Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs. Pure White

Are you trying to decide between Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs. Pure White? Well, don’t worry! I have your back. We are going to deep dive into the similarities and differences between these two colors so you can decide which one is right for you.

You have heard of fifty shades of gray right? Not the movie or books, LOL. I am talking about how there are so many different shades of gray it’s hard to decide which one is right for you.

Well, you will find whites are pretty much the same. There are so many different shades and different nuances that it’s often very hard to decide which one is right for you.

Today we will discuss the differences between Snowbound and Pure White, two of the most popular white paint colors from Sherwin Williams.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more details see my full disclosure.

Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs. Pure White

These two colors are very popular. There are a lot of similarities as well as differences. I think you will find that after reading this you might be a little more confident in your choice between these colors.

But if you want to do a deeper dive I suggest looking at my posts dedicated to each color.

Sherwin Williams Snowbound Review

Sherwin Williams Pure White Review

What is similar about these colors?

One of the biggest similarities between these two colors is the LRV. They are only off by 1 point which is barely discernable to the naked eye.

LRV stands for light reflective value. It is a scale from 0-100 measuring the amount of light a paint color reflects. Zero is the darkest black and 100 is the brightest white.

Pure White sits at 84 and Snowbound sits at 83. Both are considered bright paint colors but there are a lot that are brighter making them more white.

Another big similarity of these colors is the fact that they are warm-toned. They won’t leave your room feeling cold and stark. Instead, you will feel like the paint gives you a warm hug.

What is different about these colors?

These two colors are so similar but they have one major difference. They have very different undertones. We will get into that more in a minute.

What are the undertones of Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs. Pure White?

Pure White and Snowbound are very similar but their big difference is in the undertones. Pure white has yellow undertones which gives it it’s creaminess. But it also has a touch of gray which keeps the yellow from dominating too much.

The result is a very neutral creamy white paint color. It will warm up your space without making it look yellow.

Snowbound is also creamy but its undertones are more in the violet/pink area. This is evident when you look at the side-by-side of the two colors. You can see the pink coming through.

How to know if a paint color is right for you?

The best way to judge if a color is good for you then you will want to put a swatch on the wall and look at it over a few days. Look at it in different lights and decide if you really like it.

You can do this by getting a sample from the paint store and using a brush to put it up on the walls, but then you are left with a can that you can’t do anything with. Those samples are used with poor-quality paint and aren’t meant for use on your walls permanently.

I recommend going with Samplize. They are a company that will send you a peel-and-stick swatch of a paint color that you can stick to the wall. When you are done just peel it off and throw it away.

It’s easy and much less messy!

Can I use Snowbound and Pure White together?

I wouldn’t recommend using Snowbound and Pure White together. They are so similar that when used together they would look funny.

I recommend using a color that is more contrasting. I love to pair them with medium to dark greige colors and blue-green colors. A black will always work too!

For more details on Snowbound and Pure White go check out the full review of each color.

What color white should I pair with Snowbound or Pure White?

I actually recommend using Snowbound and Pure White on walls and trim. When doing this I recommend doing a different sheen on the trim so there is a bit of contrast.

But if you really want something different they will both look great with I like Sherwin Williams Highly Reflective White. This color is one of the closest to a true white you will find and will provide just enough contrast.

Other White Paint Colors to Consider:

• Sherwin Williams Eider White
• Aesthetic White by Sherwin Williams
• Benjamin Moore Linen White
• Benjamin Moore Cloud White
• Sherwin Williams Nebulous White
• Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
• Benjamin Moore Simply White

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