Sherwin Williams White Duck (7010): Undertones, Lighting, & Real Home Use
Sherwin Williams White Duck is an off-white, warm neutral paint color. It’s commonly used on interior walls, especially open-concept spaces, but it’s also found in single rooms, on kitchen cabinets, and exteriors.
When it comes to paint colors that are neutral and versatile, Sherwin Williams White Duck is in my top five. Its unique blend of neutral undertones and just-right depth makes it a great option for everything from walls and cabinets to exterior siding – and more!
However, just because it’s one of my favorites doesn’t mean it’s your best color. This is why you do your research and then sample and compare similar shades. And to make your life easier, we’re going to do most of that below!
WHAT TYPE OF PAINT COLOR IS WHITE DUCK?
White Duck is a warm, off-white, neutral paint color that’s an awesome hybrid of cream, tan, and gray. Now, this means its base is cream (yellow). However, whereas some traditional cream paint colors can be a bit obnoxious in their commitment to color (personal opinion), White Duck is toned down with a healthy dollop of gray.
I’d love to tell you whether White Duck’s a beige, greige, tan, or cream, but it’s actually a hybrid that slightly favors cream!
If you have north-facing, afternoon eastern, or morning western light, you may find White Duck leans a bit neutral/muted while still holding to a vague warm base. However, if you have a south-facing light, thanks to its neutral backdrop, it will lean more into cream without going overly yellow.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
DOES IT WORK IN A DARK ROOM?
No color ‘works’ in a dark room – you need better lighting. But in general, White Duck and similar colors can look a bit flat and dingy without adequate lighting (think smoker’s walls). But again, fixable with some good interior lights!
The Best Paint Colors for Dark Rooms
DOES WHITE DUCK LOOK LIKE A CREAM PAINT COLOR?
What you might REALLY be asking is, ‘Will White Duck look overly yellow?‘ Nope. As you learned above, while it’s a warm paint color with a creamy approach, the tan and gray calm it down considerably, making it look far less like a traditional cream paint color!
Personally, I don’t like cream paint colors (I don’t love yellow), but I love White Duck.
If you love cream paint colors but don’t love yellow (which every cream has), this could be a great choice as the yellow is cut back considerably, to the point that sometimes you hardly see it at all (depending on your room’s exposure/surrounding finishes).
By the way, if you’re looking for a cream with more color, check out Sherwin Williams Creamy.
White Duck (looking much grayed-out and more like Pale Oak) with Benjamin Moore Simply White
WHAT’S THE DEPTH (LRV) OF WHITE DUCK?
White Duck’s LRV is 74, which parks at the bottom of the off-white range. While it will hold itself a bit better in a bright room than an off-white with a higher LRV, it can still wash out (learn more HERE).
As mentioned earlier, with this LRV and lack of color (chroma), White Duck can look a touch dingy in a dark room. You need adequate, good interior lighting to support it. Regardless, you might want to sample a warmer cream paint color, creamy white, or a brighter, warm shade of white.
The Best Paint Colors With Wood Finishes
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
WHAT ARE ITS UNDERTONES?
White Duck doesn’t have obvious yellow, orange, pink, or green undertones. It does cater to yellow (cream), but it’s not by much.
Compared to Shoji White, which is very…very similar (we’ll talk more about it shortly), White Duck is more likely to grab green but isn’t overly inclined that way and shouldn’t be a concern unless you’re pairing it with beige finishes or ones with pink undertones.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample…
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR WITH WHITE DUCK?
White Duck is a lover and enjoys many shades of white. However, given current trends, you may even consider painting your trim the same color as your walls. Personally, I’d be careful with this trend. Sure, I might paint it on my walls, trims, and doors in ONE room, but I sure wouldn’t commit to it in my entire home.
Why?
If you want to change wall colors down the road, White Duck will 100% hold you back – it’s not flexible like white trim paint colors.
As for whites that coordinate with it…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White is nice for a slightly softer contrast between trims, cabinets, and walls.
- If you want more contrast between your trims/cabinets and walls, you can go brighter with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
- While some like to partner White Duck with Sherwin Williams Alabaster, it’s ‘okay,’ but White Duck prefers whites with a bit less yellow.
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
HERE’S WHERE IT DOES (& DOESN’T) LOOK GOOD
White Duck can do a lot of things – walls, cabinets, trims, but it can’t do EVERYTHING.
WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIM
Generally speaking, no, White Duck won’t work with traditional cream cabinets and trims – they’re too yellow for it.
While it’s a side profile, here it is on painted cabinets, painted brick, and walls…
However, some creamy cabinets and trims are incredibly toned down, and the rare ones can handle an off-white like this. While I wouldn’t count on it, you may as well try it!
- If it looks dingy and dirty compared to your cream finish, it doesn’t work.
- If it’s lighter (and not as warm) as your cream cabinets and trims – again, no worky turkey-lurkey.
- If your cabinets actually are White Duck, then awesome possum – feel your lil’ cream-colored boots.
The Best Paint Colors With Cream Cabinets & Trims
WHITE DUCK & WOOD TRIMS & CABINETS
White Duck goes with some wood finishes. In particular, it’ll be fussy regarding wood stains with overly pink undertones. Instead, it would rather your wood stain pick up a vague yellow, an orange, a subtle pink or red, or, really, just a nice brownish hue.
As you can see, it’s reasonably happy with this orange wood stain…
REVIEWS: BM Ballet White | BM China White (Sea Pearl) | SW Aesthetic White | SW White Heron
While it can handle a wood stain with some red (below), make sure it doesn’t go too far.
AS AN EXTERIOR HOUSE COLOR…
White Duck can be a stunner on exterior siding, brick, or other surfaces. Its passive warmth will fall back in north— or east-facing light, but can lean creamier/warmer in south-facing or afternoon western light.
Check out this next home in its pink-brick glory…
After, it looks classic and timeless, bathed in White Duck…
The Best Off-White Exterior Paint Colors
And it has the most charming front door, painted in a gorgeous blue-green blend…
While white exteriors had a moment, it’s passed. Instead, I’m seeing many more requests for warm off-whites in my Online Paint Color Consulting. While white is the perfect color for some exteriors, depending on specific exterior features, a gentle off-white can be a more timeless choice…
5 Steps for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Not to say off-white won’t fall out of style either; these things ebb and flow, but if you choose the RIGHT color for the RIGHT home, you’ll get a great lifetime out of it.
DID YOU KNOW? I have an AWESOME YouTube channel, full of color reviews, with dozens more waiting to be published – check it out HERE!
WHITE DUCK AS A CABINET COLOR
COME TO MOMMA – heck yeah, White Duck can be amazeballs on cabinets. Because it’s so muted, with a low chroma (not much undertone), it can be a great off-white paint color for cabinets, nodding at the creamy white world, but less yellow.
As shown on these painted wood cabinets, it’s a great partner to the strong green in the backsplash and countertop…
A brighter white could’ve contrasted more with the green granite countertops, whereas the more gentle approach of White Duck brightens this kitchen while offering a subtler contrast. It’s also great with the wood floor.
Remember, even if you’ve fallen in love with White Duck, make sure your backsplash (first) and countertop (second) coordinate with it. Some kitchen finishes need more white, beige, gray, or even prefer to be left with their natural or stained wood finish!
I recommend comparing similar shades before picking your fave.
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE DUCK
Every color has its own nuances, and there will be no perfect match—you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depth. However, more so than many others, it has some great comparables.
WHITE DUCK COMPARED TO BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE
Ballet White is similar to White Duck in its approach. However, it’s a bit darker (with an LRV of 71.97 to White Duck’s 74). Ballet White also has a bit more color and a slightly creamier look.
Benjamin Moore Ballet White with White Dove trim, front door, and wainscoting.
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Ballet White
WHITE DUCK COMPARED TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE SESAME
There isn’t much difference between White Duck and White Sesame, but those wee shifts can make all the difference.
Starting with depth, White Sesame’s LRV of 73 is 1 point lower, making it a wink darker.
As for undertones, of the 2, White Duck is slightly more inclined toward green, but both are very susceptible to changing in lighting conditions.
If I were to choose my favorite of the 2? Ooooo, probably White Duck, only because I’m so familiar with it. However, as more people use White Sesame (as it’s a newer shade), it could take over.
COLOR REVIEW: Sherwin Williams White Sesame
SHERWIN WILLIAM SHOJI WHITE COMPARED TO WHITE DUCK
If you want to stick with Sherwin Williams, but want to see a lil’ tweak (which is different from a lil’ twerk), check out Sherwin Williams Shoji White, which is the closest match. However, both colors have their sneaky undertones.
