Cloud White (OC-130, 967, CC-40) is a soft beautiful off-white paint color that we could use all day long. It has soft invisible taupe undertones. You can use Cloud White for your walls and makes a lovely trim, cabinet or ceiling white paint color.
It 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.
This was a house where we specified Cloud White as the predominant paint color. This amazing remodel in Colorado has lots of window and light in the common areas, with expansive west facing views and some darker hallways. We used the same off-white throughout this house for walls (eggshell), ceilings (flat) and trim (satin) and it never disappointed.
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Cloud White LRV
Cloud White has an LRV of 87.4 which makes it a soft white. This warm off-white paint color has invisible taupe undertones. LRV is short for Light Reflectance Value, which is a measurement of how light (LRV=100) or dark (LRV=0) a color is.
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, and also with a modern white kitchen. Since it is an off-white, it pairs well with clean whites and creamy whites. It provides contrast without a harsh look.
Cloud White, as with many white paint colors is a great tool to enhance architectural details. You don’t need to shift colors to highlight the details; a shift in sheens is sufficient.
You can use it with most white quartz countertops, clean white subway backsplashes and soft warm Calacatta tile.
This paint color is a great backdrop for colorful art. This room has soft filtered light with east facing windows. West facing windows backlight this photo.
What are the best trim and ceiling colors to pair with Cloud White?
My favorite placement for Cloud White is to paint the ceiling, walls and trim the same color, but with shifting sheens for a subtle movement of color. The ceiling is flat, 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.
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, Cloud White or BM Swiss Coffee will look dingy as trim and ceilings when paired with Cloud White walls.
When should I avoid Cloud White?
Avoid Cloud White with north facing exposures that have blue light and very crisp blue-white paint colors. For example, I don’t recommend as a trim or cabinet color with Carrara Marble. If you use Chantilly lace for trim and cabinets with Carrara marble, then Cloud White can pair well as a wall color, as long as it’s not adjacent with the cool Carrara marble.
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. If you want a bright white for your exterior, consider SW Pure White instead. It has more pigment and will look similar to Cloud White outside.
How does it look in darker spaces?
Cloud White can look very nice in slightly darker spaces, but you still need some light to make it look beautiful.
This basement photo shows an area under the stairs. The basement still has tons of filtered natural light. Cloud White looks soft and lovely.
This beautiful Cloud White hallway has nice skylights. The light is also soft and filtered.
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. Instead, consider SW Pure White.
Learn more about matching paint colors here.
The Verdict
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. It is a beautiful trim color. Don’t use Cloud White as a trim or cabinet color with Carrara marble
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.
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