In the world of interior design, white paint is just timeless. Whether you’re a pro designer, a DIY’er, a homeowner, or just someone wanting to freshen up your kitchen, the right shade of white can be a complete game changer for how your kitchen looks. There are so many brands and shades of white out there, BUT, the good thing is that Sherwin Williams has put together a fab list of their best whites, and we’re here for it.
Sherwin Williams has been in the paint game for ages, and they’ve really made a name for themselves as the biggest paint company in the world. One of their top markets is interior wall paint, and honestly, we think they have the best color experts around. They take so much pride in what they do, and it shows.
In this blog post we’re going to look at the best Sherwin Williams whites and how you can find the best white paint color for your kitchen and the rest of your home.
The Expert List of the Best Sherwin Williams Whites
1.) Pure White (sw 7005)
Just a hint of gray in Sherwin Williams Pure White gives it a softness that can brighten up a space. It’s a really nice balance that makes it super versatile, fitting in really well with all sorts of kitchen design/décor styles. Pure white walls, pure white cabinets or pure white trim, it’s perfect for any setting or application.
2.) Shoji White (sw 7042)
Sherwin Williams Shoji White is an off white with warm tones that give it a bit warmer feel. It’s the kind of white that just fits perfectly with traditional kitchen décor. It can also be used as an entire house white. It’s not a bright white so it’s slightly darker than sw pure white but this gives it enough color to not feel like a hospital stark white paint.
3.) Eider White (sw 7014)
If you’re looking for a cool white paint color, Sherwin Williams Eider White would be a great choice. It’s a safe neutral white paint color, with cool gray undertones and is perfect for using in a kitchen with cool-toned furniture and décor. Use it as a kitchen paint color, wall color, or cabinet color. We absolutely love it and we wrote a full review of Sherwin Williams Eider White.
4.) Alabaster (sw 7008)
Sherwin Williams Alabaster has these subtle beige undertones that gives it a nice balance between warm and cool. It’s been a go-to favorite for just about any kitchen or even an entire house. Whether you’re considering a white trim color, walls, or cabinets, it’s such a safe bet. You really can’t go wrong. It’s probably one of the best Sherwin Williams white paint colors.
5.) Dover White (sw 6385)
Very slight yellow undertones give Dover White a softer feel. It’s a warm neutral and is perfect for any kitchen where you want to add just a whisper of color. It’s one of those Sherwin Williams white paint colors that’s been around for a long time.
Why White Paints are Perfect for Kitchens
We know that in recent years white have gotten a bad rap for being sterile, boring and really difficult to find the right white but the reality is, a white kitchen can be just as exciting and stylish as any other color. In fact, using the right shade of white in your kitchen can make the kitchen feel bigger, brighter, and super inviting.
Plus, white is incredibly versatile. It works well with any design style – whether you’re into modern, traditional, farmhouse, or coastal interior design styles. It’s a versatile color that can easily adapt to whatever look you’re going for and have an immediate impact on your kitchen.
Another reason why white is perfect for kitchens is because it creates a clean and crisp backdrop for all your design elements in your kitchen, like cabinets, countertops, and smaller décor pieces. This means you can really get creative with different textures, materials, and colors without overdoing it.
Tips for Choosing the Right White
You know, one of the reasons white paint gets such a bad rap is how tricky it can be to find the “perfect white” for your home. Seriously, there are so many shades of white out there, and a ton of factors that can affect how they look in your space.
Just when you think you’ve found that ideal white color and finally bring it home, it turns out to be nothing like you pictured it. It’s super frustrating. So with that in mind, here are a few tips to help you choose the right white for your kitchen:
Test it Out First. Use Samples
Something super important when it comes to picking white paint for your kitchen is to Always, always, ALWAYS use paint samples! Dont skip this step. But here’s the thing—with most white paints you shouldn’t just use any old paint samples.
If you can, it’s best to use the real color in a cheap gallon size. It’s really hard to produce bright white colors in ink, which is what the large stick-on paint swatch colors are made of, so those paper swatches and even quart samples just don’t do justice to the actual color. Even the tiny paint chips at the store can look totally different from the real paint once it’s on your walls.
The only time you can break this rule is if you’re considering a sample of white that is also used as a base color. Sherwin Williams has a really popular shade of white called “Extra White.” They use it not only as a color for your home; but it’s actually the foundation for 99% of their other white shades. So, a little bit of Sherwin Williams “Extra White” is totally okay if that’s the color that you’re after.
But for most other whites, generally it’s a big no-no. Unless you’re testing out some deep, rich whites, buying a paper sample or a quart/pint sized sample usually won’t match up when you get larger quantities, unless the paint store works some magic to adjust it.
Keep In Mind:
The “buy a sample” rule—is a great general guideline for all paint colors, but when it comes to whites, it’s even more crucial. Why’s that, you ask? Well, white paint can be super sensitive to other colors, and it shows off its undertones differently depending on how much light and the type of lighting it has.
Samples will give you a better idea of how the color looks in different lighting conditions and helps you avoid any surprises.
You Have To Consider Lighting
It’s a fact that light plays a huge role in how paint colors look, but the effect that lighting has on white paint colors can be super dramatic. Choosing the right lighting can either make your kitchen look absolutely stunning or just “ick”.
So, before you settle on a white for your kitchen, think about the type of light that will shine on it. Whether you’re dealing with natural sunlight or artificial lights, you’ll need to take some time to observe how it changes throughout the day. You want to make sure you’ll be happy with the way it reflects light.
This next tip might be a bit tough to swallow for some of us, but it’s the best way to find that perfect white color for your kitchen—and the rest of your home too. The tip is, Let your house decide what color you should pick. What does that mean? Well, the color you have in mind might not be the best fit for your kitchen because of all the different factors at play in that space. The reality is your home has a feel, and sometimes it knows what it needs better than we do.
