5 Best True White Paint Colors with No Undertones

It can be hard choosing any paint color for your home but selecting a true white paint color… darn near impossible! If you feel this way, you’re not alone. There are many white paint colors to choose from. It can get pretty exhausting to find that perfect white.

Why is white not just “white”? White paint can look too bright, creamy, or slightly grey. All the options were making my head spin as I started searching for the perfect true white color for the faux shiplap in my foyer. Of course, I decided to find out some answers and share them with you.

White paint colors can be seen differently from room to room. White colors consist of different undertones that are grouped into two categories: warm undertones and cool undertones.

Shiplap Paint Color – Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
Door Paint Color – PPG Horseradish

These undertones change how paint color reflects in any room. Warm undertones have a hint of red and yellow for a softer and warm feel, while cool undertones have a hint of blue, grey, green, or even a pink undertone for a crisp and cool feel.

To determine the undertones of specific paint colors, you need to compare your paint color with another color or with different surfaces.

Paint color undertones also emerge depending on the position of your room. Is the room north-facing, south-facing or east/west facing?

A north-facing room receives less sunlight and gets cool, blue tones from natural light. South-facing rooms receive a lot of sunlight during the day as the intensity of the sunlight changes during the day. East/west facing rooms, on the other hand, are brightest when the sun peaks and sets.

Shiplap Paint Color – Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

If your space is north facing, you want to avoid colors that have cool undertones as natural light will magnify those blue and green tones. Nonetheless, paint colors with cool undertones are perfect in south-facing rooms. 

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Once it’s dried, cut out the paint sections and place them on the walls to determine the undertones. I recently found these peel and stick papers from Home Depot. You can apply two coats of paint to it and allow it to dry, then apply it to your walls.

As another option, purchase paint swatches to avoid the mess of painting and waiting for the paint to dry. Check out Samplize! Their paint swatches are made of 12”x12” adhesive paper consisting of two coats of paint.

You just take off the backing and stick it onto the wall. How cool! I have purchased a couple of paint swatches for my home projects. This is a favorite of mine.

The question then becomes, is there a true white paint with no undertones? Well, the answer is not as simple. I know that doesn’t help, but hear me out. White paint color is most reflective on the wall and even at its purest form, its shade still changes from room to room.

But don’t freak out! Even though there are so many shades of white colors available, I discovered five pure white colors with minimal undertones. I say “minimal” because there is no paint color that is 100% not pigmented.

These white paint colors are very close to pure white. You can avoid buying a lot of white paint sample selections for your home. Check out these pure, true, and neutral white paint colors! 

MY FAVORITE PAINTING TOOLS

Benjamin Moore: Super White

Super White is a brilliant and clean white color. It has no undertones and this is the purest white paint of Benjamin Moore white paint collection. It’s crisp, simple, and suitable for a modern look throughout your home. It’s good to use on walls, ceilings, doors, trim, and millwork. This is because it pops against other colors. 

Extra White is Sherwin-Williams purest and whitest paint color.  With no undertones, it’s a bright white but fresh. It makes a room feel airy and modern.

It’s great for walls, trim, doors and ceiling. 

Note: It can come across cool in a north facing room. 

All White is known as “totally pure” white. It contains only white pigments, with no blue undertones that exist with the brightest whites. It’s airy, frish and rich on walls, cabinets, trim and doors. It’s a great choice for monochromatic space, layering white on white. 

Ultra Pure White. Its name says it all. Purest form the Behr white color collection, it’s clean and emphasizes textures in any space. It makes a room comfortable and calm, all while drawing attention to home furnishings and accents. This white paint is perfect for a space like the living room. 

Fresh Kicks has no undertones, making it the purest white in Clare paint collection. It’s bright and clean. This true white paint color is great when paired with other colors that pop. I love that Clare also provides paint swatches that you can peel and stick on your walls. 

Making a decision on a paint color is not easy and can be overwhelming. (I’ve been there.) I hope these tips make it easier to choose a white paint color or any paint color for your home projects. 

MY FAVORITE PAINTING TOOLS

PRO TIP: Always sample the paint color and compare it with other colors to determine the undertone. 

Let me know your concerns with picking white paint colors or any paint colors in the comments below.  If you need help making a final decision on a paint color, feel free to get in touch. 

I’d love to help! 

xo, Gbeke