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Trying to decide between greige, cream, or off-white? Sherwin Williams Shoji White (SW 7042) might be your perfect in-between. This warm neutral combines the softness of a cream with the grounded elegance of greige, making it a popular pick for homeowners who want something versatile, timeless, and just a little unexpected.
Shoji White SW 7042 at a Glance
- Paint Code: SW 7042
- LRV: 74
- Undertones: Greige + cream with a hint of green
- Finish Options: Interior and exterior
- Pairs Well With: Warm whites, muted greens, earthy tones
- Vibe: Soft, serene, grounded
- Best Trim Color: SW Pure White (SW 7005)
- Popular For: Walls, exteriors, cabinetry (in warm-toned homes)
What Color is Shoji White?
Adding the word “white” in a paint color name would lead you to believe it’s actually white. However, with Sherwin Williams Shoji White (SW-7042), this color is truly so much more.
Technically, Shoji White is a warm off-white, but as you’ll see throughout this post, it’s a chameleon color that can change depending on the natural light in your room.
On the Sherwin Williams paint fan deck, Shoji White sits right above Worldly Gray, classified as a greige. So technically, this color is a lighter greige paint color.
However, this color can’t be fully classified as a true greige either because it also can appear as a cream.
Think of it this way – if a greige and cream had a baby, Shoji White would be that baby!
If you’re looking for the best cream paint colors, this one might be a good option, however keep in mind it is more of a mix of greige with cream.
What’s the LRV?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is an indicator of the amount of light that is reflected by a color when a light source illuminates it. A lower value (closer to 0) indicates that a color will appear darker or absorb more light. A higher value (closer to 100) means that a color will reflect more light back at you.
The LRV of Sherwin Williams Shoji White is 74, meaning it falls on the off-white side of the LRV scale. For comparison sake, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace has an LRV of 90, while Sherwin Williams Pure White has an LRV of 84.
Is it a a Warm or Cool Color?
Sherwin Williams Shoji White is a warm paint color.
What Are Shoji White’s Undertones?
Typically a greige color has beige and gray undertones with a smidge of green. Shoji White falls perfectly into that category, but with the added cream.
Shoji White is an excellent choice if you want to create a warm atmosphere without being too bright. It’s a beautiful neutral color that won’t compete with other colors in your home’s color palette.
How Exposure Affects Shoji White
The exposure your room gets can greatly impact how a color looks on the wall, and Shoji White is no different.
South-Facing Rooms
A south-facing room gets warm yellow sunlight all day long. This will bring out the creaminess in Shoji White, making it appear its warmest.
West-Facing Rooms
West-facing rooms get similar warm light in the afternoons to south-facing rooms, so the effect on Shoji White will be similar. However, the cool morning light will make that greige undertone more apparent.
North-Facing Rooms
Warm whites and off-whites are always a good choice in North-facing rooms as the warmth of the color helps to counteract the gray cast that northern light brings. The color will look more muted and the warmth will appear much more subtle than in the rooms that get warm sunlight.
East-Facing Rooms
East-facing rooms react similarly to north-facing rooms in that they get nice morning light (but it’s not super warm and yellow) followed by a cooler cast in the afternoon. So again, Shoji White will appear more muted and not as warm.
pro tip
- Shoji White can look creamier in sunny rooms and reveal a subtle green or even slightly muddy undertone in shadowy corners.
- Always test it against fixed elements (like flooring or counters) in morning and afternoon light.
If I’m using SW Shoji White on my walls, what white trim color will look best?
Because of the green undertones and the fact that it’s more greige than white, your best option for a white trim color would be Sherwin Williams Pure White, which is a bright white with a hint of warmth and gray. It works beautifully with greige paint colors.
Who Should Use Shoji White
Shoji White Might Be Perfect For You If…
- You love a warm neutral that’s softer than gray but not too yellow
- You want an off-white that works well with wood tones and earth tones
- You prefer timeless over trendy
- You don’t mind a touch of green or taupe showing in low light
Shoji White Might Not Be for You If…
- You want a crisp white or true greige
- You’re sensitive to green or muddy undertones
- Your home has lots of cool light or blue finishes
Where Can I Use it?
Sherwin Williams Shoji White is of course a great choice as a wall color, whether that’s in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room or hallway. It’s also certainly an option for cabinets in your kitchen or your bathroom vanity.
Many people think they want the all white look for their walls, then quickly realize it’s not for them. Lighter colors like Shoji White are a great choice in these situations.
