Read all about Benjamin Moore Super White, plus see 25 real homes that use!
Benjamin Moore Super White (PM-1 or OC-152) is a clean, crisp white paint shade that, as the name suggests, really is super white. Described as brilliant and sparkling, BM Super White will brighten up a room without making it feel too cold.
Because of its lack of any obvious undertones, it’s a go-to for those who want an undoubtedly white paint shade. It beautifully highlights unique architectural details, makes framed art and colorful decor pop and works wonderfully for trim.
First, we’ll check out beautiful examples of Super White being used in real homes. Then, we’ll dig into the nitty gritty details like undertones, great options to coordinate with this shade, similar colors and more.
Real Homes Using Benjamin Moore Super White
Okay, let’s dig in. But first, here’s some advice. If this color is on your consideration list, these images will help you decide whether it’s worth purchasing a sample can of this shade. Pleeeeeaseeeeee do NOT go out and by 5 gallons! Make SURE you take the time to compare this shade against others on your ACTUAL wall (to do that, I like to use these peel-and-stick samples). Trust me on this one. And…
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Kitchens Using BM Super White
Sheen note: Picking the right color is only winning the battle, not the war. Remember to pick the right paint finish, or sheen, also! Read up on what you need to know about picking the perfect paint sheen.
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. A Super White Kitchen Makeover
This formerly oak kitchen from Evolution of Style was looking pretty dated.
It received a well-deserved, transformative makeover with cool new granite countertops and Benjamin Moore Super White paint on the cabinets. It’s hardly recognizable anymore!
2. Gold + Marble + Super White = Beautiful Results
Super White cabinets look absolutely gorgeous in this thoughtfully designed kitchen designed by Molly Griggs.
The gold details here (pendant lighting hardware, cabinet knobs and pulls and ribbon veining in the countertops) look incredible with the crisp Super White of the kitchen cabinets and kitchen trim details.
The dark hardwood floor and beautiful runner rug also provide beautiful contrast, making this space all about high style.
3. Super White Cabinetry and Trim
Here’s another example of Super White being used for kitchen cabinets as well as the trim details in this lovely, traditional kitchen from Meghan Yost.
The wall color here is popular Benjamin Moore Pale Oak, and I’d say it’s a great combination!
4. Black + Super White = Timeless
You can’t get more timeless than a pairing of black and white. It never goes out of style.
In this kitchen, Super White perimeter cabinets are combined with a black island and window trim (Benjamin Moore Racoon Fur).
5. Adds to Butcher Block Beauty
In Beth’s kitchen, the Super White cabinets help draw the eye to the gorgeous wood tones in her butcher block countertops (a personal favorite of mine).
6. Works Well with Wood Tones
Super White really pulls out the great depth of color in wood. Check out how it again really highlights and draws you toward the richer hues of the wood providing a new dimension of beauty in this kitchen.
I’m loving that walnut open shelving, too.
7. Black, Super White, and Beautiful All Over
There’s nothing bad to say about tuxedo color palettes, and this one is certainly no exception to that rule.
Here Super White is paired with popular SW Tricorn Black, and despite being from competing brands, these two are a Romeo and Juliet paint love story.
8. Paired with Another Popular White
In Kristi Perozzi’s kitchen, BM Super White cabinets are paired with another very popular shade of white…Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, which is the wall color.
9. All Super White, All The Time
If choosing color schemes makes you crazy, there’s nothing wrong (and a whole lot right) with choosing one color for your cabinets, trim and wall color.
As you see with this beautiful design and interior paint job, the kitchen cabinet color feeds right into the wall and crown molding…it makes the wall height appear higher, and isn’t boring in the least. In fact, it’s very calming to the eye.
10. Happy, Bright Kitchen Color
I’m smitten with the happy, simple color palette in this beautiful kitchen from Montecito Interiors. Super White really keeps this space bright and cheery.
Super White Dining Rooms
11. Sparkling Dining Room
This Southampton dining room (photo credit: @marcoriccastudio) sticks to a definitive, and classic color palette: white, blue and rustic wood. The French harvest table warms up the space, while the pale blue light fixture and blue upholstered dining chairs bring a cool country flair to the space.
The collection of matte white pottery tie in with the BM Super White walls, and once again an architectural fireplace is highlighted by this paint shade.
12. Let the View Be The Palette
This beach view cottage dining room absolutely nailed the coastal vibe, with a modern twist!
With a built-in banquette, statement brushed brass modern chandelier and bright – I mean bright – turquoise dining chairs, having a clean white wall shade that stays out of the way is a must. I dare say, Super White gets the job done.
13. Adds Ceiling Height
This stunning dining room transformation makes me want to find a house with wood paneled walls to remodel!
It’s absolutely amazing (but not surprising) how much BM Super White on the walls and ceiling brightens up this dramatic space.
14. Lovely in a Lake House
What a wonderful indoor/outdoor living space! This gorgeous Lake Oswego, Oregon home plays a game of stunning contrast, with dark wood flooring and chairs to match.
