Sherwin Williams Alabaster Paint Color Overview

Alabaster Sherwin Williams is an off-white paint color that evokes a warm and comforting atmosphere. It’s a strong choice for interior and exterior applications to complement just about any other paint color.

This white alabaster paint color was the Sherwin Williams 2016 Color of the Year and April 2022 Color of the Month. And I can see why.

It’s a soothing color for nurseries, bedrooms, or other rooms for a healing and tranquil vibe. It also holds its own as a welcoming paint color for an entryway or on decorative accents like shiplap or cabinetry.

Whites are challenging. Many of them show so many different undertones, so it’s hard to find the one that fits just right. But, this paint color truly took the cake as it creates a clean, crisp backdrop for the rest of the room. Plus, you can even use it on exteriors!

If you need help choosing a paint color, be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Popular Paint Colors!

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Alabaster Sherwin Williams Overview

Looking for a perfect creamy white paint color that is not too cool or too warm - check out Sherwin Williams Alabaster

While alabaster white walls are beautiful, you know I don’t stop with the walls. After we coated the walls in this farmhouse nursery, we painted the shiplap planks in Alabaster, too. I love how this color translated from the walls to the decorative accents. It worked like a charm!

Nursery with shiplap accent wall and pink dresser painted with SW Alabaster on the walls

It’s the perfect neutral paint color that absolutely screams farmhouse style to me. I also love how warm it makes the room feel while still providing a clean, neutral backdrop for the rest of the space.

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As much as I love this color, I wouldn’t recommend using this color in a room that gets a lot of warm sunlight or with “cold” white trim or accent pieces. The contrast will appear more like an old, yellowed-white, which isn’t pleasing to the eyes.

Want something a little lighter and brighter? Check out Simply White by Benjamin Moore, one of my other favorite white paint colors!

Paint Color Stats

Brand: Sherwin Williams
Paint Color Name: Alabaster
Paint Color Code: SW 7008
LRV: 82
Hex Code: #EDEAE0
RBG Values: R 237 G 234 B 224
Where To Buy It: Sherwin Williams Stores

Sherwin Williams Alabaster as an Exterior Paint Color

If you’ve done any paint color research, you know that paint colors can be tricky with lighting. However, this white paint color doesn’t shift as much when applied to exteriors.

Chrissy Marie shared her beautiful painted brick home in Alabaster. According to her review, it remains a soft, true white, regardless of the sunlight, instead of morphing into a funky buttery color as it can indoors.

SW Alabaster painted on exterior of house with brick and gray shutters — Source: Chrissy Marie

You can see a photo of her home above. See how crispy and clean it looks? Plus, it’s paired with beautiful landscaping and light gray shutters. It’s a classic, elegant look!

Exterior of home painted with Sherwin Williams Alabaster creamy white paint color — Source: Kaleidoscope Living

Tasha from Kaleidoscope Living also used SW Alabaster as her exterior paint color and it looks great! It is just the soft, creamy white that she was looking for. Not too cool or too warm.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster Undertones

This Alabaster white shade gives off undertones that are a bit yellow with some beige or greige tints. When placed next to a truer white, Alabaster appears slightly more yellow, like an off-white. However, the color stands out more against a gray or beige color.

Because there are so many different shades of white, finding the right one can be a little tricky. I recommend bringing home samples, painting each of them on the wall, and observing the sunlight throughout the day to get a sense of how the color will change with the sunlight, lightbulb temperatures, and fabrics. All of these elements play a big part in how a paint color appears.

Keep in mind that textures, fabrics, and colors can drastically affect the way the room feels. Considering window treatments, blankets, furniture, pillows, etcetera before painting will help create a harmonious flow throughout the room.

Alabaster painted on the walls in basement with no natural light

SW Alabaster even looks good in spaces that don’t have much or any natural light – like this basement from A Life Unfolding. She uses this creamy white color on the walls paired with black on the ceiling, a dark green/gray accent wall, and even a graphic mural on one of the walls. It all comes together nicely!

LRV of Alabaster Sherwin Williams

Alabaster SW has an LRV of 82, which means that it reflects a lighter, white shade.

Light reflectance value is the amount of light that is reflected off of the paint color surface. The LRV scale ranges from 0-100, with 100 being pure white and pure black with an LRV of 0.

Small laundry room window painted with SW Alabaster on the walls, black tile floors and tiled scallop wall behind the washer and dryer — Love this small laundry room from Living Letter Home painted with SW Alabaster

Similar Paint Colors from Other Brands

If you’ve done your research, you likely found that Benjamin Moore and Behr also have Alabaster as a white paint color, so that can definitely get confusing! Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster is probably the closest to the Sherwin-Williams one in comparison. Behr’s Alabaster is slightly darker with more of a brown tint.

If you are looking for similar paint colors, here are some from other brands that you might want to try out:

Silver Lead by Behr
Dune White by Benjamin Moore
Wevet by Farrow & Ball
Ageless by PPG
Creme Fraiche by Valspar

Living room with neutral color scheme painted with SW Alabaster on the walls — Love this gorgeous living room painted with Alabaster from Bless This Nest

Other Complementary Colors for Sherwin Williams Alabaster

If you are looking for other complementary colors from Sherwin Williams, try these other neutrals. While they are not typical neutrals, these shades are muted tones that will play well with the Alabaster white.

Doeskin – muted reddish brown
Wool Skein – sandy beige
Gray Area – heavy greige
Urbane Bronze – deep brownish gray

Other coordinating neutrals include Sherwin Williams Townhall Tan and Dakota Wheat.

For brighter hues, try Billowy Breeze in a soft blue, Retro Mint as a bold mint green, Antique red for a punchy red shade, or Vintage Gold for a slightly less daring hue.