Learn all about Sherwin-Williams Oyster white in this color review (Sample Here). This warm muted very light greige paint color is a gorgeous option as an exterior white paint color or a light neutral greige for interiors. This color is also an excellent option for interiors. As you can see from the color above, Oyster White will look much brighter outside than inside or on the computer screen. SW Oyster White is a very light greige with green undertones. It will look like a soft white outside.
Please note that all the photos in this post are from Color Concierge projects.
LRV of Oyster White
The LRV of Oyster White is 72, which makes it a warm white for exteriors or a light greige for interior wall colors. 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.
Oyster White for Exteriors
Oyster White is one of our paint colors for white exteriors with red brick or warm stone colors. It looks like a soft white outside – much brighter than inside or on the computer screen. This is a great all-around exterior white paint color. It looks fabulous as a crisp white in the bright sunshine, Southern United States, California, Arizona, or high altitude Mountain states. It is soft, creamy, and fabulous in the shade or up North.
At The Color Concierge, we are always very careful about using exterior white paint colors that are too stark. When we need to pick a darker white, we don’t look at cream colors because they lean toward yellow. Instead, we pick light greige colors that might look like light grays inside. This prevents an unwanted yellow edge that some creamy whites might give.
We select colors that are compatible with the exterior lighting conditions. The closer you get to the sun, the more paint colors get washed out. For example, when we pick a white for the Southern United States, or high altitude locations such as Denver or Salt Lake City, we pick warmer and darker whites. We pick brighter whites for shady areas, or locations that are further North such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Seattle, New York, or Canada.
Classic Oyster White with light blue shutters
This palette looks fabulous with classic red brick. It is soft and lovely, and the colorful shutters help shift this unexpected palette from “Farmhouse White” to a colorful cottage!
The shutters are SW Uncertain Gray (Sample Here) and the front door is SW Cyberspace (Sample here).
This house is in North Carolina and is shown in the winter with overcast light. Oyster White is still soft and beautiful – much lighter than you would expect. The blue shutters are our favorite feature!
The “before” photo is shown below. We lightened the body color and removed the darker trim. We usually prefer white trim with white vinyl windows, and in this case, it looks much brighter, current, and even classic. It’s counterintuitive, but simplicity can help show architectural features better than a lot of complicated color shifts.
Oyster White exterior with warm light brick and gray shutters
This house is in South Carolina, near the water, where the conditions are pretty bright. We kept the light warm brick, and it looked amazing with Oyster White’s more muted tones. Had we picked a brighter white, it would have looked discordant and harsh next to the brick and all of the surfaces. We picked light gray shutters to keep the palette harmonious and light.
The shutters are SW Fawn Brindle (Sample Here)
Entry details of the final home are shown here. The wood front door adds warmth and depth.
Here is the final photo. It looks soft, lovely, gracious, and classic.
And check out the house before it was painted! Our homeowner was really brave to trust us with this transformation. The light brick looked dingy before, and now it is a beautiful warm feature.
Is Oyster White a good exterior trim color?
Oyster White for Interiors
This paint color is beautiful as a soft greige wall color, but we don’t have any photos. It looks much like BM Classic Gray. Learn more about Classic Gray here. Only consider it as a trim color in houses with earthy granites and other hard finishes.
Best Interior White Trim & Ceiling Colors with Oyster white
Use clean white and off-white paint colors such as Extra White, Pure White, Alabaster, and Greek Villa. Creamier colors darker than Westhighland White can lean toward yellow.
What is the easiest way to test Oyster White?
We always recommend that you test paint colors in your house because lighting can change a paint color completely.
In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess.
Now we have SAMPLIZE, 9X14″ Pre-Painted peel-and-stick paint samples. Check out the SAMPLIZE website HERE.
Comparisons with Other Creamy White Paint Colors
Greek Villa vs. Oyster White
Oyster white is much darker and warmer than Greek Villa, but don’t pick the Greek Villa for bright light conditions. Oyster will look dingy next to Greek Villa, but it could still be the better choice.
Both colors could look great as interior wall colors; it just depends on the look you are going for. I would usually prefer Greek Villa as an interior trim and ceiling color. Learn more about Greek Villa in our color review here.
Natural Choice vs. Oyster White
Both these colors could look great in similar bright light conditions. Natural Choice is warmer but lighter and might look better if you have a ton of green foliage near your house.
For interiors, I’d prefer Oyster white because it’s crisper but always test to make sure.
Alabaster vs. Oyster White
Oyster white is much darker and warmer than Alabaster, and lighter than Greek Villa. It will also make Oyster White look dingy when you test them side by side but don’t pick Alabaster for bright light conditions. Oyster White could still be the better choice.
Both colors could look great as interior wall colors; it just depends on the look you are going for. I would usually prefer Alabaster to Oyster as an interior trim and ceiling color.
Pearly White vs. Oyster White
When you take these colors outside, Pearly White will be much brighter than Oyster because of its much higher LRV of 77. They look very similar on the page, but believe me, Pearly is lighter. They have the same undertones, so if you are looking for a brighter crisper white and you have earthy finishes, Pearly White would be a great choice.
Pearly White is lovely as an interior paint color. Learn more about Pearly White in this color review.
Shoji White vs. Oyster White
Shoji White has taupe undertones and is much warmer and fleshier when you see it inside. As an exterior paint color, if you have a lot of exterior green foliage, it can make a better white paint color than Oyster White because those warm tones will neutralize all the green.
Which Benjamin Moore Color is most like Sherwin-Williams Oyster White?
