Benjamin Moore Simply White
Benjamin Moore Simply White is a warm white with subtle undertones, making it versatile and suitable for cabinets, interiors and exterior applications.
When I was searching for the right color paint for our kitchen cabinets, BM Simply White was on my list based on the research I had done. Simply White offers a backdrop that enhances every hue, texture, and design element in its surroundings. Simply White was Benjamin Moore’s 2016 color of the year and it has been a popular white paint color ever since.
This post contains affiliate links where I can receive commission from your purchases, thank your support. Please read my full disclosure.
Today I am breaking down all the details on the the lovely Benjamin Moore Simply White paint color! Some whites can tend to read too cold, but this warm white is fresh and bright without feeling cold.
Our kitchen cabinets are painted BM Simply White and they look amazing. This white hue adds a touch of warmth instead of just plain old stark white.
Benjamin Moore Simply White Explained
Maybe you are thinking that all white paint colors are the same. This couldn’t be further from the truth. With so many different shades of white, selecting a white paint color can be a daunting task. If you have ever gathered several white paint samples and placed them up side by side on your wall; you will soon discover that not all white paints are created equal. It is overwhelming.
White paints fall into three different categories which include warm whites, cool whites, and true whites.
Benjamin Moore Simply White Category
Benjamin Moore Simply White is considered a warm white paint color. It has subtle undertones that lean towards warm tones, often with hints of yellow or cream. This warmth is what gives Simply White its inviting and cozy appearance, making it a popular choice for creating a welcoming and timeless space.
The slightest hint of warmth makes this clean, crisp white a favorite to use anywhere in the home. – Benjamin Moore
Check out these other posts!
Best Black Paint Colors for Interior & Exterior
Classic Kitchen Design
Why I Love Our Marble Backsplash
Light Reflective Value of Benjamin Moore Simply White
Benjamin Moore Simply White has a Light Reflective Value (LVR) of 91.7. LRVs range from 0-100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black. Design pros commonly use LVR to measure the amount of light reflected from a surface. Higher numbers reflect more light and lower numbers absorb light. Since BM Simply White is a 91.7 it is not a pure stark white and falls into the off-white category.
As I explain in all my painting posts; Light Reflectance Value or LRV measures the percentage of light that is reflected from a surface.
Benjamin Moore Simply White Undertones
BM Simply White has very slightly yellow undertones with a touch of green and a touch of blue. It is often described as a versatile and neutral white with subtle warm undertones. While it appears as a clean and bright white, upon closer observation, you may notice faint undertones that give it depth and character. The warm undertones are often characterized as a delicate touch of creamy yellow or soft beige.
These subtle warm undertones are what contribute to the warmth and inviting feel of BM Simply White while still maintaining its overall neutral appearance. However, it’s important to note that undertones can be influenced by lighting conditions and the decor in a room such as furniture, curtains, flooring etc.
BM Simply White Coordinating Colors
There are no limits to this lovely color and what it can pair with. From a variety of colors like a warm green such as SW Clary Sage and deep blues like BM Hale Navy. It also works well with warmer beige and greige tones a slightly deeper neutral like Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige, BM Revere Pewter and BM Edgecomb Gray.
Interior Walls and Cabinets
Simply White is great for interior walls if you have a lot of natural light coming into your space. Your walls will be the perfect backdrop for all your furniture and decor.
We painted our kitchen cabinets BM Simply White and paired it with marble countertops and a marble slab backsplash. Our marble has both cool and warm tones which works well with Simply White. The undertone of our marble is more creamy than white and it also has goldish-brown warm veining that runs through it.
Simply White is a great white paint color on kitchen cabinets due to its warm feel. You can still have a white kitchen without it being cold and stark. BM Simply White also pairs nicely with wood kitchen cabinets as well. We chose to mix warm white with a warm wood island and it works perfectly!
Best Trim and Ceiling Colors to Pair with Simply White
Go ahead and paint your ceiling, walls and trim with the same color. There is no need to change ceiling and trim colors unless you are going for a different color all together such as beige or blue, etc.
