Sherwin Williams Top 4 White Paint Colors – Undertones and More!
After my blog post re: The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors, I received TONS of emails and comments asking for the same thing in Sherwin Williams. Oh, you are a demanding bunch (and that’s why I love you…)! Seriously though, it’s via your comments that I get some of my BEST blog post ideas!
Sherwin Williams has some pretty wicked whites, so the chances of finding the perfect one for you and your home are pretty good – especially when you have me in your back pocket (btw, I pinch).
As you’ve probably discovered, whites can be a real bugger. Not only do you have to think about which undertones are hiding in them, but they’re also HUGELY susceptible to picking up reflections from the environment, such as:
- Green grass or landscaping outside the window
- Warm-toned woods (flooring/cabinets/ceiling)
- Feature walls
- Strong colored furniture or drapes
- Light bulb temperatures or the color of glass on light fixtures/shades
So, what is a girl (or guy) to DO? Check these out…
1. Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005
Pure White is one of my FAVE go-to whites, but it’s not a STARK CLEAN white, it actually has a warm softness to it. Not enough to make it creamy or yellow, but enough to remove the crisp edge that many whites have.
On the large scale
Looking at the tiny sample, Pure White can look a bit flat. On the LARGE scale, Pure White will act quite similar to white, just not as crisp/clean/icy as some others.
A bit more about Pure White
- Pure White is beautiful for cabinets if you are going for a ‘white’ kitchen. It won’t be warm enough if you are looking for a softer, warmer white (in which case, you might check out Alabaster, which is coming up soon or one of these warm white paint colors)
- If you are using it on your walls, you might want to do the trims/ceilings/walls all the same color, but in different sheens
- In a north-facing room, this color will lose its warmth. In a south-facing room, it will warm up slightly, as its roots suggest
- Pure White is a fabulous trim/door/ceiling color and can be used with warm or cool colors
- With an LRV of 84, Pure White is a SOFT white, not a stark or clean one (the more tint there is, the lower the LRV number goes – read more here)
Read more: FULL COLOR REVIEW of Sherwin Williams Pure White
Want something a bit softer? Check out Sherwin Williams Snowbound.
2. Sherwin Williams Extra White SW 7006
Extra White is said to be Sherwin Williams most WHITE white as it’s a bit cooler looking (I might beg to differ, there’s a different one that wins in my books). Extra White is a BIT finicky as to the type of paint colors it wants to be partnered with and prefers the cooler end of things vs warm tones.
On the small and large scale
On the small scale, you’ll see a tiny tiny flash of cool-blue, but on the large scale, it’s more of a soft white with a slightly cool gray cast to it.
And I would LOVE to show you some photos of this fab color, but rely 99.9% on photos from my Online Color Consulting clients and I haven’t had good clear after shots of an Extra White interior yet.
However, I DO have another one of Extra White on exterior trim…
A bit more about Extra White
- Extra White is great for cabinets if you want a crisp, modern contemporary look for your cabinets, doors, trims and ceilings
- In a north-facing room, Extra White will go THAT MUCH MORE cool-toned and icy, which is great if you’re going for that look, but can be pretty darned cold visually
- In a south-facing room, the warm light can help to balance out the cool tones a bit, making things level out slightly, but will revert back to cool at nighttime unless you have warm bulbs
- If you are using it on your walls, you might want to do the trims/ceilings/walls all the same color, but in different sheens
- Extra White has a slightly higher LRV than Pure White – 86 (LRV blog post)
Read more: FULL COLOR REVIEW of Sherwin Williams Extra White
Click on the above image to see my E-DESIGN packages!
3. Sherwin Williams High Reflective White SW 7757
If you ask some of the peeps at SW, they’ll tell you that Extra White is their most ‘white-white’, but if you ask ME, High Reflective White is PRETTY DAMN WHITE (and it’s all about me, so…). I don’t see that flash of warmth OR that flash of cool, making it versatile and easy to work with if your home sways from warm to cool tones throughout (Pure White is also flexible like this). The only tricky thing is that SOME paint stores don’t carry it – I have no idea why.
On the small and large scale
High Reflective White is pretty…darned…white – with only a WINK of softness.
A bit more about High Reflective White
- Looks like me when I moon my friends – high…reflective…white (which I would NEVER do Mom, I swear)
- This is THE brightest white Sherwin Williams has – LRV 93 – holy freakin’ moly! The closest in Benjamin Moore is Chantilly Lace
- This is fabulous for a white kitchen
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?
How to Choose the Best White for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
- At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
- If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
4. Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008
Alabaster is stunning, especially if you’re looking for a softer, warmer approach to white…
Alabaster on trim and wainscoting
Alabaster on kitchen cabinets and trim. E-design Kylie M. Photo via JR Photography
On the small and large scale
Alabaster WON’T act like white on the small OR the large scale.
It will hint at white but really is a softer look. Not quite off-white, but certainly getting there. It has a warmth to it that’s grounded by a neutral base so it isn’t overly creamy.
The lovely reception area of Eddins Counseling
SW Alabaster with BM Gray Owl walls. Notice the creamy warmth of Alabaster against the cool of Gray Owl
Alabaster is also beautiful on exterior trim if you want a softer, creamier look compared to a traditional white.
