The Best White, Ivory and Cream Paint Colors

White, Ivory and Cream paint?  On an exterior? GROUNDBREAKING.  

To be honest with you, I struggled with writing this one. And that was before Pantone announced its color of the year. 

However, white, ivory, and cream are some of the most popular colors requested when I design custom exteriors. These colors are subtle, timeless, and classic, and they give an incredible foundation to any style, modern or traditional. 

But White (and Ivory and Cream) is truly one of the hardest colors to get right. So, I’m here to save you from the overwhelm of 30 different swatches on the side of your house! And to help you get an exterior color you truly love.  

Header photo by sander traa on Unsplash

What’s the difference between White, Ivory & Cream?

The first key to knowing what paint color to use? Figuring out which undertones you want and which ones you need. Undertones are the extra colors added to white that make each swatch feel warm, cool, or neutral. 

Limits to computer and phone screens notwithstanding, can you tell the difference between these three swatches below?

Not everyone can, so don’t stress out if they look the same to you!

But if you see three different ‘colors,’ that means you can recognize the undertones in each swatch: neutral on the left, cool grey in the center, and warm yellow on the right.  

It’s extremely important to understand the undertones of the main white ‘color’ you’re selecting so that you can match the other materials on your exterior, like roofing, accents & doors. Otherwise, your exterior design will always feel a bit off. Your brain will recognize the mismatch even if you can’t exactly say with words why it feels bad. 

So, if you have a grey roof or cool blue shutters, look at Ivory, which looks great with those colors.

If you have a red or brown roof or warm brown or green shutters, look at Cream, which pairs best with those colors. 

And true neutral Whites look good with everything!

5 Reasons to Paint Your Exterior Bright White

If you want an exterior that is Neutral, Crisp, and Bright, then a true white is the color for you.  It is classic & timeless and one of the oldest ‘paint’ colors around.  

But how do you know if true bright white is right for your home?

Here are a few reasons I’d suggest painting your house White:

1. If you want to mix it with another neutral, like light grey, light tan, or cream
2. If you want a crisp, modern look with Black or Charcoal accents
3. You have a lot of texture differences on your exterior (brick + siding + stone)
4. You want a crisp trim color with any other darker siding color
5. You want a crowd-pleaser or are considering putting your house on the market.

What are some real-world examples of Bright White Exterior Paint Colors?

Here are some real-world examples of White Exteriors Done Right:

What are the Best Bright White Paint Colors?

When looking for Bright White Paint colors, look for names with Snow, Pure, Blanc, True, and funnily enough, White to find this crisp and neutral white shade.

And as I mentioned above, viewing colors on phone or computer screens can be really tricky – but never more difficult than when you’re dealing with white.

So sample, sample, sample in real life before you decide. Never trust a screen!

01 – SW 7004 SNOW BOUND by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
02 – TRUE WHITE MAG008 by MAGNOLIA BY KILZ
03 – MONT BLANC by PORTOLA PAINTS
04 – DECORATOR’S WHITE OC-149 by BENJAMIN MOORE
05 – ULTRA PURE WHITE by BEHR
06 – ALL WHITE NO. 2005 by FARROW & BALL
07 – BIT OF SUGAR PR-W-14U by BEHR
08 – SW 7551 GREEK VILLA by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
09 – CLASSIC WHITE DEHW08 by DUNN-EDWARDS

5 Reasons to Paint Your House Ivory

If you want an exterior that is Cool, Delicate, and Clean, Ivory might be more your speed.  It is a touch more sedate than a bright white or warm cream and gives just the most elegant feeling.  It can also help counteract any reflected light you may be dealing with by neutralizing those colors.

Here are a few more reasons I’d suggest painting a house with Ivory:

1. If you want a softer but still modern look
2. You want a French look
3. You want to use cool greys or blues as an accent color
4. You already have grey or greige masonry accents
5. You have a lot of other colors reflecting onto the siding

What are some real-world examples of Ivory Exteriors?

Here are some real-world examples of Ivory Exteriors Done Right:

What are the Best Ivory Exterior Paint Colors?

When looking for Ivory Paint colors, look for names with Pearl, Cameo, Opal, Salt and Moon to find this grey undertone shade.

01 – SW 7009 PEARLY WHITE by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
02 – CAMEO WHITE MQ3-32 by BEHR
03 – SEA SALT by PORTOLA PAINTS
04 – SW 7014 EIDER WHITE by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
05 – LIGHTHOUSE DEW385 by DUNN-EDWARDS
06 – SILVER SATIN OC-26 by BENJAMIN MOORE
07 – SW 7637 OYSTER WHITE by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
08 – SOLID OPAL BWC-06 by BEHR
09 – SW 7042 SHOJI WHITE by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

5 Reasons to Paint Your House Cream

If you want an exterior that is Warm, Soft, & Classic, then Cream is just the thing. It is a great way to get an “always been there” look on a new home and is an absolutely fantastic counterpoint to gardens and lush landscaping. It makes the entire environment feel comforting and timeless.

