Sherwin Williams Pure White (7005): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
Sherwin Williams Pure White is a warm, soft white paint color. It works beautifully on interior trim, as well as kitchen cabinets and walls.
Warm white paint colors like Pure White can change how they look throughout the day. Surrounding finishes, exposure, and light bulbs all play a part in their appearance.
As for popularity, white is still moderately in style—and not just for wine, sneakers, and SUVs; while it’s timeless on cabinets and trims, it’s still showing up on walls and exteriors.
Will it be hot in the coming years?
Again, some white surfaces (like cabinets) will always be timeless, but we’re moving away from this low-contrast look and into more organic, natural palettes. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t still love your white scheme, whether it’s trendy or not!
But sadly, not every home can pull off white walls. The stars need to align with regard to exposures, finishes, furnishings, and tastes to pull off a white paint palette.
Luckily, I have Online Color Consulting clients with just the right style, furnishings, and spaces to pull off white walls, and in MANY cases, Sherwin Williams Pure White is the number one choice!
It’s also my 2nd fave white in the world (aren’t you dying to know my first? It starts with char and ends with donnay).
Seriously, though, keep reading, and you’ll discover a few of my OTHER favorite white paint colors. Stop reading, and you’ll get a spankin’ with a wet noodle.
In the images below, you’ll see rooms in the warm sun of Hawaii, the cool gray of Vancouver Island, as well as a whole range of exposures and lighting, showing you the massive versatility of this awesome white paint color.
So, without FURTHER ado, let’s check out this wicked white…
IS SW PURE WHITE WARM OR COOL?
As you’ve probably figured out, Pure White is one of the most versatile, flexible, and popular white paint colors on the market—but it’s not a true white. It has a soft, passive warmth without looking as creamy as some other whites. Pure White works well for walls, trims, cabinets, and exterior siding!
If you want a warm white with only a wink of yellow (as you won’t find a popular warm white without it), Pure White could be the color for you.
WHAT’S THE LRV OF PURE WHITE?
Pure White has an LRV of 84, so I call it a soft white – it’s not stark but not overly creamy, either.
Pure White looks gorgeous on the cabinets, walls, and trims in this updated kitchen.
Bright white paint colors sit closer to the 90+ range. Off-whites run from around 73-81.
With an LRV of 84, Pure White has the potential to act like white without being stark.
If it looks stark, compare it to something that really IS white (like Sherwin Williams High Reflective White) and see the shift.
On the other hand, if Pure White doesn’t appear white enough, compare it to Sherwin Williams Alabaster (we’ll compare them shortly). I often compare Alabaster to my butt cheeks, and that lets me know they’re PLENTY white.
If you aren’t familiar with LRV, you should take a gander here—it’s kind of a big deal and a GAME-changer when it comes to choosing the best paint color for your room.
WHAT ARE PURE WHITE’S UNDERTONES?
Pure White has a soft warmth in the form of a wee wink of black (which just softens it) and a drop of yellow, which makes it slightly warm. But really, when I say SLIGHTLY…I ain’t kiddin’.
And like any shade of white, Pure White can easily pick up color from its surroundings. In the above photo, Pure White appears a bit crisper and cleaner, whereas in this next photo, it looks a bit softer and warmer…
In this next photo, at the top, the wall is getting hit by a SOLID dose of northern light, and look at how cool it looks (literally and figuratively).
This means that if you have a bright red couch, Pure White could reflect a subtle pink hue. If you have tons of grass or landscaping, it could pick up a wee wink o’ green.
It isn’t always about the white you choose BEING those colors, it’s about what your white paint color is reflecting back at you, which leads us to our next topic…exposure.
PURE WHITE IN A SOUTH OR WEST-FACING ROOM
South-facing light is warm and slightly yellow, which plays well into the subtle warmth of Pure White. Could it look too yellow? That’s open to perception, keeping in mind that ANY white will pick up the warmth of southern or western sunshine. For me? Heck no.
In a west-facing room, you won’t get that same warm glow in the morning when the sun is on the opposite side, but as the afternoon progresses, things will warm up nicely.
However, if you have a south-facing room and don’t love warm whites, you might want to make an abrupt shift into a different type of white or explore a soft gray, cool blue, or green hue.
PURE WHITE IN A NORTH-FACING ROOM
Northern light is a cool gray light. In a north-facing room, you might find Pure White has a slightly cleaner edge than the softness you’d find in other lights. If you have a north-facing room and want a really warm, soft white, you may want to choose another white paint color, as it might not be warm enough.
I personally LOVE warm whites, but in my north-facing rooms, Pure White isn’t warm enough. If my whole home were south-facing – HECK YES.
