Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW7008 Color Palettes and Review

Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW7008 is one of the most popular paint colors of all-time. It’s a classic, no-fail nearly white that works in almost any setting.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I may make a small commission on products purchased with my link, but your price does not change. For full disclosure go here: Disclosure and Policies. Thank you for supporting my site.

All about Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW7008

If you’re searching for a timeless color to use throughout your home, on your cabinets or trim, or on the exterior of your home, then you’ll want to read all about Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

It’s one of those go-to colors that you can’t go wrong with. Today we’re taking a deep dive into it and learning all there is to know about this best-selling paint color.

FYI: The 2024 Sherwin Williams color trends have just been released and you can see them all here: 2024 Sherwin Williams Colors

What color is Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW7008?

Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a versatile slightly off white paint color that can be described as warm and welcoming, fresh, and cozy. It’s basically a blank slate that’s neutral enough to be used in any space and with almost any color.

Designers, homeowners, contractors, and painters all love it and it’s consistently a best-selling color. It’s part of the Sherwin Williams Finest Whites collection.

Is Alabaster warm or cool?

It’s a balanced warm white that’s neutral enough to be paired with both cool and warm colors. It’s a versatile, fresh, almost white color.

What are the undertones of Alabaster

It has soft slightly creamy undertones that give it a cozy warm look, but it’s considered to be a neutral color. You can see the undertones of a color better when it’s compared to similar colors, so here’s a comparison of Alabaster to some of the others from the Finest Whites collection. Notice it has less yellow, gray, blue, and orange undertones than most of the other colors.

Is Alabaster gray or beige?

It’s the tiniest bit on the beige side of the spectrum but again, is a very neutral, nearly white color that pairs beautifully with both beige and greige colors. Since all colors look different depending on the lighting and tones of items surrounding them, it’s crucial to test any color to see how it will look in your specific space.

Does Alabaster look yellow?

No, it does not look yellow. Even though it has yellow undertones, there isn’t enough tint added to it to make Alabaster look yellow on the walls. There’s only enough color to give it a slight warm tone.

What is the LRV of Alabaster?

The LRV, or light reflective value of Alabaster is 82 on a scale of 0 to 100. It’s a very light but not quite white color.

How does Alabaster make a room feel?

Alabaster painted walls give a room a warm, clean, fresh look but not a stark, sterile look that a pure white would give it.

Is Alabaster out of style?

Absolutely not! Alabaster is an all-time favorite for homeowners, designers, and contractors. It’s repeatedly one of the top paint colors and was recently featured as the April 2022 color of the month, is consistently a Top 50 color, and was also named the 2016 Sherwin Williams color of the year.

It’s also one of 26 hues in the Pottery Barn paint color collection. You can be sure that this color will always be a favorite and will never be out of style.

What are the lighter and darker shades of Alabaster?

If you’re looking for a monochromatic palette consisting of lighter and darker shades of Alabaster, these are the best choices:

• One shade lighter – High Reflective White
• One shade darker – Oyster White
• Two shades darker – Useful Gray

Best places to use Alabaster

This extremely versatile color can be used for walls, trim, cabinets, furniture, bookcases, and exteriors. Since it has slightly warmer undertones, it’s ideal for rooms that face east or north and don’t get a lot of natural light.

Use it for bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, entryways, and basically anywhere you want a fresh, warm, and welcoming paint color.

Where not to use Alabaster

Rooms that have cool white tiles, counters, or other elements might not be the best place to use Alabaster. It could come off looking dirty next to any cool white surface.

What trim colors go with Alabaster?

For a clean and minimalistic look you can use Alabaster as both a trim and wall color. A satin or semi-gloss finish is recommended for trim and this will give you a slight contrast against your wall finish that ideally would be flat or eggshell.

Since it’s such a light color, there really aren’t many options if you prefer to go with a lighter color than Alabaster for your trim. Let’s take a look at the two best options, Pure White and High Reflective White.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Pure White

Pure White has an LRV 84 is the tiniest bit lighter than Alabaster which has an of LRV 82. Pure White also has has more gray to it.

Can you use Pure White as a trim color with Alabaster?

I personally wouldn’t recommend it as a trim color for Alabaster because it’s so close that it will look like you tried to match it but missed. Not a good look, in most cases.

Alabaster vs Pure White	Alabaster	Pure White
LRV	82	84
Undertones	neutral to warm	neutral to cool

Alabaster vs High Reflective White

A much better choice for a “white” trim color for Alabaster is High Reflective White. It has an LRV of 93 and has enough contrast that it will look crisp. It’s warmer than Pure White and has similar undertones to Alabaster, making it a better pairing. Note – High Reflective White isn’t available in all products from Sherwin Williams and can be substituted with White Snow.

Alabaster vs High Reflective White	Alabaster	High Reflective White
LRV	82	93
Undertones	neutral to warm	neutral to warm

Best Contrasting Trim Colors for Alabaster

One of the most popular recent trends is using darker trim colors and there are several great options that look beautiful with Alabaster. These are the most popular contrasting trim colors:

• Worldly Gray SW 7043
• Amazing Gray SW 7044
• Anew Gray SW 7030
• Modern Gray SW 7632
• Accessible Beige SW 7036
• Dorian Gray SW 7017

Alabaster Walls with Dorian Gray Trim

Here’s a beautiful example of Alabaster walls with contrasting trim. This cozy dining room with Dorian Gray SW 7017 wainscotting is from Amara at Home on Springwood and looks like the perfect place to enjoy a nice home-cooked meal.