Remember, your light bulbs and exposure can greatly affect how your paint color looks!
While they don’t often grab much for undertones, when you compare the two, you might notice that Shoji White looks a tiny bit pinker. While White Duck doesn’t want to pick up green, it might seem that way compared to Shoji White.
Of the two, Shoji White often suits more interior finishes, but they’re both super valid options.
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Shoji White
WHITE DUCK COMPARED TO BM WIND’S BREATH
Wind’s Breath and White Duck are good to compare, as they approach their warmth differently.
Wind’s Breath is darker than White Duck. In gaining this bit of depth, Winds Breath can look more grounded and calming (open to perception). Some might call this grounded look ‘dirty,’ but dirty isn’t always a bad word when it comes to paint colors (or my mind) – sometimes it’s just what a room needs!
Color Review of Benjamin Moore Winds Breath
And if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (i.e., getting Benjamin Moore to make a Sherwin Williams paint color), you might want to read this first.
WHAT COLORS GO WITH WHITE DUCK IN A PALETTE?
Whether you’re looking for a paint color for an adjoining room, a well-placed feature wall, or smaller accents in your room (home decor and furnishings), White Duck has some great partners…
- GRAYS: Gray paint colors that are the same depth or darker, particularly ones with a blue or blue-green undertone. It doesn’t love a purple undertone quite as much, but it depends on which one you’re looking at.
- GREIGES: A ton of gorgeous greige paint colors from the light range, right down to the SUPER darks!
- BLUE-GREENS: Blue-green blends, especially those with a good dose of gray in them.
- DARK BLUE & GREEN: Navy blue and other dark accent colors, including medium and dark shades of green.
- White Duck favors shades of tan over beige (stronger orange undertones), as long as they’re a bit more muted, like Sherwin Williams Sandbar.
- WARM WHITES: While White Duck prefers warm shades of white, it can also handle brighter whites – it just doesn’t work with cool white paint colors.
QUICK SUMMARY (TL;DR)
- Sherwin Williams White Duck is a flexible, warm off-white with creamy tendencies
- Its LRV of 74 offers contrast with white trim while staying light on the walls
- White Duck has very minimal undertones and can occasionally grab a slight green
- It’s super popular for single rooms and entire homes, as well as exterior finishes and kitchen cabinets – it does it all!
READ MORE
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Ballet White
The Best Off-White Paint Colors
The Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors that AREN’T BEIGE!
Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
UPDATED WITH NEW IMAGES & CONTENT FOR 2026
Dear Kylie,
Do you mind my asking–in the fourth room photograph in this post, the photograph of the kitchen with White Duck on the walls and with painted Shaker cabinets–what the cabinet paint color is? It looks wonderful, and I think the countertops in that kitchen are similar to the ones in the home we just purchased. Thank you!
Ahhh, i THINK that might be the one with Edgecomb Gray cabinets?
Thank you for replying so quickly! I will look at Edgecomb Gray!
Nancy
Sea Salt and White Duck….nuff said.
Hi Kylie! Your blog is such a lifesaver. I’ve learned so much about paint from you. We have a colonial style house all wood- I want a white that doesn’t feel too modern because the house is so classic looking. But we have a big front yard and get snow all winter. Are there any creamy whites that don’t look terribly yellow?! Looking at white duck and shoji?!
We have a couple big trees and are planning to do gray shutters and blue green front door 🙂
Oooo, both of these are OFF-WHITES, not whites. I mean, they’ll give you that gentle subdued look, but I don’t want you to think they’re white :). If you want white, you need an LRV of 82+ (something like BM White Dove). This being said, warm whites do have cream/yellow in them and you might be SAFER in these off-whites! Of the 2, I always do White Duck over Shoji as Shoji CAN flash a wink of green.
Can you use white duck on walls and white dove BM on trim and ceiling
ABSOLUTELY!
Kylie,
Do you believe White Duck would look good with natural hickory floors and an earth colored (warm gray/rust browns) stacked stone fireplace? Thanks in advance for your response!
Hey Wendy, it’s SO hard to say without seeing the room. I’d say that off the top of my head, I don’t see any red flags???
