One of the things that I hear people say a lot is that they are looking for a white paint color with no yellow undertones.
Some people just can’t stand the thought of a yellow undertone in their paint. They are afraid that the walls will look too yellow.
If this is you, have no fear. There are plenty of amazing white that do not have a yellow undertone.
I’ll get to all those, but first, let’s talk a bit about white paints WITH a yellow undertone to make sure that it isn’t actually a good option for you.
White Paint Undertones
White paint almost always has an undertone in it. Undertones are the faint hints of color that make a paint shade look the way that it does.
The most common undertones in white paint are yellow, blue, green, and pink/purple.
Mix a white paint with a hint of any of those colors and it will look completely different.
White Paint with Yellow Undertones
The most popular whites tend to have a yellow undertone, because a yellow undertone means that the white has a creamy look to it.
They are easy to work with, versatile, and give off a warm vibe that feels welcoming.
Sometimes people aren’t aware that even a soft creamy white has a yellow undertone. They assume that it means that the paint will look yellow on the walls. This isn’t always true.
In fact, a room with really cool sunlight, such as a northern or western facing room, often needs a warm white to balance out the cool light. The white paint won’t look yellow at all, but instead will just look fairly neutral.
Conversely, if you put that same white with a yellow undertone in a room with warm light, such as a eastern or southern facing room, it may end up looking way too yellow.
So don’t count out a white paint with a yellow undertone completely. Take into consideration which way the sunlight is coming from first.
White Paints with No Yellow Undertones
Okay, now that the discussion of why you may want a yellow undertone is out of the way, here are the different options for white paint colors with no yellow undertones.
White Paint with Blue Undertones
White paint colors withe blue undertones tend to look cool and fresh. The blue undertone in the white paint can make it look icy or chilly.
White paint colors with blue undertones are great in rooms with other cool shades, such as blues and grays.
Some of my favorite white paints with blue undertones and no yellow undertones are…
- Sherwin Williams Extra White
- Benjamin Moore Distant Gray
- Sherwin Williams Rock Candy
Extra White is a very light Sherwin Williams white paint with no yellow undertones. It has soft blue and gray undertones.
It is a good paint color for trim and cabinets, and pairs nicely with a cool colored wall paint.
Distant Gray has a bit more color, but is still a very light white paint. It works well on walls and cabinets. Like Extra White, it also has blue and gray undertones.
Rock Candy is an off-white paint color with blue and gray undertones but no yellow undertones. I would use this color on walls next to a clean white trim, such as Extra White.
All these shades will give off a fresh look that isn’t creamy or cozy.
Check out this article if you are interested in other white paint colors with blue undertones.
White Paint with Pink/Purple Undertones
If you’re looking for a warm white paint that doesn’t look yellow, a white with pink/purple undertones is the way to go.
The warmth in a white paint with pink/purple undertones won’t give you the same sort of look or feeling as a white with yellow undertones. They won’t look as creamy, and definitely won’t look yellow.
The pink/purple undertone tends to look a bit more feminine and energetic.
A white paint with a pink/purple undertone goes great in a room that has reddish, natural or ash wood tones in the flooring or furniture, and alongside rooms with furnishings that have warm colors with similar undertones.
My favorite white paints with pink/purple undertones and no yellow undertones are…
Pale Oak, Snowbound, and Kestrel White are all white or off-white paint colors that have pink and purple undertones.
Snowbound is the lightest of the three, and is considered a white paint color. You can use it on walls, cabinets or trim for a soft, sophisticated white look. It is one of the best warm whites that doesn’t have yellow undertones.
Pale Oak has a bit more color in it, but will still look pretty white on your walls. It has a bit too much color for trim in my book, but is gorgeous as a soft, subtle off-white wall paint color.
Kestrel White has even more color to it, but is still a very light paint shade. It is great on walls.
Pale Oak and Kestrel White are great off-white paints with no yellow undertones.
All these shades give a subtle warmth that feels cozy. They have no yellow undertones, so you don’t run the risk of the walls looking sunny.
White Paint with Green Undertones
White paint colors with green undertones are the least popular option for white paints with no yellow undertones.
A green undertone is not one that most people associate with a white paint, but they do exist.
Being completely honest, I can’t say that I have any favorite white paints with green undertones and no yellow undertones.
There are a few notable whites that have green AND yellow undertones, such as Benjamin Moore White Heron, but its actually a bit difficult to find a white paint with green undertones and not yellow undertones.
One example is Spare White, which has green and gray undertones.
So, two of the best whites with green undertones are:
- Benjamin Moore White Heron
- Sherwin Williams Spare White
Both of these whites with green undertones are off-whites, and could never pass for a true white.
And since green and yellow are next to each other on the color wheel, in warm sunlight both of these whites with green undertones run the risk of looking a bit yellow.
So if you are looking for a white paint with no yellow undertones, I would steer away from white paints with green undertones.
Best True White Paint with No Yellow Undertones
All of the paint colors we have discussed so far have some sort of undertone, even if they don’t have a yellow undertone.
So, you may be looking for a paint color with no undertones.
If so, my favorite white paints with no undertones are:
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
High Reflective White is Sherwin Williams lightest and brightest white paint color with no yellow undertones. Additionally, it has no blue, green or pink/purple undertones.
High Reflective White looks clean, bright, stark and WHITE.
Similarly, Chantilly Lace is Benjamin Moore’s lightest and brightest white paint color with no yellow undertones. And no ANY undertones.
Chantilly Lace is clean, bright, stark and purely white as well.
Both High Reflective White and Chantilly Lace are great white paint colors with no undertones.
Final Thoughts on Whites with No Yellow Undertones
There are many great options for white paint color with no yellow undertones. To decide which is best for your space, consider the other colors in the space, the lighting in the room, and the feel you want the room to have.
Cool whites, such as whites with blue undertones, are best in rooms with other cool tones, warm lighting and spaces that you want to have a fresh, clean feeling.
Warm whites, such as whites with pink/purple undertones, are best in rooms with other warm tones that are in the pink/purple family that you want to give a fresh cozy feeling.
Whites with yellow undertones are creamy and can look yellow in warm sun. But, before you count them out, remember that they likely won’t take on that same yellow look if you use them in a northern facing room. They will help to balance out the cool lighting and look more neutral than you expect.
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect white, check out:
Best White Paints from Sherwin Williams
or
Best White Paints from Benjamin Moore