North, South, East, West: Which Paint Color is the Best?
Here’s your 9×12 Peel & Stick sample of Pure White…
WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH PURE WHITE WALLS?
If you pair Pure White with a brighter white (since it doesn’t suit a white with a similar/same LRV), you risk Pure White looking dingy or ‘off’ compared to the brighter white. While some people partner Pure White with Alabaster, it barely makes the cut and is one of the few that’s okay…
The best white trim or cabinet color OR the best wall color if you have Pure White trim and cabinets is…Pure White. This approach lets the change in sheen between finishes do the work for you without changing COLORS and risking clashing undertones.
Do My White Walls, Trims, & Cabinets Need to Match?
This next photo is a fabulous example of Pure White in its FULL glory – walls, ceiling, trims, and cabinets.
IS PURE WHITE A GOOD KITCHEN CABINET COLOR?
Hells, yeah! As shown above (and below), Pure White is a gorgeous cabinet choice. It generally looks like white without being as stark as traditional whites. It’s also versatile and suits a wide range of popular quartz countertop choices.
Pure White is ABSOLUTELY in my top three white paint colors for cabinets.
THE FIVE Best FOOL-PROOF White Paint Colors
Check out my CURATED KITCHEN PALETTES using Pure White cabinets!
Also, because I have wicked cool clients who send me after-photos, I can show you how Pure White shifts from day to night!
Pure White in the daytime with no light bulbs…
And Pure White in the early evening with light bulbs (lower the Kelvins of your bulbs for this softer, warmer look)…
In the above photo, you can see how Pure White softens a little bit with the warm bulbs compared to the brighter look of the previous photo. This is the LIGHT warming up Pure White, not Pure White itself.
IS PURE WHITE A POPULAR EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?
Whether you’re painting your siding, trim, garage door, or brick, Pure White is one of the top shades.
Why?
The Best Medium-Depth Greige, Taupe, & Mushroom Paint Colors
Whereas some whites are stark and startling, Pure White does the job of being DARN WHITE without being as stark. This being said, your natural light is only going to increase its brightness, so make sure a ‘white house’ is what you really want and not a flexible off-white (more so for siding than trim – it’s a fab trim choice).
Thank you to my Online Color Consulting clients and readers for sending your photos in – I couldn’t do this without you!
WHAT PAINT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO PURE WHITE?
You won’t find an exact match for ANY color between brands – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths. However, there are some with similar intentions but different approaches…
PURE WHITE vs. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE
This is a great comparison, as White Dove is my favorite white and one of Benjamin Moore’s best-selling shades.
Now, if we’re talking depth, White Dove (LRV 83.16) is a bit darker than Pure White, which is 84. But let’s be honest: This difference is fractional, at best, and for all intents and purposes, they’re the same depth.
On that note, do White Dove and Pure White go together? No. There, that was easy!
White Dove usually looks a bit warmer than this.
As for undertones and temperature, this is where you’ll see a noticeable difference. White Dove is more of a creamy white compared to Pure White. While both have warmth, Pure White is super subtle, whereas White Dove is more purposeful (without being overwhelming in its warmth/yellow undertone).
White Dove with Benjamin Moore Ballet White (left wall) and Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray (right wall)
If you have a south-facing room or one with intense afternoon western sunshine, you might like how Pure White handles the light. On the other hand, if your room is north-facing, White Dove might give you that wink o’ warmth you need!
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
PURE WHITE vs ALABASTER
While Pure White is more popular than Alabaster for the average home, I have many Online Color clients who’ve fallen for Alabaster’s softness!
Starting with depth, Alabaster (LRV 82) is darker than Pure White (84). While two points aren’t drastic, it’s enough to have Alabaster politely winking at the off-white world and looking much softer than Pure White.
It’s easy to see the pretty softness of Alabaster in this mudroom/entry.
As for undertones, Alabaster has a much more noticeable creamy warmth. This warmth makes it a bit more popular with many of the older granite countertops, but it ALSO makes Pure White’s reduced warmth a bit better suited to many of the more modern white quartz countertops.
Which white is better for your kitchen cabinets? It depends on your finishes!
As for exposures, Alabaster can be pretty darn warm for a room with south-facing or western afternoon light (if you’re sensitive to a creamier look). On the other hand, its creamy white warmth makes it a beautiful choice for cool north-facing rooms or even some with flat eastern light.
For the BEST colors to compare with Pure White, check out my CURATED WARM WHITE COLOR BUNDLE.
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster
PURE WHITE vs EXTRA WHITE
We need to have a chat. If I’m specifying a white paint color and have these two shades to choose from, I choose Pure White 99% of the time.
