Colorplan

Best White Paint Colors for North-Facing Rooms

The best whites for a north-facing room have a warm (yellow or red) undertone and an LRV of about 78 to 90. North light is cool and even, so crisp or blue-leaning whites tend to look gray there, while warm whites stay soft. Good places to start: Alabaster (Sherwin-Williams), Greek Villa (Sherwin-Williams), Pointing (Farrow & Ball).

How we picked: White colors with a warm undertone and an LRV between 78 and 92, from all four brands. Widely used colors come first. Values are from published color data, so check a sample on your own wall before buying.

1. 1. Sherwin-Williams · SW 7008AlabasterLRV 83. Alabaster's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
2. 2. Sherwin-Williams · SW 7551Greek VillaLRV 80. Greek Villa's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
3. 3. Farrow & Ball · No.2003PointingLRV 86. Pointing's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
4. 4. Benjamin Moore · OC-73OpalLRV 85. Opal's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
5. 5. Benjamin Moore · OC-90Vanilla Ice CreamLRV 85. Vanilla Ice Cream's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
6. 6. Benjamin Moore · OC-115Cream SilkLRV 85. Cream Silk's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
7. 7. Benjamin Moore · OC-86White BlushLRV 86. White Blush's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
8. 8. Farrow & Ball · No.2004Slipper SatinLRV 82. Slipper Satin's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
9. 9. Sherwin-Williams · SW 7001MarshmallowLRV 81. Marshmallow's warm undertone keeps it soft rather than gray in north light, which makes it a good white for north rooms.
10. 10. Behr · PPU5-11Milk WhiteLRV 76. Milk White's warmth balances the cool north light, which is why warmer colors are the safe pick for north rooms.