Sherwin Williams Pure White
Sherwin Williams Pure White is one of their most popular whites. It’s a beautiful white paint color that looks good in just about every home on Earth!
I am so excited to share this color with you today! I used it in my daughter’s bedroom on three of the walls and it is just stunning! It balances the accent wall perfectly while lightening and brightening this lower level room.
White has become one of the most popular colors in recent years. Yes, gray is still king but light, bright, and airy is by far the most popular look right now. Sometimes that means that gray won’t work so bring on the white!
The thing is, all whites are not created equal. Have you heard the phrase, 50 shades of gray? Well, the same can be said about white, there are so many different shades it will have your head spinning!
That’s why this month I plan to review all white paint colors and hopefully clear the air on which white might be best for you!
*This post contains affiliate links. For more details see my full disclosure.
Sherwin Williams Pure White Stats
Here are all the stats from Sherwin Williams on this gorgeous color:
- R: 237
- G: 236
- B: 230
- Hex Value: #EDECE6
- Color Family(s): White
- Color Collections: Color ID (Trendsetter), Color ID (Dreamer), Colormix Forecast 2020 (Play), Colormix Forecast 2021 (Sanctuary), Living Well (Unwind), Top 50 Colors, Pottery Barn (Fall/Winter), Pottery Barn Kids (Fall/Winter), Pottery Barn Teen (Fall/Winter), Finest Whites
Whew! That is a lot of color collections to belong to! Do you think this might be a popular white paint color?!
Is Pure White warm or cool?
Pure White is a warm, creamy paint color. However, it’s not nearly as creamy as others. This color is very close to a pure white color with just a touch of warmth that makes it soft and beautiful.
That is why I wanted to use it in my daughters bedroom. It gives enough warmth to a room but also lightens and brightens. Which is one thing I definitely needed because this is a basement (lower level) bedroom.
What are the undertones of Pure White?
Pure White is a chameleon of a color because of its undertones. First, it has a touch of gray, which makes you think it would be a cool color. However, there is also a touch of yellow which gives it creaminess.
This is why Pure White is able to pair well with any decor. In a room with all cool-toned decor it looks crisp but pair it with tans and browns and the warm tones come out!
Sherwin Williams Pure White LRV
LRV stands for Light Reflective Value. It is a scale from 0-100 which measures the amount of light a paint color reflects. Zero is the darkest black and 100 is the the brightest white.
Pure White sits at a whopping 84 which is pretty dark light and bright! It’s light enough to brighten a room but not so much as to feel stark or institutional, which can happen with white paint colors.
How Lighting Affects Pure White
The amount of natural light can really affect how a color looks and what undertones come out.
- North-facing rooms have a light that tends to be a little cooler in nature and will come off slightly blue. Light colors will be a bit more muted or washed out while darker colors will be stunning.
- East-facing rooms will have brighter light in the morning and less in the evenings. The evening light will be a bit cooler. In the morning with sunrise, the bright sun will be warm. Warm color palettes are great for these spaces because they will help balance the cool feel of the evenings.
- South-facing rooms have consistent warm light throughout the day. The light really shows off the colors, dark will be very bright, and light colors will shine. Both warm and cool color palettes look good in a south-facing room.
- West-facing rooms have warm light in the evening and cooler light in the morning. Basically, it’s the opposite of east-facing.
In south-facing rooms, this color warms up really nicely. In north-facing rooms, you will get a more crisp look. East and west-facing rooms will show warm when the light is coming in but fall flat the rest of the day.
In my daughter’s bedroom, there is not a lot of natural light because of the trees on the back side of my house. In the summer it’s really dark. This color is warm and beautiful whether the sun is coming in or not. I just love it, and so does my daughter.
How to know if Pure White is for you.
The best way to know if this color is for you is to put a swatch of it on the wall and look at it over the course of a few days in different types of light. You can buy a small sample can at the paint store and paint a swatch on the wall. But what do you do with that can after?
I highly recommend going with Samplize. They will send you a peel and stick paint sample that you can put on the wall, look at it, and when you are done toss it in the trash. No mess, no fuss, and no leftover paint cans to deal with.
Sherwin Williams Pure White Whole Home Color Palette
Get this free whole home color palette for Sherwin Williams Pure White and you will also be part of the At Lane and High Community! You will receive weekly newsletters on new posts and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Where to use Sherwin Williams Pure White
Honestly, you can use Pure White anywhere. It looks great on walls, cabinets, furniture as well as trim. Here are some real-life examples of Pure White used in homes.
Pure White in Bedrooms
This beautiful bedroom created by Emily Henderson has a lot of special elements. You have Pure White on the walls which are warm-toned, and the bench wood and flooring are warm. But the rug and bedding are cool-toned. Paired together they make a beautiful room.
Here is the other side of my daughter’s bedroom. It is just gorgeous! Except for the carpet of course…that is on the list of things to get replaced this year.
