Our Review of Bruton White by Benjamin Moore

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You can’t go wrong with a nice neutral exterior paint color, and we have a new one for you to consider! Bruton White by Benjamin Moore is a lovely soft gray that is highly versatile. In application we’ve found it works well on many styles of homes, including traditional and contemporary. As far as color pairings go, you might be surprised… Read on to learn more about Bruton White and why we think you’ll love it, too.

White paint colors can be so similar to one another. That’s why choosing the perfect white exterior paint color — or really any exterior paint color — can be overwhelming. Let us help! Our design experts at brick&batten will narrow down your choices and show you how they look on your home. From exterior paint colors to garage door choices, we’re here to guide your exterior update decision-making process. Learn more about what we do.

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One-story rancher with cement driveway, wood from door, and copper light fixtures

Benjamin Moore’s Bruton White: The specs

According to Benjamin Moore, Bruton White is actually considered a ‘soft gray’, as opposed to a white. It has an LRV of 63.26, which just barely puts it into the higher LRV, or lighter paint color, category. (Curious about LRV? Learn more here, including why LRV is so important to keep in mind when choosing the perfect paint color for your home.)

The appearance of Bruton White is heavily affected by available light. Morning light can bring out its greenish undertones, while in afternoon light it may take on a creamy, cozy, warm feel. Both are equally beautiful. But this is why we highly recommend testing paint colors and revisiting your samples in different light and throughout the day to make sure you’re in love, no matter the conditions.

WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND SAMPLING AND TESTING PAINT COLORS BEFORE COMMITTING. FACTORS SUCH AS NATURAL LIGHTING, UNDERTONES, AND YOUR PROPERTY’S FIXED ELEMENTS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW A COLOR WILL APPEAR ON YOUR EXTERIOR. OUR FRIENDS AT SAMPLIZE OFFER EXTRA-LARGE 9 X 14.75 INCH PEEL-AND-STICK PAINT SAMPLES OF THE COLORS WE LOVE FOR EXTERIORS. ORDER YOUR ‘REAL PAINT, NO MESS’ SAMPLES FROM SAMPLIZE HERE.
Large contemporary home inn the woods with steep pitched roof, a large porch, and balcony

Recommended applications for Bruton White

Bruton White is the people’s color. It works as a central color, it works as an accent color. It’s great on modern homes, it’s great on cottages. What can’t Bruton White by Benjamin Moore do?

The rendering above is proof of its flexible nature. Here, Bruton White is the main color used on a contemporary home with Benjamin Moore’s Westcott Navy on the upper level accent and Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black on the trim. On textured materials like the vertical Hardie Board above, Bruton White can really shine.

Navy blue house with wood columns, wood door, and white classic trim

Bruton White color pairings

Bruton White is about as adaptable as an exterior paint color comes. Its ability to be paired with so many colors and shades means there are tons of options for using it in your home’s color scheme.

Our designers used Bruton White as an accent color to Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy in the above design. The façade was kept clean and classic with Bruton White on the trim and garage door, while the navy hue took the spotlight. The wood porch columns and front door add a warm and inviting touch to the entry, while Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams keeps the chimney in the background, providing depth but not stealing any focus.

Gray cottage with arched doorway, dormer windows, and a white painted portico

Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore is the star on this home, but not without the support of Bruton White on the columns, gable, railings, and trim. Bruton White looks much brighter next to Amherst Gray, which is something to keep in mind if you prefer darker home exteriors. Copper gutters and light fixtures and wood doors elevate and refine the cottage look. The stone and paver walkway keep things organic and natural for a home that’s nestled in the woods.

Black and white painted three-story contemporary house with multi-level balconies, and outdoor seating

Our designers outdid themselves! With a familiar color palette, the rendering above is showstopper. We kept the original brick on the chimney and lower level natural. It blends perfectly with the wood cladding that highlights the unique angle of the roof. Bruton White on the main level is contrasted with black doors, light fixtures, and a metal roof. There are many textures and materials pictured, but Bruton White anchors them well. If you like a neutral but high-contrast color palette, use this home as inspiration.

traditional stucco home with large white columns, an exterior grand staircase, and copper landscape lighting

Pros and cons of Bruton White by Benjamin Moore

PROS:

  • Highly adaptable, goes with many color families
  • Looks wonderful on various home styles
  • Perfect for those who don’t want a white exterior paint color, but don’t quite want a gray, either

CONS:

  • Slight green undertones could show in shaded environments and north-facing homes
  • May be too warm for some homeowners

Alternatives to Bruton White

Below are a couple of slightly different alternatives to Bruton White for your consideration.

farmhouse with modern garage doors, black windows, and a wood door

Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray

Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore is a great choice for those seeking an even warmer gray than Bruton White. It has a similar green undertone, and the LRV is the tiniest bit higher at 63.88 vs Bruton White’s 63.26. Edgecomb Gray is considered a greige, but is also in the higher-level range in terms of LRV. The color pairings are essentially the same as those for Bruton White, as are our application recommendations. Since it’s a warmer hue, keep the afternoon sun in mind. If you have a west-facing home, this color could appear a little too warm.

two story farmhouse with minimal landscaping, an outdoor patio area, and a light brown roof

Sherwin Williams’ Repose Gray

Instead of warmer, Repose Gray is gray-er than Bruton White. Neutral grays like Repose Gray are chameleon colors. Their appearance can change drastically with the changing light. Repose Gray may have more gray in it than Bruton White, but it will still look warm in the late afternoon sun. Plus, with an LRV of 58, it could look darker in the shade or morning light. Color pairings for Repose Gray are not as wide-ranging. We recommend sticking with blacks, dark greens, browns, and charcoal grays to complement this hue.

Two-story home with dormer windows, wood columns, minimal landscaping

The bottom line on Bruton White by Benjamin Moore

If you’re looking for a soft gray with quite a bit of versatility, Bruton White by Benjamin Moore may be just the ticket. It can be classic and timeless or modern and contemporary, whichever suits your needs and personal style. Bruton White can be a central hue, and it works well as an accent color to blacks, blues, greens, and grays. Its flexibility is just one reason why we love it so much.

At brick&batten, we are experts at recommending the right color choices for your home and its environment. We take into account the amount of natural light you get, your desired style, preferred/existing accent colors, and more to ensure the perfect hue for your home. The process is easy. Answers to a few short questions and photos of your home are all we need to get going. With this information, we will produce a virtual design of your home with our suggested paint colors. You’ll also receive a clickable resource list that helps you execute the upgrade. What are you waiting for? Let’s make your dream reality. Get started here.

Author

Originally from Tennessee, Ami currently lives in South Carolina, which has been home since leaving the military in 2016. Interior and exterior design has always intrigued Ami, especially the styles and characteristics seen in other countries as an avid traveler and photographer. She lives for the renewal of older or historic homes that maintain their character, and regularly creates her own mood boards and virtual designs for inspiration or to help others with their spaces. Having always had a passion for design and following their work for years prior, Ami was excited to be brought onto brick&batten’s team of writers. Her writing endeavors actually started in an academic/scientific setting, then in a regulatory aspect. Writing about paint colors, emerging or current trends in exterior design, and so much more revolving around something she’s always enjoyed was a fun and welcomed change!