If you are painting walls Simply White, you can paint your ceiling and trim and doors all the same color but use different paint sheens of the same color. This allows for subtle movement of color.
- Ceiling – flat
- Walls – eggshell
- Trim and doors – semi-gloss or satin
In our home, we have BM White Dove on the walls and trim and doors and ceiling are all BM White Dove just in different sheens and it’s lovely.
Select a clean white for the trim and ceiling if you want a contrast such as BM Chantilly Lace or BM Oxford White. Careful not to use blue-white colors such as BM White Diamond or BM Decorator’s White for trim and ceilings because they will not look right with Simply White.
Darker whites, such as BM White Dove or BM Swiss Coffee, will look dingy for trim and ceilings.
Simply White Changes with the Light
So, this paint color will change with the lighting. Although, any paint color will do this. Lighting plays a huge role on paint and how it is perceived. Since Simply White has strong yellow undertones, it will peek through as the room darkens and will also disappear in a bright, naturally-lit space.
Our home does not get the amount of natural light our previous home did and to be honest, I struggle with that. I LOVE natural light. With that in mind, I had to consider our kitchen’s lighting and how the cabinets would look throughout the day. I did consider beige or cream colored kitchen cabinets. While I love that look all over the internet and Instagram; I wasn’t sure it would work for our space.
Comparing Simply White to Other White Paint Colors
You might think it’s easy to select the right white paint for your home, but it’s one of the most stressful paint decisions you can make. Selecting just the right white is not super easy, but use this guide to compare Simply White to other popular white paint colors.
Simply White vs. Cloud White
Simply White is brighter than Cloud White even though they are both warm white paint colors. Cloud White is creamier than Simply White, darker, and has taupe-ish undertones.
Simply White vs. White Dove
Benjamin Moore White Dove is darker than Simply White. Even though they are both warm white colors; White Dove is a little cooler. White Dove is more muted than Simply White and has subtle yellow and gray undertones. I love White Dove and have used it throughout the rest of our home.
Simply White vs Chantilly Lace
We have Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace in our dining room and the room off our kitchen. It is a fairly clean white with very slight blue undertones, which is hard to detect. It is much crisper than Simply White and will never look yellow.
Simply White vs Swiss Coffee
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is much darker white than Simply White. It has subtle green and yellow undertones and is a warm white, but darker as you can see below.
Simply White vs Alabaster
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster is a warm white just like Simply White, but it is a different color all together. These two colors are not the same in any way other than that they are both warm whites. Alabaster is darker and also has strong yellow undertones. Alabaster has more depth than Simply White.
Should You Use Benjamin Moore Simply White
It is definitely a white paint color to consider for sure. Gather a few white samples and keep them in the space you are wanting to paint for a few days. See them in different lighting situations. Simply White is a wonderful color that is creamy, warm and bright. One to definitely consider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simply White is considered a warm white paint color. It has subtle warm undertones that give it a soft and inviting appearance. Its warm undertones often include hints of yellow or creamy beige.
It depends on the lighting conditions since the color of paint can be influenced by the lighting in the room such as natural daylight or artificial lighting. Surrounding elements such as furniture and decor can adjust the color of the paint too.
Yes! As you see that is what we used on our kitchen cabinets. Benjamin Moore Simply White is a great option for white kitchen cabinets since as all-white kitchens can sometimes feel a little cold. Using Simply White paint for kitchen cabinets adds a lovely warmth.
SW Alabaster is very similar, but is warmer and not as bright. It has an LRV of 82 whereas BM Simply White has an LRV of 91.7. They are two totally different colors, but both are lovely to use.
Follow for home decor, DIY and to shop: Instagram | Pinterest | LiketoKnowit
So the little bit of wall in your kitchen that’s among the sink window? Did you paint that simply white to match the upper cabinets or is that white dove like the walls in the rest of your house??
Good question and a decision I couldn’t decide on for a while. We painted it the same as the cabinets. BM Simply WHite. Since the space was so small seemed to be best!