Hello, friends!
I am here today to talk about white paint options when painting the exterior of your home! Because… we are painting the exterior of our home! And the real kicker here is that a good portion of our exterior is brick, and while I know this can be quite the controversial topic as not everyone agrees with painting brick, I am a firm believer in doing what you love. So, for those of you who aren’t really fans, totally okay! Don’t paint your brick. 😉
Because…. we are painting ours! AHH! I am still trying to wrap my head around what exactly it will look like, as I am a very visual learner, but after thinking about it for FOUR years, we think we are finally ready. So, now I am on the hunt for the perfect white.
I know, sounds crazy, right?! But there really are SO many shades of white that choosing one blindly is just not a good idea and should be explored and tested on the desired area before painting.
Whites can vary from creamy to bright, to gray to green, and all in-between. So, today I am sharing the white options I have scoured the internet for that I would like to test on our brick before choosing the right one for our home.
Sherwin Williams- Moderne White
Benjamin Moore – Simply White
Benjamin Moore – White Dove
by Home Bunch
Sherwin Williams – Alabaster
by Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle
Benjamin Moore – China White
by Studio McGee
Benjamin Moore – Super White
by Home Bunch
Sherwin Williams – Pure White
Sherwin Williams – Snowbound
Sherwin Williams- Oyster White
by Willow Homes
Benjamin Moore – Swiss Coffee
by Home Bunch
I think it helps to look at all variations of white when deciding on your favorite color, and I hope this post helps guide you toward which color you like best. And of course, each color may look different on your home than it does in the photo, so always test for yourself first!
This is our house currently, and I am on the hunt for the perfect white for our home! Which one is your favorite?
Oh my gosh! I can’t tell the difference on any of these…except maybe Swiss Coffee. And I do like a slightly off-white over a brilliant white.
I have designer friends who can tell the slightest difference!
hahaha! Kristin, you cracked me up! I know, it is so hard to tell, but I think like some of your friends, I can see the differences!
What color did u use?
I love white dove! We have it in a few rooms in our house!
Have you ever tried taking that color outside?! I am curious! There are so many choices! AH!
There is something about a white exterior that is so clean and crisp looking. I love the contrast of the white hue against the brick home in the last photo.
Yes, I am so with you! I am going to keep a small portion of our home the natural brick. So pretty!
Hi Shannon! I love painted brick – German Schmear or solid painted – I like it all! My first home with my husband was bright white with a forest green metal roof and trim. Honestly, in the winter the house looked dirty next to the bright white snow. And for that reason I would choose a creamier white, personally, next time. As a funny coincidence our townhome in Iowa, where Delanie lives and attends college, has the Sherwin Williams Snowbound as its interior trim paired with their Loggia (tanish taupe). Both are great colors-warm and easy to decorate with. So, I think I like Swiss Coffee, then Oyster White then Snowbound. I’m curious too about what you’re thinking for your shutters? Or are you thinking two tones of white? Can’t wait to see what you choose! I LOVE your style!!!
Hi Tami!
Gosh, I so appreciate this message! We are definitely leaning toward a creamier white. We like the warm feel and we don’t want to be blinded by the white when it’s in the sun. And we are going to paint the shutters black! Thank you so much for your kind words! So, so kind!
Swiss coffee mixed 50/50 with simply white
The Fox Group often uses a 50/50 mix of Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee and White Dove. It’s lovely! I am testing that one and Oyster White and White Duck by Sherwin Williams. I like all three which is the problem. I like Oyster White and White Duck in full sun and the White Dove/Swiss Coffee mix on those cloudy, overcast days. Such a pickle!
I like White Dove. Looks softer. I’m painting my patio overhang, wood slats and a couple of columns and the painter is coming today for THE color decision. Your website helped a lot, thank you. I had chosen White Dove yesterday after looking at other sites but am now sure it’s the best color. I’m in Southern Calif and it is sunny ALL the time 😉 so I was looking for a a white that wouldn’t be glaring in the hot sun. White Dove, I think, is it.
What color will you use with White Dove?
Hi LivingwithLady,
I have a brown roof and thought the super white would work, can you help me out on this? I’m trying to pick a white color for my brown roof and a grey trim.
What color is the door in the very first picture? It looks greenish/gray or mint.
Love the Swiss coffee.
What’s the best choice for type of paint on brick?
Satin or flat?
I used BM Simply White for my entire interior. I used it in my last residence so much that I stayed with it in the new place. What I love about it is that it’s white but not stark. It feels fresh and inviting every time I look at it.
I’m also in the process of trying to select a nice off-white to use on a brick accent section at my front entryway. I love BM colors; some of the options I’m considering are White Dove, Swiss Coffee, and American White.
Swiss coffee.
It is really best to stain your brick exteriors. You can get a color match solid stain in your favorite color and have your home stained instead of using paint. Paint seals the Brick and you can end up with issues with water/drainage and bubbling/peeling hereby creating a maintenance issue for yourself and any future buyers of your home. Stain is 100% the way to go if you want to change your Brick exterior color!
Hi, It is so nice to find all this comments about what white to choose. My boyfriend and I are remodeling a Spanish house and we are trying to pick a white then trim color for windows. I don’t like to yellow or cream but also pure white will be maybe too white specially with sun. I will like a fresh crisp look outside , more Mediterranean that what they call Spanish. Suggestions?
Our house is a speckled brown brick. (My husband used to be in the brick business and I hate our home’s brick color-not my choice we bought an existing house!) We fell in love with the interior of our house ……but whenever I drive up the driveway I cringe! Any ideas are welcome. Our house is still on realtor.com or zillow 102 Douglas Drive, Seven Lakes, NC (We have a beautiful view on a wonderful private boating lake near the charming village of Pinehurst, NC.) I would LOVE to paint the brick but have investigated how it doesn’t allow the brick to breathe. I have found a company in Charlotte that manufactures and sells brick stain. I know the exterior of our house has potential ……I just can’t put it all together.
Make sure you use a brick paint. NOT latex. I have done research and have talked with brick manufacturers. Latex can cause brick damage and they do not recommend. A product called “Romabio” is now available and can be color matched. I purchased it from my local Benjamin Moore store and just used one of their standard whites. Acme brick sells Romabio
You can watch YouTube videos. This is a relatively new product in the US. Home Depot carries it on their website. Hope this helps. 11/23/20
Love the white. Which one did you finally choose?
Thank you for this, Shannon! Trying to decide on which white to paint our new house and this is super helpful! Can’t wait to peruse your blog!
I would love more information about the home above by Duchess of York, white house with blue roof and blue shutters, front porch with 5 columns.
Or, is it a gray roof with gray shutters?
Please help?
Hi Any idea what the trim color is with the Oyster White home?
I have sent numerous emails to different sites that have shown the home featured in Atlanta Homes Lifestyle.
We are in the process of completely redoing our home and love everything about this home.
We know the paint color is Alabaster. But, we have a metal roof and are trying to come up with a mid tone gray that would not be too dark for the roof. And we would love to know the shutters and door color.
Do you have any way of leading us in the right direction?
We live on the river in Mobile AL and do not want beachy nor do we want modern.
Your help would be most greatly appreciated.