Sherwin Williams Shoji White: The Quick and Dirty on LRV, Undertones and a Little More

When doing paint colour reviews, I try to cover as many of the popular colours as I can. But then there are the ‘others’, the ones I get asked about A LOT, but don’t necessarily refer to much in my E-Design (for various reasons…). Which is why I created my ‘Quick and Dirty’ series, to give you what you want – with minimal muss n’ fuss.

And because these colours aren’t AS popular as the others and because I ALSO rely 100% on photos from my E-Design clients, you won’t find a ton of beautiful images, but you WILL find the information you’ve been looking for.

What type of colour is Shoji White? Is it warm or cool? Beige or Greige?

Shoji White is a beautiful blend of cream and greige, making it a WARM paint colour. So, while you’ll benefit from the soft warmth of it, it’s toned down by a greige-beige base. In a south-facing room or in western afternoon sun, it will lean more into its warm foundation. In a north or east-facing room, it will become more muted, with a more subtle warmth.

What is the LRV of Shoji White?

Shoji White has an LRV of 74. This number means that Shoji White is an off-white, but not by much and it does sit on the edge of the light range. If you’re not familiar with LRV, you’ll benefit from reading this.

Does Shoji White have any undertones?

You bet your booty it does! While it’s PASSIVE, Shoji White has a wee subtle green undertone tucked inside of it.

Which white paint colours work with Shoji White (for trim)?

I like the simple clean look of SW High Reflective White – not warm, not cold, just white. I also love the slightly softer approach of SW Pure White.

Why isn’t Shoji White as popular?

If you ask me (which you did), it’s all in the undertone. Whereas you can get a more neutral approach with Benjamin Moore Ballet White or Sherwin Williams White Duck, Shoji has that wink of green that makes some people nervous. This undertone also makes it not as suitable for coordinating with other finishes that DON’T have the same green undertone.

However, that doesn’t mean Shoji White won’t work for YOU and your room but might make you think more about whether it really IS the right fit. And if it is…SEND PHOTOS!

What’s the best way to sample Shoji White?

Like with every paint colour, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE to save money, time and energy. When sampling paint colours, make sure you place white paper around your samples so that your perception isn’t skewed by your existing wall colour.

Not sure if Shoji White is right for you? Want a bit more gray, more beige, less undertone? I’ve got more!

BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE