Sherwin Williams Pure White (SW 7005) + Undertones and Coordinating Colors

Pure White Sherwin Williams is a soft white paint color that is perfect on walls, trim, exteriors, cabinets and more.

Sherwin Williams Pure White (color code SW 7005) is part of the Trendsetter, Dreamer, Pottery Barn – Fall/Winter 2020, Timeless Whites, 2020 Play, Acute Care Cool Foundations, ABC’s and 123’s, Inbe Tweens, Teen Space, 2021 Sanctuary, and Finest Whites collections from Sherwin Williams.

Basically, this means that it is extremely popular. It has been chosen by designers repeatedly as a no-fail white paint color.

If you are interested in a white paint color that is soft and versatile, check out this comprehensive review of SW Pure White 7005.

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What Color is Sherwin Williams Pure White?

Sherwin Williams Pure White is a versatile white paint color that is not overly crisp or stark. It is a softer white that is not too white, but also doesn’t lean in any particular color.

Let me explain that statement a little bit.

It can be hard to define white paint colors in terms of what they are, without also discussing what they are not.

For example, Pure White is not a bluish white, is not a creamy white, is not too stark, is not too cool, is not a soft white, and is not too warm.

I would guess that Sherwin Williams gave it the name Pure White because it is not any of those things.

It is, as the name suggests, purely white… almost.

Pure White Undertones

All white paint colors have undertones that give them the particular shade of white they have.

Pure White is a very white paint color, but it does have a hint of a gray undertone. This gray undertone grounds the paint color, and keeps it from being too stark.

Pure White also has just the slightest nod toward a yellow undertone. This makes it come off as slightly warm, but not in any perceptible way.

Basically, the yellow in the formula for Pure White keeps it from going cool. It will likely never look yellow on your walls or trim though (unless you have very yellowy lights in the room).

Sherwin Williams Pure White almost perfectly straddles the line between warm and cool. This is why you will see some websites say it is a cool color and other websites say it is a warm shade.

Because it is so bright, and not a soft white, many will say it is cool. But, because it has that hint of warm yellow, it actually lands in the warm category of paint colors.

But it is really ever so slightly warm. This is why I think it is the perfect white paint color that goes with everything.

Pure White has an LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, of 84. Since the LRV scale goes from 1-100, this means that Pure White reflects a ton of light, and is a pretty white white (yes, I know I said ‘white’ twice).

Sherwin Williams Pure White LRV

Pure White has an LRV of 84.

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of the amount of visible and usable light that is either reflected from or absorbed by a surface. The LRV scale goes from 0, which is absolute black and absorbs all light, to 100, which is absolute white and reflects all light.

If this is a bit confusing for you, don’t worry. Think of the LRV value as an indicator of how light or dark a paint color is.

So, since the LRV scale goes to 100, you can see that an LRV of 84 like Pure White has is pretty light.

But, it isn’t too high on the scale, which is why I call Pure White a softer white.

Where Should I Use Pure White?

In my opinion…

Pure White is the best Sherwin Williams white paint color for trim (also called baseboards). On trim, it looks crisp, clean and bright, but not blue, yellow or dingy.

Because it doesn’t have much in the way of undertones, it goes perfectly with almost any wall paint color. In fact, I list it on this article about the best white paint colors for every surface as the best white paint color for trim.

Pure White paint color ranks as one of the most popular paint colors for trim, alongside Extra White and Super White.

In addition, Sherwin Williams Pure White can also be used on walls, ceilings, exteriors, and doors.

The White Paint Color Trend

Have you seen the white paint trend that is all over Pinterest right now? Many of these pictures are of a white paint like Pure White.

While I can’t say for certain that they actually Sherwin Williams’ Pure White, the white look they demonstrate, without being too cool or too warm, is similar to the color of Pure White.

Things People Often Wonder about Pure White

Most people have a lot of questions about paint colors. Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Sherwin Williams Pure White.

Is Sherwin Williams Pure White too bright?

Sherwin Williams Pure White isn’t too bright if you want a paint color that looks white.

But, if you are looking for a warm white, a creamy white, or an off-white, Pure White may be too bright for you.

As mentioned above, Pure White looks pretty white on your walls and trim. This is especially true if you don’t have anything that is whiter in the room.

Put another way, if Pure White is the lightest white in the room, it will look bright and white.

When I’ve used Sherwin Williams Pure White on walls and trim, I have found it to be the perfect white paint color that isn’t too bright.

Is Sherwin Williams Pure White warm or cool?

Sherwin Williams Pure White is a warm paint color. It has soft yellow undertones that make it a warm shade.

When you’re considering whether a warm paint color will work in your space, remember to think about the lighting in your room.

South facing rooms get warmer light, which will really bring out the warmth (yellow) in Pure White.

North facing rooms get cooler light, which will bring out the gray in Pure White. If you have a north facing room, you may want to consider a warmer white if you really want a creamy sort of shade.

Does SW Pure White look gray?

SW Pure White doesn’t look gray, but it does have just a hint of softness to it that comes from a gray undertone.

Is Sherwin Williams Pure White a soft white?

Soft white is a relative term. Compared to other bright white paint colors, such as High Reflective White or Chantilly Lace, Pure White is a softer white paint color.

But there are many more white paint colors that are much softer than Pure White. If you want a soft white, check out Greek Villa, Swiss Coffee or Alabaster.

Should you use Pure White on walls?

I love Sherwin Williams Pure White on walls. To me, it is the perfect white paint color that isn’t too bright or stark, but still looks white on your walls.

