Benjamin Moore Ballet White Review: The Perfect Warm Greige-White?

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Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by Cate

Benjamin Moore Ballet White OC-9 is a soft off-white paint color with warm greige undertones that give it a cozy, elegant feel. Unlike many off-whites, Ballet White has enough depth to add warmth without looking stark, making it a popular choice for walls, open-concept homes, and whole-house color palettes. It pairs beautifully with crisp white trim, natural wood, and warm neutral décor, creating a timeless look in both traditional and modern interiors.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White paint can swatch

GET YOUR SAMPLIZE SAMPLE OF BALLET WHITE TODAY

WHAT COLOR IS BALLET WHITE?

You may be thinking this is a ridiculous question, right? I mean White is in its name. Though I’m here to tell you that it’s not particularly a white paint color.

Benjamin Moore describes it as:

A crowd-pleasing off-white that offers just the right amount of color.
Benjamin Moore

In balanced lighting, Ballet White is best described as a light, warm, neutral, off-whitish tan. It’s definitely not a clean white like BM Chantilly Lace. It is too colorful or saturated to be white, and it’s also too dark.

This neutral color has a slight creaminess but not too much. It comes from the yellow hue family, so it has yellow in it. That’s where you get the warmth.

Ballet White has a natural beige-ish-greige white feel to it.

But remember how the color will look for you in your home depends on the lighting, wood, and surrounding colors. This is why I always push grabbing a sample.

If you are looking for a white paint color that has a bit more depth than a clean, bright white, Ballet White may be exactly what you have been looking for.

LRV, HUE FAMILY, AND COLOR COLLECTIONS OF BALLET WHITE

LRV: 71.97
HUE FAMILY: Yellow leans towards YR
COLOR COLLECTION: Off-White Collection
AKA:974

LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is a measurement commonly used by design professionals that measures the amount of light reflected from and absorbed by a surface. LRVs range from 0 -100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black.

A great article to read to learn more about LRV is Light Reflectance Value: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

Ballet White has a high LRV of 71.97, which is pretty high on the scale. It’s plainly not the highest, but it will certainly reflect a fair amount of light.

I think it’s always helpful to know what the hue family of a paint color is. It’s very beneficial because it allows you to understand the paint color a bit better, such as what color it may shift to or show in certain qualities of light.

Ballet White comes from the yellow hue family, leaning a bit towards the yellow-red side.

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BM BALLET WHITE COLOR STRIP

Elephant Tusk OC-8
Ballet White OC-9
White Sand OC-10
Clay Beige OC-11
Muslin OC-12
Soft Chamois OC-13
Natural Cream OC-14

IS BALLET WHITE WARM OR COOL?

Ballet White OC-9 is a warm-toned paint color.

If you are struggling to determine whether a paint color is warm or cool, I suggest comparing it to another color you are familiar with.

This lets you see the warmth or coolness better. Visuals always help, so here’s an example

Let’s compare it to Sherwin Williams Passive. Seeing the two colors placed side by side makes it easier for you to spot which is the cool and which is the warm paint color.

In this case, Passive is the cool-toned paint color.

INTERESTED IN MORE WARM PAINT COLORS? CHECK THESE OUT!

DOES BALLET WHITE LOOK YELLOW?

Not really. Ballet White will not look or show overly yellow tones on the walls for the most part. However, depending on the lighting and elements in your home, there is a slight chance.

Remember, it is from the yellow hue family, so there is a possibility. However, if you see a slight yellowness, it’s because of the lighting, fixed elements, and decor around it.

This is why it’s a good idea to test your paint sample in your home.

DOES BALLET WHITE LOOK DINGY?

No, Ballet White isn’t a dingy color. But you need to keep in mind that there is a chance it, or any paint color for that matter, will look dingy or a bit grayed out.

This is because paint colors react to everything around them, including lighting, decor, the color of the floors, and what’s going on outside the window.

With that in mind, if your room already feels dingy, the color may feel the same.

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WHAT UNDERTONES DOES BALLET WHITE HAVE?

