White Dove’s LRV is 83.16.
Undertones
When it comes to undertones they have some similar but also some that are different.
Both of them have yellow undertones but Simply White also has a touch of green. White Dove has a touch of gray which makes it a bit darker.
Because of these gray undertones in White Dove it is more versatile and pairs really well with both warm and cool colors.
Both of these colors are considered warm whites but White Dove is closer to being a neutral.
Photos of Simply White vs. White Dove
Simply White vs. White Dove Exterior
This gorgeous home has the exterior brick painted with Simply White. As you can see with all the natural light that an exterior gets it doesn’t wash out so much because it is so creamy.
Simply White vs White Dove Kitchen Cabinets
I love how Simply White pairs with all the other finishes in the room such as the wood floors, stainless appliances, and marble backsplash. It goes well with both warm and cool colors here.
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Here White Dove looks beautifully on the perimeter cabinets. It looks amazing with the cool blue backsplash as well as the warm wood floors.
Simply White vs. White Dove Living Room
YHL used Simply White on the walls, fireplace and mantel. It’s absolutely perfect with all the other colors in the room!
The Coastal Oak has a gorgeous light filled living room that has White Dove on the walls. It is the perfect backdrop for the gorgeous furniture and colorful accessories.
How to know if it’s the right color for you.
You can get a paint sample from the store and put a swatch on the wall. Then you have this paint can left over and can’t use it anywhere else. I suggest giving Samplize a try instead.
Samplize is a company that will mail you a 12X12 inch peel and stick swatch that you can put on the wall and look at for a few days then you can peel it off and throw it away. It’s so much less messy and easier than painting a swatch and having to clean it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
When not to use Simply White?
Because it has a bunch of yellow in it I would stay away from colors that have undertones such as pink. They don’t play nicely with each other.
Does White Dove ever look yellow?
The quick answer here is no. Because the color has a bit of gray it will keep from looking yellow.
Other White Paint Colors:
- Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs. Pure White
- Benjamin Moore Paper White
- Sherwin Williams Snowbound
- Shewin Williams Eider White
- Aesthetic White by Sherwin Williams
- Benjamin Moore Linen White
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White
- Sherwin Williams Nebulous White
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
- Shewin Williams Pure White
As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.