Sherwin Williams Alabaster Paint Color Review
Find out more about Sherwin Williams Alabaster in this paint color review
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a versatile off-white paint color that can be used for both interior and exterior applications. SW Alabaster can be used for kitchen cabinets, trims, main interior walls, ceilings, and the exterior of homes. When paired correctly, it can work with warm and cool fixed elements depending on your interior or exterior style. It's a popular warm off-white paint color, but it's not a paint color that will work in every home.
Today I will show you the undertone of SW Alabaster and what makes it a warm off-white. Next, I'm going to compare SW Alabaster with other warm off-whites so you can see what makes it different from the other off-whites. Then I will share with you some valuable tips you should know about SW Alabaster because the last thing I want you to do is to make a costly mistake.
Can SW Alabaster work in every home?
It's complicated and it depends on two main factors. Number one is your fixed elements. Do you have cool fixed elements or warm fixed elements? Number two is lighting.
I'm going to give you a good example when it comes to lighting. Let's say you have a room that doesn't receive a lot of natural lighting, and the artificial lighting is not properly spaced out. I've seen so many homes where a client has this exact situation and they painted their main interior walls with SW Alabaster. Chances are your room will look ding or muted and I've seen SW Alabaster look creamy especially when paired with cool elements that don't receive a lot of natural lighting. you decide to paint the main interior walls Sherwin Alabaster because you want to make the room lighter.
Like I always say, if you want to make a room lighter when you don't receive proper lighting go with a warmer paint color, not a lighter paint color.
What are the undertones of Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008?
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a warm off-white. What is a warm off-white? Typically a warm off-white means it has a touch of yellow but it's a little more complicated because there are a few warm off-white that don't have a hint of yellow. You will not see blue or gray undertones in warm off-whites. The touch of yellow is what makes it a warm off-white.
SW Alabaster is known as a creamy warm off-white but don't get confused as it's not a cream. It gives you that warm softness that you're looking for when you want to add a touch of warmth to a room or space.
The best way to explain it is by comparing SW Alabaster to a true off-white paint color. I want you to see the undertones of SW Alabaster for yourself so you can see why the undertone has a touch of yellow.
Check out the color comparisons below in this blog and in my video!
Comparing BM Chantilly Lace OC-65 to SW Alabaster 7008
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is considered a true off-white which means it's not cool or warm. In the image below you, can instantly see the yellow undertones in Sherwin Williams Alabaster.
Notice how creamy SW Alabaster looks and this is why you often hear expert paint color consultants say SW Alabaster is a creamy warm off-white. It's important to note that SW Alabaster is not a cream paint color but has the warmth of a light cream is the best way to explain it.
Comparing SW Alabaster to other similar paint colors to help you see what makes it unique
Now you understand why SW Alabaster is a warm off-white, next, I'm going to compare some similar warm off-white paint colors to help you see what makes SW Alabaster different than the other warm off-whites.
I want you to feel confident about SW Alabaster and see what makes it creamy warm off-white. The last thing I want you to do is make a costly mistake.
Comparing Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 to Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a warm off-white. In the image below, you can see how Sherwin Williams Alabaster is slightly warmer with a touch more yellow as Benjamin Moore White Dove is lighter with slightly less yellow.
Both are similar paint colors in regard to warmth but both will look different in many scenarios. For example, BM White Dove will not look as creamy SW Alabaster for a kitchen cabinet color and that's especially true depending on the technique the kitchen cabinet maker uses when painting your kitchen cabinets.
Comparing Sherwin Williams Westhighland White to Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008
Sherwin Williams Westhighland White is a warm off-white. In the image below, notice how SW Alabaster is creamier and warmer than SW Westhighland as it's lighter and less warm than SW Alabaster.
It's important to note that SW Westhighland White sits below SW Alabaster on the fan deck strip, but that doesn't mean SW Westhighland White is warmer or darker. Selecting a paint color by going up and down the paint color strip is not a wise decision, as many of the neutrals have different undertones.
Comparing Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117 to Sherwin Williams Alabaster 7008
Benjamin Moore Simply White is a warm off-white. In the image below, you can see how SW Alabaster is warmer, creamier, and muted when paired with BM Simply White. Notice how BM Simply White is lighter, clean, and less warm than SW Alabaster.
This is why it's so important to compare all the different off-whites to see if it is clean or muted, then compare the warm off-whites with your fixed elements to see if they will pair correctly with what you have in your home.
Is Sherwin Williams Alabaster the right undertone for your home?
It depends on your fixed elements. You need to be mindful of what color and undertones you have in your kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertops and, flooring, to name a few. Do your fixed elements lean cool or warm? If your fixed elements lean on the cool side, don't be surprised if SW Alabaster looks creamier than you expect it to be. If you have warm fixed elements then chances are it looks softer and not as creamy when paired to a cool fixed element.
The natural and artificial lighting you have in your space will influence how SW Alabaster will look in your home. Lighting is complicated, and it's important you get this right. Please get a sample of SW Alabaster and compare it with your fixed and furnished elements to see if it's a good match for your home.
How I can help you find the perfect paint color for your home?
If you want to save time and are tired of second-guessing and want to avoid a costly mistake, then I recommend checking out any of my online packages. I can help you select the right paint colors that will pair correctly with your fixed and furnished elements, including the type of lighting you have in your home for either the interior or exterior of your home.
Go to my FAQ page or How I Help You page to find out more. I would love to help you!
Next, I'm going to share with you a few tips that you should know about Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige.
SW Alabaster Design Tip 1: LRV Is Misleading
Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I never talk about LRVs for several reasons.
I've never recommended interior or exterior paint colors for any client based on LRVs in my entire career. Without getting technical and complicated, if you don't know what LRV stands for, the light reflective value means the higher the number, the more reflective, and the lower the number, the less reflective the paint color is in any given space.
For the general public, focus on the undertones, will the color looks light or dark, warm or cool, muted or clean and etc. There is more to it than that, but this is a great tip that will lead you in the right direction.
SW Alabaster Design Tip 2: Landscape Undertones
If you're thinking about painting the main interior walls throughout your home with SW Alabaster and your home is surrounded by trees, please be mindful of the undertones you will see from outside your windows.
Expect to see green undertones or other undertones depending on the type of landscape you have in your home, including the Fall season, as the leaves change color. If you are sensitive to green undertones, then I recommend going with a light warm neutral if you want to cancel out the green undertones coming from the landscape that surrounds your home.
Check Out These Off-White Paint Colors
If you're looking for other off-white paint colors besides SW Alabaster, then please check out the following paint colors reviews:
If you want to save time, get to the point, select the correct interior or exterior paint colors, and avoid making a costly mistake, I highly recommend you check out my online packages. The cost of the online packages is a fraction of the cost you will pay to paint your home, and the money you will save from avoiding a costly mistake is proven by over 580 reviews posted on my website. Please read the reviews yourself and see what clients have to say. I would love to help you!