Sherwin Williams Alabaster: Paint Color Review

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Choosing the perfect white paint can feel impossible—too bright, too yellow, too cool. But Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) hits the sweet spot! This creamy, soft white is warm without being too yellow, bright without being stark, and versatile enough for walls, trim, and even exteriors. No wonder it’s been a best-seller for years!

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Alabaster: its undertones, how it compares to other white paints, where it works best, and tips for pairing it with trim and other colors.

Why is Sherwin Williams Alabaster So Popular?

• Warm yet not too yellow – A perfect balance of creaminess without looking outdated.
• Versatile & timeless – Works beautifully on walls, cabinets, trim, and even exteriors.
• Soft & inviting – Ideal for creating a cozy yet fresh atmosphere.

Fun fact: Sherwin-Williams named Alabaster Color of the Year in 2016, and it has remained a best-seller ever since!

I initially chose Alabaster as the white for new kitchen cabinets in our kitchen remodel, because the color worked so well with the warmer elements (brass and wood) that I incorporated and the grays and blues that I love to work with.

Ultimately, we ended up going with BM Simply White, which is a brighter white, but it was a close call!

What is Alabaster’s LRV?

Alabaster has an LRV of 82, making it a white paint color, but one that feels like it’s closer to an off-white. If you’re looking for a fresh white, this is not the one for you.

As a reminder, LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value and it works on a scale of 0 – 100, with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.

Even though Alabaster has more depth of color to it than many other whites, it will appear soft and creamy, unless you pair it next to a brighter white like SW Extra White or SW Pure White which will make the creaminess more apparent.

Alabaster’s Undertones

Alabaster is a lovely, creamy warm white paint color. It technically has yellow undertones, but not so much that it will look bright yellow, thanks to a drop of gray that cools it down just enough.

If you want bright white walls, Alabaster is less white than perhaps what you may think of as “white” (if that makes sense!). In fact, even though it is technically a white paint (based on its LRV), it looks more like an off-white.

If you are looking for paint colors that are closer to true whites, I suggest looking at Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or for something slightly softer, Sherwin Williams Pure White.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs Pure White

Feature	SW Alabaster (SW 7008)	SW Pure White (SW 7005)
LRV	82	84 (brighter)
Undertones	Warm, slight yellow & gray	Soft white, subtle warmth
Feels Like	Creamy & cozy	Crisp but not stark
Best For	Traditional, warm-toned spaces	Modern, clean looks
Pairs Well With	Greiges, warm wood tones	Cool & warm colors

Key Takeaway: Alabaster is creamier, while Pure White is a soft but brighter white.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs Sherwin Williams Greek Villa

Feature	SW Alabaster	SW Greek Villa
LRV	82	84 (brighter)
Undertones	Warm, neutral gray base	Slight greige undertone
Feels Like	Soft & creamy	Warmer, slightly cleaner white
Best For	Cozy, inviting spaces	Brighter, fresh spaces
Pairs Well With	Warm neutrals & light wood	Earthy tones & beiges

Key Takeaway: Greek Villa leans a little fresher and cleaner, while Alabaster has a softer warmth.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs Benjamin White Dove

Feature	SW Alabaster	BM White Dove
LRV	82	83
Undertones	Warm, slight yellow-gray	Soft warm white, very neutral
Feels Like	Creamier	More balanced
Best For	Cozy, inviting spaces	Versatile, works in many settings

💡 Key Takeaway: White Dove is a touch more neutral, while Alabaster has more warmth and depth.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs Benjamin Moore Simply White

Alabaster is not quite as yellow as BM Simply White, making it a better choice in many situations. While BM Simply White is very popular, most people don’t realize just how yellow it can look in the wrong lighting conditions.

Since Alabaster has a neutral undertone alongside its yellow base, the yellow never becomes too overwhelming. Since Simply White does not have that neutral color to calm it down, the yellow can really come to the fore.

With that being said, Alabaster has more depth of color than Simply White, whose LRV is 91.7, making it a much brighter white.

Where Alabaster Works Best

Where to use Sherwin Williams Alabaster:

• Walls – Creates a warm, inviting backdrop without being too yellow.
• Trim & Doors – Works well in spaces with warm undertones.
• Kitchen Cabinets – A soft, timeless choice for cabinets, especially with brass or wood accents.
• Exterior – A softer white for homes that need warmth, works well with natural elements like wood & stone.

Best Trim & Sheen Pairings

If you have no intentions of painting your walls white and instead just want to paint your trim with Alabaster, go ahead, just know that it pairs best with a warm wall color. Blues and cool-toned grays need not apply (warm grays work!).

If you are planning on using Alabaster on your walls, the easiest way to pick a trim color that will match is to use the same paint color but in a different sheen. For example, eggshell on the walls and satin or semi-gloss on the trim.

The higher sheen will reflect more light, making the color appear lighter, but you don’t have to worry about any weird undertones coming out. This is my personal preference.

In the photo above, you can see the creaminess of the Alabaster walls against the bright white trim (SW Extra White). The cooler tones of Extra White pull out more of the gray in Alabaster, while also highlighting the yellow undertone.

Now here’s the same space, but now with the trim painted in Alabaster. You can see how the color looks significantly less yellow and now just looks soft and creamy.

If you really want to highlight the creamy side of Alabaster and not focus on it being a white, you could try pairing it with SW Pure White. It will make Alabaster look creamier on your wall and your trim will be bright white.

Best White Trim Colors for Alabaster Walls

1. Alabaster on Trim & Walls – Creates a seamless, soft white look (use satin or semi-gloss on trim).
2. SW Pure White (SW 7005) – Slightly brighter trim that makes Alabaster look creamier.
3. SW Extra White (SW 7006) – A crisp, cool contrast that brings out more warmth in Alabaster.

Tip: If you want a high-contrast look, choose SW Extra White for trim. If you want a seamless, creamy white, use Alabaster in a semi-gloss finish on trim!

See Alabaster Used in Real Spaces

Living Rooms

In this space, notice how Jenna Sue chose to use Alabaster on her living room walls, but chose contrasting baseboards, alongside a cooler white color for the window trim and ceilings. This is a perfect example of making the walls appear much creamier, and less “white” than if it was all the same color.

SW Alabaster Kitchen Cabinets

Here’s a couple of examples of how lovely and soft Alabaster looks as a kitchen cabinet color.

SW Alabaster Bedroom

How beautifully soft and cream is Alabaster in this bedroom? The soft gold lights and warm wood tones really work beautifully with it, too.

SW Alabaster Bathroom

In this bathroom, the walls, trim, doors and cabinets are all painted SW Alabaster. Doesn’t it look so bright and warm in here? I love it!

Below, you’ll see a very different look where the walls are Sherwin Williams Sea Salt , while the cabinets are SW Alabaster. Personally, I would have chosen a less creamy white (SW Pure White or SW Extra White) as I don’t love creamy whites with these coastal-type colors.

Alabaster Exterior

SW Alabaster is a pretty choice for a soft white exterior paint color, especially when paired with some warmer elements like a wooden front door.

Final Thoughts on Sherwin Williams Alabaster White as a Paint Color

Choosing a white paint color for your trim or walls can be challenging, but Alabaster is a good choice for anyone who thinks they want white but also wants to keep a cozy, warm feeling in their space. It’s one of the most popular white paint colors for good reason!