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Sherwin-Williams Pure White Color Review (SW 7005)

Sherwin-Williams Pure White paint color review.

Learn about Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005) in this paint color review.

Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005) is one of Sherwin-Williams’ best-loved white paint colors and is on their “Top 50 Colors” list. It is a crisp off-white paint color that is soft and lovely.

Pure White is a very specific paint color; there is no equivalent in any other color. We LOVE Pure White as trim and ceiling white. It can be lovely as an interior or exterior wall color, in certain situations.

With the current trend for white paint colors, many builders now use Pure White as their foundation paint color for new homes. That means that they paint all of the surfaces with Pure White, in different sheens. The trim is usually a Satin sheen with matte walls and ceilings. When they paint the walls and ceilings the same sheen they can save labor expenses without cutting in the ceiling corners.

Sample of Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005
Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005

*This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. If you click on some links and purchase, I will get a small commission at no cost to you. This helps pay for the costs of the blog, so I can continue to offer great content to our readers.

Sherwin-Williams Pure White LRV

Pure White has an LRV of 84, which makes it a crisp slightly off-white paint color. LRV is short for Light Reflectance Value, which is a measurement of how light (LRV=100) or dark (LRV=0) a color is.

What undertones does Pure White have?

This off-white paint color has light yellow undertones. It is almost a clean white, but not quite. The soft yellow undertones keep it from looking harsh, even though it’s crisp.

Is Pure White warm or cool?

This off-white paint is slightly warm, thanks to its yellow undertones. It can sometimes be difficult to tell how warm a color is without comparing it to other paint colors. 

For comparison, Pure White is warmer than Extra White, which has blue undertones. it is cooler than Snowbound, which has pink undertones. Many painters pick Extra White as a trim color because it’s so crisp, but Pure White is a more flexible choice because of its muted warmth.

Comparison of Extra White, Pure White, Snowbound

When should I use Pure White?

This color can be used for Interiors or Exteriors, but in the right situations.

Pure White Interiors

My favorite use for Pure White is as an interior trim and ceiling color. It pairs well with most modern finishes such as quartz or light countertops.

Use as a wall color in homes that are flooded with light.

Pure White looked lovely in the new build below, but in some of the rooms it looked cold. The homeowner asked me to specify more colors for her walls. The interior photos below show the home as delivered by the builder, with Pure White walls, ceilings, and trim.

You can see the baseboards are contrasted with the walls with a Satin sheen. The photo below was taken in the afternoon with West facing light. It looks great now, but once houses are built on either side, it will start to get dingy as the light is blocked.

Living room with Pure white walls, ceilings and baseboards.
Pure White living room with North and West facing light, Photo by M. Marceny

Is a Pure White kitchen a good idea?

Absolutely! Pure White is a great color for a classic kitchen because its warmth pairs well with many modern finishes.

Pure White paint is flexible enough to use with most white quartz countertops, clean white subway backsplashes, and soft warm Calacatta tile. It’s also flexible enough to use with Carrara Marble.

The kitchen below has a Pure White door, walls, and ceilings. Pure White is flexible enough to pair with all the clean white in the backsplash and the cooler cabinet white. The countertop is Silestone’s Desert Silver, with a lovely violet-gray base color.

This kitchen would be cold without so many colors to bring it to life. In this case, the homeowner had just moved in. Fruit, spices, towels, and plants add color that fills a kitchen with warmth.

Kitchen painted with SW Pure White walls and doors, with cooler white cabinets and gray countertops.
Photo by M. Marceny

Pure White kitchen cabinets would also be beautiful, especially if you paired them with Pure White walls, trim, and ceiling in different sheens for a monochromatic color scheme.

Can I use a Sherwin-Williams Pure White bedroom?

Pure White can be a calming bedroom paint color, as long as the room is flooded with light like this one.

It looks best when balanced with warm finishes and colors such as the bedspread below.

Bedroom painted with Pure White
Photo by M. Marceny

Can I use Sherwin-Williams Pure White for exterior paint?

Pure White looks great as a whole-house exterior paint color, but it can be too bright as an exterior white trim color unless the siding color is very light. I drove by a neighbor’s house this afternoon, and they had painted their trim Pure White. I won’t show the photo here, but it was so bright that it was blinding.

If you use Pure White for an exterior, make sure that you use one of the higher quality versions such as Super Paint, Duration, or Emerald so that you only use two coats. Otherwise, it has very low pigment levels and it may take more coats or an extra coat of primer.

