With today’s trend toward light, bright wall colors, many people are searching for the perfect white paint color for their home. While a lot of them are opting for a crisp, clean white, others are looking for a softer off-white that can give just a hint of color. If you find yourself in the latter group, Sherwin Williams Shoji White (SW 7042) might just be the beautiful off-white paint color you’ve been searching for!
Click here to order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Shoji White.
What Undertones Does Shoji White Have?
If you’ve been looking at white paint colors lately, you may be feeling overwhelmed by how many choices are out there! As with any color, whites have their own subtle undertones, which can make it tricky to find the right one.
Shoji White is a warm white, with greige (beige and gray) undertones. It has a nice creaminess to it, but its greige undertones keep it from ever looking too yellow. It typically won’t end up looking too cold or gray in a room either, even if your room is north or east facing.
Shoji White is considered an off-white, and is darker than other popular whites like BM White Dove, SW Alabaster, or BM Swiss Coffee. However, it can look more like a white, or more like an off-white, depending on your lighting conditions.
What is the LRV of Shoji White?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0 (darkest) to 100 (brightest). The LRV of Shoji White is 74, which puts it in the off-white category. In a room with a lot of natural light, Shoji White will look more like a creamy white. If your space is dimly lit, however, Shoji White could look more like a greige, and lose some of its warmth.
Where to Use Shoji White
Everywhere! No, seriously, Shoji White is a great choice for any room in your home and even your exterior! That being said, I don’t recommend Shoji White as a whole-house trim color because it’s a bit too dark and creamy.
For a whole-house color, Shoji White can give you just a hint of soft color, without looking too bright white or too beige. In this gorgeous entryway, Shoji White is used on both the walls and trim for a seamless look.
In this music room, you can see how Shoji White has just enough contrast to pair it with a brighter white trim. If you have other warm colors in your room, like a beige carpet or wood floors, Shoji White will work beautifully.
Here are some kitchen cabinets painted with Shoji White. Its greige undertones allow it to play nicely with a gray backsplash or countertop, while still giving a timeless, creamy look.
Here’s another kitchen with Shoji White on the walls and cabinets, with a slightly brighter white on the trim. The overall look is light and bright, and the off-white walls provide a great transition with the gold accents in the room.
I also love the way Shoji White looks with wood trim. One of my clients recently brightened up their living room and main areas with Shoji White, and the results were gorgeous!
In this office, you can see how bright Shoji White can look in a well-lit space. There is just a subtle contrast with the white cabinets and trim.
Shoji White is also one of my favorite whites to recommend to my exterior paint consultation clients. It’s great for those who want to go with a more traditional, or softer white look for their exterior paint color.
Colors to Pair with Shoji White
Since Shoji White has such nicely balanced undertones, it will coordinate beautifully with a wide range of colors. Here are a few of my favorite colors to pair with Shoji White:
- Pure White (SW 7005)
- Fawn Brindle (SW 7640)
- Analytical Gray (SW 7051)
- Stardew (SW 9138)
- Smoky Blue (SW 7604)
- Urbane Bronze (SW 7048)
Is Shoji White right for your home?
Shoji White is a gorgeous, subtle light color that can work in any room of your home, but there are some situations where it may not be the best option for your home. In south-facing rooms that get a lot of light, Shoji White is a perfect choice for a soft, neutral paint color. In west-facing rooms, the late afternoon sun can bring out the warm, creamy undertones in Shoji White. For north-facing rooms and east-facing-rooms, or rooms that don’t get much light, you might find that Shoji White leans more into its greige tones, possibly looking a little muddy or dull.
So, how can you know if Shoji White is a good option for your home? It’s crucial that you get a sample of it and test it in your home, with your unique lighting conditions to see how it looks. It’s the only way to be sure it’s the right color for your space.
Alternatives to Shoji White
Shoji White is a flexible, warm neutral, but if you find it doesn’t quite work in your home, here are some similar colors you can try:
- Sherwin Williams White Duck (7010) – almost a perfect match to Shoji White, but it has just a tiny bit more yellow to it. Try White Duck if Shoji White looks a little too flat or muddy.