While other softer whites will look yellow or creamy, Pure White looks white.

Sherwin Williams Pure White is also great on exteriors, cabinets, and woodwork.

What is the Benjamin Moore Equivalent to Pure White?

There are no Benjamin Moore paint colors that are exactly the same as Sherwin Williams Pure White, but here are a few Benjamin Moore paint colors that are similar to Pure White to check out:

• White Dove
• Cloud White
• White Heron

Can I Color Match Sherwin Williams Pure White?

All paint stores will color match paint colors from other companies.

So, yes, you can color match Sherwin Williams Pure White at any paint store and in most any paint product – but this doesn’t mean that you should!

Because paint companies use different colorants and formulations, you may not get a fully accurate paint match if you choose to color match a Sherwin Williams color at Home Depot or Benjamin Moore.

Additionally, paint products all have different sheens, and this can make the color look different as well.

The best way to get the truest paint color for Pure White is to go to your local Sherwin Williams.

Pure White Paint Color Comparisons

If you’re considering Pure White, there may be some other paint colors you should be looking at as well.

This can help you determine if Pure White is right for your home, or if you should go with a different paint color instead.

Pure White vs. Extra White

For our first color comparison, let’s look at Pure White and Extra White.

Pure White and Extra White are some of the most popular white paint colors for trim. And, both are great, but for different rooms.

While Pure White is has a touch of gray in it, Extra White carries a soft bluish undertone. This hint of blue puts Extra White firmly in the cool category of paints.

In a room with warm colors, I would also go with Pure White over Extra White.

In a room with cool colors, I find that either Pure White or Extra White work. But, you want your room to have that crisp, clean look, you may want to choose Extra White.

Extra White will look brighter than Pure White due to the cooler undertone. The blue undertone gives Extra White a starker, brighter look than Pure White.

Check out a review of Extra White here.

Pure White vs. Alabaster

For our next comparison, take a look at Pure White vs. Alabaster.

Alabaster is one of Sherwin Williams’ most popular paint colors. Click on this link to learn more about the paint color Alabaster.

As you can see from the picture, both Pure White and Alabaster have hints of gray in them, but Alabaster has a lot more yellow or beige in it than Pure White does.

This makes Alabaster come off as softer, warmer and much less crisp than Pure White. Pure White is brighter than Alabaster.

Alabaster is a great trim or wall color if you want to warm up a room, but it won’t go as well in a room with cool accents.

In addition, if you want your trim or walls to look like a crisp white, you will want to paint them Pure White over Alabaster.

In some ways, Alabaster is similar to Benjamin Moore White Dove. But, Pure White is brighter than White Dove too.

Pure White vs. High Reflective White

Next, take a look at Pure White vs. High Reflective White.

High Reflective White is one of the whitest white paint colors you can pick. It doesn’t have really any undertones, and it is bright bright bright.

In case you think that this means it is the perfect white, hold on.

I have been told that it doesn’t cover very well. I haven’t tried it on my own, so I can’t verify, but you may want to ask at Sherwin Williams before you purchase a big can of it.

Click here for a full paint color review on High Reflective White.

Pure White vs. Snowbound

For one last color comparison, let’s look at Pure White and Snowbound.

Snowbound is a cool white with gray and pink/purple undertones. It has an LRV of 83 (Pure White’s LRV is 84), and is a very similar depth of paint color to Pure White.

Sherwin Williams Pure White is a whiter paint color than Snowbound though. Snowbound has more color to it than Pure White.

Snowbound is a very popular paint color for walls and trim, and they are actually pretty similar colors. Where they differ is that Pure White has that touch of yellow, where Snowbound has a hint of pink/purple.

If you want a soft white that doesn’t have any yellow in it, Snowbound might be a good choice for you.

Click here to read more about Sherwin Williams Snowbound.

What Colors Compliment Pure White?

Pure White is an amazing versatile paint color that goes with just about any other paint colors. That is my number one reason for using it on trim in homes where people want a softer white trim shade.

Some great coordinating colors for Pure White are:

• Agreeable Gray
• Silver Strand
• Accessible Beige
• Tidewater
• Romance
• Evergreen Fog
• Sea Salt
• Repose Gray
• Colonnade Gray

If you want some additional suggestions of paint colors that go with Sherwin Williams Pure White, check out my Pure White curated paint palette.

If you are planning to use Sherwin Williams Pure White on your walls, the best colors for your trim are:

• Pure White (in a higher sheen)
• High Reflective White
• Chantilly Lace

Because Pure White is so light, it needs a lighter white paint color to set it off. Chantilly Lace and High Reflective White are very white paint colors and will give just a hint of contrast on your trim.

Another option is to paint your trim in Pure White in a higher sheen than the walls. Higher sheens reflect more light, and look lighter than the same color in lower sheens.

Painting your walls in Pure White in a satin and the trim in Pure White in a semi-gloss will ensure the walls and trim go together perfectly, but that the trim looks just slightly brighter.

Final Thoughts on Sherwin Williams Pure White Paint Color

Pure White is one of my favorite Sherwin Williams paint colors because of its versatility. It is a great color for trim, crown molding, walls, exteriors, cabinets, furniture, and more.

I’ve used Pure White on walls and trim with zero regrets. It goes with everything, and never comes off as dull.

Plus, it can coordinate with either warm or cool paint color and accents, because it really straddles the line between warm and cool.

When you want a no-fail white paint color, strongly consider Pure White for your home.

Wondering How To Pick the Perfect Paint Color?

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Thanks for sharing!