Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

White Dove by Benjamin Moore is one of the most popular designer paint colors. This color is the perfect blend of white and cream that gives you all the warmth and brightness you need.

Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a warm white that is both rich and bright, classic and timeless. White Dove will remain crisp and clean while being inviting and cozy. It’s truly a paint color that works with any color scheme and almost any decorating style.

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If you are a fan of a white-painted room, this is one of the best shades you could pick because it’s so darn livable. It also is an ideal white to choose for trim, too.

Benjamin Moore website describes it perfectly:

The unerring style defines this classic, softly shaded white. Light and luminous, it is a favorite choice for moldings and trim.

Let’s dive in to all of the reasons why this color is a classic shade of off-white.

NOTE: If you’re painting the room yourself, these tools will help tremendously. And this post will give you my best tips for painting a room in 5 easy steps.

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White Dove Undertones

White Dove has a definite warm, creamy yellow undertone. But most won’t be able to tell unless it’s right next to bright white. Although, in a surprise twist, the shade can also show gray undertones, which helps the color not feel overly warm.

When placed against a light gray, the swatch of White Dove presents with a taupe undertone, making it almost a greige. However, place it against a darker shade and the color instantly looks almost stark white. Amazing!!

Of course, any cream shade can also show its yellow undertones depending on the color pairings and lighting. That’s why getting those swatches when painting the walls is so important!

White Dove’s gray and cream undertones may leave some wondering if it will become muddy if placed with muddy or earthy colors. Usually, the answer is yes, but with this amazing color, it is downright incredible that White Dove paint color will remain crisp when placed with most muddy shades imaginable!

Again, it is important to test White Dove in the room you’re going to paint. With a lot of natural light, White Dove will look good on any wall or as the trim color with practically any color.

If you have a room that doesn’t get a lot of light, or it’s usually gray outside, a lighter white may be a better choice. However, White Dove still does well in that room, just be prepared for it to feel much warmer than you might imagine.

LRV of BM White Dove

White Dove has a Light Reflectance Value of 85.38. 

Light reflectance value (LRV) is the amount of visible light a paint color either reflects or absorbs. When it comes to LRV, the higher the number is, the more light it reflects rather than absorbs. This means LRV 100 is white and 0 is absolute black. So, it makes sense that White Dove would fall closer to 100 at 85.38.

White Dove OC-17 Coordinating Colors

BM White Dove goes with practically anything, though it does pair with some shades better than others. Benjamin Moore recommends:

• Cheating Heart
• Silver Lake
• Yukon Sky
• Horizon Gray

Others that absolutely go with it include some of my other favorite shades including:

• Hale Navy
• Revere Pewter
• Northampton Putty
• Chocolate Fondue
• Flint
• Sea Haze
• Classic Gray

A note on trim and walls: using the same white for both works really well, especially for White Dove.

You can use different paint finishes to create a variation in look. A semi-gloss or gloss sheen will make the white trim look brighter than a more matte sheen, like an eggshell finish, on the interior walls.

Another thing to take into consideration is if other whites are being used in the room, such as appliances. In the kitchen, White Dove works well with both stainless steel appliances and warm brass accents.

Is White Dove Too White?

No, it’s not too white. It has a little bit of yellow and gray in it to keep it from being a pure white.

Let’s compare it to some other popular white paint colors. In the image below you can see that it’s slightly darker than Simply White and Chantilly Lace.

Is White Dove the same as Sherwin Williams Alabaster?

While White Dove (LRV 85.38) is similar to Sherwin Williams Alabaster (82), they aren’t the same color. You can see in the image above that White Dove is just a touch lighter and reads more cream while Alabaster is a little bit darker and reads more taupe.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore White Dove Paint Color?

White Dove by Benjamin Moore is one of the most versatile paint colors. You can really use it anywhere!

Works Well As

• Trim
• Wall Moulding or Millwork
• Interior Walls
• Exteriors
• Ceilings
• Kitchen Cabinets

If you can paint it, typically White Dove will work!

White Dove Feels

• Light and Airy
• Soft and Creamy
• Classic and Timeless

Styles it Works with

• Traditional
• Classic
• Farmhouse
• Country
• Transitional

Room Examples of White Dove OC-17

Let’s take a look at some examples of BM White Dove in various rooms. Note the different undertones with pairings (like hardwood floors) and lighting in each room to get a feel for what could be in your home.

Bedrooms with White Dove

This kids bedroom with White Dove has a bright tone. The paint gives a warm feeling to the room while still being light and airy.

White Dove Bathrooms

A different way to view White Dove is in this bathroom from Semerijan Interiors. This image shows a side that is a bit more stark (although not in a bad way at all).

Both the cabinets and walls, as well as the trim, are White Dove, giving a united look across the bathroom. It gives a clean look without being abrasive or cold.

White Dove in the Kitchen

This White Dove kitchen remodel shows how it can pair with any color. The wood accents and light floors do just as well with White Dove as the darker accents in a previously shared kitchen.

Living Room painted White Dove

This family room with White Dove walls done by The Decorologist plays well with brown, blue and green accents.

From her page, this remodel was done in an attempt to soften the odd angles of the room, which seem completely normal with White Dove on the walls and trim. It’s warm and bright.

White Dove Exteriors

This White Dove exterior is shared by Plank and Pillow. Paired with the gray roof and accents, the gray undertones of White Dove are present. With this lighting and the greenery, the creaminess of White Dove is offset, leaving a pleasant white.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have I convinced you yet? Isn’t White Dove awesome? It’s one of the best shades of white to use, in my opinion.

How to Choose a White Paint Color

First, let’s talk about how hard it can be to choose a white paint color. Many people want to stay clear of true white colors because they can feel cold and harsh in a home. So off-whites and cream colors usually sit at the top of the list for home decor.

So, if you’re trying to choose a white paint color, definitely check out my article about How to Choose a White Paint Color.

Some of the best white paint colors are:

• Simply White
• Shoji White
• White Dove
• Alabaster

More Paint Colors

Don’t forget to check out some of my other favorite paint color shades here:

• Hale Navy
• Repose Gray
• Agreeable Gray
• Sea Salt
• Revere Pewter

Tools to Help to Paint a Room Yourself

I’ve gathered some of the best tools for painting a room yourself. First of all, you’ll want to check out this post I wrote: Painting a Room in 5 Easy Steps. These tools are the top tools I use when painting my own rooms, which is how they get painted 95% of the time!

• Paint Brush – These paint brushes are a little more expensive than your basic brush, but they’re worth it! I’ve used these brushes for more than a decade and if you wash them out well after each use, they will last for years.
• Painter’s Tape – a MUST have for taping off edges. You’ll need to tape off all edges if you don’t have a steady hand.
• Drop Cloths – a must have if you don’t have any laying around the house already.
• Paint cup – Sure you could use any old cup, but I’ve come to swear by this one. The magnetic piece holds your brush cleanly in place when you need to take a break. And it fits my hand perfectly, keeping it from cramping.
• Roller Tray – I’ve found the only paint tray I’ll ever use again. The magnetic piece is great for holding the roller in place. And the liners are a luxury, but I won’t paint without them because it makes clean up a breeze!

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