skip to main content

Home Decorating

alternatives to Ben Moore China White

10 years ago

Hi,

I recently moved into a new (old) house and am in the process of repainting. In our old bedroom we had China White, which I loved, because it was the perfect soft clean color that read as white but not too stark and absolutely glowed in the morning light. I liked that it was neutral and *not* yellowy, that it looked clean and white in daylight but a little cozier and warmer at night with the curtains shut.

I know the same color can look different in a different house, though, so I made sure to try a sample of China White in our new bedroom, which has southwest light and not quite as much of it. It looks so very gray and shadowy in this room. I don't think it will work.

I also tried a sample of Dove Wing, which looks similar but lighter to China White in card form but on the wall in paint form looks a lot cooler and I worry it will be cold. I had Simply White on hand from the kitchen so I tried that -- way too white. (And in the kitchen I am currently struggling with the yellow it has.)

Should I get a sample made up of 50% China White? Will that change just the deepness/darkness of it, or make it look like a different color? Any suggestions on other whites to try?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

graywings123

10 years ago

I use Ben Moore Simply White. If you google it, you will see several discussions about it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

tibbrix
10 years ago
I originally put China White on my wood trim in my kitchen, and at first I loved it because I thought it was so creamy. Fortunately, I stopped, because I came to dislike it a lot because it looked cold and drab, kind of dirty even.

Ended up going with the painter's recommendation, White Dove, kind of an all-purpose white, creamy, not too warm, not too coolÃ¢ÂÂ¦.
crl_
10 years ago
I was also going to suggest white dove. If you want to go a bit pink (sounds like maybe a bit pink would counter act that grey thing), maybe try cameo white.
Related Discussions
Which Benjamin Moore white for my cabinets?
Q
Comments (15)
I've been in White Sample World the past week as well. I think I've decided on Dove White, as my kitchen gets western afternoon light (which is warm, right? So I want a cool white to mellow it down...am I correct in this?). But I'm having all the trim and windows repainted too. Do I use the same color on trim in kitchen, even thought it will differ from what is in the rest of the house? I have not looked at Chantilly Lace (or it's pretty face...) yet though, so I will have to add that to my mix. Sorry to hijack the thread...I just thought since people were already thinking about the issue this would be a good place to ask.
...See More
lighting help, vote, alternatives, photoshop?
Q
Comments (10)
Thank you angieDIY, sandyponder, hlove, and sprtphntc! I think my kitchen DOES need some tarting up :-) or perhaps I am moving into my "I shall wear purple" phase. The light is 100 w so I thought I might be safe with the amber, but it really is a bold statement for me. I thought I should wait on lights until we get our counters, but that darn poly'd MDF is holding up so well it could be another year and I'd hate to throw away 15 years of marriage on dangling light bulbs! I think my hold out is that the house is from the early 1920's, but all the built in work was removed in the 60's when a coved ceiling was installed in the main living space. Then I had to go install a mod kitchen and we are having an identity crisis here people! If anyone could photoshop some white paint on the walls and show me what the amber or vanilla lights would look like, I'd be in your debt. The actual lights are 4" wide and 10" long. Thanks so much and please excuse my rambling...
...See More
Benjamin Moore paint for shutters and front door HELP!
Q
Comments (22)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Many thanks to all for your thoughts and advice! I’ve used some them and came up with a result that I’m very happy with. As stated, I was looking for advice for shutter, door frame and door paint color. I used black for the shutters and shogi white for the door frame. But, I wanted a “pop” color for my front door and that was the most difficult color to arrive at. I decide to “study” color schemes and purchased a color wheel. I went with a complementary color to my brick. My brick is varied in color but overall a terra cotta tone. With the color wheel focused on those tones it recommended blue-green or green-blue. I came to the conclusion that my scheme would resemble “southwest” colors, thinking terra cotta and turquoise. My neighbor, that has an eye for colors, helped me make the final choice and I love it!!! The recommendations for no shutters on the ground floor was noted. I drove around my neighborhood and the community that I live in and concluded that it is standard practice to put shutters on my windows. So, I did. Thanks again to all that contributed to this post. Now, I’m off to Croatia! ✈️
...See More
edgecomb gray or natural cream? (Benjamin Moore)
Q
Comments (69)
I am deciding between Edgecomb, Natural Cream and Elmira White. My room has both south and north facing and I tried (Clay Beige(too dark) Inukshuk(too pinky) Shaker Beige(too dark orange) but looks great on walls in other areas. Is Natural Cream less gray than Edgecomb. Not sure Elmira will work because it might go pink. I could go with Edgecomb but it is the more grayer choice and I wanted something more neutral beige with some grey and no orange, green or yellow undertones which seems impossible. Thought maybe windsbreath but might be too light. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
...See More
WendyB 5A/MA
10 years ago
I would not bother with 50% of anything because over time you may need more or have other things to match to it and it will be problematic.