Why?
Extra White is tricky. If you compare Pure White and Extra White in the fan deck, you’ll see that Extra White looks crisp and BLUE. However, when you order Extra White in a cabinet or trim paint, it comes home a bit warm/yellow. Why you can’t get the same color across all lines and finishes is beyond me, but you can’t. Or sometimes you can, but not with EVERY line and sheen. Ooooof. I’ve had this problem with Extra White and White Dove. I’m yet to have it with Pure White (and if I did, there wouldn’t be a ton I could do about it).
Extra White shown with Sherwin Williams Guild Gray – found in this blog post
The next image shows Extra White with Alabaster walls. Based on what you see in the fan deck, you’d never put Alabaster and Extra White together. However, given how warm Extra White can look in trim paint, it looks pretty amazeballs…
Does Extra White have the potential to be perfect? Heck yes. However, I’m always left second-guessing how it’s REALLY going to turn out.
To sum it up, Pure White is more predictable, so it’s my go-to. As for depth, Extra White (86) has a slightly higher LRV than Pure White’s LRV of 84.
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Extra White
WHAT COLORS GO WITH PURE WHITE?
Oh boy, where do I even start? Pure White is super flexible and humors a wide range of colors. Let’s look at what does AND DOESN’T work…
- Both warm and cool grays – although it can be fussy with fresh, cool grays with noticeable undertones.
- Light to medium taupe paint colors often love Pure White as their trim or cabinet partner.
- Greige paint colors of any depth can look gorgeous with Pure White trim and cabinets.
- ‘Colors’ (e.g., blue, green, purple), as long as they have some gray to calm them down—no clean colors.
- Pure White is super fussy with cream colors and only humors the most muted, passive shades of cream and off-white.
- Pure White can work with some beige and tan paint colors, but beige must be muted (grayed out), not overly rich and warm.
Pure White ceiling, trims, and built-ins with Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath
PROS & CONS: A SUMMARY OF PURE WHITE
- PRO: Pure White’s LRV makes a soft white paint color, not a bright one. This makes it flexible with a wide range of interior finishes.
- PRO: More so than many other whites, Pure White suits many of today’s most popular white quartz countertops, even some of the warmer ones.
- CON: Pure White is the least warm of the warm whites and doesn’t always have the needed look for finishes that suit a softer, slightly creamier approach to white.
- CON: Pure White doesn’t have the brightness of brighter whites (higher LRVs) or the warmth of other soft, warm whites. For this reason, some people find it lacking personality.
- PRO/CON: Pure White suits a wide range of paint colors, but can be fussy with warmer shades of cream and beige.
- PRO: Pure White is a popular color for exterior trim when you don’t want a super bright white, but want a white that’s softer than white windows.
READ MORE
The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
The 4 Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colors
How to Pick the Best White for Your Cabinets or Vanity
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
Get the best color advice…
Check out my Online Color Consulting packages!
Originally written in late 2018, it was updated and improved in 2025!
I just had my picket fence stained with SW pure white! Came out great.
Nice choice – it’s pretty darned versatile!
What would be your favorite (light) colors to complement Pure White? Saying I used Pure White in a whole home with a lot of west light, but truly all directions, for ceiling, trim and cabinetry, what are your top coordinating wall colors? Alabaster seems to go a bit too yellow in some of the rooms. Pure White is feeling a bit too stark! Lots of gray, blue and white tiles.
Hi, I just read your blog thank you for all the info. I was wondering what you think of SW Pure White vs. BM Simply White? I’m remodeling a kitchen, and did one coat of Chantilly Lace and it is a bit too blue/chilly for my taste. The room gets almost no direct sunlight and has south facing windows at the far end. I’m stuck! 😉
Hi Kathryn! Now i haven’t seen your countertop/backsplash, which can make a BIG difference in your choice, but I lean into Pure White unless you want a more noticeable warmth/yellow in the paint. Pure white could be a nice happy medium between Simply White and Chantilly Lace :).
Hi Kylie,
I found this post you made on white paint very helpful..I’m feel a bit stuck though because my kitchen faces NW and I’m looking for that “white kitchen” look. My countertop is white but sometimes looks like a light gray (Aurea stone in Paragon), cabinets (upper and lowers on the perimeter) will be white and my island will be an off-black. I’m terrified of picking a white for my cabinets that will set off a yellow tone. What color would you suggest for this? Also, I was thinking white walls…would I pick the same white as cabinets for the walls? I haven’t picked a back splash yet either. it’s all so very overwhelming!