Here are 5 reasons to paint your exterior Cream:

1. You have tan masonry accents
2. If you want a light tan without being too yellow
3. You already have a red or brown roof
4. You want a Spanish or Mediterranean look
5. You have bronze or espresso window frames

What are some real-world examples of Cream Exteriors?

Here are real-world examples of Cream exteriors done right:

What are the Best Cream Exterior Paint Colors?

When looking for Creamy Paint colors, look for names with Aged, Cream, Linen, Paper and above all, anyone’s version of Swiss Coffee to find this warm but not yellow shade.

01 – SWISS COFFEE OC-45 by BENJAMIN MOORE
02 – BLEACHED LINEN PPU5-09 by BEHR
03 – WHISPER DEW340 by DUNN-EDWARDS
04 – No. 2003 POINTING by FARROW & BALL
05 – SW 7012 CREAMY by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
06 – PEARLY COTTON by MAGNOLIA
07 – TABLE LINEN by PORTOLA
08 – SW 7568 NEUTRAL GROUND by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
09 – SW 9180 AGED WHITE by SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

How Does Sunlight Affect White Ivory and Cream Paint Colors?

White will reflect whatever colors surround it.

White Paints are hugely affected by their surroundings and will reflect the colors around them.  Sunlight will ‘bounce’ the color of nearby surfaces onto each other. 

• Next door to a red house? Your white paint on that side of the house will look a bit pink.  
• Lush lawn and the garden of your dreams?  The tops of your walls and the soffits painted White will look a bit more green than the rest of the wall.  
• Gorgeous oceanfront property? Refreshing pool patio out back?  Your white paint that faces the water will look bluer than the other sides of the house.  
• Sections of your house that face each other (like a courtyard or even a patio surrounded by separate wings of your home)?  The sunlight bouncing the color of the walls facing each other will intensify the undertones in the paint.  So creams will look more yellow, ivories will look more grey, and pure whites will look brighter overall. 

Direct Sunlight makes Whites look brighter

The sun makes any white brighter; it essentially bleaches it out. And the same color will look entirely different in the shade than it does in direct sunlight.

This also applies to lighting inside and outside, which is why you always review your samples outside in both bright sunlight and shade.

Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

If your house gets a ton of direct sunlight, you also want to be careful about how bright that white paint is. If it’s too bright, it can be physically hard to look at in direct sunlight. We’re talking literal, blinding white. 
So, when selecting white colors, check the LRV, or ‘light reflective value’, on the back of the color you’re interested in and try to keep that number under 85. Otherwise, you’ll need sunglasses to look directly at your house!

Photo by Viktor Forgacs™️ on Unsplash

Should I match my white window frames with the siding color?

White colors are really hard to match on an Exterior. 

White entry and garage doors are not WHITE white, and white materials across different window, door, and trim manufacturers are inconsistent.  

Never try to use a stock white to match any white paint color straight outta the can.  

White accents like doors and window frames work best when you’re not trying to match them to anything else UNLESS you can go with a custom match for the paint.

Photo by Thierry Lemaitre on Unsplash

How do I test different shades of White on my exterior?

More than any other color, shades of white are the hardest to make final selections for. 

Here’s how to get white right:

• look at multiple options – at least 4 in the same bright white, ivory or cream family
• Paint oversized samples on each side of your home to review before making that final decision. You can also use poster boards, and paint a single color on each board. 
• Review the samples on your house at different times of day, too – morning, noon and evening.
• Always review the colors outside.  Whites especially look different when viewed inside versus out. 

Learn more about how to pick the final color with my “Choosing Final Paint Colors” guide.

Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash

What’s the Maintenance Like for White Paint Colors?

White of any shade can be challenging to keep clean, but not impossible.  

Here are simple ways to help keep it looking sparkling:

• To help dirt and debris slip right off when it rains, lean towards special finishes like Rain Refresh or a simple semi-gloss finish. 
• With any color – but especially with white, ivory, and cream – make sure your landscaping irrigation doesn’t come in direct contact with the siding to prevent rust and other stains over time.

Photo by Harry Grout on Unsplash

Get Help with your White Exterior Design

So there you have it!  All my best tips and tricks, and my very favorite white, ivory, and cream paint colors.  
And if you ever need help finding just the right color for your exterior, I’m always here to help.

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