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Sherwin Williams Extra White is a great choice for those seeking a bright white paint color for trim, cabinets, and walls. Read this paint color review to find out why it’s one of SW’s most popular white paint colors and whether it’s the perfect white paint color for your home
What Color is Extra White?
As the name suggests, Extra White (SW 7006) is one of Sherwin Williams’ brightest whites. Sherwin Williams claims Extra White is their “truest white,” although Sherwin Williams High Reflective White is actually considerably whiter.
What is The LRV of Extra White?
With an LRV of 86, it’s quite white, only surpassed by Sherwin Williams High Reflective White with an LRV of 93. If you’re seeking a warmer white, Pure White may be a good choice, with a lower LRV and slight yellow undertones providing a softer appearance.
What’s LRV? LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is the number that refers to how light or dark a color is on a scale of 0-100. The closer the number is to 100, the lighter it is (white being the lightest). The closer the number is to 0, the darker it is (black).
What are the Undertones of Extra White?
Like all white paint colors, Extra White has its own unique undertones. Extra White is a very bright white with a slight gray undertone. It looks great alongside a color palette of other cool colors like grays and blues.
Despite what the RGB values (238 / 239 / 234) suggest, in real life there is no apparent yellow undertone. It will always reads as a cool white with a slight gray or even slight blue undertone, unless of course it’s in a south-facing room with a lot of warmth bouncing off it. But any white will read warmer in this situation.
Is Sherwin Williams Extra White Cool or Warm?
Extra White is a slightly cool paint color, making it less suitable for pairing with warmer colors like creams or beiges. For a warmer white, consider Sherwin Williams Alabaster or Sherwin Williams Pure White which both have slightly gray undertones alongside their warmer undertones.
Where to Use Extra White
Extra White is most commonly used for trim and ceilings, but I have seen it used on interior walls, too. If you favor a cool-toned color palette, you can use Extra White for the walls in different rooms of your home such as the living room, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms and bedrooms.
Is Extra White a Good Exterior Paint Color?
Extra White is also a great exterior paint color. While our siding came in a factory-finish white, Extra White is a perfect match (I know because I painted the trim around the front door and it matches perfectly!).
What is the Difference Between Sherwin Williams Pure White and Extra white?
Extra White is only a bit brighter than Pure White, with an LRV of (86), although it comes across as brighter because it’s a purer white, with slight blue undertones.
Pure White, is another popular Sherwin Williams color. It has an LRV of 84. It does not come across as a really bright, stark white. It has just enough softness to it (thanks to that little drop of gray and yellow) to stop it from being an in-your-face white.
Pure White is a better choice if you have a mixture of warm and cool finishes. If you prefer only cool-toned finishes (grays, blues) then Extra White is a good choice. I would not pair Extra White with warmer wall colors like creams or beiges.
Is Sherwin Williams Extra White Better than Chantilly Lace?
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is a more neutral white, with barely any discernible undertone. SW Extra White on the other hand, it a cool white. Chantilly Lace is a more versatile white that will work in most rooms to give you a bright white look.
While Extra White is beautiful, in north-facing rooms or ones that get cool morning or afternoon light, you may see that gray or blue undertone creep in, especially if you’ve used the color on walls or cabinets.
SW Extra White vs Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White
BM Decorator’s White has a violet/gray undertone keeping it on the cool side similar to Extra White. However, with an LRV of 82.64 it’s darker than Extra White. Similarly to Extra White, it’s a limiting choice if you ever want to paint your walls a warmer color.
SW Extra White vs SW Alabaster
SW Alabaster is not a traditional bright white, and actually almost verges into off-white territory. It is a warm white with a soft gray undertone. If you’re looking for a traditional white trim, Alabaster is not what you’re looking for. And if you’re thinking of painting your walls Alabaster and your trim Extra White, they will not look good together.
How Light Affects Extra White
How much light your room gets its very important when it comes to cooler colors.
Anyone who tells you that Extra White is not a cool white and instead has a slightly warm undertone, clearly has this paint color in a south facing room, and doesn’t understand how light can completely change how a color looks.
A bright white color like Extra White will take on colors from both its surroundings and the light. So with sunny south-facing exposure, the coolness of Extra White will be imperceivable and it will come across as a beautiful neutral white.
Of course, it may also reflect the green out your window, the color of the furniture, the bright red throw you have draped over your couch. So keep that in mind.
Pairing Extra White with other paint colors that are overly warm, will bring out its blue undertone. If you keep the other paint colors cooler (grays, blues, greens), the blue undertone will be neutralized.
Coordinating Colors
Looking for a color scheme to go with Extra White? These colors will pair well:
- SW Smoky Azurite
- SW Ice Cube
- SW Charcoal Blue
- SW Rock Candy
- SW Evergreen Fog
- SW Serious Gray
- SW Agreeable Gray
What White Trim Color Can I Use With Extra White Walls?
You have two options when dealing with already white walls – keep the trim the same shade of white in a different sheen, or paint them a brighter white with similar undertones.
For Extra White, the most popular option will be to also paint the trim Extra White, but do so in a satin or semi-gloss finish, versus the matte or eggshell on the walls. The extra sheen on the trim will make the color look lighter and offer just enough contrast between the wall and trim.
