Cloud White Color Review (OC-130)

Learn about Benjamin Moore Cloud White (OC-130) in this paint color review.

Cloud White (OC-130, 967, CC-40) is a soft beautiful off-white paint color that we could use all day long. It has warm, invisible taupe undertones.  You can use Cloud White for your walls in just about every room of the house. It also makes a lovely trim, cabinet, or ceiling white paint color.

Cloud White looks best in rooms with tons of light but can also work well if you have some shadows. It can start to look dingy in rooms with very cool north-facing light.

We’ve used Cloud White in many clients’ homes over the years, some of which will showcase in this paint color review. All photos in this color review are from our color consulting projects.

*This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. If you click on some links and 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.

Benjamin Moore Cloud White LRV

Cloud White has an LRV of 87.4, which makes it a brighter off-white paint color. LRV is short for Light Reflectance Value, which is a measurement of how light (LRV=100) or dark (LRV=0) a color is. This color is very light but still has plenty of depth and warmth, so it won’t risk looking stark on the wall.

What undertones does Cloud White have?

This warm off-white paint color has subtle taupe undertones. Its undertones offer plenty of warmth without looking too creamy or yellow. I’ve learned from experience that when Cloud White looks yellow during testing, it means it’s the wrong color for your space. I’m not sure why, but in this case, it’s a red flag.

Is Cloud White warm or cool?

This off-white paint is definitely warm, thanks to its taupe undertones. It can sometimes be difficult to tell how warm a color is without comparing it to other paint colors. 

For comparison, Cloud White is not as warm as Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee and not as cool as Decorator’s White, which has blue undertones. 

When should I use Cloud White?

Cloud White is one of the most versatile whites on the planet. It looks great as a white to update a dated Tuscan home but also pairs beautifully with a modern white kitchen. 

Since it is off-white, it pairs well with clean whites and creamy whites. It also looks beautiful with warm finishes and decor and darker accents like black trim or dark wood.

Can I use Cloud White as an interior trim color?

We love to use Cloud White as a trim color, especially when paired with Cloud White walls! This color looks gorgeous wrapped around a whole room, using different paint sheens for the walls, trim and ceilings (flat).

We used this application for a client’s elegant remodel in Colorado, where we specified Cloud White as the predominant paint color throughout the home. This home has lots of windows and natural light in the common areas, with expansive west-facing views and some darker hallways. There is also a lot of unique trim, molding, and wainscoting throughout this home that we wanted to feature.

This home was a beautiful study in black (Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron) and Cloud White.

Cloud White, as with many white paint colors, is a great tool to enhance these architectural details. You don’t need to shift colors to highlight the details; a shift in paint sheens is sufficient. We used Cloud White throughout this house for walls (eggshell sheen), ceilings (flat sheen), and trim (satin sheen), and it never disappointed.

Cloud White was the perfect color to highlight the gorgeous trim and molding throughout this unique home.

Is a Cloud White kitchen a good idea?

Absolutely! Cloud White is a great color for a classic kitchen because its warmth pairs well with both Tuscan-style finishes and more modern, clean white finishes. 

You can use Cloud White paint with most white quartz countertops, clean white subway backsplashes, and soft warm Calacatta tile. With one exception, I don’t recommend using Cloud White as a trim or cabinet color with Carrara Marble countertops. If you use Chantilly Lace for trim and cabinet paint with Carrara marble counters, then Cloud White can pair well as a wall color if it’s not adjacent to the cool Carrara marble.

Cloud White kitchen cabinets would also be beautiful, especially if you paired them with Cloud White walls, trim, and ceiling in different sheens for a monochromatic color scheme.

We used this strategy in this client’s incredible bachelor pad. I love how warm white colors contrast with the dark island, gray subway tile backsplash, and natural wood floors.

Can you use Cloud White for basement paint?

Yes! This is one of the best things about Cloud White paint: it works well even in spaces with less light (there’s a reason we featured it in our list of the best white paints for dark rooms!). 

