Believe it or not, you can’t just choose “plain white” from the hardware store, go home, slap it on your walls, and call it a day. There are a ton of different whites to choose from, and depending on your living room lighting and decor, the paint you want can look more yellow despite what it says on the label. White interior paint can have various shades and undertones, which can look different than in the can once it’s on the wall.
Depending on the aesthetics and style of your space, you want to choose the right white to go with your room and style. So, how do you choose?
Before committing to a bulk purchase of a single color, grab a couple of samples of different shades and test them in your room. Paint large swatches and see how they look both during the day in natural light as well as at night when the lamps are on. You’d be surprised that a color you thought was white in the store actually looks bright yellow once it hits the walls of your room!
To help you narrow down which paint options to test in your space, we’ve listed 25 of our favorite white paint colors for living rooms. Each one describes the undertones and the room style for which they might work. Choose your favorites, get a few samples, and test them out to see which you like best before deciding on your white living room ideas!
Related: Gray Paint Options Living Room | Blue Paint Options Living Room | Red Paint Options Living Room
Nebulous White (SW 7063)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
With a slightly warm hue, the Nebulous White from Sherwin Williams will compliment your interior design if you want to keep a warm, neutral color palette. It coordinates well with bright white accents or warm neutral cream and soft sage textiles and furniture to create an inviting and comfortable space in your home.
You may also like white paint option’s primary bathroom for more ideas.
Rock Candy (SW 6231)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
A cooler white may be just what you need if you want to create a space that accents deep grays and blues. Keep it bright with light grey furniture and accent with navy pillows to bring the space together. This is a great color to choose if you love that nautical feel without going into the bright white category that can throw your room off.
White Flour (SW 7102)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Verging on a cream, White Flour by Sherwin Williams is a unique neutral wall color you can dress up any way you’d like. With orange undertones, it matches well with tan and coffee-colored trim or accents, bringing a cozy feel to your living room. This is a great option if you have a fireplace because it will reflect the warmth even without turning it on!
Looking for bathroom paint inspiration? Check out white paint options primary bedroom.
Snowbound (SW 7004)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
With warmer grays and deep purples, Snowbound by Sherwin Williams will make your living room pop! I love the warmer feel of this color because it mixes a cooler red undertone that looks great with mauves and dark hardwood floors. For a modern feel, paint a coordinating purple-gray on an accent wall!
You may also like beige paint options living room.
High Reflective White (SW 7757)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
I love how crisp this white is without being sterile. With a slightly yellow undertone, you don’t even notice that it’s not pure white until you put a piece of paper against the wall. It’s the perfect color to paint your living room for a contemporary feel and matches great with solid oak floors!
The warm undertones match great with deep browns and lush sage accents without feeling too closed in.
Glimmer (SW 6476)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Painting your living room white doesn’t have to be boring. Glimmer by Sherwin Williams keeps it interesting with a watered-down teal undertone that will look fantastic in your beach bungalow! Bring in pops of aqua a bright, pure white rug, and you’ll feel like you’re at the beach right in your living room!
Arcade White (SW 7100)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
If you want a more traditional take on your white paint colors for your living room, Arcade White by Sherwin Williams is the color for you. It feels like a cup of milk with a dash of coffee, creating an inviting and warm space for relaxing. Whether you prefer a cozy, shabby chic aesthetic or a traditional, vintage vibe in your room, this color looks terrific with hardwood floors, wrought-iron fixtures, and oversized, cozy furniture!
First Star (SW 7647)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Keep it cool with a cool gray-toned white in First Star by Sherwin Williams. You can bring your contemporary space to life with this color. Not too bright, but not dull either, this color choice is perfect with industrialized accents and styling.
Add a sleek dark grey couch with an attractive silhouette and a glass coffee table, and keep accents minimal to give your space a modern flair.
Nice White (SW 6063)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
If you lean towards a more warm color palette and aesthetic and feel like stark white is too clinical for your home, Nice White by Sherwin Williams is the warm cream to make your living room a cozy retreat. Keep your trim natural or stain to a deep, rich oak to keep your space comfortable. Adding an overstuffed leather couch or chair in a rich brown will transform your room into a cozy den, ready for a good book and a fire!