What better way to make them pop but to paint the walls in BM Super White, accentuating the lovely architectural detailing of the fireplace.
15. Another Pale Oak Pairing
Meghan uses BM Pale Oak as her wall color throughout her home. Here in her dining room, she uses it in cooperation with BM Super White to help her gorgeous built-ins stand out!
Living Spaces Using BM Super White
16. Allows other Details to Pop
Um, can I copy everything about this space from Emily Henderson, please? This unique, 70s-style living room gets a modern, yet stylistically compatible update with a wash of Benjamin Moore Super White everywhere.
This bright white lets all the beautiful details pop: art work, gold chandelier, and the warm wood accents. (Photo Credit: Tessa Neustadt)
17. Actual Paint Colors May Vary…
White is not always just plain white…but you already know that, right? Here you can see some influence of the chandelier and other artificial lighting on the Super White walls. It almost has a pink-y softly polished glow.
And the greens getting pulled in from the outside also have a major effect on how the wall color will look at any given time of day.
18. Bright on Dreary Pacific Northwest Days
Beth’s entire home (mostly) is painted in Super White, so her feed is a great one to peruse if you’re strongly considering this shade.
Here is her adorable ballerina twirling in a happy, bright living room that can even look happy and bright on frequently dreary Pacific Northwest days!
Super White Entryways
19. Warm Wood + Super White = Welcoming
Here in this Southhampton home designed by Michael Adams (photo credit: Marco Ricca Studio), the rich color of the wood furnishings and flooring plus our white du jour prove quite complementary colors. Together, they create a beautiful, welcoming effect.
20. Super White, Super Entryway
Using Benjamin Moore Super White on both walls and trim helps keep the focus on the details of the staircase railing and decor in this light and bright entryway.
21. Neutral Palette Perfection
Beth’s entryway is a primer in creating a beautiful neutral palette. And Super White is the very heart of the equation.
This bright white was a great choice to accentuate her beautiful staircase with the black spindles and natural wood hand rail.
Super White Exteriors
22. Excellent White Exterior Paint
This three-story stunner of a lake house gets the all-star treatment with two contrasting colors: Hale Navy and Super White, both by Benjamin Moore. (Builder @mikeschaapbuilders)
23. Perfect for Exterior Trim
A Hale Navy door + cedar shake siding and bright white trim creates a coastal color palette that can (and will) charm anyone and everyone.
Super White in Other Spaces
24. Crisp White Work Space
Super White works well on cabinetry throughout the home, not just in the kitchen. Here it helps create a clean, crisp color palette in this work space. Photo credit: Alexander Vertikoff
25. Trustworthy Trim Shade
In her article, Cyndy of The Creativity Exchange shows how beautifully the crisp, bright Super White can add lightness to spaces.
It’s a particular favorite of designers for use on trim, and this little sitting nook below is a great example of why that’s the case.
Super White FAQs
Also known as Super White OC-152 and PM-1 is part of both the Benjamin Moore off-white collection (OC), as well as their Premium Mix collection (PM).
Here’s how Benjamin Moore describes this color: “Super White is a brilliant, almost sparkling white. This clean shade suggests clarity and simplicity.”
BM Super White is really, truly super white. Like…one of the whitest of all Ben Moore’s white shades. Super White honestly lacks any undertones: it doesn’t ever look too blue or too yellow.
That being said, this paint will give you a very crisp and sometimes stark look. It’s not recommended for use on plaster or uneven walls, as it can highlight imperfections.
By the same token, it’s great to use if you have interesting architectural details in your home that you want to show off.
Is Benjamin Moore Super White a warm or cool color?
With a very neutral temperature and no obvious undertones, Benjamin Moore Super White is about as neutral a white as you can find.
There are really no yellow undertones to be detected, so it’s not a warm white.
It really doesn’t have any blue undertones either, though I would say because of its tendency to at times look stark, it might appear to lean cooler rather than warmer.
I do want to include a disclaimer here that white paints are incredibly reflective and will pick up colors in their environments.
This is especially true with Super White, since it doesn’t have built-in undertones that can interfere with how light reflects on it.
So as with any white paint, you’ll get the green from trees outside a window, grayish-blue light from northern exposure, warm, golden light from southern exposure or eastern/western sun, etc.
Don’t mistake any environmental reflections with undertones. If it’s there, this paint will reflect it.
Where Should I Use BM Super White?
As a white, this shade is pretty ubiquitous. It can be used here, there, and really anywhere. But I do think that the shade looks best on and in:
• dark hallways u0026 corridors
• bathrooms
• base moldings, crown moldings, and trim
• window frames
• kitchen cabinetry
• architectural details
LRV of BM Super White Paint (#PM-1 / OC-152)
First, here’s the “numerical” details, or the LRV:
SUPER WHITE LRV = 89.09
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).
