Paint Colors
Choosing a White Paint for an Older House
I often get asked about the antique white paint I used on many walls, trims, and the kitchen cabinets in my older home.
I truly love this paint color for an older house. It reads as a soft, slightly creamy white—not stark or cold, but not a full beige either. If you want warmth without a heavy yellow or beige tone, this shade is a great compromise. It pairs beautifully with soft yellows; for example, the subway tile I used in the kitchen is a warm butter yellow and complements the cabinets nicely. Photographs don’t always capture the subtle contrast between tile and cabinet color, but in person the tile reads noticeably more yellow.
Remember that paint will look different depending on your light—always test samples first.
I originally used Sherwin Williams Antique White across most surfaces to give the house a clean, unified starting point. Because kitchen cabinets see heavy use, I had the cabinet paint custom mixed by Benjamin Moore for durability and finish quality.
Several years later the Benjamin Moore finish has held up well.
To keep trim consistent throughout the house and make future touch-ups simple, I took the Sherwin Williams sample to Benjamin Moore and had them match it. That way I didn’t have to remember different formulas for different rooms—the trim color is uniform throughout the home.
I snapped that photo with my phone and it’s a little blurry, so here is the Benjamin Moore formula written out for clarity:
OY 16 GY 12 BK 0.5 OG 0.5
I believe this paint was the right choice for my older home. Pure white would have looked too modern, and the warm hint of yellow in this shade gives a more authentic, slightly aged character that suits vintage fabrics and furnishings.
For the cabinets, my painter used an oil-based semi-gloss, which provides a durable, easy-to-clean surface and looks lovely when applied well.
Disclaimers:
Do not assume all paints labeled “Antique White” are identical. Benjamin Moore Antique White differs from Sherwin Williams Antique White, and formulas can change over time. If you want the exact shade I used, provide the paint store with the specific formula above and ask them to match it.
Always test paint in your own home. Natural and artificial light, wall texture, and surrounding colors all affect how a color appears. Apply samples and observe them at different times of day before committing to painting cabinets or an entire room.
For more inspiration:
I discovered another favorite white—White Dove—which I’m using in my new house. It’s a soft white with a bit more crispness than the shade used in my previous kitchen. If you’re curious how it looks in a full remodel, look for kitchen reveal posts that feature White Dove.
Related posts you might enjoy:
A Tour of my Old House Kitchen
White Kitchens I Love
A Cottage Kitchen
More house photos:
House Photos