Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008 is a gorgeously soft, warm white. It has just a touch of creaminess that adds warmth without looking yellow. It’s an incredibly popular color, earning the prestigious designation of Sherwin-Williams 2016 Color of the Year. But is it the right white for your space?
What is the LRV of Alabaster?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100 being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Alabaster’s LRV is 82, so it’s definitely a white but not the brightest, most reflective white on the market. This helps it feel a bit softer while still being bright. This could make it a better choice as a wall paint than, say, Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White (LRV 93 ), which may feel too stark or sterile on an entire wall.
The walls in this gorgeous kitchen are painted Sherwin-Williams Alabaster 7008, paired with cabinets in Sherwin-Williams 7016 Mindful Gray.
How Does the Exposure of My Room Affect Alabaster?
Exposure refers to the direction of the natural light in a room and tends to vary in color and intensity depending on where it’s coming from. Alabaster will add a dose of warmth to the cool gray light in a north-facing room or a room that has morning east-facing light. In a room with southern exposure, Alabaster will look even warmer. Western exposure rooms will also see this warmth in the afternoon light.
You must sample this color in the space you intend to use it before you start putting it on your walls and trim! (We mail 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)
Is Alabaster a Good Trim Color?
In many cases, yes! But it depends on what color you’re putting next to it. Because Alabaster is a higher chroma white (more colorful) than some other white paint colors, it has a bit less flexibility (although I’d say it’s still pretty darn flexible). Alabaster is especially beautiful on trim molding when paired with other warm paint colors (see below).
That said, if you’re looking for a clean (colorless) white trim paint that has lots of flexibility, Alabaster would not be my first recommendation. For a cleaner, yellow-less white paint color, take a look at Benjamin Moore Super White OC-152 or Behr Ultra Pure White. Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW7006 and Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW7005 are also cleaner, more flexible white trim paint options.
Can I Pair Sherwin-Williams Alabaster with Another White Paint Color? Will It Look Yellow?
It might. If you want white walls and are using Alabaster on the trim and cabinets, I recommend using Alabaster on the walls as well. Simply change the sheen or finish to give it some dimension (e.g., eggshell for the walls and satin for the cabinets and trim). When you start trying to mix and match white paints, their differences in hue and chroma become much more obvious. One will likely end up highlighting the hue family of the other, causing it to look grayer/yellower/dingier by comparison. (In my online course, Color By The Numbers™, I show you how easy it is to find hue and chroma values and how to use them to evaluate colors).
What Colors Go With Sherwin-Williams Alabaster?
Alabaster looks cleaner and brighter when partnered with a paint color that has a significant difference in chroma (colorfulness or vividness) and/or value (lightness or darkness). Take a look at some of our favorite near-neutrals to pair with Alabaster:
Is Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008 Warm or Cool?
Alabaster has an LCh° hue angle of 99.953°, which means it’s in the Yellow hue family. This makes it a warm color.
One of the challenges with Alabaster is that many other popular near-neutral paint colors (many beiges and grays) also belong to the Yellow hue family. This means you’ll have to be careful when pairing Alabaster with other near-neutrals from the Yellow hue family.
If you start sampling paint colors and find Alabaster looking too dingy or yellow next to your other paint, they’re probably from the same hue family and too similar in chroma or value. (Hue family can be tricky to identify based on looks alone. In my online course, Color By The Numbers™, I show you how easy it is to find hue and chroma values and how to use them to evaluate colors).
What Paint Colors Are Similar to Sherwin-Williams Alabaster?
Benjamin Moore Dove Wing OC-18 and Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 have a very similar degree of warmth and brightness.
That being said, I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. Homeowners do this for any number of reasons (to save a little money, their contractor will only work with a specific brand, lack of access, etc.). But the bottom line is that you cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results.
You may get really close. You may even get a color you can live with if you’re lucky. But with color matching, there are no guarantees because different brands use different formulas, bases, and proprietary pigments. Ultimately, it will be a different product.
Need Help Choosing a Color?
Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging! We’ll create a custom, curated palette and provide guidance for your next painting project.
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Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!