- Sherwin Williams Natural Choice (7011) – slightly more gray than Shoji White, with a very subtle hint of green. Give it a try if Shoji White looks too yellow or beige to you.
- Sherwin Williams Oyster White (7637) – slightly darker than Shoji White, with a very slight green undertone. Give it a try if Shoji White looks too yellow or beige to you.
- Benjamin Moore Etiquette (AF-50) – if you need a Benjamin Moore dupe of Shoji White, this is your best bet. It’s very similar to Shoji white, but maybe ever so slightly more gray.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully now you can see why Sherwin Williams Shoji White is one of my favorite off-white paint colors. If you’re not quite on board with a bright white, but still like the idea of a light, subtle wall color, you’ve got to give Shoji White a try. Just be sure to thoroughly test all paint colors in your home before committing to one. My favorite source for paint samples is Samplize! Their inexpensive peel-and-stick samples use real paint, and they’re super easy to move around the room, so you can test colors in different rooms.. Get your peel-and-stick sample of Shoji White from Samplize.
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Shoji white for exterior color with orangey rusty greige brick accent sand grout dark sable roof black gutters. Or would a different
White be better. Dover Don’t want it to be pink or too yellow of an undertone.
Shoji White is a good one to try, and typically doesn’t look too pink or yellow with its greige base. The best way to know is to sample it, and then pivot to a different color as needed.
Thinking of Shoji White for kitchen cabinets in a south-facing living/dining/kitchen area with Benjamin Moore Tundra walls and one BM Dior Grey accent wall opposite the cabinets. Both BM paints are grey with blue-purple undertones. Would Shoji White still work? I love the idea of warming up the space without bringing in too much yellow to clash with these grey paints with blue/purple undertones.
Will BM White Dove go well with SW Urbane bronze?
Yes!
I painted my living room SW Dover White and it looks a bit green. Not happy with it. I am looking for a soft off white or neutral to do same color on walls, ceiling, trim and doors. Can you suggest a color?
We just painted our main floor shoji white and it’s soooooo beautiful! It’s a neutral off white with warmer undertones and NO yellow! So beautiful
Does Shoji white look pink at all?? I have read a few places that it can look pink and that is my biggest fear as have a lot of wall space
to cover!! It will mainly be south and west light coming in, but it is a main entryway that is 2 stories and through an upstairs
hall area. Would appreciate any advice? Was debating between Shoji and SW White Duck.
Typically no, but it’s always best to sample a color in your home before committing to it. White Duck is very similar to Shoji White, but has a little more yellow to it. So, in cases where Shoji is looking “off”, White Duck can be a great option to try. The best thing to do is get samples and place them in different areas of your home. Samplize (affiliate link) is perfect for this!
I painted it in my home and it’s VERY pink. In all lights.
Oh no! Pink is not usually an undertone seen with Shoji White. I recommend looking for an off-white or light greige that leans slightly green to help counteract the warm lighting conditions in your home. And, always be sure to test samples of any potential colors in your home before committing to one.
That’s awesome! Shoji White is a really beautiful whole-house color.
That’s interesting, because Dover White has a strong yellow base, and does not typically appear greenish. With your lighting, you may need to lean toward something more peachy to counteract the green, and get the look of an actual off-white. SW Shoji White is a good one to try, and then adjust accordingly.
Will Shoji white go with Gauntlet Gray? My interior trim is a dark stained wood. One wall is Guantlet Gray and I am considering painting the other 3 walls in the room Shoji white. I love Shoji White with the wood trim but was unsure how this would look with a dark gray accent and a dark gray couch that is similar in color.
Yes, gauntlet grey is beautiful warm grey so they will work well together. The dark warm wood will look beautiful w/this combination 😉
Yes, those two will look great together!
Do you have white trim recommendations if using Shoji White as a wall color? Our house colors are warm, so I don’t want a white trim that would seem too cool.
SW Pure White is a great trim color to pair with Shoji White.