This gorgeous farmhouse black and white home was painted with Pure White and Iron Ore. We picked this very bright white because it matched the bright vinyl fence, which now recedes as an accessory.

Farmhouse white exterior color scheme with SW Pure White and SW Iron Ore.
Sherwin-Williams Pure White with Iron Ore, After; photo by M. Marceny

This is the brightest Sherwin-Williams white paint color that I would specify. The roofline trim and front door color were Iron Ore. Since the windows were white vinyl, we painted the window trim the same color as the siding.

Below is the “Before” photo, which shows this amazing transformation.

Before photo, by M. Marceny

What are the best trim and ceiling colors to pair with Pure White?

I really like to use Pure White trim and ceiling colors with Pure White walls. The key is to make sure that the trim sheen is Satin, shinier than the walls. Ideally, I prefer eggshell or matte walls with a flat ceiling. You can save labor costs by painting the walls and ceilings the same sheen so that you don’t need to cut in the corners.

Entryway and hall painted with Sherwin-williams Pure White.
Sherwin-Williams Pure White trim, walls, and ceilings, photo by M. Marceny

If you want more contrast, pick a clean white for the trim and ceiling such as SW High Reflective White. However, many painters don’t like to use High Reflective White because it has very low pigment and it takes a lot of coats to get right.

Although some painters like to pair Pure White walls with SW Extra White, I recommend against it because Extra White is too cool

Elevate your walls with a splash of color.

When should I avoid Pure White?

For interiors, avoid Pure White in rooms with low light, or cool North Facing light. The dining room below is painted Pure White, and the wall looks blue because it faces North. The room felt cold.

Dining room with Pure White walls.
Photo by M. Marceny

For exteriors, avoid using Pure White in homes with earthy brick or stone. Instead, if you want a crisp white with red brick, consider SW Greek Villa, as shown in the project here.

Is Pure White a good whole house color?

Pure White wouldn’t be my first choice for an interior whole-house color because it can look dingy in spaces with very low light, or cool Northern light. It looks great as an exterior whole-house color, in certain situations.

Is Sherwin-Williams Pure White too bright to use as a paint color?

It depends on the lighting and surrounding finishes. It usually works well as a crisp trim and ceiling color for interiors. As a crisp off-white wall color, it should be used in a room flooded with warm light, and balanced with warm finishes. It can be too stark to use with granite and earthy tiles.

For exteriors, it is too bright to be used as a trim color or paired with red brick. On its own, it’s glorious as an exterior whole-house color.

What is the easiest way to sample Sherwin-Williams Pure White?

You should always sample and test your paint colors, but it’s especially important for white paints, which are often some of the hardest to specify and select.

The easiest way to sample Sherwin-Williams Pure White (and any paint color, for that matter) is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and accurate to color. With Samplize, you can quickly and easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.

What colors go well with Pure White?

Does Sherwin-Williams Pure White go with black paint? 

Pure White looks amazing with black, but I prefer a softer black such as SW Iron Ore, instead of SW Tricorn Black which can be too stark. Below is a photo of the white farmhouse color scheme with Iron Ore as the roofline and accent color.

Farmhouse white exterior with Pure White siding and Iron Ore roofline and front door.
SW Pure White exterior with SW Iron Ore accents, photo by M. Marceny

This back porch breakfast bar looks great with an Iron-Ore beam and warm wood counter.

White back porch exterior with Pure White siding and Iron Ore beam and wood countertop.
Sherwin-Williams Pure white and Iron Ore, photo by Color Concierge client.

Does Pure White work with bright colors?

Pure White craves bright colors. Check out this gorgeous blue-green front porch ceiling, painted with SW Tradewind.

Front porch with SW Pure White walls, SW Iron Ore handrail and SW Tradewind front porch ceiling.
Tradewind front porch ceiling, photo by M. Marceny

Comparisons With Sherwin-Williams Pure White Alternatives

Not sure if Pure White is the right white for your room? Check out how it compares to similar paint colors from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs Alabaster

Alabaster has strong yellow undertones and is much warmer than Pure White. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster is better for shady exteriors and interiors with lower light and/or earthy granite finishes.

SW Pure White vs. Alabaster Comparison

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs High Reflective White

High Reflective White is Sherwin-Williams’ cleanest white paint color. It’s brighter than Pure White and can be used as a trim and ceiling color with Pure White. Most painters prefer Pure White as a trim and ceiling color because it has more pigment and is easier to paint with than High Reflective White.

Designers prefer Pure White because that slight splash of warmth makes it more forgiving to pair with other colors, and it looks better with earthier finishes than HRW.

