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Why Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 is So Popular And What Colors Look Good With It

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 is the most popular paint color from any of their collections. It’s a favorite of designers and painters and we’ll talk about why it is in today’s post.

White Dove color sample on white background

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 Coordinating Colors and Review

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navy blue chair and ottoman in living room with white dove walls

Why is White Dove so Popular?

If you’ve ever tried to pick a white paint color, then you know how difficult it can be. There are dozens of varieties of warm and cool whites and it’s tough to know which one is right. White Dove hits right in the middle of those warm and cool whites and is versatile enough that it will work with most any color. It’s the most sampled, best selling paint color from Benjamin Moore.

It’s usually a safe bet if you want an almost white color that you don’t have to worry about clashing with decor, art, or other existing colors. I’ve used it throughout my own home on trim, and also on the walls in three rooms.

Benjamin Moore White Dove Office Craft Room with black chair

My studio/office/craft room walls and shelves are all White Dove. The lower cabinets are Olympic Mountains 971. Floor is Pashmina AF-100 with a painted, stenciled area rug on top of that.

What are the undertones of White Dove?

White Dove has a balanced mix of a few drops of oxide yellow, black, and red oxide colorants that are added to a white tint base. When these are all combined it makes an almost white paint color with soft neutral undertones.

Is White Dove cool or warm?

White Dove has neutral undertones but can sometimes lean warm or cool, depending on your lighting situation. If you have a room that gets lots of afternoon sunlight (lucky you!), it can look warmer. And if your room faces north and doesn’t get much sunlight at all, it could take on a cooler appearance.

Light bulbs have a similar effect on White Dove and most all other colors. You’d be amazed what a difference the simple act of changing out your light bulbs can have on the appearance of colors, especially whites.

Best Places to use White Dove?

Any surface and room can be painted with this best-selling color. These are some popular areas to use White Dove:

  • Baseboards
  • Window and door trim
  • Cabinets in kitchens and laundry rooms
  • Bathroom vanities
  • Built-in bookcases
  • Fireplace mantels
  • And of course walls and ceilings

It’s suitable for a bedroom, kitchen, entry, hallway, laundry room, bathroom, living room, or dining room. Exterior siding and trim could also be painted with White Dove.

Where not to use White Dove

There’s honestly no place that’s a wrong choice for this color, but existing design elements might make a different white a better choice. What exactly does that mean? Let’s say you have a counter that has gray undertones. Even though White Dove is considered to be a neutral, it can look a bit creamy next to light grays or stark white. It’s not recommended next to those colors. Use a cooler white instead.

What colors go with White Dove?

White Dove is one of those versatile colors that works with just about anything you put with it. Other than light grays, it looks nice with many colors including blues, greens, taupes, browns, beige, tan, rose, and wine.

Below are a couple of pre-made color palettes I’ve curated and am currently offering in my shop. No need to waste gas or time running back and forth to the paint store. It’s all done for you and is a fraction of the cost I normally charge for a color consultation.

White Dove Color Palettes

You can see how well White Dove works with both cool and warm colors. Each palette has recommended trim colors as well as medium and deep tone accent colors. All of the colors in each palette are interchangeable and can be mixed together many different ways.

Benjamin Moore White Dove Warm Color Palette on white background

Benjamin Moore White Dove Warm Color Palette

What are the best trim colors to use with White Dove?

Many people like to use White Dove for both walls and trim. It’s a clean, unfussy look that doesn’t compete with any furniture, artwork, or decor.

I would recommend using a satin or semi-gloss on the trim and matte or eggshell finish on the walls. You’ll get a subtle contrast that’s timeless and beautiful.

For more of a contrasting trim color, there are several options that work well with White Dove. Use a neutral that’s at least a couple of shades darker like Pale Oak. Six recommendations are found in the above color palettes, in addition to mini color palettes and much more.

See it in your space

Because paint colors can vary so much in how they look, it’s strongly recommended to test them in your space. I personally use and recommend Samplize peel and stick paint samples because they’re so darn easy to use. They arrive quickly, are repositionable, and are painted with two coats of real paint.

Try a Sample

They only way to truly know how a paint color will look in your space is with a sample. My favorite way to test colors is with Samplize peel and stick samples. Here’s why:

  • Repositionable
  • Large size 9″ x 15″ (some larger)
  • Arrives in one to two business days
  • No mess or clean up
  • Painted with two coats of real paint
samplize peel and stick paint samples on marbled background

Final Thoughts About Benjamin Moore White Dove

I’m a big fan of this color and as I stated earlier, I have it throughout my own home. I’ve also recommended it confidently many times over the past 25 years. It’s a versatile almost white color that goes with just about everything and can be use almost anywhere. No need to convince me! What are your thoughts? Have you used this best selling color anywhere?

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