Sherwin Williams Shoji White (7042): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
Sherwin Williams Shoji White is an off-white, warm neutral paint color with a creamy base. It works well on interior walls, especially whole homes, and some trim.
Its flexible, warm-leaning undertones can affect how Shoji White coordinates with interior finishes. It’s also greatly influenced by the quality and amount of light it receives.
Now, if you can’t decide whether you want cream, tan, or greige, this is where Shoji White comes in – it has a lot of tricks up its sleeves. So, let’s get reading…
All the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.
WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS SHOJI WHITE – GREIGE, BEIGE, CREAM?
Shoji White is a beautiful blend of cream and gray (slight taupe), making it a warm paint color. While that seems like a lot of colors, the gist is that it doesn’t really fall neatly into any one color family. Because of this, you’ll find that it’s flexible and movable depending on your lighting conditions.
SW Egret White | BM Classic Gray | BM Maritime White (I’ll link these later, too)
Here are a few examples of its flexibility…
- In some rooms, you’ll benefit from Shoji White’s soft cream-inspired backdrop without a typical cream-yellow paint on your walls.
- Shoji White will read a bit more weird taupe in other spaces (weird isn’t bad, it’s just so uncommitted, it’s hard to peg down), losing that creamy warmth, without looking gray.
- Shoji White can lean more into its warm foundation in a south-facing room or when exposed to the western afternoon sun.
- If you have a north or east-facing room, it can appear warm, but it will be a more passive, grayed-out warmth compared to traditional shades.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S THE DEPTH (LRV) OF SHOJI WHITE?
Shoji White has an LRV of 74. This number means that Shoji White is off-white, but not by much, as it sits on the edge of the light range.
If you’re not familiar with LRV, I highly suggest you read this.
The Best Paint Colors with Red-Stained Woods
WHAT ARE SHOJI WHITE’S UNDERTONES?
The great thing about Shoji White is that it’s super flexible. While it has a cream-yellow base, it doesn’t read at all like a traditional cream. This is because Shoji White is massively neutralized by a gray base.
From there, some notice a slight pink undertone. That said, whether you see it is questionable on the best of days – sample and compare it to other shades to see how you feel. In fact, comparing it to these taupes should really help…
REVIEWS: BM Classic Gray | BM Pale Oak | SW City Loft | SW Egret White
Shoji White’s lack of commitment to undertones makes it versatile and more susceptible to picking up cues from its environment, as shown in this next photo…
As you can see, it’s greatly affected by the LRVs of the different light bulbs and by natural light from the windows, looking a bit pink in one and green in another.
ALWAYS sample and compare to similar shades to see the ebb and flow.
WILL SHOJI WHITE LOOK YELLOW?
With a cream base, Shoji White contains yellow. I wouldn’t consider it an OVERLY yellow color, as the gray/taupe calms it down, but it has a creamy backdrop, for sure.
- If you’re feeling nervous about taupe, compare it to Sherwin Williams Incredible White, which hits purple and pink hard.
- Also, compare it to Sherwin Williams Creamy, a popular shade of cream, which will help you see how muted Shoji White’s warmth is.
Here’s Shoji White on the exterior trim of this charming little home! Notice its passive warmth with no overt yellow tones…
The Best Medium & Dark Green Paint Colors
WHICH WHITE TRIM COLORS GO WITH SHOJI WHITE?
Some refer to Shoji White as a white paint color—it ain’t white. With its lower LRV, Shoji White is most definitely an off-white. This means it likes white trim partners because they offer contrast.
- Check out Sherwin Williams Pure White for a soft, but still notable contrast with Shoji White.
- While some people like to try Shoji White with Alabaster, if you ask me, Alabaster is a wink too warm and yellow for Shoji; I wouldn’t do it.
- Sherwin Williams White Snow is another beautiful white paint color for trims and cabinets with Shoji White walls.
All of that said, with its higher LRV, many consider using Shoji White on their walls and trims.
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Get your Peel & Stick sample of Shoji White…
WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH SHOJI WHITE?
Shoji White is reasonably flexible with colors in adjoining rooms and a range of accents for feature walls, furnishings, or decor.
- GRAY-BLUE: Many shades of blue-gray, especially those with a bit more depth.
- DARKER GREENS: Medium and dark-toned greens can be gorgeous accents.
- GREEN-GRAYS: Green-gray paint colors can be stunning with Shoji White, either in the same room or in adjoining rooms.
