Benjamin Moore White Dove (Sample) is one of our favorite whites, and we will explain why in this color review (OC-17, I-O6, PM-19). White Dove is an iconic Benjamin Moore off-white paint color that is versatile, warm, and lovely. It has soft invisible yellow undertones, but grayed out so you can hardly see it. Use White Dove for walls, ceilings, trim, molding, or cabinets.

White Dove looks fantastic in bright rooms or rooms with lower light. It has enough yellow undertones that it won’t gray out in the shadows. The yellow undertones rarely show through.
We used White Dove as a ceiling, wall, and trim color in this beautiful bedroom.
Keep reading to learn more about how to use Benjamin Moore White Dove for your next project.
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What Color is White Dove?
White Dove is a slightly creamy, yet muted white paint that works well in rooms with lots of light but also looks pretty in dimmer areas.
What is the LRV of White Dove?
White Dove has an LRV of 85.4 which makes it a soft white. This warm off-white paint color is muted with gray and has some yellow. LRV is short for Light Reflectance Value, which is a measurement of how light (LRV=100) or dark (LRV=0) a color is.
What are the BM White Dove undertones?
White Dove has yellow undertones that are grayed out. This keeps the color looking cozy on the wall without skewing to yellow, even in warm light. This yellow undertone also helps White Dove brighten a room with low light.
Is BM White Dove warm or cool?
White Dove is a warm paint color. Still, it’s muted enough that it still looks soft and lovely on the wall in just about any lighting.
Sample BM White Dove
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 and sample BM White Dove via the link below.
Using Benjamin Moore White Dove Interior Paint
You can use White Dove as a wall color in rooms with warm or earthy finishes, darker rooms, or sun-filled rooms.
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’s a great all-around white and pairs well with clean whites and creamy whites. It provides contrast without a harsh look.
White Dove, 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 enough.
Can I use White Dove interior trim?
Absolutely! White Dove is one of my favorite interior trim colors. It can be used with warmer or cooler wall colors and performs well with very dark paint colors. It is pretty flexible.
White Dove trim also pairs really well with beige and taupe wall colors, dark paint colors and warm gray wall colors like BM Revere Pewter or BM Edgecomb Gray.
One of my favorite applications for White Dove paint, however, is to use it for all-white color drenching on the walls, trim and ceiling.
Is a White Dove bathroom a good idea?
Can I paint a Benjamin Moore White Dove kitchen?
Yes! White Dove is a wonderful paint color for kitchens. It can be paired with most white quartz countertops, clean white subway backsplashes, and soft warm Calacatta tile.
White Dove cabinets transformed this kitchen – it’s one of our favorite white paint colors for kitchen cabinets!
This was the before:
Can I use BM White Dove in dark rooms?
We love to use White Dove in basements because it looks great in low light, and fantastic in artificial light. It’s one of our favorite white paint colors for dark rooms because it has enough warmth that it won’t look dingy in the shadows.
This photo from a large basement looks great with a small sliding glass door for light.
Is White Dove a good whole-house paint color?
Yes! We love using White Dove as the foundation for a whole-house color palette because it is so versatile and can be used with so many different finishes and decor.
White Dove is a great backdrop for colorful art, for example. This room has soft filtered light with east-facing windows.
A White Dove entryway, like the one pictured below, is also a fantastic way to use the color in a whole-house palette. We specify this color frequently, but it was already in place when we visited this house.
We used a similar palette in another client’s home, with a White Dove entryway that featured BM Oxford White trim and ceilings, dark wood accents and a colorful area rug.
Should I Try Benjamin Moore White Dove Exterior Paint?
We don’t recommend White Dove for exteriors unless it’s used as trim paired with a very light paint color with low contrast. White Dove may look very stark with darker colors because paint colors are 5-10 times brighter outside in the sunshine.
Since Benjamin Moore White Dove is 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 BM Swiss Coffee instead. It is very slightly darker than White Dove, has more pigment, and will look similar to White Dove outside. SW Greek Villa is also a good option.
What are the best trim and ceiling colors to pair with White Dove?
My favorite placement for White Dove 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, the trim is satin or semi-gloss and the walls are eggshell or matte. To save labor costs, paint White Dove walls and ceilings with a matte sheen.
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. White Dove also looks great as a trim and ceiling color with itself.
When should I avoid White Dove?
We don’t recommend it as a trim or cabinet color with Carrara Marble. If you use Chantilly lace for trim and cabinets with Carrara marble, then White Dove can pair well as a wall color, as long as it’s not adjacent with the cool Carrara marble.
