Best Benjamin Moore White for Trim & Ceilings

Learn how to pick the perfect white trim color for your home and explore the best Benjamin Moore whites for trim and ceilings.

Choosing a trim color and painting your trim and ceiling can be a truly overwhelming project. When using Benjamin Moore white trim, there are so many color options to choose from. 

Plus, it’s hard to retouch a spot on your ceiling or trim unless you know exactly what sheen and color were originally used. Even if you get the color right, a different sheen could make the color look completely different.

So, the best time to paint your trim and ceilings is when your house is new, or if you are already painting all of the walls and the finishes are very old and banged up. 

For consistency, I like to keep the same trim and ceiling colors throughout a home. It starts to look choppy if you pick different white trim colors for different rooms in a home.

The other challenge about painting white trim? Painting just your trim and ceilings can cost the same as painting all your walls, because of the labor that it takes to tape all of the edges.  

It is a very expensive project because of all the labor involved. Even if you paint the same color on the walls, ceilings and trim, painters consider them different colors if the sheens are different.

With all this in mind, it’s pretty clear that choosing the best white trim color for your home is really important. After all, if you’re going to go through all the time, labor and investment of painting your trim you want to get it right the first time!

Today, we’re taking all our knowledge as paint color consultants and putting it together into a complete guide to choosing the best white trim for your home – and we’re sharing our favorite Benjamin Moore white trim paint to help you find the one that’s right for you.  

Click the button below to skip right to the paint colors, or keep reading for our expert trim tips.

*This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. If you click on some links and make a purchase, I will get a small commission at no cost to you. This helps pay for the costs of the blog, so I can continue to offer great content to our readers.

How to Choose Benjamin Moore Interior Trim & Ceiling Paint

Getting some expert picks of the best Benjamin Moore white for trim and ceilings is helpful, but it’s still important to understand what makes a trim color work well in your home (and not work!).

Here are some basic tips to help you find the right Benjamin Moore white trim paint and make painting your trim and ceilings a bit easier:

1. For simplicity, pick the same white color for ceilings that you do for white trim. You can also pick a cooler white for ceiling than for trim.
2. Use the same white trim color for passage doors, wainscoting, base molding, crown molding, cabinets, and other woodwork (if you want them “white”).
3. I like to pick darker and warmer wall colors than ceiling or trim colors.
4. Don’t pick a darker white color for the ceiling than walls or trim. Otherwise, the ceiling will look dingy. The exception is if you pick a non-white accent color for your ceiling.
5. If you decide to keep your existing ceiling color, make sure that it is actually white. In the last 20 years, a common practice was painting the ceilings 50% lighter than the wall color.  Since the colors were generally darker, the ceilings would end up looking like a lighter color beige, not white. This can look discordant if you want to paint your walls a whiter color and didn’t realize your ceilings were not white.
6. Another cultural convention (if you want white cabinets) is to use the same white paint color for the trim and any cabinets in a space. Although, sometimes if I feel the trim is too cool, I’ll pick a slightly warmer white for the cabinets.
7. For ceilings and trim selection, keep the LRV at 80 or above. There are many colors that are darker with lower LRVs that still have “white” in their names.  Don’t use these colors as trim and ceiling colors.  Examples are:  BM Intense White (color review article), SW Pearly White (color review article), SW Oyster White (color review article). These “white” colors are way too dark for white trim, and better used as wall colors. If you use them as white trim, they will limit the wall colors you can pair with them.
8. I usually avoid the stocked “ceiling” paint because the undertones are blue, and they can be very limiting. They won’t flow nicely with creamier trim colors. An example is Sherwin-Williams Ceiling Bright White, which is the color for ceilings that painters usually reach for.

Best Paint Sheen for Trim and Ceilings

Once you’ve decided on the best Benjamin Moore white for trim and ceilings in your home, you still have to pick the sheen. 

Best Sheen for Ceiling Paint

I usually recommend picking the flattest sheen you can find for ceilings and using a shinier sheen on the trim. My favorite sheen for ceilings is Benjamin Moore flat or ultra-flat ceiling paint. You can also get away with a matte sheen if needed.  

The reason we paint ceilings with the lowest sheen is that they often have many imperfections which will be hidden by a flatter sheen. The highest sheen I would use on a ceiling is matte. In the old days, we used to paint bathrooms all a shiner sheen because of the moisture, but now better technology allows us to use flatter paints.

Best Sheen for Trim Paint

I like to use satin sheen for the trim and doors, wainscoting, base molding and crown molding.  It is shinier than the walls, and similar to a cabinet finish. For me, semi-gloss and gloss are too shiny, and not a very modern finish. 

