Nope, never! I really don't like white walls. I know searching for the perfect shade sometimes seems like a lot of work and risk, but to me it's always worth it. That perfect color might be white for some people if they have a specific look in mind, but I wouldn't want to settle for white just because it was easy. There are some very neutral "colors" out there that work with just about anything you bring into the room. I would look at your lighting, architecture, and other permanent elements to determine paint if you don't know about furniture right now. Is this a new construction that needs painting before the trim is in? Other than all the cutting in, painting after you're living in the room isn't that hard if you feel you need to wait until you make some furniture decisions.

I think an off white like SW Divine White or a light beige like Kilim Beige would go with any furniture you would pick out and give a warm, welcoming look to your space. Those colors would also be easy to paint over, should you decide to change to a different shade down the line.

I bought SW Echelon Ecru for my main bath ten years ago, after splotching Dromedary Camel, a red, and a couple of other possibilities. But I wanted a background for Country House red toile, and gold vintage accents. The off-white worked very well. I wouldn't just choose a shade of white because I was discouraged trying to find the right color. I might go with SW Latte, or Macadamia.....I might do something neutral in Benjamin Moore. But I wouldn't just do white rather than make a choice. White can be a choice, but probably not for me.

Red

When we renovated in 2005, I was out of ideas for color by the time I got to the kitchen. DH said, "Just paint it white!" Horrors!

I did decide to paint it EK Classic Cream, thinking I'd come up with a color later, after I had recovered from the chaos. Well, I ended up loving that Cream and carried it down a short hall and into the foyer. It turned out to be a perfect foil for all the other colors I had in the open plan house as well as a wonderful, unobtrusive frame for the view out the kitchen window.

I think the fact that it was a full spectrum "white" made a difference for me.

Before finding this forum I didn't think I liked color. I always said my walls would be white and at the very most maybe something real light. (kind of Dr. Seussish isn't it?) The first room we painted was the LR. Everything was builders white but the flat finish was driving me bonkers. After direction from you guys I went with BM Shelburne Buff and immediately fell in love with it. The kitchen was next and went with BM Olive Branch. I didn't love my kitchen and still don't really but the color has made me like it! What a transformation. I have rooms yet to paint and there's a couple really dark, rich colors I would love to use! I don't think I'll ever want white again but that being said there are lots of other light neutral colors that are inviting.

No way!

I really do not like white walls... or white ceilings.

I love color! I personally think that it's well worth the effort to find the right hue rather than settling for white.

I like INTENTIONALLY white walls. In fact, the idea of (don't freak) glossy white paneled walls really intrigues me.

My natural impulse is everything over-the-top so at times I think color could compete with that. If that isn't you, a nice linen color would be equally subdued and allow for a nice background for your furnishings.

The problem with white walls isn't the white, but that everywhere light isn't, it turns to a shadow gray. I think that if your furnishings can work with varying degrees of shadow gray, you can use white. But for most of us with a focus on warm colors, it just doesn't work as well.

Maybe it depends on how you want to define white. As in does white really exist when it comes to paint colors.

We're about to make that jump for our hallways, barring a last-minute change of heart by The Husband. We have a three-story townhouse and planned to paint all three floors of hallway this lovely BM gray called Oystershell. Swatches were fine, large samples on the walls were fine, overall effect is sad and dreary, and the gray casts blue on one floor and green on another. Our backup color scheme is much more dynamic (dark brown walls, white ceiling, red doors) but DH is balking. We've tried a yellow and a green too, and it's not working. Our backup backup is BM Super White semi-gloss everywere, and that's the way it's probably going to shake out. We did Super White semi-gloss in another room where no color worked well and it's wonderful. If we end up with white halls, it will be a combination of choice and default option, but either way I think we'll be happy.

Absolutely. I like white walls and I have heavily beamed ceilings, so white seems like the natural choice for me.

I don't like the shade of builders white the POs used - as paint_chips said so well "The problem with white walls isn't the white, but that everywhere light isn't, it turns to a shadow gray." I'm on an endless search for the perfect warm white - which may well turn out to be beige/cream/gold.

White is not as simple as it may sound.

I have a great off-white in my living room, dining room, kitchen, baths and hallways. It's not in the current BM color list, but they still have the formula. It goes with just about everything -- strong colors, pastel colors, and it's not dreary. Many years ago, a decorator picked it out for me, and much as I didn't like anything else he did, he was right on the money on this one. It's called OW-7.

I like the concept of white white walls in a cottage or loft, but I would never be able to do it. There are too many great colors out there.

In answer to the OP, yes. And I did. I'm really glad I looked at, considered and tested so many other colors. It made the decision to go with white (or a form of white) something I understood better. It's not that I don't love color...it's just that I prefer something light and neutral as my default background. It took me a couple of months of going in circles to realize it was what I preferred. I'd browse through magazines and always gravitated to the warm ivory walls. I'm much happier that I acknowledged what I prefer in my home, as opposed to trying to emulate what someone else prefers. Ain't it great that we're all different?!!!

I don't think going to "White" makes things any easier personally. There are just as many whites to choose from as any other color last time I checked, and the subtle differences in whites make it just as tricky to get white "right" if not moreso. Do you just match your trim color? If not, how far off do you want to go to get the right "pop"? White can lean toward many other tones and IMO the wrong white can look more "wrong" than a lot of other mistakes can.
A lot of paint manufacturers use the word "white" when naming colors that are quite clearly NOT "white", too-anybody ever confuse BM's Navajo White for "white"? Not me.