No red flags is good enough for me! 😉 I’m gonna go for it! Thank you!
Hi Kylie, Read all your posts. Bought all the off white samplize colors you recommended for painting my cabinets. Have Santa Cecelia granite (brown/ tan tones) and plan to install off white subway tile on backsplash. Have cherry cabinets and the wood is beautiful but heavy and serious in a kitchen. Want two tone look and want to lighten it with off white cabinets upper cabinets. So.. what color do you recommend of the following: white duck, creamy (too yellow), ballet white, Swiss coffee, Navajo white, alabaster, or white dove.
Kaylie,
I have north facing room, low light, oak floors with oak & brown furnishings wanted light & airy. thinking of White duck but would like your suggesttions
Hmmmm, I’m not sure if White Duck will give you light and airy in this low-light room. You might want to raise your LRV and take some gray out :).
I was Thinking of Greek villa, creamy or Alabaster but didn’t want it too stark or yellow.
I’ve been pouring over your blogs & watching your YouTubes which are so awesome , ( just can’t get enough) but stuck in this rabbit hole & hoping you could make some suggestions & rescue me!
Hi Kylie, This is a silly question, but here goes. So I painted my interior white duck a couple of years ago and love it (found it here, thank you!). Now I want to paint the exterior some shade of white (spanish style, stucco home with grayish/brown/taupe color tile roof. Is there any advice on picking a white exterior color given the white duck interior?
This isn’t a silly question at all! For your exterior, it’s MORE about what suits your exterior than your interior. Of course you want things to flow, but not at the cost of how the exterior looks. In general, I would say to lean into warmer whites vs gray or stark ones. Have you considered using White Duck?
That makes sense, thank you! And yes I have considered White Duck, but thought “wait, is that weird to paint the outside and inside the same color?” lol But now I feel like you have given me the, “OK” to consider that, so I shall! It’s a great color, so excited to see if that’s a good exterior option and what trim colors would work. Thanks again!
Kylie,
I have north facing room, low light, oak floors with oak & brown furnishings wanted light & airy. thinking of White duck but you suggested to raise LRV & take the gray out what colors do you suggest? Really appreciate your help with this.I’ve been struggling with this for months!
It’s so hard to say wihtout seeing the room, but it coudl be a good place to start or maybe SW Aestheitc White?
Hi Leslie!
I have the exact same situation and wondered what color you chose for your north facing room. I’ve tried so many colors I haven’t found that “yep that’s it!” Yet
Hi Kylie! Your site is always my first stop in picking paint colors! Our bedroom walls are painted White Duck at 50% (gorgeous!) We have a cabinet in the room that I would like to paint a contrasting color. You mention that White Duck looks great with darker greiges or blues. Are there any specific colors that I should try for the cabinet? Thank you!
You’re amazing and your info and eye are second to none. What do you think of White Duck with red, red-violet, and pink undertone woods?
Ooooo, I’m iffy on it. I would lean more into something like SW Egret White, BM Classic Gray – which aren’t as warm and cream-based, but pick up on those tones a bit more. I actually LOVE White Heron too, but it’s much lighter than White Duck 🙂
Hi Kylie,
What do you think about pairing White Duck with Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth 984?
Thanks for and replies,
Sarah
Hey Sarah! I’t snot my faaave combo as Stone Hearth can come off more beige-taupe to White Duck’s creamy backdrop.
Hey Kylie,
Love your posts. Very informational, Thank you. I am considering SW White duck for inner walls. But confused on if I should be going monochromatic and do the roofs and trims with it as well. Or even if not the trims (thinking SW Pure white for that), atleast the roof. Could use your opinion? Also would like the best color on kitchen cabinets that goes with white duck kitchen walls.
Hey Vino! Based on current trends, doing everything the same color can look LOVELY, but it is just a trend. if you’re okay with that, then it can be great! Pure White is a more timeless approach, for sure. As for the ceiling, it depends on how high they are, how dark/light the rooms are, if they’re textured, but if you do white trim, I would favor white ceilings.
As for kitchen cabinets, it 95% depends on your countertop and backsplash – not your walls!
