Learn all about Benjamin Moore Snowfall White (Sample Here) in this color review (OC-118, 2144-70). This bright paint color is a versatile white paint color that brightens up a dark room because of its yellow undertones. It is similar to Simply White, but with much softer yellow undertones. We don’t see this color much in blogs so it is relatively unknown, and we love it.
This is one of the few bright whites that can be used in a darker room because it has so much yellow in it. Common wisdom tells us that you shouldn’t use a bright white color in a darker room. We have found that whites with yellow undertones are an exception to that rule, and Snowfall White is a brighter color that can be used in a darker room.
Please note that all the photos in this post are from Color Concierge projects.
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What is the LRV of Snowfall White?
The LRV of Snowfall White is 91.8, which makes it a very bright white. I consider it even brighter than Chantilly Lace, even though its LRV is 92.2; the yellow makes it brighter. LRV (Light Reflectance Value) is a measurement used to identify how light or dark a color is. The scale goes from 1 (pure black) to 100 (pure white) and indicates how dark or light a color is.
When should I use Snowfall White?
Use Snowfall White when you want to update a room with crisp, clean, and bright hard finishes. You can see how much it brightened up this space.
Before it just looked gray, prison-like, and gloomy.
This room looks much cooler than the rooms above. It has West facing light with lots of shady trees. It was taken in the morning with tons of shade, and although there is shade in the corner, it still looks lovely, not dingy.
This side of the room has low light because the window is blocked by a house. It still looks lovely. We prefer this white paint color for homes with clean finishes like countertops and backsplashes. The countertop in the forefront and the front door are painted with a crisp and lovely gray, Benjamin Moore Baltic Gray.
When should I avoid Snowfall White?
For interiors, avoid rooms with Tuscan or very earthy interiors, although there are exceptions. Don’t use this paint color for trim outside unless the rest of the house is a very light color, otherwise, it can look overly bright and harsh.
Sample BM Snowfall White
We always recommend that you test paint colors (article) in your home because lighting can completely change a color, both on interiors and exteriors.
In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess.
Now we have a better way to test paint, with Samplize Peel-and-Stick samples!
- Samples pre-painted with 2 coats of real paint from the manufacturer.
- Large 9” x 14” samples to see the color better in the lighting.
- Delivered overnight
- Colors are accurate
- Less expensive than painting a large poster board with sample pots
- No mess, and no toxic paint to dispose of
I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples and sample Benjamin Moore Snowfall White (Sample) via the link below.
When should I use Snowfall White as a Trim and Ceiling Color?
This bright white is a great ceiling (flat sheen) and trim (satin or semi-gloss) color for most mid to light neutrals. Don’t leave the ceiling a warmer color than the trim because then the ceiling will look dingy.
Which color should I use for trim and ceilings with Snowfall White?
Chantilly Lace and Oxford White are cleaner and cooler whites for trim and ceilings and create a nice contrast with Snowfall White walls.
Our favorite trim and ceiling color for Snowfall White is…… Snowfall White! You can paint the trim with a Satin or Semi-Gloss sheen. Ceiling is an Ultra-flat sheen with ceiling paint. The walls would be Matte or Eggshell. If you are on a budget, you can paint both ceilings and walls a Matte sheen to save labor costs. You can also paint the ceilings with BM Ceiling White paint.
The sheens create a subtle shift for the monochromatic color palette that is just lovely. The room below was painted with Snowfall White in different sheens as described.
Can I use Snowfall White for Cabinets?
You can absolutely use this color for cabinets. The cultural convention is to paint the trim and cabinets the same white. Below is a bathroom with a Snowfall White vanity. The countertop is granite, but still a fairly crisp gray.
We used Snowfall White in this kitchen. It made sense because we had Snowfall plantation shutters that wouldn’t be changed and a clean white subway backsplash that was not going to be changed. The kitchen had fresh finishes on top, but the lower granite and floor were earthier. We grounded the granite with a darker cabinet color (BM Iron Mountain) that contrasted beautifully with the upper Snowfall White cabinets. This worked beautifully! The trim and cabinet colors match each other.
Can I use Snowfall White for Exteriors?