I would say Benjamin Moore Gray Mist, because it gives a similar effect, and it’s pretty darn close! It’s not quite as warm but will look very similar outside or inside. We never recommend paint matching unless you are willing to spend a lot of time going back and forth with the paint company. Learn more about matching paint colors here.
Key Learning Points
Sherwin-Williams Oyster White is a light warm greige with soft green undertones. It looks fantastic as an exterior white paint color, or as an interior light greige. The most similar Benjamin Moore color is BM Gray Mist.
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. We love to test with SAMPLIZE peel-and-stick samples. Check out the SAMPLIZE website 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.
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Related Posts
Pearly White Paint Color Review
Best Farmhouse White Paint Colors
Greek Villa Paint Color Review
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
26 Responses
A good BM match to SW Oyster White 7637 is BM OC-42 Old Prairie.
But you’re right (continued from my comment above) BM Gray Mist may be just a touch better match to SW Oyster White than BM Old Prairie.
I love this post! A year ago I painted my interior Oyster White. It was so hard to find information on the color plus I did not know much about paint but I love it!! Oyster white needs more love 🙂
Thank you! Oyster is one of our favorites.
Michelle
I just painted the exterior of my house Oyster White and I love it!! I can’t decide on a trim color. What color do you recommend? My roof is brown with red undertones. I am debating to use Pure White or just use Oyster White in a different sheen.
I would just paint the trim Oyster White! Pure White is too cold, and the same color will look classic and timeless in the ame sheen.
Hi! What beautiful transformations! For the house in South Carolina, was everything painted Oyster White (including the trim, porch railing, and hand rails)? Thank you!
Hi! I have a home in sunny Southern California and I am wondering if you would recommend Oyster White for my northern facing home. I’m currently torn between Oyster White and Shoji White for the exterior of my home. I am sampling, but I wanted to get your opinion as far as what to consider when I have a north-facing home that I’d like to paint white. Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Those are both colors that we would recommend for a North Facing home in Southern California. If you have lots of trees, Shoji has some pink that might counteract them. Either could be lovely. Just test, test, test as you have been.
Michelle
Either Oyster or Shoji would look fabulous as a soft white in Southern California.
Michelle
Either Oyster or Shoji would look fabulous as a soft white in Southern California.
Michelle
Hi ! I’m currently in the process of painting my red/orange brick home Oyster White I live in Savannah Ga. with an east facing home. I thought about black window trim but it may be a little much for me so I decided on painting my front facing side entry garage black it looks amazing. My question is what should I do with the porch steps paint Oyster white or leave it exposed? Any suggestions would help.
Shannon
Great post, thank you! What brand/colour would you suggest for eaves? It looks like you have a good match in the pictures above – I am leaning towards Kaycan Linen?
The eaves were also Oyster White.
This post is so informative! We have a red/orange (can resemble a tericcata color) brick house, with a lighter gray roof and light gray siding in the side. The brick is in the front with cream colored shutters and cream colored keystones above the windows.
We are trying to work with the brick color and siding unsure of what we can do. What colors would you recommend?
If we used oyster white for the keystones what color shutters would look good with the brick and siding?
Thanks!
The number you’ve listed for Oyster White SW 7015, is actually for Repurpose Gray? Oyster White code is SW 7637. Did SW change their paint codes or was this just a typo? Just want to make sure I’m getting the right paint color. 😊
Hi Michelle,
The number was a typo and has been fixed.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
Michelle
Loved this post! We are in Chicago – it is so grey here half the year. Faux stone is beige with some yellow/copper pieces. Do you think oyster would be a good color :-).
Hello! I have a west facing open concept living room (with smaller east facing windows in the same space) and I can’t decide between oyster white or pearly white. Most of my furniture is light beige, dark wood and my floors are a cream tile. If someone knows what could be best I would really appreciate it!
Hello🌺
I live on a very sunny corner in Southern California. The south side faces a street. I have about 20 white paint samples on that wall. I’ve been working my way down the LRV’s in an attempt to find an off white that isn’t blinding. Don’t want taupe or grey though. I want the classic Spanish look. We have a 100 year old Spanish home. Red tile roof, Saltillo tile patios, wrought iron, olive trees, Mexican stair risers. A lot of nice elements in place. Shoji White looks nice on the shady sides. But turns stark white on the south wall. Any suggestions ? PLEASE HELP🙏🏽
What is the best earth tone color for shutters with oyster white exterior?
Hi Marcie,
This can depend on many variables, including your roof, stone, brick, landscaping and hardscaping.
Michelle
I am sprucing up a sunroom/pantry adjacent to our kitchen. It has windows on 3 walls, north, east and south, but lots of evergreen trees filtering the sunlight. The floors and ceiling are medium brown with very dark brown beams. I keep a lot of plants in there so I want to keep it bright and warm. I was thinking of painting most of the cabinets a creamy color like White Duck or Oyster, and the walls a brighter warm white. We are adding a glass door cabinet and some open shelving along an expanse of wall, and were thinking we’d make them dark brown to match the beams and wood returns on the windows. Counter tops will be tiled, possibly in a light blue-green or soft green color with wood trim edging. I will order Samplize paint samples, but I’m overwhelmed by all the color choices. What white(s) would you use with White Duck or Oyster to provide some contrast? Would Pearly White be a good choice?
How about Alabaster or Greek Villa?
Hello! This last house has very similar brick color to mine and I’m going with the Oyster white body/fawn brindle shutters combo. I only have 2 sets of shutters on the house and a painted front door which I was thinking of using Evergreen fog on. If the house in your project didn’t have a wooden door, what color would you have chosen to paint it? Thank you!
For this type of a house you can use just about any front door color that you want! Evergreen Fog coule be very nice.
Michelle