Why I Hate to Love this White Paint Colour

Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace is one of the most popular white paints and for good reason. Just like Goldilocks’ perfect porridge, it’s not too warm or too cool, so it will pair with many different shades.

Within the Benjamin Moore lineup, Chantilly Lace is probably as close as you can get to a pure white. It’s clean and bright with almost no undertone. (There’s the faintest hint of grey.) But while this makes Chantilly Lace a reliable white to tie other paint colours together when used on baseboards, trim, doors and ceilings — I’m not a white wall gal — it’s also its downfall.

Chantilly Lace does not provide great coverage and I have experienced this first-hand. Instead of applying two top coats of paint, you’ll need a third (and sometimes fourth) over a primed surface so it looks its best and most solid. This costs more in time and money.

Is it worth it?

The answer is subjective. As much as I gripe about having to apply coat after coat, the finished result feels so fresh and modern that it wins me over every time.