We’ve already established that BM Super White is indeed, super white. If you were to say it’s a pure white, I’d be hard-pressed to argue with you. That being said, let’s get numerical about it.
On the LRV scale, Super White is 89.09, which is pretty darn white, but no cigar. It’s still slightly less bright than pure, unencumbered white, but not by very much.
Comparisons to Similar Colors
While not quite pure white by LRV standards, Super White is just about the purest white paint you can possibly buy.
Because of this, it’s easy to detect undertones in other white paint shades. Comparing it to other popular white paint shades will help you determine if it’s the best white for your room.
Comparison to: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
With an LRV of 92.2, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (OC-65) is actually a tad brighter than Super White.
Chantilly Lace is usually described as a bright white with cool and blue and/or gray undertones, so it has a bit of definitive coolness you won’t find in Super White (89.09).
Since Super White has virtually no undertones, Chantilly Lace might be more likely to appear icy in rooms with northern exposure and might appear starker in certain environments.
Side by side, you can see that the two are quite similar.
Comparison to: Benjamin Moore Simply White
Here’s a surprise. Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117) is also brighter than Super White on the LRV scale at 91.7 (Remember, Super White is 89.09).
What Chantilly Lace is to Super White in terms of coolness, Simply White is its warmer counterpart.
With just a hint of yellow, Simply White is a warmer off-white than Super White, while still being pretty darn white.
It’s a great choice if you prefer a bit of warmth, or if you are trying to steer away from any possible starkness.
Comparison to: Benjamin Moore Decorators White
With an LRV of 84.61, Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White (OC-149) is not quite as light and bright as Super White.
Decorator’s White has a hint of gray and blue undertones, making it a cooler white shade than Super White.
Surprisingly, that coolness actually softens the starkness you can get with Super White. All in all, Decorator’s White is a great pick for those looking for an off-white that leans cool.
Other White Paint Options To Consider
If you still aren’t sold on this color, or just want a few more options – here are several other colors to choose from…
- 5 Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colors
- 5 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
- 10 Favorite Trim Paint Colors
- Favorite Wall And Trim Color Combinations
- White Dove (Benjamin Moore)
- Greek Villa SW 7551
- Egret White (SW 7570)
- Shoji White (Sherwin Williams)
- Oyster White (Sherwin Williams)
- SW Aesthetic White
- Olympus White (Sherwin Williams)
- White Duck (Sherwin Williams)
- 15 Top Paint Colors That Complement Red Brick
Best Coordinating Colors for BM Super White
What colors go with Super White? Truthfully, this shade is very, very easy to pair with other colors. That’s one reason its one of my favorite trim colors. It really works well with almost everything.
Here are a couple of my favorite colors to use along side this bright, crisp white:
- Tricorn Black (Sherwin Williams)
- Pale Oak (Benjamin Moore)
- Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore)
- October Mist (Benjamin Moore)
- Beach Glass (Benjamin Moore)
- Iron Mountain (Benjamin Moore)
- Retreat (Sherwin Williams)
- Peppercorn (Sherwin Williams)
- Edgecomb Gray (Benjamin Moore)
Super White Conclusion
Are you feeling super about Super White yet? 😉 It’s known as one of the best white paint colors, and beloved by interior designers for good reasons!
Use it in small spaces to help them feel larger and more airy. Use it in spots with low ceilings to help raise the roof! Try it in dark areas to give those places a brighter, fresh look!
Now you know all about this popular paint shade, the best ways to use it and how beautiful it looks in real life homes…which of your rooms could be brightened by this sparkling paint shade?
And if this is a color you’re seriously considering, remember paint-sampling is better than ending up paint-sorry! I recommend these peel and stick samples because they are inexpensive, re-usable and re-positionable.
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!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! And before you’re on your way, make sure you grab your free copy of the 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint, so you can avoid the heartache (and hole in your wallet) when your paint choices don’t quite work out! Click here, and I’ll send your free copy right now!
Georgia says
Thank you for this article. I love BM Super White and it worked out very well in two bedrooms in my old home. So I repeated that in a small bedroom in my new home, but the results are different. The room has very good lighting from a south facing and a west facing window. When the lights are turned off, the walls look a very light blue. I was very surprised and don’t know what to do. I was thinking of painting an accent wall on the south wall, which is the wall that you see as you are walking in the room. What color would work to tone down the blue undertones. Is this from the sky? There is nothing else outside that could be causing this.
Penny says
This is probably a silly question, but if you use the super white on walls, do you use the same white on the woodwork only any a different finish, like maybe satin or semi-gloss? We’re retired and planning on downsizing within a 5 year time frame. I would like to freshen up my home, and choosing the correct color to paint for myself, but also something neutrally appealing for resale is keeping me from doing anything at all. Thanks for this really good post about white paint. Very helpful!
Heather Thibodeau says
Not silly! I love the look of all one color, but a higher sheen on the trim. So for instance, eggshell walls and semi-gloss trim is a very popular combo.