The Best Shades of White for Your Home Exterior in 2024

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Have you finally decided on white for your home’s exterior? While identifying your style and selecting white as the main hue for your design may seem like the final step, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. White comes in many different variations, with warm and cool undertones and varying brightness levels that can change the look and feel of your home.

While it may seem like a daunting task to choose from all the shades of white, we’re here to help. Read on to discover our favorite white paint colors so you can evaluate all of the best options for your exterior.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by choosing the right white? At brick&batten, our virtual design services allow you to explore different hues and color palettes to help make your dream home a reality. Our experienced team will help you choose the perfect color and visualize it using a photorealistic design rendering to ensure it’s exactly what you want. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services. 

Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. 

Design rendering of a single-story home with white paint and a black roof.

#1 // Pure White by Sherwin Williams

Pure White by Sherwin Williams is the perfect hue for those seeking a crisp, clean look. With an LRV of 84, Pure White is bright — but not as blinding as an ultra-white shade. A touch of yellow warms up this color to create a slightly creamy, inviting look. 

Perfect for any finish like brick or stucco, Pure White is the ideal complement to almost any palette. It pairs as easily with warm shades as it does with cool, so whether you choose a warm olive, a cool blue, or any other palette, your home will look sophisticated and stylish.

Photorealistic rendering of a home's exterior with creamy white paint and brown and wooden accents.

#2 // Creamy by Sherwin Williams

This classic white shade is true to its name. Creamy by Sherwin Williams is a warm, off-white with welcoming yellow and beige undertones. Unlike some shades with yellow undertones, however, Creamy has a neutral base to ensure it doesn’t read too yellow — no matter the light or time of day.  

Because of its warmth, Creamy pairs beautifully with other warm colors and finishes like copper or wood. Black and charcoal also elegantly offset the brightness to create a timeless, high-contrast palette.

#3 // Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore has always been one of our go-to shades. This bright white paint has an LRV of 92.2, making it one of the whitest white paints available. This level of brightness delivers a sleek, crisp look to your exterior.

Unlike many white hues, Chantilly Lace is also virtually free of undertones. This guarantees that it looks white no matter the sun or time of day. The lack of undertones also allows Chantilly lace to effortlessly pair with any other shade. While this hue is beautiful as the main color for your exterior, it’s also an excellent choice for trim, soffits, and other exterior accents.

Photorealistic rendering of a home exterior featuring off-white paint and greige shutters.

#4 // White Duck by Sherwin Williams

If you’re searching for a cool, creamy hue, look no further than White Duck by Sherwin Williams. With an LRV of 74, it’s an off-white option that delivers a more muted overall look. While its muted style complements a wide range of homes, the cool, creamy look is particularly eye-catching on farmhouses and cottages. 

Unlike many creamy shades, White Duck doesn’t offer a lot of warmth. As a result, it’s the perfect pairing for other cool tones like black, blue, and gray. You can also create a more monochromatic look by pairing it with Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. 

Rendering of a Mediterranean-style home with off-white paint and a tile roof.

#5 // Shell White by Sherwin Williams

At first glance, this warm white may seem similar to other white hues — though it’s anything but. With warm, peachy undertones, Shell White by Sherwin Williams has a bright yet creamy appearance, making it a showstopping choice for your home’s exterior. It pairs easily with nearly any other hue to offer unmatched versatility. Shell White also suits nearly any architectural style, from Cape Cod to Craftsman and anything in between.

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.

Digital rendering of a three-story home with an off-white exterior and light gray shutters.

#6 // Toque White by Sherwin Williams

Unlike most off-whites that skew yellow, Toque White by Sherwin Williams is a beautiful off-white shade with slight purple undertones. This unusual formulation gives the hue a chameleon-like effect. In the shade, it appears creamy and warm — but in direct light, it looks like a true white — making it a versatile color suitable for plenty of homes.

Toque White complements nearly any color, though we love pairing it with gray and bright white to create a neutral color palette. Alternatively, pairing it with a nearly-black shade like Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams or Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore creates a stark, high-contrast palette that delivers a modern finish.

Digital rendering of a home exterior with white siding and wood and metal accents.

#7 // Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore

Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore is one of our favorite shades of white paint thanks to its minimal undertones. While we typically recommend Cloud Cover for modern and contemporary homes, its versatility ensures it looks equally beautiful on farmhouse or Mediterranean stucco styles. 

With an LRV of 81.8, this off-white shade looks crisp and clean without looking sterile. The super subtle cool, gray-blue undertones match well with nearly any color palette, so you can create the exterior of your dreams.

Photorealistic rendering of a two-story home's exterior with a large front porch, white siding, and light grey shutters.

#8 // Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams

Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams is a beautiful blend of bright and soft, getting its name from the iconic white homes that dot Greece’s scenic hilltops. With a yellow undertone, Greek Villa has a warm, welcoming finish — especially on south-facing homes. 

The creamy, white shade works well for almost any exterior, but it is especially elegant on textured surfaces like stucco or brick. Because of its yellow undertone, this color pairs best with other warm hues like Ethereal Mood or Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams, allowing you to create a dynamic and distinct palette.

Home exterior with white painted brick, a black roof and garage doors, and wood accents.

Upgrade your exterior with our favorite shades of white 

The right white hue is an easy way to upgrade your exterior and give it an instantly fresh and modern feel. Any of these best-selling white paint hues is an amazing choice that will transform your home and bring your vision to life. Whether you prefer a creamy, warm option that makes your home feel welcoming or opt instead for a cool, modern color, there is white paint out there to suit your home’s architectural style and your chosen aesthetic.

Still unsure which shades of white paint to choose? Our team is here to make the virtual home design process simple from start to finish. We’ll help you choose a beautiful shade of white and a stylish color palette, along with all of the other design elements you need to create your dream home or business exterior. You’ll even receive a customized design deliverable that has all the details you need in one place. Get started on your project today!

Author

Hannah is an experienced copywriter, journalist, and content writer who loves bringing brands to life. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Boston University, Hannah spent a decade in New York City honing her skills by working on in-house creative teams for global brands like Estee Lauder, Douglas Elliman, Tiffany & Co., and Groupon. She also partners with small businesses across industries — from interior design to real estate to tech — to help bring their brands to life through print and digital content. Hannah recently relocated back to the greater Boston area, where she loves exploring the city’s different neighborhoods by way of new restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries.