Benjamin Moore White Dove Vs Swiss Coffee: What's the Difference?

With so many gorgeous off-whites and neutrals to choose from, it can be hard to pick the perfect shade for your home. Two of Benjamin Moore’s most popular are White Dove OC-17 and Swiss Coffee OC-45. But what sets these beautiful, muted paint colors apart?

In this guide, we’ll analyze White Dove and Swiss Coffee in depth, comparing undertones, finishes, light reflectance, real photos, and ideal room uses. Read on to determine if White Dove or Swiss Coffee is the best soft neutral for your interior design.

Key Differences Between White Dove and Swiss Coffee

Before diving into details, here is an overview of the main differences between White Dove and Swiss Coffee:

Undertones – White Dove has subtle warm pink, Swiss Coffee has brown beige
Light Reflectance – White Dove has an LRV of 83.16, Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91
Look – White Dove is brighter and crisper, Swiss Coffee is darker and richer
Use – White Dove suits airy spaces, Swiss Coffee better for cozy rooms
Rooms – White Dove recommended for kitchens, baths; Swiss Coffee ideal for living areas

Now let’s explore White Dove and Swiss Coffee Benjamin Moore paint colors more closely.

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

A perennial favorite, White Dove OC-17 is the quintessential warm white. This versatile neutral provides a clean, welcoming backdrop.

Here are some key facts about White Dove:

LRV: 83.16
Undertones: Subtle pink beige
Sheen: Available in all sheens
Rooms: Whole home, especially kitchens and baths
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens, yellows

White Dove lives up to its name with a crisp white appearance coupled with the softest warm beige-pink undertone. In certain lighting, the pinkish tint emerges lending a gentle radiance.

With an 83.16 light reflectance value, White Dove supplies sufficient brightness for most spaces without feeling stark. The barely perceptible warmth prevents a sterile feel.

This versatile favorite complements both cool and warm palettes equally. Especially popular combinations include:

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Chili Pepper Red

Use White Dove to infuse spaces with quiet warmth and refinement. This elegant neutral backdrop works across styles from modern to farmhouse. It’s recommended for:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Living rooms
Dining rooms

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

A beloved neutral, Swiss Coffee OC-45 is the epitome of a soft, welcoming brown. This versatile beige provides a comforting, gentle backdrop.

Here are some key details about Swiss Coffee:

LRV: 81.91
Undertones: Warm brown beige
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, pearl
Rooms: Whole home, especially living areas
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens, browns

Swiss Coffee is a milk chocolate brown with warm yellow-beige undertones. In certain lights it can shift between cocoa and sandy tan. This adaptability allows use across styles.

With a 81.91 light reflectance value, Swiss Coffee provides enough brightness for cozy spaces without seeming dark or dreary. The noticeable warmth gives it a welcoming vibe.

This refined neutral effortlessly layers with wood tones, terra cotta, and fabrics. Especially popular pairings include:

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Southampton Blue
Benjamin Moore Essex Green
Benjamin Moore Mahogany

Use Swiss Coffee to create comfortable, livable spaces with character and charm. This cozy backdrop helps rooms feel intimate and relaxed. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Living rooms
Bedrooms
Offices
Dining rooms

Comparing White Dove and Swiss Coffee

Now that we’ve looked at White Dove and Swiss Coffee individually, let’s directly compare the two Benjamin Moore paint colors:

Light Reflectance

With LRVs of 83.16 and 81.91 respectively, White Dove reflects noticeably more light than the darker Swiss Coffee. However, both offer enough brightness for their typical use cases.

Undertones

Here is where the main difference lies. White Dove has the subtlest hint of warm beige-pink. Swiss Coffee has distinct yellow-brown undertones.

White Dove’s barely perceptible pinkness gives it a clean, bright look. Swiss Coffee’s brown warmth provides a cozy feel.

Uses

Thanks to its higher reflectance, White Dove works well throughout homes for a cohesive look. Its tone remains flexible across styles.

Swiss Coffee’s enveloping warmth makes it ideal for living areas where an inviting vibe is preferred. Darker colors suit it to intimate spaces.

Aesthetic

White Dove’s faint pinkness gives it an elegant, transitional aesthetic. This makes it beautifully suited to both contemporary and traditional spaces.