SW Pure White vs. High Reflective White

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs. Oxford White

Although Pure White doesn’t have a Benjamin Moore equivalent, Oxford white is the closest color. Oxford is brighter, cleaner, and cooler than Pure White, and not quite as muted. I will confess that Pure White is my favorite Sherwin-Williams trim color, and Oxford is my favorite Benjamin Moore trim color.

Although they don’t look the same, they do the same job, if that makes sense.

SW Pure White vs BM Oxford White comparison

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs Chantilly Lace

Chantilly Lace (Color Review Here) has a slight twinge of blue and is much cleaner and brighter than Pure White. Pure White is much more flexible because of its muted tones and slight yellow undertone. I still LOVE Chantilly, though!

SW Pure White vs BM Chantilly Lace comparison

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs Simply White

There is no question that Simply White (color review) is much more yellow and brighter than Pure White. If I have a darker room that the homeowners want to paint white, I would always pick Simply White over Pure White.

SW Pure White vs. BM Simply White comparison

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs Snowbound

Snowbound is darker and to be honest, pinker/taupier than Pure White. Although Snowbound has its applications, Pure White has a much more broad appeal. They look super similar below, but in real life, they are pretty different.

SW Pure White vs. Snowbound comparison

Sherwin-Williams Pure White vs Benjamin Moore Pure White

Whatever you do, don’t confuse brands with this color. These two Pure Whites aren’t even close! The Benjamin Moore version is more of a blue-gray compared to the Sherwin version.

SW Pure White vs. BM Pure White color comparison

Can my painter match Sherwin-Williams Pure White to Benjamin Moore?

The answer is NO. Not unless you want your house painted light green.  That’s what seems to happen when they try to match white paint colors. Pure White is pretty unique and special, and there isn’t an exact match in the Benjamin Moore world. To get a similar look and feel, I would try Benjamin Moore Oxford White.

Learn more about matching paint colors here.

What is the best way to test Pure White?

As always, don’t forget to test your paint colors! The easiest way to sample any paint color is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color. With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.

If you’d like to test the colors that we mentioned in this post, link below for the Samplize samples:

High Reflective White

Oxford White

Chantilly Lace

BM Simply White

Snowbound

BM Pure White

Key Learning Points

Pure White is a beautiful crisp off-white paint color! It looks best in rooms that are flooded with light.

  • Sherwin-Williams Pure White is an excellent trim and ceiling color. Try wrapping a room in Pure White, using different sheens for each type of trim, ceiling, or wall.
  • Don’t use Pure White in a room with cool Northern light or low light because it can look dingy.
  • Pure White is a beautiful option for a whole house exterior paint color, as long as the house doesn’t have brick or stone.
  • Avoid Pure White as an exterior trim color, unless your wall color is very light.

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

If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an In-Person Color Consultation in the Denver Metro area.

Online Color Consultation White Paint Colors

If you liked this post, don’t forget to pin!

Front entry and hallway painted with Sherwin-Williams Pure White.

Our 5 Favorite Benjamin Moore Whites

BM Chantilly Lace Color Review

BM Simply 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 impossible 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.

4 Responses

  1. I recently repainted all my trim work in my home and family room ceiling beams and lowing paneling in the SW Pure White, which gave it a crisp fresh look. My kitchen cabinets are a gray, more dark than light grey, which I painted 6 yrs ago. I’m now going to have them repainted, as they need it and want to brighten it up going with a white, it’s classic and clean. I’m going with a cabinet painting company that only uses a specific SW urethane. The question is, wouldn’t I want to use the Pure White on the cabinets to be consistent and have the same flow. Or, will it be too bright? I’m afraid if I paint them a lower white or Alabaster, etc., they then will look more yellow and contrast with the trim and the rest of the whites. My floors are hardwood, a darker Asian Walnut.

    1. Pure White would pair well with your trim color, but it depends on what your backsplash and countertop look like, more important than the floors.

  2. You state this: Pure White is a beautiful option for a whole house exterior paint color, as long as the house doesn’t have brick or stone.

    I was wondering what you meant by if the house doesn’t have brick or stone?

  3. Hi, I am in the process of repainting my house and just got sone with my kitchen a SWcalico paint.It is absolutely beautiful.I am now painting my living room,nook and dining room Pure white but i was wondering if Its okay to paint my baseboard and trims with SWcalico.

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Meet Michelle

Driven to help clients fall back in love with their homes with intentional paint color schemes. She started the company based on her passion for color and its ability to make a house a home.

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8 Easy Ways to Pick Paint Colors