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SW Pure White is an extremely popular bright white paint color. Read on for details about SW 7005 and to see pictures of it in real spaces!
White paint is simply classic. Bright, light, and cheerful… And Sherwin Williams Pure White is one of the most beautiful and popular white paint colors.
But choosing the right white paint can be hard! Do you want warm white or a cool white? Soft white or bright white? Today I want to help you sort through those questions by continuing the paint color reviews with some real-life images of Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005 in various spaces.
SW 7005 Pure White Paint Color
I want to start by talking about the paint: its make up, its undertones, its strengths… Then we’ll get more specific about how to use it in real spaces. Note: all the images you see in the post are actually painted with SW 7005.
The Perfect “Wink of Warmth” White
Disclaimer: I always recommend testing colors in the actual space where you intend to use them. Even after doing this job for years, I still bring paint samples into each space and watch them at different times of day before making a decision. So while Pure White is an incredibly strong option, remember that you’ll want to consider your own space and these factors before deciding for sure.
That said, Pure White is a beautiful, slightly warm white paint. With any color, it is important to consider its undertones to know how the paint color may change depending on lighting conditions and color pairings. And this is especially true of white paints.
SW Pure White Undertones
Undertones are simply the colors that can appear in certain lights or when next to other colors. At first glance, Pure White may look, well, pure white. 😉 But if you place it next to a true white, you will notice that it is not quite as bright and is a little warm.
So what undertones does SW Pure White have? Pure White actually has a hint of black added (to soften the brightness) and a very small amount of yellow undertones to warm it up. It can therefore read as crisp white without feeling too cold.
In this south-facing room, you can see Pure White at it’s warmest. Southern light is more golden than northern light, so the yellow undertones of Pure White are at their strongest in this space.
Northern light, though, is cooler. You can see how bright and white Pure White can look in this north-facing room.
For east or west facing rooms, the light will change throughout the day. In this image, you can see its warmer tones in the shadows and cooler tones under the skylight.
Light Reflective Value
The Light Reflective Value or LRV of any paint is a number assigned based on how much light the color reflects, with 0 being absolute black and 100 being pure white. The higher the number, the more light is reflected. Pure White has an LRV of 84.
For the record, no actual paint has an LRV of 100. Sherwin Williams High Reflective White (which is one of the brightest paint whites you can get) is 93. Pretty much anything 80 or above is considered white, and “off whites” can hover from ~70-80.
SW 7005 has an LRV of 84, making it just a hair brighter than Snowbound or Alabaster, other popular Sherwin Williams white paint colors. 84 makes Pure White reflective enough to be a true white while soft enough not to feel stark white.
How to test Paint Colors
As I said, testing your paint shade in your actual space, especially with whites, is so important. I’ve never had a problem with paint swatches all over my walls, but I realize that’s sometimes inconvenient. And due to challenges in getting paint samples these days, I am excited to share a better option.
Samplize will send you a reusable peel and stick sheet made with real paint. It allows you to move the sample around in the room to catch the different lights. I hope you find this tool as helpful as I have!
Get your peel and stick paint samples here.
Where to Use Pure White
You can use Sherwin Williams Pure White on almost any surface: walls, trim, cabinets, and ceilings. It is a very versatile neutral white. Just remember that white paints reflect the colors around them, so if you have a red rug or lots of greenery, your paint may reflect those colors.
And it is not only great for interiors, but also for exteriors. For exteriors, remember that colors usually read lighter outside, so although Pure White is a soft white, it will look quite bright outside.
Sheen
While we’re on the subject of the versatility of this paint color, a common question I receive is what sheen should you use for wall paint? Or for ceilings, cabinets, or trim?
Generally speaking, flat (sometimes called matte) or eggshell are the best sheens for walls or ceilings.
Flat or matte paint will give you a soft, subtle color and will hide faults in the wall texture; unfortunately, though, flat paint is generally not very easy to clean. Eggshell is a bit shinier than flat, which shows more texture on your walls, but it is more wipeable than flat paint and a better option for a house with kids or pets. It is also a better option for moist areas like kitchens or bathrooms. You can even use satin on walls for better durability and ease of cleaning.
For trim, doors, and cabinetry, though, satin or semi gloss are good choices. They are more durable and easier to clean than matte or eggshell.
Similar Colors to Pure White
So how does Pure White compare to other popular paint colors?
Sherwin Williams Pure White vs Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Sometimes things are best understood by comparison, and Pure White vs Alabaster is a perfect example. With LRVs of 84 and 82, respectively, both are soft but true whites (as opposed to “off whites”).
However, Alabaster has a greige undertone, making it more of a true neutral than Pure White. It is also a bit richer (has more color) than Pure White. If you place them beside one another, Alabaster looks more beige while Pure White looks more white, which makes Pure White a great trim color option with Alabaster walls if you want a warm and cozy look.
Typically speaking, Pure White is a perfect backdrop for a transitional or traditional home looking for a crisp but not stark look, while Alabaster is a bit more cozy and traditional.
Pure White vs Extra White
Sherwin Williams Extra White SW 7006 is cooler and brighter than Pure White. When you place Pure White, with its LRV of 84, beside Extra White, with an LRV of 86, Pure White looks a bit more subdued and yellower. Extra White can look almost blue by comparison.
Other similar bright, cool whites include Chantilly Lace and Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore. Both of these are brighter and cooler – and therefore have a more clean, stark look – than Extra White.
Pure White vs Snowbound
SW Pure White vs Snowbound is useful because one of the most similar color to Sherwin Williams Pure White is Snowbound. With an LRV of 83, Snowbound has a touch darker warm gray undertones and looks like a soft yet crisp white overall. While similar, Pure White is a bit brighter and warmer than Snowbound.
SW Pure White vs Benjamin Moore Colors
Speaking of brighter and warmer, Benjamin Moore’s Simply White is quite a bit brighter and warmer than both SW Snowbound and SW Pure White. If Pure White seems too gray or dull in your space, Simply White might be a better option.
Benjamin Moore White Dove goes the other direction: it has a softer and cooler hue than Pure White. Pure White basically falls right in the middle of these popular Benjamin Moore whites.
What Trim Colors Go with Pure White
Knowing how to pair any wall color with trim colors is important. All those things we mentioned about undertones become super important when pairing wall colors with different colors.
Pure White with White Trim
SW Pure White is a great color for tone-on-tone rooms with different sheens for the ceiling, walls, and trim.
If you want the walls to appear warmer to highlight the coziness of the color, though, then pairing Pure White walls with SW High Reflective White or SW Extra White trim is a good choice. They are both cooler than Pure White and will therefore look bright and crisp against the warmer walls.
Pure White would also be lovely with dark trim. I would probably avoid cool gray trim colors, as that will make the walls look particularly yellow. But warm gray or warm black trim or doors would complement Pure White beautifully.
More Exterior and Interior Paint Color Ideas
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out these other paint color posts:
Overall, I think Sherwin Williams Pure White is one of the best white paint color options. And if you think you might agree, be sure to pin this for your next makeover!