Another option is to use SW High Reflective White, which is considerably brighter and relatively neutral when it comes to undertones.
How To Know If SW Extra White Is Right For Your Home
As with any paint color, it’s always important to sample them in your home first. The light coming into your room as well as the other colors in the space can greatly impact how a shade of white looks, in particular.
If you’re only using Extra White as a trim color, I wouldn’t stress too much. It’s a beautiful trim color that works everywhere if you want a bright white look. It’s when you start using it on cabinets or as a wall color, then you need to more carefully consider the light your room gets so that you can avoid the possibility of it looking a bit gray or blue.
If you’ve realized the cool undertones of SW Extra White won’t be a good fit for your home, maybe warm whites would be a better option.
To Summarize:
- Extra White (SW 7006) is among the brightest whites by Sherwin Williams; however, their “Highly Reflective White” is even brighter.
- Extra White has a slight gray undertone, making it look like a soft bright white on interior walls.
- The LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of Extra White is 86, indicating it’s quite a bright white. LRV measures the lightness or darkness of a color on a 0-100 scale.
- Common applications for Extra White are on trim, ceilings, and interior walls, especially in rooms like the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms.
- Extra White is also suitable for exteriors, matching well with factory-finished white sidings.
- Light affects Extra White’s appearance. In south-facing rooms, it appears as a neutral white, but the color can change depending on light and surroundings. Pairing it with overly warm colors will enhance its blue undertone.
- The best trim color to use with Extra White is also Extra White (in a different sheen) or High Reflective White.
- For homeowners considering Extra White, it’s essential to test samples in the intended space due to its sensitivity to light and surroundings. It’s especially crucial if using it on cabinets or walls.
FAQ’s
Extra White’s slight gray undertone ensures it remains a cool white, ideal for those who prefer a cool-toned color palette. This makes it a popular choice for white kitchen cabinets, especially in rooms with a lot of light or direct sunlight.
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By default, this panel is concealed and appears when the user clicks on the section title. Input relevant information about its title using paragraphs or bullet points. Accordions can enhance the user experience when utilized effectively. They allow users to choose what they want to read and disregard the rest. Accordions are often utilized for frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Don’t Forget…
Don’t forget – no matter what you’ve read or photos you’ve seen online, it’s really important to sample paint colors in your home before committing!
Samplize provides real paint samples that are easy to move around your home, and cheaper than buying a gazillion paint pots! It’s the only way I buy paint samples.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a bright and modern white, then Sherwin Williams Extra White delivers that. It doesn’t look stark, but definitely has a slight gray or blue undertone. It’s not a flexible color that will work with warmer tones, so it’s best suited to a cool color palette. If you think you might want to switch up your colors in the future, there are safer whites to choose.
We started painting our house Extra White and it looks crisp and pretty on one part of the back and gray and dull (yuck) on the other. We are getting really nervous on how the front of our house will look. We are in panic mode and our painter said we can switch to Pure White if we want to (this was the other color we were considering). Do you think this is a safer bet? I was concerned it would look to warm with the sun but I would take warm over gray at this point. The front of our house faces the South. We are using Black Tricorn for trim and will be installing black gutters. Help as we need to decide asap. Thank you!
Extra White can look slightly cool/gray when compared to a brighter white, but shouldn’t when standing alone. The side that’s looking gray is in shadow I’m assuming? Pure White is slightly warmer and softer and doesn’t have as much of that coolness to it. You could also go with a brighter white like SW High Reflective White which is whiter than Extra White but has a smidge of warmth to it to stop it looking cool/gray/blue.
Hello Jenna,
What is the interior wall color next to you front door? Thank you!
It’s SW Repose Gray
My home builder has selected Extra White for all of the walls in our home and Pure White for the trim. What do you think of them together like this? I would have switched them around and used the brighter one for trim. Or I’m tempted to use Pure White for trim and walls. Thanks for your expert opinion!
I definitely would not pair them together like that. Either switch them like you suggested or use one for both wall and trim.
Oh I can’t thank you enough for responding so quickly!! Apparently our cabinets will be pure white as well (this cannot be changed). Do you still think the best option for this big open concept space is pure white cabinets, walls, and trim but in different sheens? That’s a lot of PW! But I think better than dingy looking trim & cabinets next to EW walls. Thanks again for your time!
In the kitchen what is the color of the wall on the side of the refrigerator
It’s SW Repose Gray lightened by 50%
Hi! So when you buy the paint you can request repost gray at 50% lighter? Would you say this is a good paint for all walls in a home if trim and ceilings (and cabinets in kitchen) are extra white? How much does the 50% effect the LRV-looks perfect and have been searching for a very very light gray Any undertone concerns? (I initially considered ice cube but seems it could look too blue)Thanks!
Yes it looks great with Extra White! Lightening it changes the LRV to approximately 70ish, so a (barely) off-white color. Another great choice for a light gray is BM Paper White which has an LRV of 74.
What is the color blue that you used in the back of the built ins?
SW Serious Gray
Is there a big difference between SW Extra White and BM Decorators White? Is it easy to see where you have two different trim colors if you’re switching colors?
Yes – decorators white will look gray and dingy (almost dirty) next to extra white