Check out this photo – a client tested and compared Cloud White in a dark stairwell.  We compared it to BM Snowfall White, SW Cheviot, and BM Cloud Cover.  Even though it wasn’t the lightest or cleanest white, it still looked the brightest in dingy conditions.

We used Cloud White in our client’s bachelor pad basement (pictured in the next two photos) and it looked amazing. The color looks darker and richer with less light, and it doesn’t look dingy like a lot of white paint colors do in shadowed spaces.

This basement photo from our first client’s Colorado remodel shows an area under the stairs. The basement still has tons of filtered natural light, so Cloud White looks soft and lovely. It also pairs really well with the muted brick finish on the wall next to the stairs.

Can I use a Cloud White bedroom?

Cloud White is a beautiful, calming bedroom paint color. It creates a warm, cozy, and inviting bedroom that you’ll actually want to spend time and relax in.

We used Cloud White in this client’s guest bedroom to once again create a fairly monochrome palette. We kept the walls, trim and even bedding relatively the same color, layering textures to let decor pieces really shine.

Is Cloud White a good whole house color?

Yes! Cloud White is one of the best whole house colors out there because it works well in many different spaces and is a great color for creating a monochromatic color palette.

It looks just as beautiful in our client’s east-facing room with lots of natural light (pictured above) as it does in their darker hallway, where skylights offer soft, filtered sunlight that helps the color come to life.

Our client’s bachelor pad is another example of Cloud White used everywhere. Originally, it had monochromatic gray ceilings and walls (as delivered by the new builder), and it looked dingy and grim inside. 

We chose Cloud White as the primary paint color throughout the home, painting walls and ceilings both with a matte sheen.  We selected Cloud White because it best matched the cabinets and trim white paint color. The budget was a consideration, and the trim was in good shape.  By painting the walls and ceilings with a matte sheen, our client saved additional money on labor to cut in the wall/ceiling corner.

Cloud White also looked lovely next to the touches of black trim found around the home.

If we had selected flat Cloud White paint for the ceilings it would have added the labor cost to cut in the ceilings and walls. By using Cloud White in one sheen the homeowner saved tons of money, we achieved a monochromatic look that didn’t break the bank.

We also used Cloud White as a whole house color for an empty nester client who wanted to update the look of her home without any expensive remodels. Cloud White is versatile enough that it looked beautiful in just about every room of this house, from the living room (pictured above)  to the bedroom (below).

Can I use Cloud White for exterior paint?

We don’t recommend Cloud White for exteriors because it’s too bright and stark when you take it outside.  Also, since it’s a low-pigment paint color (that’s what makes it beautiful inside), you would need more coats to get enough coverage.  Consider SW Greek Villa instead if you want a bright white for your exterior. It has more pigment and will look similar to Cloud White outside.

What are the best trim and ceiling colors to pair with Cloud White?

As mentioned earlier in this review, my favorite placement for Cloud White is to paint the ceiling, and walls, and trim the same color but with shifting sheens for a subtle movement of color.  The ceiling is flat, the trim is satin or semi-gloss, and the walls are eggshell or matte.

If you want more contrast, pick a clean white for the trim and ceiling such as BM Chantilly Lace or BM Oxford White. I like to use matching trim and ceiling whites in a room, lighter than the wall color if I’m not wrapping the room in one color.

For trim and ceilings, don’t use blue-white colors such as BM White Diamond or BM Decorator’s White because they will look discordant with Cloud White.

Darker whites such as BM White Dove or BM Swiss Coffee will look dingy as trim and ceiling colors when paired with Cloud White walls.

When should I avoid Cloud White?

Avoid Cloud White paired with very crisp blue-white paint colors or finishes such as BM Decorator’s White or SW Extra White. 

This is why I don’t recommend using Cloud White directly adjacent to Carerra marble countertops, and also don’t recommend using a cool white trim and ceiling paint with blue undertones.

They are lovely colors, but they don’t work with Cloud White.

What is the easiest way to sample Benjamin Moore Cloud White?