Would shoji white work on flat panel European-style kitchen cabinets (that go to the ceiling)? I have a friend who insists shoji white tends to be used in more traditional decor and would look off with a more modern style. And that all white flat panel cabinets would end up looking too clinical. I am thinking shoji white for the cabinets, white quartz for the counter tops, and a light to medium-light wood paneling for the island. And I’d love to eventually do a fun colored full wall backsplash! I love a bright clean look but am sick of the all white kitchens.
If this combination would look off — color suggestions welcome!
AND I’m not really into the farmhouse look 🙂
I’ve seen some beautiful kitchen lately with off-white or beige cabinets and white countertops, so it could be lovely. You could certainly test Shoji White, and then maybe also try something like BM Edgecomb Gray or SW Accessible Beige, which are popular. Good luck!
If my exterior is shoji , can my interior be alabaster? I have a lot of wallls that have Wainscotting.
Yes, absolutely!
Hello! Thanks for this spotlight on Shoji White. We are moving in to a condo with still like new honey toned cabinets. (Not a lot of grain in them) They are in perfect shape so we are not going to paint them at this time. I’m wondering how you think Shoji would pair with them?
Thanks!
I used Shoji White in my kitchen with honey oak toned cabinets and we love it. It has a warmth without looking yellow.
The walls in my kitchen are shoji white and we have used pure white for trim. We have older cabinets that we may consider painting to give them new life, is there a cabinet color you would suggest to coordinate? The floors are medium brown with some red hints and the countertop can be anything!
I’m currently working on a home for my client and we are using Shoji White for the walls and Greek Villa on the trim and cabinets. I personally don’t care for bright white cabinets so you could try out Greek Villa and see how it works!
I was interested in trying this combination as well!! What color did you paint the ceilings with Shoji White walls and Greek Villa trim & cabinets. Thanks in advance!
If you want a neutral white for the ceiling that will work with both Greek Villa and Shoji White, give SW Extra White or SW High Reflective White a try. If all of your trim is already SW Greek Villa, you could do your ceilings also with Greek Villa.
Hi! I have an open main living/kitchen area. My kitchen cabinets have already been painted alabaster. I am considering shoji white for walls, but am wondering if I should go for more of a contrast. Very high ceilings and lots of natural light. Also, should trim and doors in whole house also be alabaster? Ceiling color?
Thank you!
Sorry – I did not leave my info with my question about shoji white with alabaster cabinets.
We have tan bricks all over the first floor and mostly siding on second floor. Do you think Shoji White would be a good option for exterior siding and trim? What about SW Black of Night for the front door and shutters?
I painted most of my house Accessible Beige but the hallway looks too dark. Would Shoji White coordinate well and lighten the hallway?
Hi! I was wondering if you could tell me if shoji white would work well on the exterior with Sherwin Wiliams iron ore for trim?
Yes, those two colors work great together! SW White Duck is also very similar to Shoji White, and is also worth a look.
Does shoji white and iron or work well together?
Yes!
We’re installing wide heart pine floors with a clear stain. Would Shoji White with Chantilly Lace trim be a good all over house white without turning too yellow but still looking classic? Or would you recommend a different color?
SW Shoji White is a great option, but I also recommend getting several others to test in your home before committing to one. They all have subtle differences in tone, and one could be better in your lighting conditions than another. You might also try Aesthetic White, Oyster White, White Heron, and Pearly White.
Hi, I am painting an accent wall in guest bedroom with SW 0015, Gallery Green, wondering if Shoji White will be a complementary color for other 3 walls. I have dark wood floors in the room. Thank you.
Hey, I have BM Dove white on my trim, ceilings and kitchen cabinets. Would Shoji White work with Dove White? Or would SW Arrowroote be better? Or none of the above?
Beautiful pics! Would Shoji White cabinets and trim look good with Edgecomb Gray walls?
Yes, those two can work well together, as they both have the slightest green undertone. Be sure to sample both in your lighting, as certain conditions can alter the way the colors look.
How would Soji White work in a log home where there will be pine logs (clear coated) as well as dry wall with hardwood floors. I am having a hard time deciding on which off white paint to use throughout this home. The great room is south facing with large windows on either side of the stone fireplace. The lot is wooded.
I also would like to know if shoji walls, pure white trim, and alabaster cabinets would work well, is there another color for the kitchen cabinets?