- BLUE-GREEN: Blue-green paint colors, as long as they have a whack (technical term) of gray in them.
- GREIGES: Light to medium greiges, as well as darker greige paint colors can be beautiful in a palette with Shoji White.
- Shoji White will be fussy with many cream paint colors, as well as beige and tans.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SHOJI WHITE?
Whether you’re looking to compare colors within Sherwin Williams or want to find as close a match as possible in Benjamin Moore paint, I’ve got some great alternatives to explore.
Remember, never pick a paint color based on itself – compare it to similar shades to see the ebb and flow in depth, warmth, and undertones!
SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE DUCK VS. SHOJI WHITE
White Duck and Shoji White are very…very similar. They’re the same depth (LRV 74), so they’re both off-whites, but they have slightly different undertones.
Both colors have a cream (yellow) base; however, of the 2, White Duck is more likely to have a subtle green undertone. And again, while Shoji White can appear a touch pink, it can also settle pretty dang neutral.
REVIEWS: BM Wind’s Breath | SW Modern Gray | SW White Duck | BM Ballet White
If these are two of my options for walls, off-white cabinets, or otherwise, I tend to favor Shoji White, but it can depend on the interior finishes.
COLOR REVIEW: Sherwin Williams White Duck
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SHOJI WHITE VS. OYSTER WHITE & NATURAL CHOICE
I haven’t done much blogging or Online Color Consulting with Sherwin Williams Oyster White and Natural Choice for one reason – their undertones.
Whereas Shoji White is a flexible, warm neutral, Oyster White and Natural Choice are more likely to grab a green undertone (vague, but true). Is it STRONG? No, but this undertone can look a bit murky when tucked in warm neutrals like these.
Both colors are a bit lighter than Shoji White, but only by a point or two, so they’re comparable in depth.
The 6 Best Off-White Paint Colors
SHOJI WHITE VS. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE SESAME
Newer to the paint scene, White Sesame offers a lot to the average home… but it’s not that different from Shoji White.
Depth-wise, White Sesame has an LRV of 73, so it’s a wink darker than Shoji White. And while both can pick up a vague taupe-pink undertone, it’s not common or overbearing (for most people).
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of White Sesame…
As mentioned in White Sesame’s color review, I wish they’d made it a bit darker (lower LRV) to create a more noticeable difference from Shoji White, offering a less subtle shift/better alternative.
BENJAMIN MOORE WIND’S BREATH VS. SHOJI WHITE
Winds Breath is LOVELY. It’s a light-depth, warm paint color with an LRV of 70. While Winds Breath has the same intentions as Shoji White – to be light, subtle, and warm, it looks like a ‘slightly darker, dirtier version’ of Shoji White.
Of the two, Shoji White is more likely to suit the average interior finish over Wind’s Breath, but both are worth comparing!
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath
Here are a few more popular alternatives to Shoji White. The BOLD that are the best comparisons…
CHECK OUT THEIR REVIEWS: SW Aesthetic White | SW Heron Plume | SW Pure White | SW Pearly White | SW White Heron | SW Origami White
WHERE SHOJI WHITE DOES (& DOESN’T) LOOK ITS BEST
Shoji White is no one-trick pony, but it’s also not a whole herd – it has limitations. Let’s find out where it does its best work…
SHOJI WHITE ON EXTERIOR FINISHES
Heck yeah, Shoji White can be a smart choice for your exterior siding or trim. With its modest warmth, it’s a great way to get a lighter, brighter, off-white exterior without the starkness of white.
REVIEWS: SW Natural Tan | BM Edgecomb Gray | SW Balanced Beige | SW Accessible Beige | SW White Duck
DOES SHOJI WHITE GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIMS?
Sorry, but it’s a hard no. Cream cabinets have too much yellow to layer well with Shoji White. You’ll have a hot mess of undertones on your hands and your walls.
DOES SHOJI WHITE GO WITH WOOD CABINETS & TRIMS?
Whether you have wood cabinets, furniture, trim, or flooring, Shoji White can be an interesting partner, as its undertones are subtle enough to humor most stain colors.
While I have to find the before, here’s Shoji White on painted kitchen cabinets, with a gorgeous oak floor…
However, if you have STRONG red or pink-stained woods, even though Shoji White can grab a minor pink undertone, it could look a bit creamy in comparison – its undertone just isn’t that strong.
QUICK SUMMARY (TL;DR)
- Sherwin Williams Shoji White is a warm, off-white paint color
- While it has a creamy tendency, it’s not a cream paint color, as it has a gray undertone.