The reason we use a shinier sheen on doors and moldings is that these sheens are easier to clean and doors get lots of hand prints and base moldings get people accidentally kicking them.

Paint Sheen Money-Saving Tip

Walls are usually painted with eggshell or matte paint. Some people love the look of flat sheens on their walls, but they are more difficult to wipe clean. Satin sheen is usually too shiny for the walls, especially with darker paints.

If you are painting your walls a “white” color, you can save money on labor by painting the walls and ceilings the same color and sheen. If you do this, keep to a matte or flat sheen on both the walls and ceilings.  

Don’t use eggshell for this type of treatment because the ceilings will look too shiny. This will save money on labor because the painters don’t need to cut in the corners between the ceilings and walls.

If you need more information on choosing the right paint sheen for trim, ceilings or other projects, check out our complete paint sheen guide (article).

Sample the Best Benjamin Moore White Trim Paint

We always recommend that you test paint colors (article) in your home because lighting can completely change a color, both on interiors and exteriors.  

In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess. 

Now we have a better way to test paint, with Samplize Peel-and-Stick samples!  

• Samples pre-painted with 2 coats of real paint from the manufacturer.
• Large 9” x 14” samples to see the color better in the lighting.
• Delivered overnight
• Colors are accurate
• Less expensive than painting a large poster board with sample pots
• No mess, and no toxic paint to dispose of

I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples via the link below.

6 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors for Interior Trim and Ceilings

Now that you’re armed with key knowledge about choosing white trim paint, let’s explore some of our top picks for the best Benjamin Moore white trim paint colors – organized from coolest to warmest.

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White

Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White (color review article) is the coolest I would consider for trim and ceilings. It has blue undertones that can be limiting, especially if you plan to use creamy colors for the walls. Although it seems crisp and bright, it will look gray next to creamy whites such as Benjamin Moore White Dove (color review article), Benjamin Moore Simply White (color review article) or Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (color review article).

BM Decorator’s White (sample) can also look extremely stark with dark paint colors and warm finishes.

Don’t use Decorator’s White with:

• Earthy tile
• Granite countertops
• Warm browns and creams  

Pairing White Paint Colors with BM Decorator’s White Trim

If you pick Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White trim, these are the complementary white paint colors I’d recommend.

• Best White Wall Colors: BM Decorator’s White, BM Chantilly Lace, BM Oxford White
• Best White Ceiling Colors: BM Decorator’s White
• Worst White Wall Colors: BM Cloud White, BM Simply White, BM White Dove and BM Swiss Coffee. These are all too warm and won’t look right with such a cool, blue-white trim color.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

Chantilly Lace (color review article) is a fantastic trim color! This color has cool undertones but isn’t as stark as Decorator’s White. It works best as a white trim color with clean and cool finishes, including white quartz colors, grays and off-whites.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (sample) trim looks great with warm or cool wall colors but stay away from very dark wall colors because the contrast can be too stark. It looks great with cool finishes like Carrara marble, but can also look good with warmer marbles such as Calacatta marble or quartz. Make sure that you test your trim together with the finishes before painting.

Don’t use Chantilly Lace trim with: 

• Earthy tile
• Granite countertops

Pairing White Paint Colors with BM Chantilly Lace Trim

If you pick Chantilly Lace trim, use the tips below to find complementary Benjamin Moore white paint colors.

• Best White Wall Colors: BM Chantilly Lace (if you have enough light), BM Oxford White, BM Cloud Cover, BM Cloud White, BM Simply White, BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee
• Best White Ceiling Colors:  BM Chantilly Lace (preferred), BM Decorator’s White
• Worst White Wall Colors:  BM Swiss Coffee (will work, but not ideal)

Benjamin Moore Oxford White

Benjamin Moore Oxford White (sample) performs similarly to Chantilly Lace as a white trim color but has a little more warmth. It is warmer than Chantilly Lace (color review article) and cooler than Simply White (color review article). 

Oxford White is a clean white with slightly warm undertones and looks amazing with Carrara marble counters and cool gray finishes. It also works well with black paint colors and honed absolute black granite.

Don’t use BM Oxford White trim with:

• Dark earthy granite countertops
• Off-white or creamy quartz

Pairing White Paint Colors with BM Oxford White Trim

Use Oxford White trim similar to BM Chantilly Lace trim.

• Best White Wall Colors: BM Oxford White, BM Cloud Cover, BM Cloud White, BM Simply White, BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee
• Best White Ceiling Colors:  BM Oxford White, BM Decorator’s White
• Worst White Wall Colors:  BM Decorator’s White

Benjamin Moore Simply White

This warm, off-white Benjamin Moore paint color can be beautiful as a trim and ceiling color. One of BM Simply White’s (color review article) properties is that it will light up a room because of the warmth in the color and its very high LRV (89.5).