Pure White on walls
This beautiful dining and entertaining space by Kylie M. Interiors shows how Pure White can beautifully brighten a room. It also looks so pretty with all the different wood tones.
Pure White on doors, trim, and cabinetry
This stunning laundry room from Linda at Life on Summerhill showcases the cooler side of Pure White. The lighting can make a huge difference in whether a paint color pulls warm or cool. More natural light will make Pure White pull warmer and less with make it pull cooler.
Pure White on the Exterior
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Chelsea from The House of Hood used Pure White on the exterior of her home. It’s absolutely gorgeous! I want to paint my house this color after seeing this. She paired it with Tricorn Black.
Coordinating Colors
Pure White goes with every other color you can imagine. It goes with all blacks and dark charcoals. I also like pairing it with light blues, thing aqua, as well as rose and blush colors.
Are you limited to these coordinating colors, absolutely not! This is just somewhere to get you started.
What white is best to use with Sherwin Williams Pure White?
The best white to use with walls painted Pure White is Pure White. It is gorgeous to use the same color on the walls and trim. Heck, you can even paint the ceiling Pure White too!
If you choose this method make sure you use one paint sheen higher than the walls. For example, if you use satin on the walls use semi-gloss on the trim.
If you want something different give Highly Reflective White a try. It’s crisper and will make the wall color show more than if you use Pure White on walls and trim.
What You Need to Know if Painting on Your Own
If you are thinking about painting a room on your own then good for you! This is one of the easiest things you can do yourself and you will get so much satisfaction out of it. Just make sure you have the right supplies.
You need a good quality paintbrush and roller cover. This is the most important thing! If you don’t use high quality the finish will not be to your liking.
Here are some other posts to help you with your DIY paint project that you should check out before you get started:
- The Right Way to Test Paint Samples in Your Home
- The Best Paint Brushes for Latex Paint
- 11 Must-Have Supplies for Painting a Room Like a Pro
- 5 Tips on Choosing the Perfect Paint Color for Your Home
Pure White vs White Dove
Pure White is definitely creamier than Pure White. It is more of an off-white. In northern light this color is gorgeous where Pure White is more popular in south-facing.
Pure White vs Alabaster
As you can see here Alabaster is much warmer. It has more yellow in the undertones than Pure White has.
Alabaster is slightly darker with an LRV of 82.
Pure White vs Extra White
Extra White is a crisp white paint color. It is a little more on the cooler side whereas Pure White is warm.
Extra White has an LRV of 86, so a touch brighter than Pure White.
As you can see from the side-by-side Pure White looks a little dirty next to Extra White. It’s because there is a drop of black in the paint, that gives it that gray undertone.
Pure White vs Snowbound
Snowbound is warmer than Pure White, sitting on the boundary of being an off-white. It has a very similar LRV to Pure White, sitting at 83.
Snowbound is a beautiful color but if you are looking for something that is a bright white this one might not be for you.
Pure White vs Highly Reflective White
Highly Reflective White is as close as it comes to being a true white from Sherwin Williams. Pure White is definitely softer and has that touch of yellow which makes it creamier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sherwin Williams Pure White look gray?
That touch of black that gives Pure White the gray undertones is what keeps the yellow undertones at bay. It’s also what gives it that creamy color without looking yellow.
Occasionally Pure White can look slightly gray, especially when paired with a crisp white on the trim.
Does Sherwin Williams Pure White have yellow in it?
It definitely does! But the gray undertones keep the walls from pulling too yellow. If you are looking for something a little more yellow refer to some of the colors above.
What is the most popular white from Sherwin Williams?
Why Pure White is the most popular white from Sherwin Williams!
Is Pure White a good kitchen cabinet color?
Pure White is a great kitchen cabinet color because it’s white, but softer. Kitchens and bathrooms can be stark and cold, Pure White will soften that up and be gorgeous!
What is the Benjamin Moore equivalent to Pure White?
Benjamin Moore White Dove is the closest color to Pure White. Now nothing is going to be exact. Each manufacturer has their own process.
What paint sheen should I use?
If you are using it on the walls go with an eggshell or satin. Flat paint is great and hides imperfections but if you have kids and dogs they will mark up quickly and make you crazy!
On trim, shiplap, and cabinetry use a semi-gloss.
Other Sherwin Williams Paint Colors:
- The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Paint Colors
- Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
- Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray
- Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams
- Sherwin Williams Passive
- Sherwin Williams Alpaca
- Sherwin Williams Nebulous White
As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.
Pure White is my go to paint color, inside & out. Cabs, walls, trim, everything. With Tricorn Black. We built new in 2021 & I consulted with a color expert, I needed a white that was not going to take on a green cast from our surrounding pine trees. Pure White is perfect. I used different sheens, matte walls, eggshell trim, cab finish Pure White from the manufacturer. Love it.
@Kathleen, wonderful to hear! I have debating this for a while as the room I am painting has a major green cast from trees outside. You helped me finalize my decision!