Why BEHR Whisper White is my favorite white paint color
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Looking for the perfect white paint color that looks fresh, clean, but not too stark? Here’s why BEHR Whisper White is my ultimate favourite white paint colour for my home.
I’ve been searching for many years for the perfect white paint color. I love a white that doesn’t look too yellow or too blue, but one that still has some depth. Something that’s not stark, but something that still looks clearly WHITE is my favourite look.
Enter BEHR Whisper White (Behr HDC-MD-08). When looking at this white paint color on BEHR’s website, you’ll see it looks creamy with a warm undertone compared to the stark white of the background:
It certainly does have slightly cream / beige undertones, and it’s on the warmer side of the white spectrum. However, when this paint is up on a wall in most lights it reads WHITE and not CREAM. It has a high LRV (light reflectance value), so it’s nice and bright – a great choice for smaller spaces!
As an interior decorator always on the lookout for the best white paints, this is one that I’d recommend for almost any sort of space.
Here’s Whisper White in indoor lighting:
Here’s the color in natural lighting:
Our home’s trim is all Whisper White:
I think this white colour is light enough to pair as a trim color with most lighter or warm white wall colours and still offer some contrast. Use it as a trim colour or even a ceiling colour. You could even pair it with other whites like Behr Swiss Coffee. See more of my favourite white paint colours here.
Behr Whisper white would also be a good choice for home exteriors. You could use it on the trim, or use it as an exterior paint for wooden siding for a fresh & classic look.
Which type of Behr paint is best?
If you want to give Simply White a try, I recommend buying it in Behr Dynasty. This product is Behr’s most expensive paint, but it’s also going to give you the best durability and coverage (they advertise a one-coat hide on certain colors) when painting your interior walls. Behr Marquee is the next product down, and I’ve also had good success with this one.
For interior walls, I always recommend an eggshell sheen. You could also use a flat sheen on walls for a more contemporary look, though it can be harder to clean. I wouldn’t use a flat sheen in higher use rooms like hallways and kids’ rooms. For trim and doors, a satin or semi-gloss sheen is best because it’s easy to clean, more durable and requires minimal touch-ups.
VS Benjamin Moore Simply White
I used to be a huge fan of Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. I still like this paint colour too, but I do find that it reads a little too yellow / green since finding Whisper White. If you compare the two, Simply White looks almost Ivory with a green undertone.
Here’s Simply White on the board & batten and window casings in our breakfast nook. You can certainly see the similarities, but it’s not quite as pure of a white color as I’d like.
The above is Whisper White used on our hallway trim work and an IKEA shoe storage hack I painted. It looks bright and fresh, and it still has contrast compared to the colour on the upper part of the wall (Valspar Seashell Grey). I used a satin sheen on this trim & storage so that any dirt and grime was easy to wipe away in this hallway.
Behr Whisper White FAQ
This colour has slight beige (brown & cream) undertones and it’s on the slightly warmer side of the spectrum.
I don’t find this colour to look yellow at all. It’s quite a bright white with no yellow undertones. It looks more pure white than off-white when it’s on a wall, but it still has a bit of warmth from the beige undertones.
Behr Polar Bear is another popular white paint colour. In comparison, Whisper White looks slightly warmer than Polar Bear.
This colour has an LRV (light reflective value) of 89 making it a bright white. Behr’s brightest white, Ultra Pure White, has an LRV of 94 in comparison. The later is an almost pure white color.
I’ve used a lot of different shades of Behr white paints. Click here to see my other favourites that I’ve used!
I find this paint calculator to be a handy tool when I’m determining how much paint to purchase. You can enter your room size to see how much paint you’ll need.
The Best White Paint Colour
BEHR Whisper White is, in my opinion, the BEST white paint color for anyone looking for a white that’s fresh, clean, but slightly warm. It’s more complex than a neutral white paint color like BEHR Ultra Pure White, but it’s cleaner than a colour like Benjamin Moore Simply White.
It’s the perfect choice for anyone that wants a white wall in their home that’s not too stark or cool. With it’s high LRV, it will help make your space feel brighter and larger.
I’ve been slowly painting every single speck of trim in our home Whisper White and it’s been a ton of work, but it’s SO worth it!
Now tell me: What’s YOUR ultimate favourite white paint colour?
Click here to learn more about ALL the paint colours in our home
More Favourite Behr Colours
I used a few of my favourite Behr paint colors in our Little Lake House renovation including a gorgeous warm blue called Observatory. Click here to see them all!
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Your home is so beautiful. What is the colour of the aqua paint in your dining room?
It’s Distant Valley by Valspar! You can find all of her paint colours here: https://thediymommy.com/our-diy-house-modern-farmhouse-paint-colors/
Many thanks for this review of Whisper White – you just made my decision on white paint a lot easier
Is this still your favorite white? I read and reread about white paint. I want as clean a white as possible with the highest LRV but don’t want it looking grey, blue, pink or purple in different lights. I’m in an RV and at the moment my widow light is Northeast in the morning and southwest in the afternoon. I’ve been looking at BM Chantilly Lace, SW Pure White and High Reflective White, and Behr Ultra White. I don’t want orange walls when the sun or warm indoor light hits it. I’m going to stick to cool pops of colors but going mostly white in the RV. Any suggestions you have are greatly appreciated.I love Whisper White in your spaces, btw. Do you use warm or cool indoor lighting?
I have a dark hallway. Was thinking of trying whispering white to brighten it up.
We just used Whisper White to paint an entire house. It holds up well in all lights and exposures. For reference, we live in MA and needed a clean, bright white to put a house on the market in January. This color has depth and presence.
I came here to make this same statement. I had Designer White by Pratt and Lambert in my dining room and every white I tried to match it had a gray or yellow (even though it said no undertones) Well Home Depot matched it perfectly with Whisper White. It kind of glows it never looks stark or dingy or anything off in any kind of light or season, I love it
What is the color on the wall of the entry console?
Behr Whisper White
I’m looking to paint my walls whisper white and ceilings and baseboards in chantilly lace any thoughts on pairing the two?
Thank you so much for your review of this color! After countless hours of debating over Simply White, your review helped me to decide. Whisper White is a soft white but not one that stands in the background. It’s bright and soft with no yellow undertone. Absolutely perfect!!!!
Made my mind up on this color thank you sounds good I’ve been cycling through so many colors from gray to no white I’ve spent around 400 dollars on paint in three years which is ridiculous but I have a mental health issue and can’t make make my mind up going back to the white hopefully this is is it thanks
hi, how does behr whisper white compare to nippon whispering white when painted?
I am not familiar with Nippon paints.
I am painting my entire house in whisper white – open floor concept so it will look different in every room. I will have white cabinets in the kitchen – will whisper white look ok with ultra pure white cabinets and baseboards?
Ultra Pure White is Christina’s favourite white paint for trim work and cabinetry. Ultra Pure White contrasts beautifully. You can read more about whites here: https://thediymommy.com/the-best-behr-white-paint-colours-tips-for-choosing-one/