Paint Color Review: Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012

If you want a clean off-white paint color warmed up by crisp cream undertones, Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012 may be exactly what you need.

If you want a clean off-white paint color warmed up by crisp cream undertones, Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012 may be exactly what you’re looking for. This gorgeous color is a beautiful way to warm up your walls without being too heavy or yellow. Let’s take a closer look at Creamy’s spectral data to see if it’s the right paint for your project.

Walls and ceiling are painted in Sherwin-Williams Creamy.


What is the LRV of Creamy?

Walls, ceiling, and trim are painted Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012.

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.)


What are the undertones of Sherwin-Williams Creamy? Does it look yellow? Is it pink?

Sherwin-Williams Creamy is a fairly neutral warm paint color but perhaps a bit more or less colorful than some other popular cream colors. In most cases, Creamy will look cream – not white, not yellow. 

To get a more objective read on this paint color, let’s examine Creamy’s spectral data. SW Creamy has a hue angle of 96.147°, putting it in the Yellow hue family as you can see in the image below. 

sherwin-williams creamy sw7012

Chroma is another piece of spectral data we like to evaluate and is a measurement of how vivid or saturated a paint color is. With a chroma value of 7.5, Creamy has a decent amount of color saturation. This means that it has just enough yellow color pigment to give it some nice warmth, balanced with plenty of neutral white and black pigments to keep it from being a glaring yellow. 



In certain qualities of light, Creamy’s warmth will really stand out and may look a bit more yellowish. Like many off-white paint colors, Creamy is highly reflective and vulnerable to the surrounding lighting. 

  • Creamy will look more balanced in rooms with North-facing light or rooms that have dim lighting.
  • Creamy’s warmth will be more noticeable and more intense in rooms that receive a lot of Southern light or afternoon Western light. Both are warmer and a bit yellower. 
  • Soft white bulbs (the most popular, easily available light bulb color) tend to be quite yellow as well and may amplify the yellow in Creamy. Using the right color light bulbs (3000 K to 3500 K) will give SW Creamy a much more balanced appearance.
  • Kitchens that have cool-toned marble or quartz countertops, bright white subway tile, or white appliances may be too stark to pair well with Creamy.

What trim color goes with Creamy SW 7012? 

The walls in this kitchen are painted Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012. The trim and cabinetry are painted Sherwin Williams Pure White 7005 with a semi-gloss sheen.


Can I use Sherwin-Williams Creamy for cabinets and trim?

You certainly can! However, Creamy SW 7012 is not a color we specify very often for trim or cabinets in our color consultations. While Creamy looks fabulous on walls, it’s harder to work with when it comes to using it on trim and cabinets. This is because its higher chroma (i.e., its slightly stronger yellow tone) makes it tricker to pair up with other wall paint colors compared to other more versatile whites and off-whites. In short, it’s more limiting and less flexible as a cabinet or trim color.

These beautiful birch wood cabinets are painted in Sherwin Williams SW 7012 Creamy.


What other paint colors are equivalent or similar to Sherwin-Williams Creamy?

As a reminder, I don’t ever recommend color matching between different brands. This is especially true when it comes to any shade of white paint. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. You will see shifts in color and depth. If you’re looking for a color that has an equal or similar vibe to Sherwin-Williams Creamy in another brand, take a look at these options: 

Walls are Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012, paired with Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005 on the trim.


Wondering how SW 7012 Creamy compares to a few other popular paint colors? Keep reading…

Sherwin-Williams Creamy vs Sherwin-Williams Dover White


Sherwin-Williams Cream vs Sherwin-Williams Alabaster


Is Sherwin-Williams Creamy a good exterior paint color?

Exterior brick has been painted in Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012.


What other paint colors go with the Sherwin-Williams Creamy color palette?

If you want a clean off-white paint color warmed up by crisp cream undertones, Sherwin-Williams Creamy 7012 may be exactly what you need.

Need Help Choosing a Color?

one room paint color report

One Room Paint Color Report | Virtual

Need help choosing the best paint colors for your room? Then this is the (virtual) service for you! Based on your questionnaire responses and uploaded photos, we’ll create a personalized digital Paint Color Report just for you. We’ll also send you paint swatches! Click below to learn how it works or to get started!


exterior paint color

Exterior Paint Color Report | Virtual

Ready to give your home exterior a fresh new look, but feeling overwhelmed with the decision? Get a little virtual help from the color experts at Three Bears Home Staging! Based on your questionnaire responses and uploaded photos, we’ll create a personalized digital Paint Color Report just for your home’s exterior. We’ll also send you paint swatches! Read below to learn how it works…


About Vannessa Rhoades
About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive and empowering consultations to help homeowners sell more quickly and for more money. Vannessa has staged and consulted on hundreds of properties, both in person throughout the Houston metro area and virtually across the country.

Published by Vannessa Rhoades, Three Bears Home Staging

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of "Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging" and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive and empowering consultations to help homeowners sell more quickly and for more money. Vannessa has staged and consulted on hundreds of properties, both in person throughout the Houston metro area and virtually across the country.

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