@d_gw then what do ppl mean when they say cloud white/white dove is an universal donor that goes with anything?

in a word? No. but it also depends on what colors you pick. I have no idea what your 'planned palette' looks like so I can't tell you whether or not those whites would work.

NO. Nothing whiter than Ben Moore Simply White. Or see you back HERE

@Beth My palette would look like something like this:

@JAN Sorry, I don't quite get what you said. Did you mean "nothing warmer than Simply White" for the trims?

However, I don't really dig the bright/clean white look for doors and trims. Do you think I could get away with warmer whites like BM's Cotton Balls

If Cotton Balls fits your expectation of what a "warmer white" looks like, then you should be fine using it for doors and trim with the other items you consider cooler.

I’ve been wondering something similar - I feel like super-modern bright white looks odd on old (80 yrs) trim, but I generally prefer cooler tones. I’ve just been not thinking about it atm because I have horrible mental images of the trim looking yellow.

@lori with the hint of yellow, it looks more warm than cool to me. So I guess I'm safe then :)

I’ve been wondering something similar - I feel like super-modern bright white looks odd on old (80 yrs) trim..... I’ve just been not thinking about it atm because I have horrible mental images of the trim looking yellow.

80 years ago paint had lead and was oil based. I loathe white oil based paints because it yellows; I lived in a house bathed in it. Never again.

And I agree, an older home does not wear bright, white trim/doors very well.

The trim here seems to have been painted recently-ish, but is a horrible cream yellow-y color. There is something about it that looks perpetually unclean to me. However due to the high chance of lead paint (I doubt anyone stripped it, it looks like it has just been layered in paint) I want to pay a pro to strip and repair, so it isn’t high on the to do list.

The reason I suggested "Simply White" is because it is just that. It's snowy clean. We see color, white as well, by comparison. SW has replaced my old favorite custom "Jan mix", which was to combine 2/3 BM Decorator White, with 1/3 BM Linen White. My custom formula was so clean and non yellow, non gray....... a local cabinet company used it, and it became the number one selling cabinet white. Not icy, not warm, just CLEAN and fresh.

I "get" what the op is asking. But Simply White does what the rest seem unable to do. And that is work and play very nice with virtually ANY wall color., warm or cool, Much like my now abandoned "custom" mix. Thank you Benjamin Moore.

My trim and doors are White Dove and I have cooler colors in many of the bedrooms. It works because my house is southern facing and we get a lot of natural sunlight throughout the year. We also have sufficient lighting and the warmer White Dove looks fine in rooms where we have pale grayish blues, a light blue, and a gray bathroom. When choosing White Dove, I bought a short baseboard from the store, cut it into 4 sections, and compared 4 of the popular BM whites (Decorators, Chantilly, Cloud, White Dove). White Dove just looked the best in the most places especially because we have pale maple floor on our main level.

Champcamp has a great idea.

Buy a trim paint it sample color

Place around home to see what you like beforehand.

If you look at color wheel the opposites (ie. Yellow-purple, orange-blue, red-green etc.) are aka "complementary" colors. which mean they look especially pleasing together. The warm color livens up the cool one, and vice versa.

So for that reason white with a tiny teench of warmth in the white looks great with cool colors because you have this contrast going on.

So not only OK, but ideal IMHO. If its a gray youd want to determine if its a blue gray, or one thats more green or purple or whatever and then look for a white that corresponds with that (and of course buy samples).

I have never heard that white dove is a universal donor. It isn’t, for sure.

In the wrong natural light, white dove goes gray and dirty looking. So, don’t use in a North facing room.

As for the right white for your home, what cool colors have you chosen?

I would also vouch for BM Simply White. It won't interfere with whatever other colors are going on in your room.

Brb, buying sample pot of Simply White.