I love to pair Benjamin Moore Simply White (sample) trim with clean finishes, and off-white finishes.

It also looks lovely with white quartz colors, warm grays, warmer and darker cream colors and beige paint colors. I especially love it with colors like BM Revere Pewter (color review article), BM Edgecomb Gray (color review article) and BM Natural Cream (color review article). 

Simply White also looks great with warmer marbles such as Calacatta marble or warm quartz. It can work with Carrara, but wouldn’t be my favorite. Make sure that you test the color together with any finishes. 

Don’t use BM Simply White trim with:

• Cool and lighter grays like BM Stonington Gray or BM Balboa Mist
• Use sparingly with earthy tile and granite countertops (and be sure to test because it doesn’t always work well)

Pairing White Paint Colors with BM Simply White Trim

If you pick Simply White trim, use these tips for finding complementary white paint colors:

• Best White Wall Colors: Off-whites and creamy colors like BM Simply White, BM White Dove, BM Cloud White, BM Swiss Coffee
• Best White Ceiling Colors: BM Chantilly Lace, BM Simply White
• Worst White Wall Colors: BM Decorator’s White, BM Chantilly Lace, BM Oxford White

Benjamin Moore White Dove

Benjamin Moore White Dove (color review article) is one of our all-time favorite trim colors! This performs similarly to Simply White but is more muted and slightly darker. 

White Dove (sample) is a color that starts to look better with earthy finishes, and one of my favorites. It can be used with warmer or cooler wall colors and performs well with very dark paint colors. It is pretty flexible.

It also looks great with warmer quartz colors and warm marble like Calacatta. It might look good with Carrara marble, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. White Dove trim pairs really well with beige and taupe colors, dark paint colors and warm gray wall colors like BM Revere Pewter or BM Edgecomb Gray.

Don’t use BM White Dove with: 

• Cool whites like BM Decorator’s White or SW Extra White
• Cool finishes such as Carrara marble counters

Pairing White Paint Colors with BM White Dove Trim

Use these recommendations to pair White Dove trim with other white paint colors.

• Best White Wall Colors: BM White Dove, other creamy whites (NOT lighter whites)
• Best White Ceiling Colors: BM White Dove, BM Simply White, BM Chantilly Lace
• Worst White Wall Colors: BM Decorator’s White

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (color review article) is the darkest trim color I’d usually pick. It performs similarly to White Dove, but works better with most earthy finishes. Swiss Coffee has warm undertones and a lower LRV (82) than the other Benjamin Moore white trim colors in this post.

Swiss Coffee (sample) works really well with today’s emerging trend of warmer and organic colors or for updating an older home with Tuscan finishes. It looks lovely with browns and warm blacks, as well as darker grays and warm beige. It’s a great trim color for very dark wall colors and also works well for color drenching and using on the walls, trim and ceiling.

Don’t use BM Swiss Coffee Trim with:

• Cool quartz or marble like Carrara
• Lighter white wall colors (it will look dingy)

Best Paint Colors with Swiss Coffee Trim

Use these tips for BM Swiss Coffee trim.

• Best White Wall Colors: BM Swiss Coffee and any darker cream
• Best White Ceiling Color:  BM Chantilly, BM Oxford White, BM White Dove, BM Swiss Coffee
• Worst White Wall Colors: Decorator’s White, SW Extra White, any lighter white color

Sample All The Best Benjamin Moore Whites for Trim & Ceilings

1. Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
2. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
3. Benjamin Moore Oxford White
4. Benjamin Moore Simply White
5. Benjamin Moore White Dove
6. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Key Learning Points

Choosing the best Benjamin Moore white for trim and ceilings isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just remember a few key tips from our paint color consultants:

• To keep things simple, pick the same white paint color for both ceilings and trim. You can also pick a slightly cooler white for the ceiling.
• Use the same white trim color for passage doors, wainscoting, base molding, crown molding, cabinets, and other woodwork (if you want them “white”).
• Don’t pick a darker white paint color for the ceiling than you’re using on the walls or trim. Otherwise, your ceiling might look dingy.
• Choose white paint colors with an LRV at 80 or above for trim and ceilings. Don’t be fooled by paint colors with “white” in the name that are actually much darker!

Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens.  Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching in our paint matching guide.

No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice.  Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors.

Online Color Consulting

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Related Posts:

• Best Sherwin-Williams White Paint Colors for Trim & Ceilings
• Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
• Best White Paint Colors for Dark Rooms

About the Author

Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room. 

Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person.  I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.

We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, our Online Color Consultations will help you pick your paint colours. Thank you for your understand.