Read all about Benjamin Moore Navajo White, plus see real homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore Navajo White is one of those beautiful timeless off-whites, but is it a good fit for your home?
Neutrals reign in the interior design world. Their longtime popularity stems from their versatility. They look great when paired together, or you can use them to highlight (or tone down) bold colors. What’s not to love about colors you can literally use anywhere?
And when it comes to neutrals, nothing is more classic than white and off-white. Seriously, who doesn’t like them?
BM Navajo White is one of those off-whites that wraps you up in a hug and makes you feel better than you did before you saw it. It’s a soft creamy off-white that’s both timeless and stunning as it works to somehow make a room feel airy AND warm at the same time.
I’m all about a soothing smokey blue or sage green, but believe it or not, Navajo White may give you similar comfy, cozy vibes!
This post about Navajo White is my latest post in an in-depth series about popular paint colors. My goal with these paint exploration posts is to give you all the insider knowledge you need to help you pick that perfect paint shade when you give your home an update.
Being able to visualize how a color may look on YOUR walls will make choosing colors faster and easier.
NOTE: Do not confuse Benjamin Moore Navajo White with the Sherwin Williams color by the same name. They’re completely different from each other!
Without further delay, let’s discover all of Benjamin Moore Navajo White’s nuances.
How does Benjamin Moore Navajo White feel in a space?
This shade is ideal for small homes or rooms that have cool-tinted natural light. It will add a touch of warmth while also making the space look and feel airy. In addition, it lends a cheerful and energetic vibe that lifts your mood.
Any color that can do all of that is a special color!
Is Benjamin Moore Navajo White a warm color?
Navajo White is a creamy off-white with warm yellow undertones. It’s warm enough that it will never appear cool – even in a dark room or room with cool-tinted light. On the other hand, you may feel that it can appear too warm at times.
While it’s usually a very pretty color, there are a few warm off-white options I find more appealing than Navajo White because of this color’s ability to lean a bit too yellowy-beige, giving me a bit of an early 1990’s flashback at times.
Look at Benjamin Moore Cloud White, Swiss Coffee, or Sherwin Williams Creamy as alternatives.
Where should I use BM Navajo White?
This classic color can look great anywhere and everywhere. As long as you’re aware of and working with its undertones, it’s hard to go wrong using it.
Consider Benjamin Moore Navajo White for your:
Kitchen
Dining room
Bedroom
Hallway
Closet
Entryway
Basement
Bathroom
Laundry room
In addition, Navajo White can work well with many different decor and house styles!
Ok, let’s do a quick lesson on “undertones” vs. “mass tones.”
“Mass tone” simply means the main color you see when you look at paint. Red, yellow, green, and blue are all examples of mass tones.
But every color has tons of shades, which are caused by undertones. Undertones are simply slight differences in paint colors.
Every paint colour has its own unique combination of colors that blend together to create the mass tone. The variations that slight changes to the formula create are undertones.
As a warm off-white, Navajo White has yellow and tan undertones that add a rich quality to the shade. These undertones give this color a soft quality that many people gravitate to.
NOTE: Two main factors have a profound impact on how a color reads: light exposure and surrounding decor. For that reason, no color will read the same in two different situations.
Paint swatches are super helpful for giving you a good idea of how particular paint shades will appear in YOUR home. I highly encourage you to utilize paint swatches before you go spend $$$ on paint!
My favorite way to sample? Re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Everything in your house (lighting level, which direction the room faces, etc.) will impact how paint appears in your home.
Here’s a general idea of how lighting alone can impact how Navajo White will read.
- North-facing light – northern light is cool and gray-ish, which will tone down the warmth of this shade slightly. However, its warmth will still come through, making it perfect for warming up a cool, north-facing room.
- South-facing light – warm light from the south will draw out the yellow undertones and occasionally make Navajo White read yellow or golden.
- East-facing light – an east-facing room has warm light in the morning and shadowy afternoon light. Navajo White will shift a little according to the shifting light, but it won’t ever look cool or dingy.
