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.
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.
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.
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.
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 cabinets colors match each other.
Can I use Snowfall White for Exteriors?
Snowfall White can look good for exteriors, but we prefer to use it as a whole-house color with trim and siding the same. You can use as a trim color if the rest of the house is a very light color. 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 and Snowfall White are very similar colors. They have similar LRVs, but Simply White always looks brighter because it has much more yellow than Snowfall White. 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, 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 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.
The Verdict
Benjamin Moore Snowfall White is a crisp and bright white paint color with yellow undertones. It 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. Avoid this color if you have earthy or Tuscan finishes, although there are exceptions.
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
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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
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One Response
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