Swiss Coffee’s noticeable brown undertone provides a welcoming, organic look. This makes it ideal for traditional, rustic, or farmhouse styles.

White Dove vs Swiss Coffee Comparison Chart

Here is an overview of some key differences between White Dove and Swiss Coffee:

Paint Color	White Dove OC-17	Swiss Coffee OC-45
LRV	83.16	81.91
Undertones	Pink beige	Brown beige
Use	Kitchens, baths, trim	Living rooms, bedrooms
Aesthetic	Transitional	Traditional, rustic
Sheen	All sheens	Flat, eggshell, satin, pearl

Real Room Photos – White Dove vs Swiss Coffee

To better visualize how White Dove and Swiss Coffee compare, let’s look at real room photos showcasing the Benjamin Moore paint colors:

White Dove

A perennial favorite, White Dove OC-17 is the quintessential warm white. This versatile neutral provides a clean, welcoming backdrop.

Here are some key facts about White Dove:

LRV: 83.16
Undertones: Subtle pink beige
Sheen: Available in all sheens
Rooms: Whole home, especially kitchens and baths
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens, yellows

White Dove lives up to its name with a crisp white appearance coupled with the softest warm beige-pink undertone. In certain lighting, the pinkish tint emerges lending a gentle radiance.

With an 83.16 light reflectance value, White Dove supplies sufficient brightness for most spaces without feeling stark. The barely perceptible warmth prevents a sterile feel.

This versatile favorite complements both cool and warm palettes equally. Especially popular combinations include:

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Chili Pepper Red

Use White Dove to infuse spaces with quiet warmth and refinement. This elegant neutral backdrop works across styles from modern to farmhouse. It’s recommended for:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Living rooms
Dining rooms

Swiss Coffee

A beloved neutral, Swiss Coffee OC-45 is the epitome of a soft, welcoming brown. This versatile beige provides a comforting, gentle backdrop.

Here are some key details about Swiss Coffee:

LRV: 81.91
Undertones: Warm brown beige
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, pearl
Rooms: Whole home, especially living areas
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens, browns

Swiss Coffee is a milk chocolate brown with warm yellow-beige undertones. In certain lights it can shift between cocoa and sandy tan. This adaptability allows use across styles.

With a 81.91 light reflectance value, Swiss Coffee provides enough brightness for cozy spaces without seeming dark or dreary. The noticeable warmth gives it a welcoming vibe.

This refined neutral effortlessly layers with wood tones, terra cotta, and fabrics. Especially popular pairings include:

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Southampton Blue
Benjamin Moore Essex Green
Benjamin Moore Mahogany

Use Swiss Coffee to create comfortable, livable spaces with character and charm. This cozy backdrop helps rooms feel intimate and relaxed. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Living rooms
Bedrooms
Offices
Dining rooms

In the photos, White Dove appears significantly brighter and crisper than the darker, richer Swiss Coffee. But lighting affects their look – they can seem more similar in some conditions.

Should I Choose White Dove or Swiss Coffee?

So how do you decide between White Dove vs Swiss Coffee for your home? Here are a few tips:

Choose White Dove if you want:

A clean white with subtle warm undertones
Brighter, more open and airy spaces
Flexibility to complement cool or warm color schemes
A refined backdrop across styles

Choose Swiss Coffee if you want:

A darker beige-brown with yellow undertones
A cozy, enveloping look for living areas
To warm up and soften bright whites
An earthy, organic feel

It’s best to get samples of both paint colors. Paint large sections on your walls and view at different times of day. This will give you the clearest sense of which hue you prefer in your unique environment.

While quite different, both White Dove and Swiss Coffee are gorgeous. Choose according to the look and feel you want to achieve.

Ideal Room Combinations

Here are some rooms that are particularly well-suited to White Dove and Swiss Coffee:

White Dove OC-17

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Ceilings
Hallways
Offices

Swiss Coffee OC-45

Living rooms
Bedrooms
Dining rooms
Libraries
Entryways

With their refined hues, White Dove and Swiss Coffee work well throughout homes. But the above applications tend to perfectly complement each shade’s strengths.