Snow Fall (W-F-600)
Source: Behr
Not too dark and not too bright, Snow Fall by Behr is the perfect white for your living room if you’re looking for a color that goes with everything. It’s a true neutral you can play with and do anything to your space. If you constantly like to change your style and redecorate based on your mood, Snow Fall will go with any style, color, or accent you want.
Whether you’re hoping for a playful space with a rainbow of color pops or want to mix and match patterns as you please, this is the perfect color to go with any mood you’re in.
Planning to paint your basement with a white color? Check out white paint options basement.
Frost (57)
Source: Behr
It’s no surprise that Frost is among the most popular whites available today. This classic white is the best neutral living room color option. It’s similar to Snow Fall but slightly more on the cooler side of the scale without being overly sterile.
This color is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily upgrade your home decor without redoing the entire space. Keep all your furniture and accents as-is, and add a fresh coat of Frost. It’ll be like a whole new space without much effort at all!
Silky White (PPU7-12)
Source: Behr
With a slightly green undertone, Silky White by Behr is a great choice for a cooler white that goes great with various grays and greens. If your living room gets a lot of light during the day and is home to your indoor plants, this color is a great way to make those greens pop and make them the focal point of your space. Silky White also looks great with pewter gray accents, which elevate your room to give it a modern feel.
Searching for a paint color for your guest bedroom? Check out white paint options guest bedroom.
Ivory Palace (PPU10-14)
Source: Behr
Give your living room a makeover that imbues serenity and elegance with Ivory Palace by Behr. If your room has an intense natural light, adding this to your walls will elevate your space and allow you to accent with various colors, from neutrals up to deep hues of purple and red. Whether you’re outfitting a beach home or a loft, Ivory Palace is a great choice to add a touch of sophistication to your space.
Winds Breath (GR-W06)
Source: Behr
If you take a classic white and add a hint of gray, you get Winds Breath by Behr. Add this grayish white to your living room walls for a true neutral that will go with any color accents you have. If your room gets a ton of natural light, this color will tone it down, so you don’t have to wear sunglasses when you enter.
It pairs well with various color palettes, from pastels and other neutrals to even bold color options like navy or plum.
Melodic White (PR-W03)
Source: Behr
I’m not going to lie. I’m a sucker for pink. I’d paint my entire house pink if I could have my way. Unfortunately, I don’t live in a Candy Land; my family would probably disown me.
Fortunately, with color choices like Melodic White, I can sneak my pink-fixation into my living room! The soft pink undertones of this color evoke a sense of whimsy while keeping it classy at the same time.
I love how it brightens up my space during the day, especially in the summer, with the windows open and my sheer curtains blowing gently in the breeze. Even if you’re not a fan of pink, Melodic White is the perfect color to brighten up and create a breezy summer feeling in your home year-round.
Mystical Mist (PR-W01)
Source: Behr
Mystical Mist is a purplish-toned white that can elevate your space to feel elegant and inspire opulence. This color goes great with broad jeweled-toned accents and gives a space for a royal feel. I love this in a bohemian-inspired white living room, with intricately patterned floor pillows and rich amethyst accents throughout.
Mystical Mist looks great with a bold, jewel-tone palette, or you can keep it simple and light with pastels. It’s a very flexible color that can brighten your space while still making it feel cozy.
Sweet Roses (PR-W05)
Source: Behr
One of the best things I love about the variety of white paint you can choose from is how it can change in the light, depending on the undertones and subtle color differences. With Sweet Roses by Behr, you get a subtle splash of blush pink when the light hits it just right. It adds dimension and warmth to your room while not taking too much attention away from the pieces within it.
I love how the room looks warm and cozy first thing in the morning, but as the sun starts to set and the light changes, the pinks start to blossom. It’s like the entire color scheme of your room changes as you move throughout your day!