- It’s popular on walls, whether in a single room or an entire home. It’s also great for exteriors.
- One of its best white paint color pairings is Sherwin Williams Pure White.
READ MORE
The 11 Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!
Benjamin Moore Maritime White: IMAGES, Info, & More
The Best Off-White Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting
Updated with fresh content and images for 2026
I bought a gallon of Gossamer Veil, but seriously considered Shoji White- the builder put Alabaster on all walls and ceiling- too much for me. Foyer is 50% fawn brindle, half bath in Krypton, using Urbane Bronze or Porpoise as accent somewhere, but want our open space with 12 – 8’ windows facing East/North to be one color- just not Alabaster. I painted GV on a small section- earthy- but what will happen if I go 50% GV? Do I keep the same hues? Trim is Snowbound. I just don’t know how cutting such a light color will impact it.
Hi! Love your blog! Super helpful. I wonder if you can answer this for me – are the HGTV SW paint colors from Lowes the same as the colors you’d get at SW? I have a sample of HGTV SW Shoji White and a sample of Shoji White from SW. The one from SW is definitely darker and warmer. I can understand how the paint itself could be different, but if they are using SW color names then they should match. Very frustrating!
Hi Kathy – TELL me about it!~ Yes it’s the same Shoji White, it’s just the printing that makes it look different. 😉
Would you use Shoji white as a whole house paint colour? If you use it in an East facing kitchen what colour cabinets would pair well with it?
Forgot to add: How would you compare Shoji White to SW White Duck? They look very similar online. Thank You.
Hi Ann – they are SO similar, really, Shoji just has a whisper of a green undertone hiding in it, whereas White Duck doesn’t.
on your review of white duck, you said the opposite, that white duck has the hint of green. I’m confused. “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 inclined that way and shouldn’t be a concern unless you’re partnering it with beige finishes or ones with pink undertones. It’s more that when you compare it to Shoji White, Shoji picks up the tiniest wink of pink.”
Hey Jessica! Yup, clompared to Shoji White, White Duck can grab a wink of green and Shoji White can grab a wink of pink – I think that’s what I said in there!
Hi Ann! You can, but I usually lean towards White Duck, which doesn’t tend to grab the same minor green undertone. 🙂
may pick up more of its beige side
, I am using alabaster for my trim and cabinets could you give me a light warm color to match with alabaster for my walls. I’m looking to stay in the beige colors instead of grey
Thank you
I’m building & my choice of colors is super limited & mostly gray which I’m not a fan off. I’m considering shoji white but the only real white they offer is extra white. The rest are off-whites in the 70’s LRV range.
How do you think they would look? The only beige they have is accessible beige but I don’t think that would look good with extra white either.
Any suggestions on the lesser of 2 bad options.
My new construction home will have SW Natural Linen walls. Which white will look best on cabinets, doors, and trim. Countertop is cream, as well as backsplash. Thanks.
I have so many paint colors I love in the neutral whites. Just about the time I think I have made a decision, I watch your video , then I’m back to being confused again. I thought Sholi white was the one…but now the green! My dilemma is I have oak cabinets, I want to blend with my wall paint.
Hi, just curious as to what paint you selected – Shoji White or other? 🙂
This might be a dumb question, but if Shoji has a green undertone, and I’m installing one wall with green tile in my bathroom, would it be a bad white to use as it will pull too much of that green and I should use something more complimentary to the green? SOS
Hey! So, Shoji White is actually an OFF-WHITE, not a white. And while it all depends on the green tile, my first instinct is to stay away. Shoji White is a cream that’s SUPER muted with a greige undertone and a tiny tiny wink of green (barely). My worry is that overall it could look a bit dingy/yellow next to many green tiles.
Hello Kylie,
I’m thinking of painting our house SW Dried Thyme on the body, SW Pewter Green on the garage doors, (if those colors go together) and wondering if Shoji white would be a good trim color? I want an off white, not white. What do you think would work? Thanks so much.I appreciate your time.
I was thinking of pairing SW Evergreen fog as accent with Shoji white in a dining room, just wondering if these 2 will go together and if Shoji white will go in dining room
What do you think?