Don’t use blue-white colors such as BM White Diamond or BM Decorator’s White for trim and ceilings because they will look discordant with White Dove. SW Extra White doesn’t look good with White Dove either.
Darker whites such as BM Swiss Coffee will look dingy as trim and ceilings when paired with White Dove walls.
Best Benjamin Moore White Dove Alternatives
If you’re still not sure that BM White Dove is right for your project, explore some of these similar paint colors.
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs Sherwin-Williams Alabaster
SW Alabaster and White Dove are pretty similar colors, but White Dove is a bit lighter. Both colors have grayed-out yellow undertones, but Alabaster is a bit less muted, so it looks more creamy on the wall.
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
Swiss Coffee is just barely darker than White Dove, with an LRV of 82 compared to White Dove’s LRV of 83. They also have different undertones. While Swiss Coffee has invisible green undertones, White Dove has yellow undertones and is much more muted.
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs Benjamin Moore Simply White
Simply White is much warmer than White Dove, which is more muted. Simply White is also lighter than White Dove. Although they are both warm colors with similar undertones, White Dove looks cooler in place.
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs Benjamin Moore Cloud White
Cloud White is a bit lighter than White Dove. It’s also less muted, allowing its warm yellow undertones to really shine through. As a result, Cloud White looks much creamier on the wall.
Benjamin Moore White Dove vs Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa
SW Greek Villa and White Dove are similar colors, but White Dove is a bit lighter. Both colors have yellow undertones, but White Dove is a bit more muted and Greek Villa is a little creamier.
Can I paint match Benjamin Moore White Dove 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, if you’re looking for a Sherwin-Williams White Dove equivalent, consider SW Greek Villa or SW Alabaster instead.
Learn more about matching paint colors here.
Benjamin Moore White Dove Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Looks gorgeous when used for all-white color drenching on the walls, trim, and ceiling
- Has soft yellow undertones that are grayed out, so they’re warm but you can hardly see them
- Perfect for rooms with low light; won’t gray out in the shadows
- Beautiful interior paint color option for homes with earthier tile and stone.
- Looks good with clean whites and creamy whites
Cons:
- Does not pair well with cool Carrara Marble in kitchens or bathrooms
- Doesn’t work with blue-white paint colors, like BM Decorator’s White
- Darker whites (like BM Swiss Coffee) will look dingy as trim and ceiling with White Dove
- May require extra coats if used as an exterior color
- Can look stark if used as an exterior paint color in areas with strong sun, such as Florida, Texas, California, or Colorado (high altitude sun)
Key Learning Points
White Dove is an iconic and versatile off-white paint color! You can use it with earthy finishes, soft modern finishes in any kind of light.
- White Dove is a beautiful trim, cabinet, and ceiling color – especially when color drenching a room in White Dove walls, trim and ceiling!
- White Dove has yellow undertones, but they’re grayed out enough to keep the color from looking yellow in place.
- White Dove is one of our favorite white paint colors for dark rooms. It has enough warmth and pigment that it won’t look dingy in low light.
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.
Related Posts
The Best White Paint Colors For Dark Rooms
Our Favorite Benjamin Moore Whites
Best Benjamin Moore White Trim Colors
Benjamin Moore Cloud White Color Review
Benjamin Moore Simply White Color Review
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 colors. Thank you for your understanding.
23 Responses
Thank you for a super informative post as well as a great read. Appreciate the information so much.
I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your feedback.
Great post! Do you think White Dove looks as bright in Satin as Semi-gloss for trim?
With Benjamin Moore, I prefer Satin because Semi-Gloss can be pretty shiny. Its personal preference though.
I would like a white for my laundry room which has dated maple cabinet doors, and a warm toned counter top. I do not wish to paint the cabinets, but just walls and ceiling. There are old white tiles around a shower that form a small backsplash as well. Toning down the peachy maple is key. Does Dove white work?
How will White Dove work on cabinets with Toffee Granite countertops? If I want to do my island cabinets a different color, would a greige work?
Thanks!
Would pairing white dove for walls, balboa mist for cabinets and chantilly lace for trim work in a living room with mostly east facing light?
In the afternoon the room gets quite dark and with my space being so small I felt white dove would work better as a wall color to keep the space looking bigger vs my original plan of doing walls in balboa mist.
Hi Monika,
That could be nice, but please test, test, test, and don’t match the Benjamin Moore colors to another company. Also, make sure you test the colors and look at them both in the room as well as all your decor and hard finishes.