- West-facing light – west-facing light is passive in the morning but warm in the afternoon. Navajo White will display a similar shift to its behavior in east-facing rooms, but it will do so in the opposite order.
Because this shade is so warm, it plays better with warm hues rather than cool ones. And it’s unbeatable when paired with earthy tones (such as orange, brown, avocado green), brick, and wood tones.
Note: Navajo White looks best as part of a contrasting color scheme rather than a monochrome color scheme.
Here are a few specific colors that look great with Benjamin Moore Navajo White:
- Decorator’s White
- White Dove
- Silver Fox
- Sierra Spruce
- Lacey Pearl
- Balboa Mist
- Saybrook Sage
- Newburyport Blue
- Samovar Silver
- Teal Tone
- Dorset Cream
- Ticonderoga Taupe
- French Horn
- Cedar Key
- Dovetail
- Tapestry Beige
- Fading Twilight
- Sea Haze
- Beach Comber
- Little Falls
- Kilim Beige
- Dried Thyme
LRV = Light Reflectance Value: Rated 0-100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white. Lighter paint shades REFLECT more light from them and therefore have a HIGHER LRV, and vice versa for darker shades.
The LRV of Navajo White = 79.88
Navajo White sits firmly in the light category. It’s light enough that without its undertones, it would be considered white. However, its undertones put it in the off-white collection.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Let’s compare this hue to some other similar off-white paint colors and see if we can get a better understanding of how the undertones impact the overall appearance of this shade.
Swiss Coffee is another warm off-white from Ben Moore, but it has a balance of yellow, brown, and green undertones that make it less creamy.
With an LRV of 84, it’s also lighter than Navajo White. Overall, this off-white is less saturated, which may make it a better fit for certain homes or rooms.
Linen White’s LRV of 82.9 makes it just a teeny bit brighter than Navajo White. The yellow undertones of these colors have a similar saturation, but Navajo White has a hint of gray to make it read a little more muted.
Neither of these colors makes a good trim color unless they are used to tone down much darker earth-tone colors.
BM Gentle Cream has a similar undertone profile to Navajo White, so it also plays well with dark neutrals and earth tones. With an LRV of 71, however, it doesn’t reflect as much light, so Navajo White might work better in dark rooms (such as hallways).
More Colors to Consider
Does all this talk about undertones, LRV, and the like have your head spinning? If you aren’t ready to commit Navajo White yet, here are a variety of similar yet popular colors you may love more.
- Classic Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a light, greige-leaning off-white
- Dover White (Sherwin Williams) – a warm, creamy off-white
- Simply White (Benjamin Moore) – a creamy white with yellow undertones
- Pure White (Sherwin Williams) – warm white that can lean slightly greige
- White Duck (Sherwin Williams) – an off-white with greige leanings
- Creamy (Sherwin Williams) – a creamy off-white paint
- Snowbound (Sherwin Williams) – a slightly cool, yet very livable white
- Greek Villa (Sherwin Williams) – a warm, creamy off-white
- Cloud White (Benjamin Moore) – soft, warm white paint
- Chantilly Lace – a clean, neutral Benjamin Moore white
- Super White – a brilliant, sparkling Benjamin Moore white
- Ballet White (Benjamin Moore) – a light, neutral off-white paint color
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
I’ve searched all over the internet to find a variety of spaces that use Benjamin Moore Navajo White so you can get a clear idea of how it really behaves in different situations!
See for yourself how different lighting exposures and influences from countless decor items can affect the paint’s appearance.
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
1. Navajo White Cabinets
Have oak flooring and aren’t sure what cabinet or wall color will work well? Navajo White brings out even more warmth, as you can see in this kitchen where its used as the cabinet color.
If you’re thinking that your oak floors are already too warm, you may want to aim for a cooler white to tone the oranges and yellows in the floor down more.
2. Bright Constrast to Dark Beige
Dark kitchen got you down? Not with Navajo White!
