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Why Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117 Is One Of The Best White Paints

Last week, I finished up a paint consultation with one of my e-design clients. Because of the pandemic and with many of us still under lockdown, the simple act of picking paint is no longer the easy task it once was. You might find yourself researching and consulting friends for recommendations, ordering paint swatches online (here's a site where you can order Benjamin Moore reusable swatches!), or having the paint delivered to your door. 

Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117


If you're researching white paint, and specifically Simply White by Benjamin Moore, let me share what I know about this paint colour to help you make your paint decision easier. Simply White OC-117 is one of the most popular white paint colours out there for good reason! If you've ever considered Simply White paint for your hallway, basement, or bathroom, read on and see how it looks in real spaces.

You might see Simply White referred to by two different paint codes: Simply White OC 117 and Simply White 2143-70. This is because Simply White appears in two Benjamin Moore paint collections (the  Color Preview Collection and the Off-White Collection), but it is the same colour. 

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Benjamin Moore White Paints


I've used many, many paint brands over the years, but when it comes to white paint, no one does it better than Benjamin Moore. While many brands have one or two good white paints, Benjamin Moore has more than a few that are dependable, interesting, and useful in different scenarios. You'll find that most decorators have their "favourite white paint" from Benjamin Moore, for good reason!

Choosing the right white paint depends on a few things. You'll want to consider:
  • how much natural light you get in the space
  • where you'll be using the paint (walls, trim, ceiling, cabinetry)
  • what kind of feeling you're looking for (warm, cool, or neutral)

Benjamin Moore Peel and Stick Paint Samples

No matter which paint you choose, the one thing I suggest you absolutely MUST do is order paint samples. Luckily, new companies have come on the market that offer reusable and repositionable paint samples

Hello Paint (a Canadian company) and Samplize (a US company) are just two of the sites that sell large format peel & stick paint samples. See how I used them when picking paint for my home office:

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From top to bottom, the paint samples I used were: Calm OC-22 / 2111-70, White Dove OC-17, Decorator's White CC-20, Cloud White OC-130 / 967, and Chantilly Lace OC-65 / 2121-70. You can see how these peel and stick samples stick easily to trim and paint, giving you an accurate idea of how the paint will look around the room, in different lighting conditions.

White paints are surprisingly complex. You might be asking yourself:

Is Benjamin Moore Simply White cool or warm?


Benjamin Moore Simply White is a warm white with a yellow undertone. The undertone is subtle and generally doesn't make the paint seem overly creamy or yellow in natural balanced light. Simply White mostly appears neutral unless you have extreme light conditions: In an absence of natural light, it will appear more cream and warm. In bright light, it will look more cool. Additionally, pairing it with cooler whites will emphasize the warm undertone.

What are the best Benjamin Moore white paints?


Benjamin Moore has dozens of whites to choose from. In general, I find Benjamin Moore paint one of the best for your money. It's not the cheapest paint but the quality is worth it. It has excellent coverage and the paint spreads easily without being too thin or runny. My favourite white paints from Benjamin Moore are:

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Choosing Paint Finishes

Aside from choosing your paint colour, you'll want to consider the paint finish. The amount of light reflected by your paint will impact how it looks in your space. Generally, in our home we use:
  • flat or matte for most walls
  • eggshell for walls that need to be more durable and wipeable such as kitchens and bathrooms
  • matte or satin for trim
Satin or Semi gloss is a more typical choice for trimwork but over the years, I've come to like a more matte look. Matte paint does require more touching up so be aware if you use it in higher traffic areas. I LOVE this product to help keep our white walls white! See here for more tips on selecting a paint finish.

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What colour is Simply White?

Simply White is a neutral white with a slightly yellow undertone. That yellow can look more pronounced in low light conditions, or against other brighter, cooler whites.

Generally, Simply White is a basic warmer white that provides a neutral, calm backdrop to furnishings and other colours.

Where to use Benjamin Moore Simply White paint

Simply White is amazingly versatile. It can be used on almost any surface: walls, doors, trim. Use it in any space that you want to feel bright, white, and clean. Consider it for:
  • hallways and entryways
  • bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens
  • restful or calm spaces
  • traditional homes, country homes, farmhouse spaces
  • rooms with changing light conditions
  • kitchen cabinetry
  • moulding and architectural details
  • as a backdrop to more colourful accents
  • paired with other pale neutrals, warm tones, or saturated colours

In our home, we used Simply White to brighten up all of our main hallways. We wanted a colour that would be easy to live with and would look good on lots of surfaces and in different light conditions.

 
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You can see how the hallway was previously white but felt darker and more cream. Now, the Simply White makes this hallway feel brighter and fresher. It feels white without being too stark. At night, it does feel a bit warmer, but not as cream or yellow as the previous paint.

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simply white benjamin moore, simply white oc-117, benjamin moore simply white

In our traditional home, Simply White provides a quiet and peaceful backdrop. Darker accents and furnishings stand out nicely against this paint.

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Simply White Trim


Simply White OC-117 is a fantastic choice for trim and moulding. We have traditional mouldings in our dining room and the white paint highlights them beautifully.

We used the Simply White on the wainscotting, baseboards, door and window casings, crown, and also the ceiling. Using a single white paint in a single finish (matte) creates a uniform feel. 


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simply white benjamin moore, simply white oc-117, benjamin moore simply white

You'll notice that the Simply White works well with the wallpaper and the sideboard. Occasionally, white paint can be jarring when next to white painted furniture. The Simply White is neither too cool or too warm. It's fairly complementary to other white shades.


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Simply White Paint in Small Spaces

I love how Simply White looks in this small powder room. This bathroom gets a lot of light and most of the day, the white paint makes this room positively glow. It feels calm and bright and clean - ideal for a bathroom!

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simply white benjamin moore, simply white oc-117, benjamin moore simply white

Simply White on the walls and ceiling helps make this 8' ceiling feel taller. Having a darker paint on the wainscotting (Stonington Gray HC-170 by Benjamin Moore) grounds the space and makes the upper part of the room feel expansive and light. 

A Benjamin Moore Simply White Basement


The one other room we used Simply White OC-117 was in our basement. We wanted a bright coastal breezy feel for our basement. I was unsure if this was the right paint for the job as there is little natural light in the basement and in certain conditions, Simply White can look creamy. But we took a chance, and it turned out fine.

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Picking white paint for a basement can be very challenging. Not only are you dealing with little natural light, but typically basements have recessed lights which can give off a yellow cast or blue cast depending on if they're incandescent or LED. Basements can also physically feel cold - you don't want to use a white paint that makes them feel even colder.

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simply white benjamin moore basement, simply white oc-117, benjamin moore simply white


The paint does look slightly warmer in the basement. I do think a lot of it has to do with the recessed pot lights. In real life, the walls don't look as yellow and the floors don't look as light and pink. It's terribly difficult to capture true-to-life colours when there's no natural light.

Were we going to paint this basement again (we're not!), I might choose a slightly purer white like Chantilly Lace. The Simply White is liveable and looks good throughout the entire basement so we're happy to live with it.

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Here's probably the best depiction of Simply White in our basement. You can see how it works with the warm wood and taupe tones of our basement kitchenette cabinetry and tile.

Overall, Simply White is a great choice wherever you need white. It's timeless, warm, and classic.

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