Learn all about Sherwin-Williams Pearly White in this color review (Sample Here). This is a muted creamy white paint color that doesn’t look yellow. it is a versatile white that looks great in a bright or dark room. Its soft invisible green undertones make it pair well with just about everything.
The beautiful house in this post was once a recording studio for many famous artists, with living room acoustics that won’t stop!
Whites are still popular as a trend, but have you noticed that warmer beige colors are gaining popularity? Pearly White is warm, cozy, and friendly, and if it were just a little bit darker, I would consider it a beige paint color. We don’t see this color much in blogs, so it is relatively unknown and one of the colors we often select for clients.
Michelle took all the photos in this post, and the homeowner selected the color. Our photos are not color edited. We were there for a different project, but we loved the house and the color that the homeowner picked!
What is the LRV of Pearly White?
The LRV of Pearly White is 76.5, which makes it a muted complex cream – a very light beige. A darker version would be SW Wool Skein or BM Manchester Tan. The scale goes from 1 (pure black) to 100 (pure white) and indicates how dark or light a color is.
When should I use Pearly White?
Use Pearly White when you want to update a darker room with earthy muted finishes. It crosses the bridge between old and new very well. This house is a beautiful and unique historic house in Denver, built from concrete. The living room is in the shape of an oval and the acoustics are amazing. A few decades ago, the house was used as a recording studio, and famous musicians such as Lionel Richie recorded their songs in the living room. The house is back to life as a residence. Check out that amazing white ceiling! The walls are SW Pearly White, which looks like a soft cream in a room. Check out the darker gray accent in the doorway that looks like a curtain.
This photo shows the other side of the room. When the homeowners bought the house, they found these amazing wood floors under an old carpet.
The light in the house is low, which shows how well the colors look here.
When should I avoid Pearly White?
Pearly White is a great paint color with just about every decor. It works best with higher contrast designs. I don’t recommend this paint color for a monochromatic paint scheme because it might end up looking dingy.
Can I use Pearly White as an Interior Trim Color?
Pearly White is too earthy and dark to use as a trim color.
What are the Best Trim and Ceiling Colors For Pearly White?
I prefer to use this paint color with clean or bright off-whites such as SW High Reflective white, SW Pure White, BM Chantilly Lace or BM Oxford White. Blue-whites such as SW Extra White or BM Decorator’s White look too harsh. Warmer off-whites and creams such as SW Alabaster, SW Greek Villa or SW Westhighland White won’t have enough contrast to bring this color to light.
In this kitchen, the cabinets are part of the cement structure. The doors are wood.
What is the easiest way to Sample Pearly White?
We always recommend that you test paint colors in your house because lighting can change a 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.
Can I use Pearly White for Cabinets?
This color wouldn’t be one of my favorites, although there are exceptions. If your walls are a crisp white, then Pearly White would look like a lovely Putty color that is so in style right now.
Can I use Pearly White for Exteriors?
Pearly White is a FABULOUS color for white trim for exteriors. It will look like a bright white color without harshness. It also makes a tremendous whole-house white paint color.
Comparisons With Other Whites
White Duck vs. Pearly White
Pearly White is lighter and creamier than White duck, although they both have subtle green undertones. The difference is pretty tiny in LRV, but White Duck will look like a darker cream on the walls than Pearly White.
Alabaster vs. Pearly White
Pearly White is darker than Alabaster. They aren’t that far apart on the page, but on the walls, Alabaster will look much more yellow and lighter than Pearly White. I wouldn’t use Alabaster as a trim color with Pearly White because there won’t be enough contrast.
Incredible White vs. Pearly White
Pearly White is a very different color than Incredible White. Incredible White has pink undertones, and if you paint it in a darker room or a room with lots of foliage outside, it can turn into pink, even if your paint color tests show perfection. You won’t ever have that problem with Pearly White. It’s creamy without a shift to yellow or pink.
Dove Wing vs. Pearly White
The closest Benjamin Moore color to SW Pearly White is BM Dove Wing (not to be confused with BM White Dove). Pearly White is warmer and more muted, and slightly lighter.
Which Benjamin Moore Colors are like Sherwin-Williams Pearly White?
As mentioned above, the closest is Benjamin Moore Dove Wing (NOT White Dove), but they are not exactly the same. We never recommend matching paint, especially with light neutrals or white paint. They can shift to green which wouldn’t be noticeable until you painted your walls. These two colors aren’t exactly the same, but if you use the right color for the brand, it will save frustration from a color match.
Learn more about matching paint colors here.
The Bottom Line
Sherwin-Williams Pearly White is a muted, complex cream color with soft green undertones. It is most commonly used as a wall color instead of a cream, without a shift to yellow like other creamy paint colors. Again, note that the cabinets are cement and part of the home’s structure, except for the wood doors.
No matter what, don’t forget to test your paint colors. 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 genuinely believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching Here.