Thank you
Hi! I know this is a random comment to leave and I’m not sure if it will be seen but I also have Aurea Stone Paragon countertops! Can I ask what color you went with?
Thank you!
Really enjoy your posts. Very helpful. I have a quick question. What trim colour goes best with BM white dove – BM simply white or SW pure white.
Hi! I recently moved into a new home where the walls are SW Pure White (matte), and they painted the trim SW Ceiling Bright White. Unfortunately, the trim looks gray, and we want to repaint the trim. What color and finish do you recommend?
Thanks!
I am doing pure white color for ceiling, trim and cabinets. Would you recommend doing the walls color pure white also or Alabaster would be a good choice for wall color? Or alabaster won’t look good on the walls with pure white trim, doors and cabinets?
Hi Vadim! If it were me, I’d go for consistency and stick with Pure White on all of those surfaces and just let the change in paint sheen do the shifting for you!
Hi! I’m building a house and the kitchen perimeter cabinets will be SW Pure White. The island will be BM Hale Navy. I’m having trouble picking a white quartz with large (preferably gray) veining. I love MSI Calacatta Laza but I’m not sure how it will look against the pure white. Any quartz countertops that you love with the pure white? Unfortunately, with the restrictions due to Covid 19 we are unable to go to any stores to see in person.
Curious if pure white went with your calcatta laza countertops? I am having the same issue.
HI Kylie,
Thank you for all of the great advice and videos you offer. You have helped me tremendously as we are in middle of a new build. My cabinet maker only uses SW paints. If we chose the Pure White for cabinets, doors and trim through out the house, would it go well with my favorite paint color from BM, Edgecomb Gray.
Could I pair Edgecomb gray walls with trim in Pure White from SW?
Thank you.
You betcha!
Thank you!!
NOOOOOO! I mean that no nicely :). I would keep the whites consistent and with Classic Gray (assuming it’s SW Classic French Gray?)and would lean WAY more into Pure White as BM Alabaster can grab some weird undertones (slightly pink…). If you meant BM Classic Gray, then I would still do SW Pure White. If you mean SW Alabaster, I would still do Pure White (as SW Alabaster could be a wink warm/yellow).
I hope that helps!
Very interesting considering the one house on VI.
Imagine yourself driving down a longish driveway into the woods, in Sooke. You come up on a stereotipycal 1050sqft carriage home with garage down, living up. Facing you is the 500sqft vaulted ceiling great room with 10 1/2 foot windows in the front. With windows facing north west. Some direct light in the morning.
I’m wanting to go all white but avoid the greys coming out. I have ‘settled’ on BM Simply White from all I’ve read (including your blogs) but from a price perspective SW PW is much less than BM SW. Any thoughts?
Hmmm. I do love Simply White and the yellow in it could help counteract the grays that bit, whereas Pure White does have a more muted (but still warm) base. Colour matching is usually a hot mess. I do wonder though if you’ve looked at SW Alabaster. Sometimes if they can add a few shots of white to the gallon it cleans it up a bit and improves the coverage. It is WARMER and creamier than Simply White, with more of the body of Pure White (with a bit less neutral undertone). PERSONALLY, I’m a BIG Pure White fan and would probably lean into it regardless 😉
I hope that helps, would love to see how it turns out!
Very much so. Many thanks. I’ll be sure to post a pic. ????
Just read your 4 best whites for cabinets post. Oxford White!
Love all your stuff! I have two questions: First, during these crazy COVID 19 times, are you still offering your E-Design package options? And second, can a package include new perimeter kitchen cabinet color and stain choices for the island?
Thanks!
Hi Jean, you bet I am! We open up at 8am most days and often sell-out quite quickly! And I can do the cabinets for sure, but generally stay away from stain recommendations as it can depend on the brand/type of wood/etc…so I just stick with paint colours :).
Hi Kylie! First of all, can I just say that I have read hundreds of interior design blogs (especially about choosing white paints), and yours is by FAR the best! Thanks so much for taking the time to educate the rest of us on whites – you are such a wealth of knowledge! So after reading many (and I mean many!) of the articles you posted regarding whites, I’m wondering what you think about pairing Pure White walls with BM Dove White trim to “ease” the transition between stark white walls and warm taupey/beigy crema marfill marble floors?
Some context: I know you mentioned pure white walls and trim (and letting the sheen change between the 2) as the best option for pure white walls, but we tested it and found it may be too stark for the beigey/taupey crema marfill tile floors we inherited. We are trying to go with an all white wall look to make our house a lot more contemporary/modern to suit our taste, though, and we’re not a fan of overly yellow walls. We do have crown mouldings in the ceiling areas (most ceilings are high) and traditional, thick looking baseboards. Pure White on trim + walls seems a bit stark, and White Dove walls seem a bit too creamy. I guess Snowbound Trim + walls could be a possibility, too, but it also looks a bit stark in several of the rooms.