Cotton Balls (2145-70)
Source: Benjamin Moore
For a soft and muted white for your living room, Cotton Balls by Benjamin Moore is a great choice! This slightly warm shade looks with all shades of gray for a modern feel. It keeps the room warm with natural light and will give you a soft glow in the evening, enhancing warm gray accents throughout your space.
Because Cotton Balls is a warmer neutral shade of gray, it looks fabulous in this room and will create a comfortable space for you to entertain guests.
White Dove (OC-17)
Source: Benjamin Moore
With a slight tint of grey, White Dove by Benjamin Moor is the perfect white for your living room to keep it from feeling cold and stark. Its slightly warm shade strikes the fine line between feeling too sterile and not too warm that it goes yellow in natural light. This is a popular paint color for various rooms in your home, but it’ll be the best neutral in your living room to keep it cozy while maintaining a fresh vibe.
Decorator’s White (OC-149)
Source: Benjamin Moore
A quintessential off-white for your home, Decorator’s White is the go-to color for the interior designer who wants to create a versatile space that emphasizes the accents more than the color of your room. With a slightly cool undertone and a little gray, it’s a soft neutral that combines warm and cool color palettes. Decorator’s White looks excellent if you want to paint your woodwork accents in any shade of grey for a contemporary vibe.
Because it’s such a neutral, keeping all accents within the same color family would be best. Choose a variety of grays, blues, or cooler purples to bring out the undertones of the color, or go in the opposite direction and choose coral and orange accents to draw attention to your decor.
Chantilly Lace (OC-65)
Source: Benjamin Moore
If you’re looking for a crisp white, you can’t go wrong with the best-selling Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. The classic white tones will bring a sense of timelessness to your room. It’s a traditional white color that goes with any color palette.
Whether you want to keep your room decor in neutral colors like steel gray, black, and white or play with color and patterns in your rugs and furniture, Chantilly Lace is the perfect accent to any style choice for your living room.
Paper White (OC-55)
Source: Benjamin Moore
With a mixture of blue, green, and gray tones, Paper White by Benjamin Moore is a creamy, cool white for your home. When you paint your living room with this color, you’ll create a fresh slate that is well-diffused and pairs well with accents on the cooler end of the spectrum. Because the undertones are blue, green, and gray, keep furniture and accents in these color families to create a cohesive and modern living room to welcome your guests into.
Looking for a paintbrush for your next painting project? Try these types of paint brushes.
Simply White (OC-117)
Source: Benjamin Moore
For a slightly warm with a yellow undertone white, Simply White will add life to your space without adding too much color. It’s a great choice for a bright white look without feeling too sterile. You should note, however, if your living space gets a lot of warm sunlight, you may notice that it becomes more of a yellow-white.
To offset this, use it with your living room ideas if you have cooler tones for accents and decor or don’t get a lot of natural sunlight. Of course, this is an excellent option if you enjoy a yellowish-white. It will brighten a room with light, warm hardwood floors, and a soft, creamy feel.
White Opulence (879)
Source: Benjamin Moore
With gentle pink and orange undertones, White Opulence by Benjamin Moore is the perfect selection for a beachy-themed cottage living room. It’s gentle, super pale pink undertones that come out of hiding if the light hits it just right. It creates a warm feel to your room while also keeping it light and fresh.
White Opulence can make your room feel modern and bright without being overly stark. Dress it up with warm hardwoods to bring out the pink, or keep it at bay with cooler neutrals throughout the room.
Looking for more ideas? Check out white paint options for the dining room
Venetian Marble (2114-70)
Source: Benjamin Moore
A lot is happening in Venetian Marble by Benjamin Moore, but that’s not bad! Painting your living room with this color will create a luminescent vibe, where the color almost seems to change with the light.
Depending on how you style your room and how much light you let in, you can pull out the palest shades of lavender, gray, or even a slight pink glow. It’s a versatile white where you can sneak in some playful colors while keeping your home decor clean without feeling clinical.
Related: White Bedroom Paint Options | Small White Dining Room Ideas | White Bathroom Ideas | Kitchens with White Appliances