Online Color Consulting
Still looking for the best white paint color? Discover our Online Color Consulting Package. Or, explore 8 easy ways to choose paint colors.
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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.
21 Responses
In your opinion would SW Pearly White work as a kitchen cabinet color if the tile floor is a pink beige? The tile is not real dark beige like Tuscan homes have, lighter in color.
I am thinking of using a Cambria Quartz counter called Ironsbridge, it has varying shades of white and a fine veining of olive. The olive veining looks more like a sand color in most areas.
I am trying to work with my pink beige floor so it doesn’t clash. Do you think it could work?
I have searched through HOUZZ and those that have this counter have commented they wish the would have gone a little whiter and not as yellow in their cabinet color.
It appears tonight to be a great match, I will be watching in different lighting to see if it still looks good.
Appreciate any comments you may have.
Thank you
Hi Judy,
Pearly White would be a beautiful color to pair with a pink beige floor since it has soft green undertones. Ironsbridge would be really lovely with that, and the combination could be lovely. Just make sure that you pull samples of the counter and the paint color together on the floor to make sure it looks good. Its most important to see this in Natural light without artificial light so that you can see the true undertones.
Thanks for your review.
I love SW natural choice and would like to use it on walls throughout my condominium with floor to ceiling windows and lots of natural light with NW exposure.
My question is
can I paint the condo ceilings SW pearly white or should I use SW pure white or SW Greek villa instead? Or do you have another recommendation?
Regards,
Robert
San Diego
I would not paint the trim Pearly White because its too dark. Use a white such as Alabaster or Greek Villa.
I really like the color pearly white. It’s only white I have tried on our new build that doesn’t go yellow. But like you said it’s too dark for trim I really wanted to monochromatic look. So should I do it at 75% or do you have another color I should look at? I’m also still unsure of my kitchen cabinet color.
There is no formula to reduce the percent lightness; the mix is created manually and may or may not look right. Instead, try an off-white such as Greek Villa.
You mentioned several times to not use Pearly White as our trim color. BUT, that is exactly what the builders of our house used in 2007! It has been recommended we now paint our walls Pearly White as well because our house needs lightened up. How do you feel about that idea?
Thank you.
Hi Cindy,
If you have Pearly White trim, you can still work with it. Builders in 2007, were doing things differently than we do today. I suggest painting the walls Pearly White or a darker color. If you paint Pearly White, use a sheen that is less shiny than the trim, like a matte or eggshell.
Michelle
I painted all the trim in our back entrance Pearly White back in 2010; used the ProClassic latex semi gloss, painted the walls with the same colour with Duration matte, door colour is BM Sandy Hook Gray. Still loving it to this day. North Facing.
I am looking for a pretty green to go in visitors bedroom and bath. The rest of the house is pearly white.
Hi Tina,
Consider an online consultation.
Michelle
Hello, I am thinking of brightening up our open concept from SW Colonnade Gray to SW Pearly White. We have SW Pure White trim, kitchen cabinets and ceilings. Our floors are darker tans and browns with some lighter mango wood pieces. And white curtains! Very neutral decor with black, white, grays, black and gold metals and warm textured decor. Safest bet would probably be SW Agreeable Gray, but I’m tired of griege. Would you recommend Pearly White perhaps with an accent wall (or 2) with SW Pavestone or Valspar Coastal Villa?? I want to bring in warmer, cozier tones!!
H Lisa,
Its hard to comment without seeing the space and your decor. Pearly White and Agreeable both have green undertones, so if one works the other should too. Personally, I prefer Pearly to Agreeable. Have a great day!
Michelle
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much!! That does help and I’ll be sure to get samples, probably both peel and stick and an actual paint sample!!!????
Would a fireplace mantle painted a warm gray like Anew or Mindful Gray work on a wall painted Pearly White? Many Thanks
Do you know what color green those cabinets are in the photos?
Hi! What color green is the wall in the acoustic room? Would love to know! Thank you!
Hi Michelle,
We’re redoing a condo with red oak floors and low light. I thought the green undertones in SW Pearly White might be a nice contrast to the oak floors, but was also considering BM Simply White to brighten up the place. Would you recommend one over the other?
Many thanks!
I’m trying to decide on a white paint for my walls. All doors and trim are dark stained wood. The floor is brown laminate and the ceiling is honey oak slatted. It’s our second home and we call it a cabin. Please recommend a soft white that won’t look too yellow or green. Thank you!
Great analysis of Pearly White! I chose Pearly White for the walls of an older, small kitchen to work with the existing pale beige tiles with orange-pink undertones. Would painting the kitchen cabinets Pearly White as well work to keep things uncluttered or would Pure White be a better choice?
I have an open staircase and a 2 story entry trim and wainscoting is painted Sherwin-Williams Dover White.
Looking for a warm neutral white or cream color for the walls. South facing with a lot of natural light. Thank you for any suggestions.