Thank you,
Michelle
I have painted my guest room White Dove eggshell and I really hated it. Because it has a tint of yellow. I prefer a grayish white, and clean and contrast colors. I prefer Chantilly Lace which will show most contrast if I want to have a Cadet Navy couch. Do you think I need to repaint my guest room? My preferred hues are Chantilly Lace, or 50% gray owl. What really bothers me is the yellow or green hue in White Dove.
We painted a lot of our house with White Dove and we are quite happy with it. The house was built in 1928. In the living room that faces north, the ceiling went a really warm color, but the walls were perfect. The ceilings in the house are eight feet high. The living room windows are pushed out about 1 foot, 21” with an arch going across the wall in front, but above the windows. I think that was the culprit as it must block some of the sunlight going onto the ceiling. All the other ceilings in the house were good and the same color as the walls. We just kept painting the ceiling in the living room with extra coats of basic white ceiling paint until we got it to a shade we liked. The next time we paint the living room I would still like to use White Dove again. What would you advise for the ceiling? Perhaps White Dove 60 and another paint 40 and mix them together? I would really appreciate your expertise on this, Michelle.
Hi Teddie,
I’m really not a fan of mixing paint colors like that because they are so hard to get right, but that’s really cool that it worked for you! I personally like flat White Dove on the ceiling with eggshell White Dove on the walls. The change in sheens really adds dimension. Another option would be to try Oxford White as a trim and ceiling color. Oxford and White Dove are a fabulous combination.
Michelle
Great insights in colors and combos!
I have a room painted in Swiss Coffee that has light from all 4 directions. And looks different on all walls during different time of the day! Mostly I like it but sometimes it is too yellow.
Dilemma: I need to pick a color for the cabinets in my bathroom. My bedroom has Swiss coffee satin trim. In the bathroom there are 4 ea 2×2 windows up high, facing west. My cabinets are tall and there will be wall tile adjacent to the cabinets – the tile is a creamy white limestone, honed, with a matte handmade ceramic tile above it. My (integrated) sink/countertop is Pompeii pure white, brushed. The Swiss coffee is too yellow so I leaning to white dove, which looks much whiter in the west light. You say not to Mix white dove with Swiss coffee! Should I do Swiss coffee at 75% or even 50%? Or can I mix in separate, yet connected rooms?
HI, Thank you for this post. I love the kitchen you highlighted above with the white tile backsplash. The photographer was Z. Patel. Do you know where I could find info about it? Thanks!
Hi Sabra,
That was my project. What would you like to know?
Thank you,
Michelle
Yes please! You did a beautiful job. Matching my white cabinetry to a backsplash tile has been beyond challenging.
Hi! Would love to have the tile info in the kitchen cabinet photo as well (the image with wall ovens & fridge at right edge and faucet at left edge). Thanks so much!
I have a white quartz countertop in my bathroom with medium gray tiles. The fixtures are white. Would White Dove work with these colors?
We painted an entire condo in BM SuperWhite. Very modern decor. Th living and dining rooms (12’ceilings) have large north facing windows and are beautiful. Off the kitchen is a small cove ( 10×10 with only 9′ ceilings) used as a breakfast room with no windows. Some indirect light from kitchen but mainly artificial lighting. The cove looks completely different – grayish greenish not a cool white at all. The floors are a very warm bamboo. Am thinking it’s the reflection of the warm floors that is the problem? We were thinking of repainting the cove in White Dove – but leaving trim and ceiling Super White. Also installing a rug that is a cool grey to cover that warm flooring. Advice?
Hi Beth,
It’s hard to say without seeing photos. Please consider one of our color consultations.
Thank you,
Michelle
Are there any pale yellows that work well with White Dove trim? Hoped to my bedroom in a pale color, but cannot find anything about yellows and White Dove. For a reason? Perhaps another pale color?
There are many pale yellows to pair with White Dove trim. Try Hepplewhite Ivory, but test first!
Michelle
Hello, we are doing a complete renovation of our kitchen and I am leaning towards White Dove for the kitchen cabinets. Floors are a warm wood color. I’m looking for ideas for wall colors that will compliment White Dove. The entire space is very open concept, no walls separating dining, room, living room so looking for a nice neutral color for the entire floor.
Thank you.
Hi Jenny,
There are so many colors that pair well with White Dove. We would love to help you pick one! Please consider one of our color consultation. Link to https://thecolorconcierge.com/online-color-consulting/
Thank you for supporting our blog,
Michelle