Funcycled shows how Navajo White brings its light warmth to a dark room. These cabinets look bright against the darker beige wall and make this kitchen feel spacious.
3. Benjamin Moore 947 Cabinet Color
Here’s a third example of kitchen cabinets that have been painted with Navajo White. And WOW, what a difference this paint makes in the overall look of this kitchen. It goes from dark and dated to light, bright and very chic.
4. Quite a Pairing with Revere Pewter
Love! Vintage American Home creates a dream dining room by using Navajo White as the trim color with Revere Pewter walls.
5. A Vintage Feel on this Fireplace Mantle
I can’t get enough of seeing Navajo White paired with wood tones and earthy bricks. Sincerely Marie Designs uses this pairing to create a neutral, timeless look.
6. Inviting Neutral Backdrop
This gorgeous home seems to want the outside to be front and center, but the inside to still be warm and inviting.
Navajo White was a brilliant wall color choice by Jennifer Robin Interiors ( with Wade Design Architects).
Quick note: Don’t forget the finish! Learn all about paint sheen here.
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
7. Color Fit for Any Style
Think Navajo White doesn’t work with minimalist decor? Think again! Peyton Bryan shows just how much depth this color provides a room with minimal decor.
8. Sweet (and Kind of Beige) Kid’s Bedroom
The lighting in this room plays with the yellow and brown undertones, which causes the walls to read creamy with a side of beige.
9. Perfectly Off-White in Natural Light
This bedroom from Jennifer Robin Interiors puts the “D” in dreamy! Dark neutrals perfectly complement Navajo White, which, in turn, makes this very high ceiling room feel perfectly cozy.
10. Highlights Fun Pop of Color
BM Navajo White can be an ideal neutral to pair with other neutrals, but this bedroom from RLH Studio shows how well it works with bold accents too!
11. Cheery Master Bedroom
How cheerful and inviting does Navajo White help make this bedroom feel?
12. Nice and Neutral
This bedroom is pleasing to the eye, and looks like a cozy spot to bunk down for the night. The great thing about a neutral palette like this one is it’s so easy to add in pops of color here and there, and change them out whenever you want and almost any color will work!
13. Fantastic with Oak Flooring
Sometimes people struggle choosing a paint color that will either add warmth, or take warmth away from oak flooring. Here you can see Navajo White adds warmth and pulls slightly yellow, without looking dingy or outdated.
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
14. Perfect White Paint in a Bathroom
This bathroom transformation shows what a star paint can be when it comes to sprucing up a space. Most people’s biggest concern when it comes to choosing a white is that they don’t want something too stark.
That’s where Navajo white really is a standout. It gives the clean look of white, without the stark cool side.
15. For a Boho Beautiful Bath
Brittany of @brittanykterry painted her exterior (which you’ll see shortly) and her entire interior with the same palette of BM Navajo White and BM Mayonnaise trim. Here in her bathroom you can see this off-white pair works beautifully together for a crisp, but not cold color combo.
16. Inviting Off-White Trim Paint Color
Here at the lovely home of @brittanykterry, Navajo White is the main paint color for the exterior, and is paired with “Mayonnaise” as the trim paint choice.
A popular shade of off-black was chosen for the door…Wrought Iron. It’s a GREAT palette, don’t you think?
Navajo White also complements shades of green really beautifully.
17. The Perfect Way to Brighten a Space
Do you have a small or dark laundry room or mudroom? Take a page out of Peyton Bryan‘s playbook and open it up by using Navajo White on the walls and cabinets!
18. Rich, Sophisticated Trim Color
Here in this horse country manor house, Navajo White is used as a trim color for a richer, warmer effect than a crisp, bright white. Wall color is Farrow & Ball James White.
Well, that’s a wrap! Navajo White is a stunning color that can add timeless elegance to any room. Have you decided if it’s a great choice for your own house? If you’re looking for a dreamy creamy off-white, grab a paint sample and test it out!
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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