Isn’t this the most welcoming entry you’ve ever seen? It’s from Victoria at @Ourgrowingstorey and I just adore it. She used Accessible Beige SW 7036 on the trim and below the chair rail. So cozy and cute.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster Walls and Accessible Beige Trim

You can see a variety of contrasting trim color options on this chart and download a free copy with all the color names from my printables library. Sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of the post and get access to this and all my color charts and printable art.

What Paint Colors Complement Alabaster?

There are so many colors that coordinate with Alabaster. It looks best when paired with warmer hues but is neutral enough that you can also use it with many colors with cool undertones. Here are a few tried and true ones:

• Sea Salt SW 6204
• Repose Gray SW 7015
• Dorian Gray SW 7017
• Urbane Bronze SW 7048
• Naval SW 6244
• Clary Sage SW 6178

I scoured my color samples and created some color groupings to give you more ideas of what to pair it with. Grab a free downloadable version of this chart with all the color names plus the contrasting trim chart by signing up for my newsletter at the bottom of the post.

Alabaster Calming Neutral Color Palette

For a clean, calming neutral palette you’ll want to use creamy linen fabrics and natural wood tones. Woven wood shades add a warm textural element to the color palette. Homburg Gray is a great accent color for this palette.

Soft neutral fabrics are a good choice for upholstery and curtains. Light wood tones and woven shades add depth to the palette.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Urbane Bronze Color Palette

For a warm, rich palette pair it with deep bronze and rust tones. Cherry, Maple, and Fruitwood stained wood along with a warm woven shade complement these colors perfectly.

For an additional pop of color, add a deep teal color as an accent.

Alabaster and Clary Sage Natural Color Palette

Create an organic, natural vibe by pairing Alabaster with soft greens and neutrals. Wood stains like Cherry, Maple, and Fruitwood add warmth to the palette and create a cozy, earthy look.

Alabaster and Sea Salt Serene Color Palette

For a spa-like setting, pair Alabaster with various depths soft blue-gray-greens.

Alabaster and Redend Point Soft Warm Color Palette

Warm up a room with blush and beige colors with rose undertones. Accent with walnut or mahogany for a rich contrast.

Rooms painted with Sherwin Williams Alabaster

Looking at rooms painted with Alabaster will give you a good idea how it looks in a space. But please don’t make your final decision based on these images.

All colors look a little different in reality and I always recommend testing the color in your specific room before purchasing your paint and possibly not liking it. You can get a peel and stick sample of Alabaster here: Alabaster Peel and Stick Paint Sample

Alabaster Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchens with cabinets painted in Alabaster are so cozy. They don’t have the sterile look that white cabinets have. Adding natural wood tones and woven textures warms up the space.

This open floor plan kitchen is fresh and welcoming. The wood and metal accents keep it from being too white.

Alabaster Bathroom

This bathroom with Alabaster walls that’s so elegant. NOTE: If you’re thinking of using Alabaster in a bathroom, make sure it doesn’t clash with your tub/shower or tiles. If they’re a cool white they might make Alabaster look a little dingy.

Alabaster Living Room

This transitional living room looks so nice with the Iron Ore window trim. The soft neutral upholstered pieces and dark wood floor balance the light and dark paint colors.

Alabaster walls are the perfect color to mix a bold accent wall, like this one in Moody Blue. The atomic style mirror and fluted console are such fun elements.

Create an air of sophistication by mixing Alabaster walls with linen fabrics and metallic accents. The wood molding really adds a nice touch to this living room.

Similar colors to Alabaster SW 7008

Still not sure if Alabaster is right for you? There are many similar choices. Let’s compare it to some popular off whites.

Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs Benjamin Moore White Dove

These two are probably the most popular almost-white paint colors being used today. They’re extremely close in color but let’s do a little side-by-side comparison.

White Dove is ever so slightly lighter with an LRV of 85.38 compared to 82 for Alabaster. And White Dove is the tiniest bit warmer.

See my full review and lots of images of White Dove here: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 and Why It’s a Favorite

Alabaster vs Benjamin Moore White Dove	Alabaster	White Dove
LRV	82	85.38
Undertones

Alabaster vs Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Swiss Coffee is also very similar to Alabaster and both colors have the same LRV at 82. Swiss Coffee is just a touch warmer, but otherwise these colors are hard to tell apart.

Alabaster vs Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee	Alabaster	Swiss Coffee
LRV	82	82
Undertones	neutral to warm	neutral to warm

Alabaster vs Greek Villa

Greek Villa has an LRV of 84 and just the tiniest bit lighter than Alabaster. It has slightly more yellow undertones as well. These two are also extremely close in color.

Alabaster vs Greek Villa	Alabaster	Greek Villa
LRV	82	84
Undertones	neutral to warm	neutral to warm

More paint color reviews and inspiration

Here are some other great colors for you to consider.

• Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
• Sherwin Williams Shoji White
• Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
• Coastal Grandmother Paint Colors
• 9 No-Fail Neutral Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore
• Benjamin Moore Simply White
• Best Benjamin Moore Whites & Off-Whites

FYI: The 2024 Sherwin Williams color trends have just been released and you can see them all here: 2024 Sherwin Williams Colors

Recap

I know this is a long post with tons of information, so let’s recap the main points.

1. You can feel confident choosing Alabaster as your paint color because it’s an all-time favorite.
2. It’s a creamy neutral that goes with almost everything.
3. The LRV of Alabaster is 86.
4. You can use it on your walls, trim, cabinets, and exterior.
5. It pairs beautifully with both warm and cool colors.

Try a sample

Are you ready to see how it looks in your home? A peel and stick sample is the easiest way to test a paint color. It’s reusable, painted with 2 coats of real paint, is shipped overnight, and completely mess-free. Grab one here: Sherwin Williams Alabaster Peel and Stick Samplize Sample