Ballet white has undertones of yellow and gray. It’s a warm paint color, and its warmth comes from the yellow hue family. However, it has that little bit of gray to keep it from ever looking straight-up yellow.

Paint colors can appear different depending on the lighting and elements in the space. Everyone’s home is different, so Ballet White may not look the same as someone else’s.

It’s important to remember that undertones and the colors you see a paint color present are strictly reliant on what’s going on around them, such as lighting, decor color, and fixed elements.

Undertones are subjective and not the same for everyone. This is something that really isn’t conveyed enough, and it’s why I push sampling paint colors so much. (possibly too much)

If you are wondering what undertones may appear while using Ballet White, you need to grab a paint sample and test it in your home. It’s the best way to get a precise representation of how the paint color will look.

BM BALLET WHITE, LIGHTING & CARDINAL DIRECTIONS

Lighting is one if not the most, important factors when it comes to what a paint color will look like

It largely impacts how you will perceive a paint color. For this reason, it’s a great idea to be knowledgeable about the lighting condition and the cardinal direction of the room you are choosing the right paint color for.

The table shows the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west, with a brief description of how the light looks from each direction.

NORTH-FACING ROOMS – Light in North-facing rooms comes off cooler and somewhat bluish. Lighter colors will appear more muted, while bolder colors will show up, or appear sounder.

SOUTH-FACING ROOMS – In South-facing rooms, there tends to be a consistently bright light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work with south-facing light, This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem a bit brighter while softer colors will appear to look like they are gleaming.

EAST-FACING ROOMS – East-facing rooms have the brightest light in the mornings, with a yellow-orange tone. If an east-facing room will be used mainly in the evenings, going with a warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light.

WEST-FACING ROOMS – Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the most favorable light. Warmer tones might seem overwhelming because of the red-orange the light gives off. However, if the main use for the room is in the mornings, the colors won’t appear as strong as they would in the evening.

You can expect to see more warmth in south-facing rooms, as well as in the mornings of east-facing rooms and the evenings of west-facing rooms.

Ballet White is a great option for north-facing rooms. Its warmth holds up well to the cooler north light, but it may show a bit more gray.

It’s always worth considering lighting when choosing a paint color. However, you cannot forget about the other elements that influence how a paint color may look.

This includes fixed features like cabinetry, flooring, tiles, etc., as well as the decor colors you choose for your home.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE?

I’m an advocate for testing and sampling paint colors. I wholeheartedly believe it’s a surefire way to see how a paint color will look in a room. I feel as though many people brush over this step in the painting process, and I think it’s wildly insane.

LEARN HOW TO TEST YOUR PAINT SAMPLE THE RIGHT WAY.

GRAB A SAMPLING PAINT COLORS WORKSHEET TO LEARN HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SAMPLES

Remember to swatch your paint colors. Pick up your Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples today!

WHAT’S THE BEST TRIM COLOR FOR BALLET WHITE?

White paint colors are tricky to pair with one another. If done incorrectly, they can look dirty or simply off. For this reason, I find it extremely helpful to share a few white trim paint colors that will work with Ballet White.

BM White Dove
SW Pure White

As I said, mixing whites can be really challenging. And even though Ballet White isn’t a white, white, it still can cause a bit of confusion.

BM Ballet White paint walls and gold frame — via 1932bungalowonpark

That said, I suggest you use it for both walls and trim in different sheens.

A semi-gloss finish is usually used on the trim, so opt for a satin or eggshell for the walls. The difference in sheen (shine) will give you enough of a contrast, plus you know it will match!

WHERE TO USE BALLET WHITE?

BATHROOM

Justdetailspainting on Instagram painted this bathroom using BM Ballet White. You can see how it looks like a very light, soft, neutral off-white/ greige.

You can also see how beautiful it looks with a clean white trim.

LIVING ROOM

Coastalwestpainting on Instagram used Ballet White in this very grand living space. This is a fantastic color to create a clean yet warm and welcoming atmosphere.

