Sherwin Williams White Snow: Paint Color Review

IS WHITE SNOW THE NEW POPULAR SHADE OF WHITE

When it comes to the best shades of white, you’re choosing between five types and HUNDREDS of options. Where do you even START?

Right here.

I’ve spent countless hours reviewing the top shades of white for you. And today, we’re checking out one of the new shades from Sherwin Williams Emerald Designer Collection – White Snow.

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.

IS WHITE SNOW A WARM OR COOL WHITE?

While it looks pretty darn white at first glance, White Snow is a warm white.

How do I know this?

I’m not just good looks, you know (wink wink). When I’m learning about a paint color, the FIRST thing I do is compare it to other, similar colors (which we’ll do more of shortly). Sure, I could look up the scientific base and nerd out on you, but I keep things pretty meat n’ potatoes around here.

White Snow trim | BM Charcoal Slate front door | BM Classic Gray siding

Being a warm white, if you have a south-facing room or a room with warm afternoon western sunshine, White Snow can pick up a bit of this warmth and look WARMER. However, in north-facing light, White Snow isn’t really warm enough to add balance – you need a warmer shade of white if you want a softer look in a northern room.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a soft, warm white – great for a north-facing space

Can I Paint My North-Facing Room White?

WHAT’S SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE SNOW’S LRV?

One of the MANY things I love about White Snow is its LRV of 90. This is such a great spot for a white paint color as it’s not as stark as a true white (94) or as muted as a soft white (84 ish). 

In fact, combine White Snow’s LRV with its undertones (or lack thereof) and it’s in the running for the BEST, most versatile white paint color…except for one thing.

Its price. 

White Snow is available in Sherwin Williams Emerald Designer Edition Paint. This is high-quality paint, and you get what you pay for…but you certainly pay for it. 

Mind you, let’s say you need two gallons of paint. Figure out the price of the paint you would NORMALLY get (and it better not be contractor-grade; that stuff’s gross). The difference should be under $100 for the two gallons. Depending on what you’re painting, this could be worth the investment for the PERFECT shade of white. 

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

WHAT ARE WHITE SNOW’S UNDERTONES?

Here’s the beauty of White Snow – its lack of noticeable undertones. It’s not a true white thanks to its LRV of 90, and while it has the most VAGUE creamy warmth, it’s more of an undercurrent than a commitment. 

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

WHAT WHITE TRIM GOES WITH WHITE SNOW?

White Snow. There, that was easy! 

Seriously, though, with a color like White Snow, which has a higher LRV, please don’t mix and match whites. If you need a white trim or cabinet color to go with your White Snow walls, keep on going with it, just change the finish of your paint. 

Some whites mix and match well enough. And while you could use White Snow on the trim or cabinets with soft white walls (lower LRV than White Snow), you shouldn’t go the other way around. I’d explain why, but we need to move on with life. 

WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH WHITE SNOW?

If you’re using White Snow on your walls, trims, cabinets, or ALL of the above, they should all be the same white. Mixing and matching whites can create a hot mess of clashing undertones. There’s RARELY a reason to layer whites unless you’re a glutton for punishment or want to expose the undertones in one white or the other.

Here’s your Samplize PEEL & STICK SAMPLE of White Snow

IS WHITE SNOW A GOOD COLOR FOR AN EXTERIOR?

While Sherwin Williams has exterior paint in the regular Emerald line, they don’t in the Designers Collection, which is the only product you can get White Snow made in. In other words, you can’t paint your exterior siding White Snow.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another gorgeous shade of white! 

However, if you want to paint your exterior trims or doors in White Snow, they do have an exterior product for these surfaces! White Snow is great if you don’t want a cold white color on your exterior trims or doors. While it can ‘look and act like white,’ it’s not stark, icy, OR creamy.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?

IS WHITE SNOW A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?

Choosing the best shade of white for your cabinets comes down to which one best suits your countertop and backsplash. More often than not, these surfaces cater towards a slightly softer white. HOWEVER, there are times when a brighter shade of white is needed, in which case, White Snow could be a great fit.

The trick is to compare 4-5 shades of white. Notice the shift between brightness and temperature. See which one flows best with your interior finishes (btw, the backsplash matters MORE than the countertop when coordinating).

How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE SNOW?

Now, THIS is where we get to have some fun!

I love comparing colors; comparison is the KEY to finding your home’s best shade! Let’s see what we’ve got here…

WHITE SNOW vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE

Pure White is among my top whites, as it pairs well with a wide range of colors. While its similar to White Snow in that it’s a ‘white,’ a few key features set them apart…

• WHICH WHITE IS BRIGHTER & WHITER? White Snow is the whitest of the two, thanks to its higher LRV of 90, whereas Pure White sits at 84, making it a softer white.
• WHITE WHITE IS WARMER? Now, this is a tough one that you could refer to science for. Why? Well, they’re hard to compare as they’re different TYPES of white. Overall, White Snow appears cleaner than Pure White, which can make it look a bit warmer; however, it’s also brighter, which can enhance this effect.
• WHICH ONE IS BEST WITH WHITE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS? The average white quartz countertop will likely suit Pure White over White Snow. Even though quartz can LOOK white, the base color is usually a soft white that’s better suited to a soft white paint color.
• CAN EITHER WORK IN A TUSCAN-STYLE HOME? Heck no, you’ll need a warmer white for that.

