Home Stagers Which White Paint Would You Choose for Home Staging?

Home stagers, interior redesigners and color consultants are frequently asked to recommend the perfect white paint. After all there are hundreds of possibilities and most people can’t see the difference from one swatch to the next.

I personally find that when you put the paint swatches next to each other, it’s suddenly obvious which ones are more pink, green, yellow or blue. This is really helpful when you want the right white paint for trim or ceilings to complement the wall color, floors and other finishes in the room, as I had to do for a color consultation in a home under construction.

In this video, Interior Designer Kimberly Seldon shares her favorite 7 white paints from Benjamin Moore and why she likes each one. She’s not speaking for home stagers in particular, but I do think her recommendations are helpful for home staging projects too.

To recap, her top Benjamin Moore picks for white paint are:

Papier Mache (AF-25)
Cloud White (OC-130)
Chantilly Lace (OC-65)
Floral White (OC-29)
Ballet White (OC-9)
Ice Milk (CSP-1025)
Decorator White (OC-20)

Of these I definitely use Cloud White for trim and Decorator White for ceilings the most. If you’d like more color ideas for home staging, be sure to check out the Staging Diva Ultimate Color Guide: the easy way to pick colors for home staging projects. It covers:

When and how to discuss color in your home staging consultation
30 Tips to Choosing Colors for Home Staging
Different paint sheen levels and when to use them
What to do about ugly wallpaper
80 best colors for walls, ceiling, trim, doors, floors
15 Staging Diva Home Staging color palettes
Color recommendations include specific Benjamin Moore color names and numbers
How to use this information when buying any brand of paint
How to get your own Benjamin Moore Designer Kit
How to find local Benjamin Moore paint dealers

To be honest, color is one of my passions! Although I’m a big fan of neutrals for home staging, I’ve yet to paint an entire room white. I find it too boring and cold unless you’ve got stunning furniture and artwork (which rarely happens). That said, I do use many of the 7 shades Kimberley recommends for repainting trim, ceiling, doors, windows, cabinets and furniture.

What about you? What are your favorite whites and when do you use each one? Please share your comments below.

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®

Debra knows how to make money as a home stager and she developed the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program to teach others how to earn a living doing something they love. She is frequently profiled in the media for her home staging expertise and is the author of 5 guides for home stagers.

Comments

PlayfulDecor says

September 12, 2012 at 10:06 am

I like Delicate White – not sure which company originated it, HD or Lowe’s – I use it for walls and trim. Not sure about the undertones as compared to those in the video, would LOVE to have those large swatches!
- Debra Gould says
  
  September 12, 2012 at 3:08 pm
  
  Thanks for adding your fave white to the list! You can get large swatches directly from Benjamin Moore or at one of their retail dealers.
Trish Mohring says

September 16, 2012 at 11:05 am

I used to work for Benjamin Moore and the ultimate white is definitely Cloud White OC-130. It goes beautifully with everything. It has a touch of yellow in it which warms it up. Love this colour.
- Debra Gould says
  
  September 16, 2012 at 10:49 pm
  
  Thanks Trish, that’s one of my absolute favorites too!
Cathy Tarrant says

September 20, 2012 at 10:08 pm

Cloud White is my favorite hands down..
- Debra Gould says
  
  September 20, 2012 at 11:29 pm
  
  Thanks Cathy for weighing in!
Donna Richter says

November 15, 2012 at 10:44 pm

Great video. This is one question I have yet to be asked as an Interior Designer or Home Stager. I agree with you Debra on using neutrals for the staging. If I have to use a white, I like the colors you talked about along with Chantilly Lace. I guess I like this color for it soft undertone. I always take into consideration the other colors in the room and select the one with the undertone that matches or compliments those colors.
- Debra Gould says
  
  November 16, 2012 at 2:04 pm
  
  Hi Donna,
  Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with us! I agree with you on Chantilly Lace, I like that one too and in fact just recommended it last week for a staging consultation I was doing by phone for a client in New Jersey.
Annie Taft says

September 27, 2013 at 11:27 pm

Love your choices! We have gutted and rebuilt a 1960’s home (and given it a modern flare….with old country charm!) I have over 15 white samples and have Ballet White Hazelnut Glazed kitchen cabinets. I have been battling with White Dove or Ballet White as trim…and then discovered Paper Mache today! The home is sticking w BM neutrals (Revere Pewter…Manchester Tan…Moonshine…etc)….do you have a trim suggestion? We currently have Decorators White in modern home and want to move away from boldness of it!
- Debra Gould says
  
  September 30, 2013 at 3:26 pm
  
  Annie, I don’t like ballet white for trim, not bright enough. Prefer White Dove or Cloud White. Good luck with your home!

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