Color of the Year 2016 – Simply White is a warm white paint color. It’s a beautiful neutral that works well with many colors, in any room!
It’s also very popular!
It’s one of Benjamin Moore’s best selling paint colors!
Today I’m diving deep into BM Simply White to discuss undertones, complimentary colors, real room photos for inspiration.
I’m also sharing what the expert on Simply White has to say about this color, Ellen O’Neill, who is the creative director at Benjamin Moore!
Benjamin Moore has officially announced it’s 2016 color of the year!
The color experts at BM have researched this for a year studying trends in fashion, architecture, textiles and art and decided that the color of the year is…drumroll…..white!
Simply White OC-117 to be exact.
Color of the Year 2016 – Simply White OC-117
What color is BM Simply White?
It’s “transcendent, powerful, and polarizing” says Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Creative Director in a press release.
“White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential,” she continued.
“The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry.”
The company offers more than 250 selections of white, and of the top ten best-selling Benjamin Moore colors, white tones occupy five spots.
“It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our Color of the Year,” says O’Neill.
Is Simply White a warm or cool color?
This is a warm white.
It goes well with both cool and warm colors too…. and also with wood finishes and metallics.
What are the undertones of BM Simply White?
It has a yellow beige undertone which makes it very inviting and versatile.
It’s slightly creamy, but still definitely a ‘white’.
Design tip: use a Samplize peel & stick paint sample of SW Simply White to test this color.
You can easily move it around your room, it’s mess free and delivered right to your front door!
Simply White coordinating colors
Here is a corresponding palette of 23 additional paint colors that pair well with Simply White.
Need help with furniture layout, choosing paint colors, room design, selecting furniture or updating your home?
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BM Simply White in real rooms
Living Room
Kitchen cabinets painted Simply White
Kitchen cabinetry painted Simply White
Kitchen Cabinets painted Simply White
How to test paint colors in your home with zero mess and zero cleanup!
Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples are an easy, mess-free way to test paint colors
Accurate colors – large 9″ x 14″ paint samples with two coats of real paint, guaranteeing 100% color accuracy
Peel & Stick – and repositionable
Quick – samples are delivered the next day!
All the top paint brands – Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, PPG, Farrow & Ball
I used Simply White white my office!
Office Decor and Furniture Sources:
office chair (similar)
my white desk
similar office bookcase
office console unit
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I hope you like these tips on Color of the Year 2016 – Simply White!
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Heather is a Designer, True Color Expert® and proud military wife at 
I love white, it makes such a lovely backdrop for everything else. With a giant white fireplace in our family room, we went with Benjamin Moore Lily White which has the slightest touch of blue in it. The images you shared are beautiful.
That’s a gorgeous color Choe!! I’m sure you love your white fireplace – sounds lovely! Thanks for your lovely comments fellow white lover! 🙂
Actually, since white is all the colors, it makes perfect since to be color of the year!
LOL – exactly Janet!! You are so right! 🙂
Surprising! Guess if you live in quarters that is good news. White is actually a good color if it is a warm, not ice cold. Like the Patriot Blue and Ravishing Red too. Have a good day! Linda
I love the simply white, but don’t know if it is too white for my alder stained wood and have some monterey white bead board. The paint color that seems to go nicely with my backsplash, wood, etc., is manchester tan, but thinking I like lighter????. help:)
Arlys – it might help if you bought a sample of simply white to try at home – then you can really tell if it goes with your wood tones and bead board. It does seem to be a white that goes with any color!
White looks lovely when you have some nice woodwork, interesting molding etc. In my stock track home I dont even have trim around my windows and went with edgecomb grey for my base color downstairs. Very light greige with enough contrast to the swiss coffee (warm white) baseboards. However I think white is lovely with houses that have lots of trim and woodwork throughout and good natural light. Love white cabinets too and always have.
Edgecomb gray is a beautiful color Amy!
What color are the walls in the laundry room? Is that simply white as well? Looks great I’m trying to pick out a white to paint over wood paneling in entryway!
Hi April! Our laundry room is SW Mindful Gray – one wall – and the rest is SW Toque White. Have fun with your laundry room makeover! 🙂
Where did you get the white desk?
Hi Cathy – I updated the post with the link to it! Here it is (affiliate link) http://amzn.to/2bm9t3e
How does Simply White compare to Cloud White?
Hi Laurie! Simply White has a warm undertone and Cloud White has a cool undertone. Hope that helps!
I want to update my small (975 sq ft) 1960s ranch living room, eat in kitchen and hallway in a white with grey accent. Any suggestions
Hi Becca – You can email me at [email protected] about my online paint color services!