Pure White cabinets with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray walls

Sherwin Williams Pure White: IMAGES, Info, & More

Because Pure White is SO popular, it has its own special breakdown (yes, I do play favorites – I do it with my husbands, too). The rest of these comparisons are a bit more simple.

WHITE SNOW vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EXTRA WHITE

Extra White has an LRV of 86, making it softer looking than White Snow. As for warmth, Extra White can look cold compared to White Snow, although due to the formulation, Extra White can pick up a touch of warmth on trims/cabinets (confusing, I know – you can thank the paint companies for that).

Both Extra White and White Snow can work with the right white quartz; just note whether your countertop looks dingy, gray, or yellow compared to your chosen cabinet color. As for the other end of the spectrum, Tuscan-style homes (2000s) with finishes like travertine don’t suit whites like these and prefer warmer shades.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Extra White

WHITE SNOW vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER

Just as with Pure White, we’re comparing two different types of white when comparing White Snow and Alabaster. Alabaster is a soft white…a very, VERY soft white. With an LRV of 82, this is as dark as white gets before it becomes off-white. Long story short, White Snow is whiter than Alabaster.

As for temperature, Alabaster has a soft, gentle warmth, sometimes looking more like a creamy white or off-white rather than white. On the other hand, White Snow offers a cleaner, much more subtle approach to warmth, so subtle that it’s hard to detect.

Really, if you’re choosing between White Snow and Alabaster, wondering how they’re similar, you should be comparing other shades of white, as these are in two different ballparks.  It would be rare for these two whites to be fighting for the same project, as they suit different types of finishes.

WHITE SNOW vs. BENJAMIN MOORE SIMPLY WHITE

Ahhhh, now we’re comparing apples to apples. White Snow and Simply White are similar, as they have comparable LRVs (White Snow: 90 / Simply White: 89.52). This means they’re both BRIGHT whites.

Simply White trim and cabinets

The big difference is that Simply White is warmer than White Snow, with a more noticeable yellow undertone. BUT (Kardashian-sized), just because it’s more noticeable doesn’t mean it’s overwhelming – sample both and see which sits best with your finishes and lighting.

Benjamin Moore Simply White: IMAGES, Info, & More

WHITE SNOW vs. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE

I LOVE Chantilly Lace and it’s a great alternative to White Snow thanks to their similar LRVs (White Snow 90 / Chantilly Lace 90.04).

Where these two whites are different is in temperature. When you compare the two, Chantilly Lace will look a bit cold compared to White Snow, which is warmer. Now, this doesn’t mean that Chantilly Lace is a cold white – it’s not; it’s just a bit cooler-looking than White Snow.

Both whites could work with some marble tiles and countertops, and ‘some’ white quartz countertops. Again, get your samples and compare them to your finishes.

• Do your finishes look off-white/gray/cream compared to these whites?
• Do these whites look a bit YELLOW compared to your cool-toned finishes? SAMPLE SAMPLE SAMPLE!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

WHITE SNOW vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SNOWBOUND

White Snow and Snowbound are two entirely different types of colors. Sure, they’re similar as they’re both white, but that’s where the similarities stop faster than me passing a Starbucks.

Snowbound has an LRV of 83, so it’s white…ish. The thing is, Snowbound has a TON of undertones, including purple, pink, and it can even flash yellow – this is all wrapped up with a bit of gray. Oooof. This is why Snowbound is rarely my fave for cabinets or trims; it’s WAAAAAY too fussy. White Snow is a more traditional approach to white, making Snowbound look off-white in comparison.

Compare the Snowbound walls to the white door – this is how NOT WHITE Snowbound is! 

Do you want my personal opinion (I know you do)? While Snowbound has its place on a small scale (i.e., a single room), or on every finish in a room (walls/cabinets/trims), I wouldn’t use it as a stand-alone trim or cabinet color. 

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Snowbound

WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH WHITE SNOW?

If you have White Snow on your trim or cabinets, it goes with a ton of paint colors for walls. The question is, how much CONTRAST do you want? 

Here are some of the colors you might explore…

• White Snow looks pretty with a wide range of lighter greige and taupe paint colors.
• Warm, off-white neutrals can be beautiful with White Snow trim or cabinets.
• Light shades of blue, as well as blue-gray paint colors, and darker blues look fabulous. 
• White Snow loves almost any shade of green, including some of the most popular light green paint colors, as well as medium-depth and darker shades. 
• Some of today’s best beige and tan paint colors look gorgeous with White Snow.

Long story…long, there isn’t much White Snow can’t do! 

HOWEVER, where you want to be careful is with shades of cream-yellow. White Snow isn’t as friendly with stronger creams and shades of yellow – these prefer a stronger yellow-based white.

The 5 Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets (and trim)

HOW DO I GET A SAMPLE OF WHITE SNOW?

It’s not easy to get a sample of Whtie Snow…

• Sherwin William’s doesn’t carry paper chip samples of White Snow in-store
• You can’t get White Snow mixed in a sample pot – it needs to be made in the Emerald Designer paint.
• Unfortunately, Emerald Designer paint isn’t available in quartz for easy sampling either.

This means that aside from Samplize, the ONLY way to see White Snow in action is to purchase a full gallon. At $125 CDN, I don’t see that happening very often, making this a tough color to make popular!

READ MORE

Sherwin Williams 9 Best White Paint Colours: EMERALD DESIGNER’S EDITION

The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colors

Is White Still Trendy on Cabinets, Walls, & Exteriors?

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!