You should always sample and test your paint colors, but it’s especially important for white paints, which are often some of the hardest to choose.

The easiest way to sample Cloud White (and any paint color, for that matter) is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and accurate to color. With Samplize, you can quickly and easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.

What colors go well with Cloud White?

Does Cloud White go with black paint? 

Cloud White is a gorgeous off-white paint color to use alongside black trim. Black interior trim and black accent walls were a major focal point of our Colorado remodel clients’ homes. Cloud White looked beautiful in this black-and-white color palette.

We used Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron – a lovely, soft, and slightly warm black paint that provides excellent contrast in an otherwise simple whole house color scheme.

Does Cloud White work with bright colors?

Cloud White is a beautiful backdrop for art and other brightly colored decors – it’s just that versatile! 

These colorful art prints looked lovely in the bachelor pad’s basement on a neutral backdrop of Cloud White paint. I love how the frames almost blend into the wall and let the art shine!

In the empty nester home, a Cloud White stairwell features a large tapestry and framed art print on the wall, offering a lovely burst of color and warmth.

This Colorado remodel home also incorporated a bright art print with a Cloud White wall, providing a touch of color in an otherwise simple, black-and-white palette.

Comparisons With Benjamin Moore Cloud White Alternatives

Not sure if Cloud White is the correct warm white for your room? Check out how it compares to similar paint colors from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.

Cloud White vs Simply White

Benjamin Moore Cloud White and Simply White are both warm white paint colors, but Simply White is brighter than Cloud White. Simply White has an LRV of 89.5, while Cloud White has an LRV of 87. Cloud White is also creamier and more muted than Simply White, which has yellow undertones.

Cloud White vs White Dove

White Dove has an LRV of 85.4 which makes it a bit darker than Cloud White.  White Dove is darker and more muted than Cloud White, and reads cooler.

Cloud White vs. Swiss Coffee

Cloud White and Swiss Coffee are fairly similar colors, but Swiss Coffee is darker (with an LRV of 84) and a bit warmer. Swiss Coffee has subtle green undertones lean a bit toward yellow, so it’s creamier than Cloud White.

Cloud White vs Decorator’s White

Decorator’s White has an LRV of 84.61, so it is slightly darker than Cloud White. Decorator’s White is also much bluer and cooler than Cloud White and looks very different on the wall.

Cloud White vs Alabaster

Cloud White and Sherwin-Williams Alabaster seem similar, but Alabaster is darker, and more yellow with an LRV of 82. Alabaster tends to look brasher and yellower on the wall than Cloud White.

Cloud White vs Greek Villa

Cloud White and Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa are similar colors with similar undertones, but Greek Villa is darker, with an LRV of 84. They are a nice replacement for each other, although they aren’t necessarily the same color.

Can my painter match Benjamin Moore Cloud White to Sherwin Williams?

The answer is NO. Not unless you want your house painted light green.  That’s what seems to happen when they try to match white paint colors. Cloud White is a bit of a unicorn, and there isn’t an exact match in the Sherwin-Williams world, but to get a similar look and feel, I would try SW Greek Villa.

Learn more about matching paint colors here.

What is the best way to test Cloud White?

As always, don’t forget to test your paint colors! The easiest way to sample any paint color is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color. With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.

If you’d like to test the colors that we mentioned in this post, link below for the Samplize samples:

Cloud White

Simply White

White Dove

Swiss Coffee

Decorator’s White

Alabaster

Greek Villa

Key Learning Points

Cloud White is a beautiful and versatile off-white paint color! You can use it in bright rooms, medium-lit rooms, and even with muted earthy finishes.  

• Cloud White is a beautiful trim, wall, or ceiling color. Try wrapping a room in Cloud White, using different sheens for each type of trim, ceiling, or wall.
• Don’t pair Cloud White with paint colors or finishes that are too blue or cold. 
• Cloud White is a beautiful option for a whole house paint color

No matter what, don’t forget to 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 here.

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 here.

Online Color Consulting

If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an In-Person Color Consultation in the Denver Metro area.

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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.

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