For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color. Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.
SW Pure White acts like a true white and is good for ceilings and trim. Using the same white for both, especially with crown molding, removes the risk of having undertones clash.
Eggshell finishes, while more durable and easier to clean, are usually not recommended for ceilings because their slight sheen can create unwanted reflections and highlight imperfections. In summary, for most ceiling applications, a flat finish is the preferred choice.
Enter Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW7005! Pure White by Sherwin-Williams is a beautiful, neutral white that is a great choice for anyone who wants white walls, trim and/or ceilings. It's bright and crisp but doesn't feel cold or stark.
SW Ceiling Bright White is a stark, true white. Compared to Pure White, it lacks the subtle yellow undertone, making it cooler and crisper. It's often used for ceilings to reflect maximum light.
Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.
Let's look at the true breakdown of the color. The RGB values for Alabaster are 237 / 234 / 224, which makes it a really nicely balanced white with slightly less blue, so it keeps a little cozy warmth without pulling yellow.
It's a beautifully balanced white that isn't too cool or too warm, making it a great choice for interiors and exteriors. In fact, when we painted the exterior of our old home, we chose the color Sherwin-Williams Alabaster. It was the perfect choice for us because it was the soft, creamy white we were looking for.
All neutrals have an undertone so yes, White Dove has an undertone. It's only when it's compared to another white that you'll see the undertone appear. The undertone of this paint colour is yellow but don't fear the undertone. You can see from my project above that there are no yellow tones coming from the wall paint.
Most ceiling paints have a flat (or matte) finish. A flat finish doesn't reflect lights and will hide most irregularities and defects in the ceiling.
Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.
Our paint experts highly recommend Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint for most ceiling paint projects. This premium-quality acrylic paint comes in an ultra-flat finish engineered to perform beautifully on ceilings. It's a thick paint, ideal for hiding surface imperfections and minimizing splatter.
It almost looks like a true off-white; however, it does have a touch of yellow undertone. SW Pure White looks muted and much warmer than SW White Snow.
A pure white with a bit gray undertone, Nano White is perfect for crisp, clean walls, trim, and ceilings. A white with subtle nuances of greige, Silky White is a balanced shade that enriches almost any color scheme.
1. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. One of the most popular exterior colors for 2024 is Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams. Alabaster (SW 7008) is both timeless and on-trend this year as warmer, off-whites are in for exteriors.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008)
This color is apparently used in Joanna Gaines' farmhouse, and frequently used in Fixer Upper episodes.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) is a heavenly soft off-white paint color. It is warm, soft, yet a well balanced white paint color. Many people ask whether there is a gray or beige undertone to the color, but there's neither, it is clear that it's a white paint color when presented with a gray or beige.
Keep in mind, however, that Shoji White may not be the best white paint for pairing with colorful schemes. If your style leans toward maximalism and layers lots of saturated tones, a cleaner, crisper white like Pure White SW 7005 with less warm undertones may be better suited.
In the image below, you can see how Sherwin Williams Alabaster is slightly warmer with a touch more yellow as Benjamin Moore White Dove is lighter with slightly less yellow. Both are similar paint colors in regard to warmth but both will look different in many scenarios.
"For increased lighting in a dimly-lit room, opt for a shade lighter on the ceiling. As a general rule of thumb, I would go 20% lighter on the ceilings," he says. However, if the room is naturally sun-drenched, you can probably get away with the same color on the walls and ceiling.
A flat white is always the best paint finish for ceilings, as the non-reflective finish reduces glare from artificial lights overhead and the clean white helps reflect natural light around the room, making it feel brighter and more open.
Eggshell and Satin Sheen
Eggshell and satin sheens are recommended for a bathroom doesn't get too much use — like a powder room or guest bathroom.