Yet another fantastic post, thank you Kylie! On your advice I have steered away from 75% lightened edgecombe (due to the pink undertones) and found white duck to be an awesome alternative. How would BM Inukshuk pair for the doors? I find revere pewter too grey/purple and there isn’t enough contrast with full strength edgecombe (LRV difference is only about 12). Thanks again, you’ve saved me from a few poor choices already 🙂
Hey, I have watched so many of your videos and still struggling in ceiling color
I do like White Duck with Chantilly Lace or High Reflective White trim to create contract but I am not sure what color I should be painting my ceiling? Should it be same color as trim or some different white? I am not a fan of cold tones.
Hey Desi, I would definitely do it the same white as the trim for consistency and flow 🙂 and would favor Chantilly Lace!
Thanks you for responding so quickly, you are awesome.
Thank you for your extremely helpful reviews! I’m getting ready to paint the exterior of a fairly large, Southern Colonial with front porch. It is northeast facing. Lots of trees on the edges of the property, but no shade from them. Looking at a blue-green like High Park, Green Smoke, or something similar for shutters. Would White Duck be a good choice for siding with the orientation and shutter colors in mind? Not going for stark white. More of a muted (not overly yellow) creamy off-white.
Hi Kylie, first off I read your blogs everyday! I love your wicked, badass, mad love comments and your color pairing expertise : ) I’m painting my stucco exterior and strongly steering toward the BM Kendall Charcoal, will SW white duck be a match for a pop out color (pop outs) which is the exterior trim around the outside of my almond yucky colored framed windows? I have a ranch dormer craftsman looking house.
I am SO frustrated trying to get the best match on the pop outs and trim for my house (and if they should be the same color) I have a black/gray charcoal roof. I APPRECIATE if you could let me know if white duck will work with the kendall charcoal/almond framed window casing. My house is starting to look like a kindergarten paint class.
Hey Patricia! first, thanks for loving my humor :). Second, when I first read Kendall Charcoal, I was like YES, awesome color. Then when I read about doing the pop-outs a different color, I got nervous. I mean, it can depend on the house, but often, ONE color is a nicer approach. What about doing ALL Kendall Charcoal on the siding/trims? I mean, I haven’t seen your home, so I can’t say, but sometimes simple is best. Or, check out SW Accessible Beige/Aesthetic White for the trims and see how that flows with the windows (White Duck miiiiight be a bit too yellow, but it can depend on how old the windows are/brand/aging/etc…)
I hope this helps a bit!!! 🙂
Hey Kylie thank you so much for your prompt response! I’m telling you I was reading your blog on accessible beige and about choked on my coke LOL! “If you said the word ‘beige’ to me a few years ago, I would’ve started twitchin’ and drinkin’ in the corner just thinking about all the ‘builder beiges’ from the early 2000” I’m a Realtor and I know about the wave of beige! I have a ranch craftsman house with dormers that is completely beige! I really want the craftman looking house with the best colors.
I’ll try your expert suggestions on the Accesible Beige/Aesthetic White on trim/pop outs (hate these things) I assume you meant all trim including fascia/soffit/windows with the Kendall Charcoal at 25% lighter.
BTW I LOVE your house with the Roycroft pewter, gonna try that too with the white dove.
Haha, I’m so glad you connected with that post and it’s so true! Luckily the new beiges are SO much better than the older, heavier ones!
We are renovating a kitchen in an 1840s Greek revival farmhouse. Kitchen cabinets are Cabinet Joint antique white, which is most closely matched to SW White Duck. Island is natural walnut. We are installing a tongue and groove ceiling and trying to decide what to paint it. Room is north facing. Considering Pure White or Snowbound in eggshell finish. Do you think this is a good choice? Haven’t decided on wall color either.
Hey Katie! It’s SO h ard to say without seeing the kitchen and the countertops, along with the quality of light! I wouldn’t do Snowbound, for sure, and my gut worries that Pure White could be a bit TOO white, but again, that can depend on the other finishes in the room! What about getting White Duck lightened by 75% and see if that looks good (it USUALLY works, but sometimes the undertones change too much).
In your blog re white duck you have a photo of white duck on walls in a room with beautiful wood trim. In the photo is a room in the distance with a note indicating that the wall color in that room is not white duck. Can you tell me what that other paint color is. My family room sits off my kitchen much the way the two rooms in the photo do!!
Oh, I wish I knew! Off the TOP is looks pinkish, which has me thinking along the lines of BM Pale Oak 🙂