Yes, those three whites work well together. You can also use Pure White for the cabinets, rather than introducing another white into the mix. Pure White has a hint of warmth to it, and is very pretty on cabinets.
I have tried City loft and Asthetic white in hallway and foyer which are north-east facing with some natural light. Both of those color looks gray in both area.What are other color would be good option so they don’t looks too dark? I am trying to get cream shade like city loft so what color would be here at option?
If both of those warm whites are looking gray in your space, you’re going to have to choose a paint color that is even warmer and creamier than you expect, to get the overall look you want. SW Shoji White or White Duck might give you the extra hint of warmth you need, but could still look slightly muddy in a north-east room. So, try one of those two, but also get a sample of something like SW Moderate White or SW Creamy (a bit lighter) and see how they look. Good luck!
Hi! Thanks for the great article! I have acacia floors in my living room with high ceilings. Currently we have wood trim that I am considering painting the color Greek Villa throughout my whole house, and Im thinking about Shoji White for the living room walls. Will Shoji and Greek Villa complement each other ok do you think? Pure White for the trim seems too harsh against the bold floors. Thanks I’m advance!
Great article! I’m thinking of using Shoji white as my exterior paint brick color on a SW facing house. House is surrounded my trees in back and sides. Trying to go for a contemporary look with tricolor black trim/windows to contrast the white painted brick. Stone color is light gray. Thoughts on Shoji vs other off white in this scenario? Thanks in advance!
Shoji White can be a great choice for a Southwest facing house. Be sure to get samples and check it in various areas on the house exterior. A couple of other off-whites that would work well are SW White Duck, SW Natural Choice and SW Oyster White. They are all very similar, but one can work slightly better than another in your lighting. For example, Oyster White is a good option if Shoji pulls a bit too peachy for you in the warm afternoon sun.
I am choosing an exterior paint color and am leaning toward shoji white. It is a lake house and I don’t want it bright white. But I am terrified it will look beige. I want it creamy white. My next option is SW Alabaster. What do you think? Will it look beige on the exterior?
I have a White duck sample but I
feel it is too yellow or gold.
Hi! We are painting the exterior of our home an off white and I wanted to use iron ore as a trim / accent color. Which white would go best? I was thinking Shoji white but I’m not sure.
Shoji White is a good one to try, along with White Duck, Natural Choice, and Accessible Beige. From Benjamin Moore, you can also try Edgecomb Gray, Revere Pewter, and Olympic Mountains. I have another post you might like about the best paint colors for a white house with black trim: https://welshdesignstudio.com/paint-colors-for-white-house-with-black-trim/
I painted my loft condo Shoji white 3+ years ago. I have south-facing floor to ceiling windows in my living/dining room combo and it looks off white. The rest of the condo has no windows; the bathroom gets zero natural light and it comes off creamy with no hint of yellow (yea!). It also pairs nicely with the 2 concrete walls and 2 concrete columns. I’m moving to a north-facing condo soon with more natural light, and I will probably paint it Shoji White, too. It is a true chameleon.
That’s awesome! Shoji White is a very flexible color.
We are painting most of our home in soji white and now need to pick a trim color to go with it. I want the soji white to look more white so would SW Pure White be a good choice or do you have another suggestion?
SW Pure White is a great trim color with Shoji White.
What are your thoughts on Shoji White in low light rooms? We just bought a house with a wall of west facing windows but the wooded dune behind us blocks most of the afternoon and evening sun…so the entire kitchen/great room does not get much natural light. We tried alabaster (pretty sure that’s what is currently on the walls…it looks dingy and a bit gray. Just tried Shoji white and am amazed at how different it looks in each room. Sometimes creamy, sometimes gray. Our furniture is beige linen sofas, natural fibers, and a range of wood tones. Wood floors, wood tongue and groove vaulted ceiling. If you have any other suggestions for shades of white in low light homes, I’d love to hear them. We’ve done pure white in the last two houses and I don’t think it’ll work in this new house. Thank you!
