We are constantly polling interior designers on their favorite white paint, because we know that with every project they tackle, they’re bound to try something new and change their mind. Sure, there are some pros that swear by the classics (Chantilly Lace, Alabaster, Simply White, etc.), but there are others who are often looking for a specific shade for a very specific room. Finding the right white paint for the walls of a narrow, north-facing prewar apartment, for instance, isn’t as straightforward as you’d think.
So we recently asked three experts: What’s your go-to white paint right now? To our surprise, two of them happen to love swatches with cool gray undertones, and one of them swears by a time-tested swatch.
Salt ($146 per gallon)
Farrow & Ball
I am partial to Farrow & Ball (I just love the curated palette). Its Salt is one of my favorite colors right now. It’s crisp with chalky gray undertones. —Annie Sullivan, designer and cofounder of Sullivan Matthews
Moonstone ($55 per gallon)
Backdrop
My go-to white paint color is Backdrop’s Moonstone. It is the perfect shade of greige, when you don’t want too much gray or beige, but still need more than just a typical off-white. You can see it used on the wainscoting, trim, and doors of my Descanso Project‘s entertainment room. —Grace Lee-Lim, designer and founder of Grace Lee-Lim Interiors + Design
Simply White ($57 per gallon)
Benjamin Moore
I love Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. It softens the edge on white walls and works well in a variety of home styles. From modern to transitional to California coastal, it’s a versatile soft white that isn’t too glaring. —Abbie Naber, designer and founder of A. Naber Design