For example, if you’re leaning towards warm whites for your kitchen but your lighting is around 5000K (which gives off a bluish hue), and your kitchen furniture is all cool colors, that warm white you’ve been eyeing is probably going to look more like a cool white.
Why? Because that blue lighting and those cool-toned surfaces will reflect off the walls and change how that paint feels. So, trust your space to guide you! It’s all about finding a white that goes perfectly with the overall feel of your kitchen.
Recognize the Undertones
There’s something really interesting about whites that you don’t quite see with other paint colors. Whites are SUPER sensitive to their surroundings! Along with their natural undertones from the pigments mixed in to create a specific shade, they really react to design elements in your kitchen—like your flooring, lighting, or big pieces of furniture. Bright whites, in particular, can show off undertones that are totally influenced by the stuff around them. For instance:
If you’ve got those classic hardwood floors in that lovely reddish-orange hue that was so popular in the 90’s and early 2000’s (depending on the light, of course) the white paint you pick is definitely going to pick up on those warm undertones from your floors. And the same goes for your big furniture pieces, large rugs, or carpets—your white paint will reflect those colors too. Just a thought to keep in mind when you’re choosing your paint.
Another interesting thing to think about is if you’ve got big, beautiful windows or sliding doors in your kitchen that let in tons of natural light, they’re amazing btw, but here’s the thing— because they are so big they can sometimes bring in unexpected colors from outside.
You might find that the greens from your grass, the blues from your pool, or even that charming blue house next door can bounce colors from outside to inside and bring in all types of undertones into your kitchen. Which is sort of a bummer because it can make your crisp white walls and cabinets read some undertones that you definitely didn’t want.
It can make that perfect shade of white you picked out at the paint store look totally different. That just goes to show how even the simplest things can really shake things up.
How to Use a Paint Sample
Use Real Paint
While it might not be the go-to option unless you’re planning a full repaint or remodel, the best way to find that perfect paint color for your kitchen is to actually slap it on your walls. Using the real paint in your kitchen comes with some awesome perks.
You’ll really see how a color looks in your kitchen, and it’ll really make choosing a color easier—no more guessing, plus, it does two super important things that you don’t want to miss out on.
1.) It lets you see the real color, the texture, and all those little undertones and especially how the color looks in your kitchen’s lighting.
2.) You’ll know exactly how the color looks in your kitchen. When you’re working with those tiny paint swatches or even those big peel-off samples, you might notice a difference in how the color appears. That’s just the way paint behaves—there’s a difference between ink that’s used on the paint swatches and real paint.
When you’re using actual paint, the only thing that might change how it looks is if you choose a different sheen from what your sample is. Flat paint isn’t just a different texture compared to satin/eggshell and semi-gloss; it also has a slightly different color. Not anything dramatic but there is a small difference So, keep that in mind when you’re picking out your perfect shade.
Keep in Mind:
With lots of white paint colors, getting a sample that’s smaller than a quart will not give a good representation of the color, ESPECIALLY if the “small” sample is made with liquid colorants. Only buy at least a quart of paint when getting samples.
Paint Your Walls if Possible
Try painting your walls with the color you love—but only do this with two color options or less. Keeping it simple is key. Having a rainbow of colors on your walls can be super distracting and make picking a white color way harder than it needs to be, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.
The Bigger the Better
Using large sample sheets can be a total game-changer. Bigger samples give you a much better idea of how the color will really look on your walls, helping you see its undertones in different lighting and also how it reflects light.
Say goodbye to the frustration that often comes with tiny samples that can totally mislead you and are really only good for choosing a color but not making the final decision of your paint color.
The idea is to mimic what the real paint would do and larger samples let you visualize how the paint will look with other elements in your kitchen, like your cabinets, countertops, and flooring. It makes it way easier to see how it all fits into your overall design.
So investing in those bigger paint sample sheets can help you make more informed choices, reduce any chance of buyer’s remorse later, and give you the confidence you need in your final selection.
Use Samples on Poster Board
Another effective way to use paint samples is by buying sample paint and applying it to thick poster board. (Make sure that it’s thick because its going to warp)
This method allows you to create larger, movable color swatches that can be easily positioned throughout your kitchen.
Start by cutting the poster board into big but manageable pieces that can showcase the paint color effectively. Once you’ve painted these boards, use painter’s tape to secure them against different wall surfaces or even lean them against your countertops. This way, you can see how the colors interact with various lighting conditions and also different design elements in your kitchen.
By shifting these boards around, you can get a real sense of how each color complements the kitchen, helping you make a more informed decision before committing to a full paint job.
Live with Your Samples
Once you’ve picked out a few colors for your kitchen, it’s super important to take a moment to really “live with” those samples before you make your final choice. Paint colors can look totally different depending on the time of day.
They change with natural light, artificial lighting, and the whole aesthetic of your kitchen. That color you thought was perfect in the bright morning sun might look completely different at dusk or when the kitchen lights are on in the evening.
Also “living with” big paint samples really makes a difference. You can move them around your kitchen and place them in different spots to see how they look with the unique lighting throughout the day. This way, you really get to appreciate how the colors shift and evolve in various settings. Plus, it helps you picture how your final choice will fit in with everything else in the kitchen. In the end, you’ll feel super confident and happy with your pick when it’s time to dive into that paint project.
Final Thoughts
We really hope you enjoyed this blog post and found the tips super helpful in your journey to find the perfect paint color for your kitchen. With all the insights you’ve picked up about using real paint samples, the benefits of larger swatches, plus the importance of “living with” your choices, you should feel ready to dive into your paint project.
So go ahead and choose some fantastic paint colors that match your style and feel for your kitchen.
