Sherwin Williams Extra White: Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
By Kylie
June 14, 2023
Sherwin Williams Extra White is a soft white paint color. It works well on interior and exterior trim, doors, as well as kitchen cabinets.
Lighting and exposure can influence how paint colors – especially light ones like Extra White – appear.
However, you shouldn’t believe everything you read (unless you’re reading my blog), because while this color might be CALLED Extra White, it’s anything but…
WHAT ARE EXTRA WHITE’S UNDERTONES? IS IT WARM OR COOL?
Extra White is complicated as its undertones change depending on the type of paint you’re using. That’s right, even though Extra White’s roots suggest a vague green-yellow undertone and the fan deck might show you a blue hue, you might be surprised to see a) absolutely NO green or blue (sometimes) and b) a touch of warmth (sometimes)! Confusing, I know.
EXTRA WHITE ON WALLS
If you choose Extra White for your walls, thanks to the type of paint you’ll be using (wall paint), it will read as a cool shade of white. There’s a wink of blue in there, but you’ll hardly know it.
Look at the subtle yellow-green from the grass on the left wall, compared to the cool blue-violet on the right.
There’s some yellow-green again, but some will be reflected from the outside (whites reflect the most).
EXTRA WHITE ON CABINETS & TRIMS
If you paint your cabinets and trims Extra White, it could look slightly warm white. This is because the base/foundation it’s mixed into (trim or cabinet paint) has yellow, whereas the wall paint base doesn’t.
Does this make it hard to paint your walls, cabinets, and trims the same white? YOU BET IT DOES – don’t kill the lil’ Ginger messenger!
Extra White looks bright and just slightly warm on these cabinets (it’s a bit easier to see compared to the white backsplash)
But regardless of whether you’re painting your walls, trims, or cabinets, it’s surprising how darn white Extra white can look.
Why is it surprising?
As you’ll learn in the LRV section (coming up next), Extra White is not in the ‘bright and true white’ range, and it sure as heck ain’t ‘extra’ white.
HOW WHITE IS SHERWIN WILLIAMS EXTRA WHITE?
Extra White has an LRV of almost 86. This higher LRV means that while it’s in the white range, it has some depth compared to WHITER and BRIGHTER whites – making it more of a soft shade of white (technically). This might not be noticeable until you partner it with a whiter white with an LRV of, say, 92+ (Sherwin Williams High Reflective White); then, it will look softer – maybe not off-white, but darn close.
Look how great Extra White looks as a backdrop to a white toilet. Whereas some shades of white can look quite creamy-yellow compared to bath fixtures, Extra White settles in quite nicely…
If you’ve never heard about LRV, you’ll LOVE learning about this great color-picking tool – read it HERE.
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Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF EXTRA WHITE HERE
WHAT COLOR SHOULD MY TRIM BE IF I HAVE EXTRA WHITE WALLS?
Another version of this question would be…
If I want WHITE walls and have Extra White trim, which white should I use?
Usually, I’d suggest painting your walls and trims/cabinets the same color. However, with the variation in Extra White, you could have a whole mess of undertones on your hands unless your paint technician is a tint magician.
One of the best whites for Extra-White trim and cabinets is Sherwin Williams Alabaster, which is softer and warmer.
WHITE PAINT COLORS – Walls, Cabinets & Trims, do they need to match?
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
As for using Extra White as a trim color, it’s a beautiful partner to a wide range of colors…
Benjamin Moore October Mist
IS EXTRA WHITE A GOOD EXTERIOR COLOR FOR TRIM OR SIDING?
If you want a white that just reads more or less ‘white,’ Extra White could be a good fit for the trim OR the primary house color.
In this next photo from one of my Color Consulting clients, Extra White is in its GLORY with cool siding (James Hardie Night Gray)
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Exterior Paint Colors: Does Exposure REALLY Matter?
WHAT WHITES ARE SIMILAR TO EXTRA WHITE
Extra White is a shade unto itself. However, before you pick ANY white paint color, it’s important to compare it to others…
EXTRA WHITE VS. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE
Extra White is a touch whiter/lighter than Pure White. As for temperature, Extra White generally comes off much cooler compared to the subtle warmth in Pure White. Extra White is also CLEANER-looking than Pure White.
Cabinets in Sherwin Williams Pure White with beige tile floor
EXTRA WHITE VS. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HIGH REFLECTIVE WHITE
There’s no competition. High Reflective White is WHITER/brighter than Extra White (due to its higher LRV) and has virtually no undertone. This makes High Reflective White far more versatile for the average home. This doesn’t mean it’s easy to get. In fact, paint stores often tell you they’re giving you High Reflective White and proceed to hand over a gallon of Extra White – read about it here.
Painted white surfaces in Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
EXTRA WHITE VS. BENJAMIN MOORE VS BENJAMIN MOORE SUPER WHITE
Extra White and Super White are similar as their LRVs are reasonably close – Extra White at 86, Super White at 87.36. Even so, if you compare them, Super White looks a bit brighter, a bit whiter, and has CONSIDERABLY less undertone – again, Super White wins (but of them all, High Reflective is the best for this general approach).
Cute powder room in Benjamin Moore Super White!
READ MORE
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams 4 Best White Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Simply White
The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
Get the Online Paint Color Expert that DESIGNERS hire!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2022
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
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Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
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Comments
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Hi Kylie!
Love your blog and reviews! We recently painted our kitchen cupboards SW Extra White and are trying to pick a beige/tan paint for the walls to match our 90’s venetian gold granite and stone backsplash. The rest of our home is beige and whites. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you so much!!-
Hi Rhonda! That’s TOUGH. Extra White is such a cool crisp white and it’s not SUPER happy with warm beige/tan paint colours. Your best bet will be a very MUTED one that doesn’t have a strong yellow/orange/red undertone – think SW Natural Tan as a starting point.