What’s your take on whether BM Dove White Trim could work with SW Pure White walls if the floor is a beigy marble? Would you recommend this? Would love to hear your thoughts on this combo of 2 of your fave colors! 🙂
There is no Chardonnay in Sherwin Williams. I was wondering what your first choice was….
She’s referring to her love of white wine.
This is true! And thanks for catching that Melanie, at first I was confused :).
Hello! Thanks for this post. I wonder if Pure White will go well with Shoji White trims. I don’t want to paint the trims at least for now and they are shoji white.
Hi Kylie!
I love your posts. Seriously some of the best advice when it comes to paint colors. I never knew about LRV and why it’s important until I came across your blog. I am sort of stumped on picking a white for my kitchen walls trim and doors. The kitchen has north and east facing windows and seems on the darker side. The cabinets are painted SW Dorian Gray, the countertops are concrete with a white subway backsplash and charcoal gray tile floor. I want a softer tad bit warm white. I am considering either SW Alabaster and SW Pure White. This would be the same trim and door color through the entire house with SW Gossamer Veil on the rest of the walls. Would painting the walls, trim and doors all the same color be too much of one color? Again thank you for your content.
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa, it’s SUPER IMPORTANT that the white you choose matches the white in your backsplash. If it’s more yellow (ie: Alabaster probably will be, even though it’s a lovely warm white) it could look yellow in comparison to the brighter look of traditional white subway tile. Pure White could be a happy medium as it probably isn’t as white, but at least it’s less yellow! Really, High Reflective White is often a closer choice :).
I am getting ready to paint my kitchen cabinets and have a dilemma. My kitchen ceiling and wainscoting in the adjacent dinning room are Simply White. (Butcher block countertops) I’m afraid I won’t like the Simply White on the cabinets. Can I get away with Pure White, Cloud White, or
White Dove without repainting everything? My cabinets do not reach the ceiling and the dinning room is adjacent but not an open floor plan. I’ll repaint if I have too, but would really rather not!
I love your blog and Instagram and am so thankful for it!. I have been a student of your blog for a year now and you have helped me tremendously! Picking paint colors has always caused me so much anxiety, but your information has given me confidence to start trying!
Aww, I’m so glad to hear that! And don’t worry, while I can advise people ALL DAY LONG, I get massive (massive) anxiety when choosing colours for my own home, so I get it!
So, if it were ME and I were you, I would probably hit SW Pure White on the cabinets and hope that the change in rooms/exposure/lighting fudges any shifts (which it really SHOULD). The goal is that only YOU would know they were different whites :). Actually, check out BM Oxford White too…:)
Hi Kylie,
I have enjoyed several YouTube videos and reviews on colors! I’m repainting my entire interior of my home. The majority of my windows including a 12 ft slider and a 10 ft slider are east facing (morning sun). I have Versailles pattern travertine floors. I’ve decided on Neutral ground for my walls but deciding what white to use on trim for my baseboards, new doors, trim and staircase. I’ve narrowed down to pure white or chantilly lace. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.
Warm Regards,
Diana
Hi Diana! Of the 2, I LEAN into Sherwin Williams Pure White as it’s that bit softer. I also love the slightly whiter approach of BM Oxford White, which isn’t AS white as Chantilly Lace :).
Hello!! Ok, I’ve been losing sleep over cabinet color lol. I love the sw Pure White, but feel we may need something creamier as our dated “1992 special” granite is in the darker cream/brown darker veined family. Could we get away with Pure White in a south facing, not very bright kitchen? Or would Alabaster be better? I feel SW creamy is too creamy. Can’t pick a wall color or island color until we figure this one out.
Thanks in advance!
Well Jen, from the SOUNDS of it, Alabaster could likely be a better fit and it REALLY IS a gorgeous white (whereas I’d definitely be talking you out of Creamy 😉
Thanks for all the helpful info you provide about paint! You are my go to source when I am picking a paint color for a room. Could you tell me please would BM Oxford White or SW Pure White be better for trim with the walls painted BM November Rain (the cream and gray undertones come through, not so much the green undertones) in a room with a lofted ceiling with two windows facing south and one facing west. The room has rustic wood beams and wood floors. I am looking for a soft contrast between the walls and trim. Thanks!
Hi Krista, I don’t think either would be bad, but Pure White would give you a SOFTER contrast as the LRV is a bit lower than Oxford White 🙂
Thank you so much!