I just moved into a place with China White all over and I know what you mean about how it changes. I thought it was creamier when looking at the card comparing it to pure white, but sometimes it reads grey and cold. when I painted it over white primer, I was surprised it was creamy in contrast. Doesn't feel it.

At my last house I liked Timid White and Sparkling Wine. They were both my moving over to the "white" side of the world after having been on the definite "cream" side. Both were very neutral and clean with no undertones - recommended to me by the BM color guru. One was a little whiter than the other. I forget which was which.
kristin_c
Original Author
10 years ago
Oops, sorry, the one I also tried a sample of, that I worried was cold, was White Dove (not Dove Wing like I thought). I'm not 100% set against it, though. Since I have the sample pint I think I'll paint *all* of it onto a wall and see how it looks.

I have Simply White in my kitchen and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's not quite white enough for me in the kitchen, but too white when I swatch it in the bedroom. :/

I will look into Cameo White and Timid White (looks like that's the lighter of the two you mentioned wendyb). Thanks.
WendyB 5A/MA
10 years ago
Here is Timid White in real life.
WendyB 5A/MA
10 years ago
Do you know about LRV on the BM website? It stands for "Light Reflecting Value" and basically indicates how close to white. 100 is the highest. 0 is black. I find it a very helpful tool to zero in on the right shades, especially useful when comparing to something you are familiar with.

Related Stories

COLOR Benjamin Moore Floats Breath of Fresh Air as Its Color of 2014

By Jennifer Ott Design

Touted as a new neutral, this baby blue can stand on its own or support bolder colors. Here's how to use it

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Keep Your White Kitchen White

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Sure, white kitchens are beautiful — when they’re sparkling clean. Here’s how to keep them that way

KITCHEN CABINETS New This Week: 3 Modern Kitchens That Rock Warm Wood Cabinets

By Mitchell Parker

Looking for an alternative to bright white? Walnut cabinetry offers the perfect tone to warm things up

COLOR Beyond White: With Tints, Everybody Wins

By Kelly Porter

Light colors with just a trace of pigment add a subtle ambience. Here’s how to use tints to set a mood without darkening your space

COLOR Color of the Year: Off-White Is On Trend for 2016

By Jennifer Ott Design

See why four paint brands have chosen a shade of white as their hot hue for the new year

WHITE How to Pick the Right White Paint

By Kelly Porter

White is white, right? Not quite. See 8 white paint picks for 8 very different effects

KITCHEN DESIGN White Appliances Find the Limelight

By Becky Harris

White is becoming a clear star across a broad range of kitchen styles and with all manner of appliances

COLOR Nature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on White From the Great Outdoors

By Laura Gaskill

Blizzard fierce or butter soft, white can highlight shapes, unify a room and perform miracles on the cheap

COLOR Best Uses for the Saturated Blue Color of 2015

By Jennifer Ott Design

Kelly-Moore’s selection is a classic shade of blue worthy of chunky accents around the home

DECORATING GUIDES Color of the Week: Easter Lily

By Jennifer Ott Design

Lighten and brighten your home with a yellow-kissed white on the walls

Sponsored

Fresh Pointe Studio

4 Reviews

Industry Leading Interior Designers & Decorators | Delaware County, OH

More Discussions

Powder room by the kitchen

246

Help with Studio Apt

53

Home improval and revamping

2

outdoor cover for PB sea grass chairs

0

Asymmetrical vanity light

1