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Thank you so much Kylie!! I have learned so much from you about LRV and north vs. south facing rooms. (I wish I would have seen your blog before we had our cupboards refaced). I appreciate your help so much!!
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I am having my cabinets painted tomorrow!! I am still on the fence about color. I like high reflective white the best since it shows no undertones but I’m told by my painter and paint store that it doesn’t have the coverage without the undertones. My painter says he uses “pure white” on almost all “white” cabinet jobs. Pure white seemed dingy when I am comparing samples so I got an “extra white” sample which is the same color as the trim in the kitchen and the color looks nice. You mentioned that when extra white is used on cabinets it would appear WARM. That actually what I’m hoping for to happen. Is this true with the choice of most cabinet paint?
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Hey Erika! It sounds like Extra White could be a good fit! As for cabinet paint, it depends if the painter uses an alkyd/oil or lacquer based paint as these can make a white look more yellow than they SHOULD (and are the bane of my existence!). I get that those paints are hardy, but they skew colors too much for me! Especially when there are so many great latex paints on the market.
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How do you feel about Extra White cabinets paired with Cafe (GE line) matte white appliances? White (cabinets) on white (quartz counters and backsplash) on white (appliances) kitchen…too much white? Or is there such a thing?
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I just wanted to thank you so much for all of your very helpful information. I learned of your expertise last summer when I was helping my son select paint colors for the interior of his first home. I referred so many people to your site and service over the winter and have poured over all of your articles on white paint colors for months and just placed my cabinet order for WHITE DOVE (swoon). It is a long story but I can tell you that you really saved me from making a bad decision and I appreciate it so much! Thanks for taking over when my design fatigue set in! I am sure that I will be back when I surface from this project and tackling my next! Thanks Again!
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Hi Kylie,
I love your YouTube Channel! I am painting my home’s exterior with Sherwin Williams Chesterfield Gray #2849 and am considering SW Extra White for trims. What say you?-
Hmmmmm, I can find Westchester Gray #2849, I’m wondering if this is what you mean? If so, then YES, I think that coudl be loverly!
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Recently moved into a new home, and the builder has painted all the surfaces extra white. I have ordered over 20 peel and stick samples and have been unable to locate a wall color. based on reading about extra white I am wondering if I would be better off, painting the trim, work and cabinets high reflective white in a semi gloss or satin finish. A also, my home is north facing. Thank you for your thoughts
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I am in the same boat – our whole interior house is painted with SW Extra White. I’m trying to find an off-white wall color that will work well with Extra White trim (is there such a thing?) for our kitchen/great room. Looking for an LRV around 78-82. North exposure but we have a pool and beige cement walls so we get all kinds of wacky light.
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Hi Kylie – I have snowbound cabinets that show the red 🙁 in an east facing room. I’m in trouble. What white to use on the ceiling and what color for the walls which slope east to west but no windows on the west side? I have paint samples all over the room but nothing works without showing too much pink or yellow. I tried Snowbound walls, Alabaster, and a half a dozen others. The painters are knocking on my door..
Help!-
Oooo, it’s SO tough to say without seeing the room. I mean, for me, the point of least resistance woudl be to continue with Snowbound, so at least I’m not clashing with it. Sometimes when we have to work with a tricky color we ‘do what we have to do’ to make it happy, even if it’s not our fave choice.
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Hi,
I am getting ready to paint kitchen cabinets and wondering what color u would recommend if I still want warm undertones in my kitchen. What is best: extra white, pure white or alabaster ?
Also plan to pair with white marble and some type of sea glass for back splash. Any help would be greatly appreciated. -
Hi Kylie! I swear there are NO articles online that say what white paint colors pair with extra white. My builder homes trim ceilings and cabinets are all unfortunately extra white and I can not for the life of me find anything on what white colors that go. I would love to repaint everything in pure white but that’s just too much doing it ourselves.
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Hi Holly, you should find what you need right here 🙂 https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/which-two-white-paint-colors-go-together/
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Hi Kylie,
My wife and I just bought a home. The home builder plans on using Landen White cabinets, with SW Extra White Trim and Walls for the entire home. All knobs, hinges, faucets, handles will be black. We have been trying to research and decide if the SW paint for both wall and trim will be okay or if it won’t work well. The cabinets only have the Landen white option. The trim is only offered as extra white. There were a couple other options for wall colors. Front door faces West and living room/kitchen has multiple East facing windows. What are your thoughts on what we can do? Any insight is appreciate, thank you!
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Hi Sunny, I’m sorry, I’m just not at all familiar with Landen White cabinets to give you the right advice!
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I have a small guest bath that I painted Extra White walls, trim and cabinets. I want to break up the white on the bead board accent wall. What gray would go well?
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Oh, it 100% depends on the other finishes in the room (any tile/countertop). I mean, generally, you could check out SW Light French Gray as a place to start?
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Hello Kylie! Love your posts!!! Here is my question. Hoping you can answer. We are building a home and builder is using extra white sherwin Williams for whole house interior paint. Front of house is south facing and back of home is obviously north facing. Back of house is where living room and kitchen is. There will be be plenty of large windows and natural light. Problem is I’m not a fan of cool colors and definitely want a warm feeling in there. I would like a warm light but neutral color for the entire main floor. I don’t want the extra white to feel cold. I don’t want want gray anymore but a small hint if gray if fine. Just want a more warm beige neutral. Please any suggestions???
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Have you looked at a color like SW Aesthetic White??? I LOVE it.
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I will look at this color! Thank you!
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