Shoji White – Did not have good experience with this one recently in the small bathroom we were repainting. Warmer green neutral tile on floor, walls looked almost pink next to it (no natural light, yes high kelvins at play and yes-I did Samplize on this color too!)) Lighting made no difference so Kilz to the rescue …..anyone need almost a gallon of Shoji White?:)
I painted my entire south-facing condo Shoji White based on one of your YouTube reviews and I LOVE it! It’s like a chameleon: In my living/dining which gets the most light it is bright and does have that slight green tint (that I never noticed until this article, but it works fine with my furnishings). Yet in the bathroom (no natural light) and in my loft bedroom (little natural light) it’s much creamier. I’m moving to a north-facing condo, and I just might paint it Shoji White (though I’m considering other colors thanks to your online expertise).
The picture you have on this post with ceiling fan. Is that white duck or shoji white?
Hi there I have enjoyed reading your columns. I was dealing with a new house that had light sources from every direction except north in the main living area and kitchen. So already difficult for all the reasons you’ve talked about.
Just to add to the Shoji white conversation, I really did want this color. However when my local Lowes mixed it up a sample based on their computer’s formula, I got that really odd green tone people are concerned with. . So I moved onto a different paint color from Home Depot which is mostly ok depending on time of day and kelvin temp of my lights.
Later just out of curiosity I went back to that same Lowe’s with the Shoji white paint chip and and told them to color match it based on reading the chip, not on their preprogrammed formula.
And just like that, there was the beautiful Shoji white paint I had originally been interested in.
So I don’t know if it is because of Lowe’s preprogrammed formula, or possibly that that store is not recalibrating its paint mixer. I actually had that happen with several samples I had bought of other colors. They were never quite close to the chip. Plus my local store will only do samples in satin finish.
But what happened to me could be another reason people are having issues with Shoji and others
Ughhh, yes, this happens. So, while Lowes sells SW paint, it’s not the same paint that you get at SW, which is why the colors can be off. They do have these programs, but the matching is never perfect. Some people are okay with ‘darn close’, but sometimes ‘darn close’ comes with a creeky little undertone! The only way to really GET it is to go to the actual SW store :).
Hi Kylie!
We are wanting a warmer white for a modern organic feel to our home that for most spaces has lots of natural light. We wanted to emphasize our windows and trims so were leaning to Shoji White with Pure White trim, but as an alternative we were considering White Dove with Chantilly Lace Trim. We’re going to have natural heart pine floors and didnt want the house to feel too yellow, but dont want to go gray.
What would you recommend? Or is there a better combo?
Oooo, I might lean into Shoji and Pure White as using Chantilly Lace with White Dove WILL make White Dove look that bit more cream/yellow than normal. Or you can do ALLLLLL White Dove, no Chantilly Lace (that’s what I have in my home) 🙂
I will keep you posted and send pictures when done (fingers crossed)! We settled on Shoji White with Chantilly Lace trim! Thank you so much for your advice. We love your blog and continue to be inspired.
I can’t wait to see it!!!
My walls are accessible beige so now I need to paint my cabinets. I’m looking at shoji white? What are your thoughts? My counters tops are darker with black and brown and trim is vanilla bean
Would you feel about Shoji as exterior color on a light warm yellow/pink under-toned limestone? I’m also considering white duck or Navajo.
Oh gosh, I’d have to see the home as there are other things, like windows and roof to consider, too!
Thank you for your amazing blog. I love reading it just for fun. I have a 2008 Tuscan style home that was originally all brown, tan, and creamy when I bought it. I painted my daughter‘s bedroom and bathroom Shoji white on the walls and simply white on the ceiling and trim. It looks amazing and feels so much more modern, while blending with what I already have. I would be happy to send pictures.
Oh YES PLEASE, I would so love them (even if you have before’s too!) as I don’t have enough of this gorgeous color! kylie@kylieminteriors.ca
Hi Kylie!
LOVE your videos!
I have a kitchen from 2003 with medium toned Caramel color cabinets with the dreaded Baltic Brown countertops that have more of an orange pink tone to it. I tried BM Navajo White but seemed too yellow thinking of trying Shoji white? Open concept to livingroom North facing so thinking of doing Shoji white throughout. Would love your thoughts 🙂
Shoji white pulls a little pink in my house. Family room/kitchen painted shoji white. Can I paint the entryway/stairwell white duck, or are they too similar that they would clash/look off? Wanting a similar color to shoji minus the pink
Oooof, I always think ‘would it make ME twitch?’ Yup, it would…Shoji White can be tough this way. However, not everyone is as weird about this as me. You coudl alway try painting the lower areas that kind of attach to Shoji White and see how it looks in your lighting??