I would not, however, choose Shoji White as a trim color, even if you’re trying to do contrasting trim. It’s too dark/off-white to be a white trim, but not dark enough to be a good color for contrasting darker trim alongside white walls.
Is Shoji White a Popular Choice for Kitchen Cabinets?
No, SW Shoji White is not a particularly popular choice for kitchen cabinets. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not the right choice for your kitchen cabinets. If your kitchen has other warm elements like wood and brass, Shoji White would be a beautiful choice for cabinets.
Love Shoji White but want a bit more color? Try SW Accessible Beige instead (it looks amazing on cabinets!).
Is Shoji White A Good Exterior Color?
If your home has more of a traditional look on the exterior walls, Shoji White can be an amazing color because it provides a neutral palette, while still keeping the home feeling fresh and modern. It’s perfectly paired with deep reds, blues, greens, taupes, grays – almost any color.
This is especially perfect for those who love soft off-whites, rather than a stark crisp white.
By the way, notice how this photo in particular helps highlight that soft green undertone that can become apparent.
What Are Some Coordinating Colors?
The following colors can be incorporated in to a coordinating color scheme with Shoji White (notice how many have a beige or slight green undertone to help the colors feel cohesive).
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
- Sherwin Williams Stardew
- Sherwin Williams Fawn Brindle
- Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog
- Sherwin Williams Secret Garden
- Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Shoji White vs. Other Creamy Neutrals
| Paint Color | LRV | Undertones | Feels Like | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoji White | 74 | Greige + cream, soft green | Subtle warmth, muted | Transitional rooms, exteriors |
| White Duck | 74 | Warm greige, no green | Neutral, soft and balanced | Whole-house warmth |
| Alabaster | 82 | Creamy white, slight yellow | Smooth, warm white | Trim, walls, farmhouse style |
| Swiss Coffee | 83.93 | Cream, yellow/beige | Bright, warm, cozy | Traditional or transitional homes |
Shoji White vs White Duck
These are incredibly similar colors, with the only difference being the little bit of green undertone that Shoji White has. If that scares you off, then Sherwin Williams White Duck may be a better choice!
Shoji White vs. Alabaster
When I think about Sherwin Williams Alabaster, that color is very much in the white paint color family. Although Alabaster is a warmer white and not a true white, Shoji White is definitely more beige than Alabaster.
Alabaster is a popular choice for creamy, almost off-white walls and trim. Whereas Shoji White would not be a color I would personally consider for trim.
Comparing the two paint colors, you can clearly see Shoji White’s greige undertones come to the fore.
Shoji White vs. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
One of Benjamin Moore’s most popular neutral white paint colors is Swiss Coffee. Swiss Coffee is a warm, creamy white with a higher LRV ) than Shoji White (74), making it considerably whiter and brighter.
Swiss Coffee has a LRV of almost 84 which puts it right in the sweet spot for bright white paint colors. It’s bright enough to make a room feel light and airy. Swiss Coffee has creamy warm undertones which stop walls from looking boring and sterile.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shoji White is warm, but not overly creamy or yellow. It leans more greige than most warm whites and often feels balanced depending on lighting.
Yes, Shoji White has a subtle green undertone that can show up in low-light conditions or near cooler elements like gray tile or blue decor.
SW Pure White is my top recommendation. It has just enough warmth to blend seamlessly without making Shoji White look dingy.
Yes! Shoji White is a popular exterior choice because it reads soft and neutral without being stark. It pairs beautifully with dark accents like black, bronze, or navy.
Final Thoughts
If you can’t decide between greige or cream for your walls, then Shoji White may be the perfect paint color for you!
Love this very informative posts…I love Shoji White on my kitchen cabinets. Would like to paint my walls and trim in Greek Villa. (Different sheens). Will this look pleasing and coordinate?
If I paint the exterior of my traditional 1.5 story home (black roof/red brick accent at bottom) Shoji White, would you suggest the trim/facia also be the same color or a lighter color like pure white? Thank you!!
I have a north/east facing living room that has been the Bain of my existence since we moved into this farmhouse. I originally had alabaster walls with pure white trim and have just hated it. I have had paint samples on the wall for Months and finally went with SW sea spray and (against your advice, because I saw it AFTER the fact) I painted the trim Shoji white, because the pure white was just too stark and made the sea spray “too cold” if that makes sense. I think the trim color softens and warms the whole room. Sea spray was not the best color choice originally, but with the shoji, I think it works.