DINING ROOM

painted Ballet White Dinig Room with rectangular dining table and chairs — via Jenbaldwinathome

Jennifer @jenbaldwinathome on Instagram has Ballet White on her dining room walls.

It is a great neutral color to use as a backdrop in a room. It is also a great paint color to pair with dark wood.

IS IT A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Yes! Ballet White is a fantastic exterior paint color. As I mentioned earlier, choosing the right white paint color can be a challenge, and that is no different for the exterior.

Colors on the exterior of the home will appear lighter and brighter in the sunlight. Some may also look a bit washed out.

A color like Ballet White is a fantastic option for those who want a white paint color. Its warmth and colorfulness allow it to withstand the sun without looking glaringly stark.

EXPLORE MORE EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS:

WHAT’S THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS EQUIVALENT TO BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE?

There isn’t an exact Sherwin-Williams dupe for Benjamin Moore Ballet White. I have yet to come across any color dupes.

But there are paint colors that are similar.

ARROWROOTE SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK SAMPLE

The SW color that is found to be a close match to Ballet White is:

ARROWROOTE SW 9502 from the Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Edition.

They look nearly identical in the computer swatch.

Keep in mind that the colors on the computer screen are not 100% accurate representations of the actual paint color. This is why you need to sample the paint colors to see how they truly perform.

BALLET WHITE COORDINATING COLORS

Some paint colors are more challenging to coordinate with. These are predominantly white and neutral paint colors. Ballet White can be one of those colors.

Luckily, I have a few colors I’m going to share to inspire you to create your own color palette.

Before I do that, I want to say that if you have two colors and you swatched them and think they look great together, then you are all set. Sometimes, we can get so wrapped up in what others will think or what social media is saying that we forget that it is about what we personally like.

So, if you are happy and like the way colors look together, then run with it. It’s your space, and you have to love it.

As promised, here are a few colors that go well with it.

Kendal Charcoal – TRY IT
Intrigue – TRY IT
Pashmina – TRY IT
Smoky Ash – TRY IT
Puritan gray – TRY IT
Chantilly Lace – TRY IT
Willow – TRY IT
French Beret –TRY IT
Beach Glass – TRY IT

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BALLET WHITE VS SWISS COFFEE

SWISS COFFEE SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK PAINT SAMPLE

Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 83.93, higher than Ballet White’s 71.97
Both colors fall under the white paint color category.
Swiss Coffee is the lighter paint color of the two.
Both are considered warm paint colors
Ballet White has more color/saturation and depth

BALLET WHITE VS SW ALABASTER

ALABASTER SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK PAINT SAMPLE

Alabaster has an LRV of 82, higher than BW’s LRV of 71.97
Alabaster is the lighter paint color of the two colors.
Both are categorized as white paint colors on the SW website.
Ballet White has more depth and color/ saturation to it.
Both are warm paint colors and are from the yellow hue family.

READ MORE: ALABASTER FULL REVIEW

BALLET WHITE VS WHITE DOVE

WHITE DOVE SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK PAINT SAMPLE

White Dove has an LRV of 85.38, much higher than BW’s 71.97
Both are warm-toned paint colors
White Dove is lighter
BW has more depth and colorfulness to it.
White Dove is a white paint color, and BW is more of an off-white neutral.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We have made it to the end of this paint color review, and I have a few thoughts.

I will start off by saying I like Benjamin Moore Ballet White. I think it’s a fantastic paint color. Is it going to be the color for everyone? No, of course not.

I think it is a fantastic option for those of you who want a neutral white paint color that has a bit more depth.

Ballet White is a soft, neutral that has the qualities of a white paint color without being too white.

With grays losing some steam, neutral colors like Ballet White are on the rise. These updated “builder beige” colors are what a lot of people are after now. It’s more of a natural vibe.

If you are moving on from gray and want something a bit different, Benjamin Moore Ballet White might be an excellent place to start.

As always, grab a sample to see if it is the perfect paint color for your home.

GET YOUR SAMPLIZE SAMPLE OF BALLET WHITE TODAY

Benjamin Moore Ballet White

WHAT COLOR IS BALLET WHITE?