Read more: FULL COLOR REVIEW of Sherwin Williams Alabaster
A bit more about Alabaster
- Alabaster is a soft warm, but not overly yellow white
- In a south-facing room, the warmth will absolutely rise up, without getting too yellow
- In a north-facing room, I worry that Alabaster on the walls could look a bit drab/flat
- Alabaster has an LRV of 82, so it has the most tint of the bunch, but it’s still soft and subtle
BTW, did you know that Sherwin Williams has some BRAND-NEW WHITES? Learn all about them HERE…
SHERWIN WILLIAMS DESIGNER EDITION WHITE PAINT COLORS
And you know, I had three other paint colors that I was going to chat about – Whitetail, Snowbound, and Ceiling Bright White, but they just didn’t fit in- they didn’t have enough flexibility or mass appeal (which is why I rarely refer to them in my E-designs). The above options are whites that I refer to on a DAILY basis as they can satisfy any NUMBER of paint colors, surfaces and rooms!
Not sure which white is best for you and your home?
Check out my E-design and Online Color Consulting
Chat soon,
READ MORE
The 3 Whites I Would Never Paint my Trim or Cabinets
The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
How to Choose the Best White for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Help! You are so amazing I love reading your articles but we made a decision when painting the exterior trim of our new house and now we are thinking of changing it!
We painted the exterior Stonington Gray and the trim Simply White – and it feels way too yellow/creamy!
Do you suggest Pure White or Extra White or another color? We want that awesome contrast – going for a beachy vibe! We love Stonington Gray now so I’m nervous to mess with it but we keep seeing yellowish in the trim!
Thank you so much!!!
Author
Oooo, take a look at Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, it could be much better!
Hi Kylie,
I’ve read so many of your posts and really like the way you analyze paint colors, so I’m looking for some quick advice that I’m confident I can trust. Our house has oak trim (to stay). Based on one of your articles, it’s stained more towards the red or orange/red. We want one basic neutral whole house SW color to update the interior walls. It’s a modest 3 BR home, so we’re looking to do it all in one color – not for a “flip,” just for us. We’ve considered Repose Gray, Accessible Beige, Agreeable, Anew, and a bunch of others! With our wood trim, what is your best suggestion that will certainly work and not clash our wood?
Author
Hi Joe! Hard to say without seeing it, along with your other finishes like countertops/tiles/etc…I can’t give you anything with 100% confidence, but I’d be inclined to go a bit warmer than where you’re at as those colours will contrast that bit more with the wood. Accessible is the best of the bunch and definitely worth sampling and you might also look at Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan and Natural Tan as well. Some of these can grab a wink of green, but I think you’re better off there than with the gray-greige bunch. BM Collingwood – that IS one warm gray I’d look at.
Painting the exterior of our South Florida home in Repose Gray. Which white trim would look better… Pure White or Extra White?
Thank you!
Author
Hi Dee, I might actually land in the middle with High Reflective White!
Hi Kaylee,
I have a question, but I cant remember in which one of your blogs I left it on( (I’ve read most of them).
We are building a white pine log cabin. . All bedrooms have 2 exterior walls that are pine log. The floors will be white oak stained in a provincial color. I am trying to decide which shade of white to paint the interior walls and ceilings. I was thinking of sw alabaster or pure white, I would like a warm white, but don’t want walls to look yellow. What would you recommend? Thanks.
Author
Ooooo, if you don’t want too yellow, Pure White will be a SAFER bet for sure, but there is BM White Dove that kind of sits in between the two as well! Those are usually my two go-to warm, but not too yellow whites :).
Thank you so much!! I will look into white dove too.
Hi Kylie,
I just wanted to follow up and thank you so much for answering my questions and for your recommendations. i went with BM White Dove as you suggested and I couldn’t be happier with how it looks. It brings the warmth I wanted, but not yellow, and it looks great against the white pine. I have pics if you would like for your portfolio. Just let me know where to send them. Thanks again!!
Hello, Kylie! Can you please share the grey paint colors used on the two client photos you showed highlighting SW Extra White on exterior trim? One house is a three-story, grey colonial home, and the other picture shows a close-up of the entryway of another home. I am interested in the names of both grey colors used on these homes. Thank you for your help!
Author
Hi Lindsey! I know one was Sherwin Williams Classic French Gray and I think the other one was Westchester Gray perhaps?
Thank you so much for your help! 🙂
Hi Kylie,
I love your blogs and refer them to people all the time! So informative and you make it so fun! Question. We have SW West Highland White on our kitchen cabinets and baseboard trim throughout our home with rustic window trim and floors. What greige color would you suggest for our East facing family room with skylights that is off our kitchen? It has a greige – leaning towards gray – mortar on fireplace with brown brick. SW West Highland White mantle and armoires on either side of fireplace. Thank you for your help!
Author
Hi Sue! It’s just SO hard to say without seeing the space as between the fireplace brick/mortar, countertop and exposures, there’s a lot to consider. I mean, off the TOP, because West Highland White has quite a bit of yellow to it, you may want to look at a greige with a bit more depth and a touch of green. BUT, that’s not to say this will suit your home and all of its finishes. I would start with the likes of SW Amazing Gray perhaps and work out from there 🙂
Hello! I really need some help, after searching I ended up painting my (west facing room) alabaster, however I think it looks yellowish and I’m not sure about paint the rest of my walls (I also have other windows facing different directions) most of my furniture is beige/ dark wood/ and light beige. I would like it to feel cozy without looking yellow because I’m into the “organic modern” aesthetic. Please I would love if you can help out!
Author
Ooooo, it SOUNDS like you need SW Aesthetic White, which is more of an off-white beige (and my latest obesssion!)