Shoji White can look a little muddy and gray in low-light rooms. When this happens, you’ll likely need to go brighter and/or warmer with your white. Try BM Swiss Coffee and SW Greek Villa as alternatives to Alabaster and Shoji White. And, then you might give BM Simply White a try as a brighter white. I agree with you that SW Pure White probably isn’t a great choice for your new home. It will look even more gray and dingy than Alabaster and Shoji White.
Hello. I have a great room with cathedral ceiling and light wood trim and kitchen cabinets. Thinking of painting shoji white on walls and ceiling, but leaving natural wood trim. Do you think carrying this color onto ceiling look okay? I have read that paining walls and ceiling will make the room look bigger?
Thank you
I’m putting in a new kitchen and want neutral but not a true white, more of a light mushroom color for my cabinets. I came across shoji white and white duck. Are there any other colors for kitchen cabinets that you’d recommend? I’m nervous to pull the trigger since I probably won’t ever redo my kitchen again. Thank you
I am so glad I found your review of Sonji White! Thank you. Would you suggest Sonji White as the trim color of doors and windows if the walls are the same. The cabinets in the kitchen are a white white and the ceiling is a flat high reflective wh by SW, a close match to the cabinets.
Shoji White is not your best option for whole house doors and trim. The reason being that if you want to change up your wall colors later on, you will be limited to colors that work with Shoji White, versus another brighter, more versatile white. Here’s my post on trim colors that might help: https://welshdesignstudio.com/best-white-paint-for-trim/
What do you think of Shoji white with a White Snow (9541) trim? This is in a row house that is low light overall and a lot of north facing light, and would like a brighter trim than pure white if possible.
That’s a great combo!
We are trying to choose a colour for our whole home – including ceilings, and are leaning towards Shoji white. We thought Alabaster originally but we find the large peel and stick sample we got looks washed out and just plain white in most daylight. Do you think Shoji white is a good colour to carry on to the ceilings as well? Is it bright enough?
Yes, Shoji White is a good one to try. If you find that even Shoji White is getting washed out or looking a little “muddy,” you may need to go even warmer (more yellow or beige) to get the look you’re after.
We are doing a large kitchen island in SW Laurel Woods with a wild wood black walnut butcher block top. For the rest of the kitchen we are planning to do shoji white for the cabinets, with a green vertically stacked subway tile. I would like to go with a lighter colored Silestone countertops. I’m looking online for samples and have found the following: Silestone Ethereal Haze Quartz White, Silestone Eternal Classic Calacatta, and Miami Vena. Do you have any suggestions?
I am painting the exterior of a north eastern facing home in Florida, zone 9B, With multiple elements, including Hardie plank, Stucco walls, faux, stucco brick, stucco finished columns on a portico, and very stucco finished trim around around the windows and doors. I have sampled about 20 different different colors from Sherwin-Williams, as I do like more saturated, Color, but the undertones become overwhelming, changing the color entirely, in the outdoor light.
Because of this, I have decided to go with a creamy white. Also because it will likely last longer than my previous grays and charcoals that the Florida sun has nearly baked off my home over the last five years. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find much information regarding north east facing exteriors when I’m trying to research the colors and how the undertones would appear under my lighting conditions. A perfect split between north and east. I have tried alabaster, which is too yellowish, duck white, which also seems to have greenish hue and oyster white, which appears more white than the other two, and is so far my favorite, but not quite right.
My next sample is slated to be Soji white, so any upfront tips regarding how it might look in the Florida sun, with all of my elements, on a north east facing exterior would be greatly appreciated!
North-east facing homes will benefit from a white that has warmth to it, so you’re on the right track! If Alabaster is too yellow, you can go with something more muted, like BM White Dove or SW Pure White. Oyster White is a great option, so if it’s close, you might also try SW Natural Choice (similar to Oyster White but slightly lighter and warmer). Hope that helps!
Hello,
I am painter or the exterior with Shoji White. I am looking for a good not too stark accent color and trim. Any recommendations. I lean towards earthy and greens.
SW Pure White is a great white trim color to pair with SW Shoji White. If you want to go darker, try something like SW Accessible Beige. As for an accent color, check out SW Evergreen Fog or SW Pewter Green!