Snowfall White can look good on exteriors, but we prefer to use it as an exterior whole-house color with trim and siding the same. You can use it as a trim color if the rest of the house is a very light color. Otherwise, it might look too stark. Since the paint has low pigment, we advise that you paint the first coat with primer; otherwise, it may take several coats to get good coverage.
Comparisons With Other Whites
Snowfall White vs. Simply White
Simply White (Sample) and Snowfall White are very similar colors. Simply White is very slightly darker, although they look very similar. They both do the same work in terms of lighting up a dark room with the warmth of their yellow undertones. For more information about how Simply White behaves, link to our Simply White Color Review. Snowfall White is gorgeous as a wall color with Chantilly Lace trim and ceilings.
Chantilly Lace vs. Snowfall White
Although Snowfall White has a slightly lower LRV than Chantilly Lace (Sample), it is much brighter because of the yellow in the formula. Snowfall looks MUCH brighter in person than Chantilly. Learn more about Chantilly Lace in the Chantilly Lace Color Review.
White Dove vs. Snowfall White
White Dove is substantially warmer than Snowfall White. Snowfall is much brighter than White Dove (Sample) with a lower LRV. What they do have in common is that they both look great in a darker room because of the yellow undertones in both colors. Learn more in the White Dove Color Review.
Which Sherwin-Williams Colors are like Benjamin Moore Snowfall White?
The closest is Sherwin-Williams Pure White, but they are not exactly the same. We never recommend paint matching unless you are willing to spend a lot of time going back and forth with the paint company. If you want to match, then make sure you check the paint color with a LARGE swatch from Benjamin Moore. They aren’t exactly the same but will save a lot of frustration. When paint stores try to match Snowfall White, I’ve seen it go green. UGH!
Learn more about matching paint colors here.
Key Learning Points
–Benjamin Moore Snowfall White is a crisp and bright white paint color with soft yellow undertones.
–Snowfall White is most commonly used as a trim and ceiling color.
–You can use this bright white in a darker room, but make sure that the finishes in the room are also crisp and fresh.
–It is cleaner than Simply White and SW Pure White and warmer and brighter than Chantilly Lace.
–Although there are exceptions, avoid this color if you have earthy or Tuscan finishes.
No matter what, don’t forget to test your paint colors. Check out the SAMPLIZE website HERE.
If you are interested in sampling Benjamin Moore Snowfall White. Check out the samplize sampler HERE
No matter what, don’t forget to test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
Online Color Consulting
Are you still looking for the best white paint color? Discover our Online Color Consulting Package.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
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Related Posts
Our 5 Favorite Benjamin Moore Whites
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace Color Review
Benjamin Moore White Dove Color Review
Benjamin Moore Simply White Color Review
Benjamin Moore Cloud White Color Review
The 6 Best White Paint Colors For Dark Rooms
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
5 Responses
I found this very helpful. My kitchen is facing Northeast with good light (large windows) I am painting my cabinets, trim and ceiling Snowfall White and wondering what Colors would look best on my walls. I like a nice bright kitchen. Thank you very much for your help.
Linda
Do Snowfall White trim and White Dove wall make a good combination?
Yes, they can make a beautiful combination!
Michelle
We have a traditional house without a lot of sun light and with 20 ft. ceilings. We painted the large rooms in Snowfall White. It is not stark white but is a soft color. Our red oak floors are stained weathered oak and the open dining room is painted BM Ocean Air (which I love) with white wains coating on the bottom. The Snowfall White color has a warm, slightly yellow tone in my office which faces east. Everywhere else it is a soft white with no hint of yellow. I tried 6 whites all over the house and BM Snowfall White did not change colors based on the lighting day and night. It did however take 3 coats as the painter had not primed the light brown walls.
I am painting my walls in Snowfall White. My kitchen and living room face north/south, with the south side being very shady from trees. Snowfall White brightens the room considerably! I am wondering what color to use for the trim, and what color to use for the ceiling. I could use Snowfall White for the trim in a shinier sheen, but the ceiling still remains a question. Thanks so much for your great advice! The before/after pictures were a huge help!