The Rugh Design Color Wheel
Just for a quick recap, we have been working on adding ALL of the Sherwin-Williams paint colors to the Rugh Design Color Wheel. So as the process continues, I wanted to highlight a color per week that stands out.
So far, we have highlighted Drizzle (a beautiful green-blue color that will have you dreaming of the ocean in no time), Keystone Gray (a medium toned warm neutral “greige”), Urbane Bronze (a darker gray with a slight bronze undertone), Greek Villa (a subtle creamy off-white) and Amazing Gray (a go-to light gray).
Going forward you can find all of our Color Wheel Update posts here.
Featured Color: Alabaster SW 7008
This week, I wanted to focus on the color Alabaster SW 7008. I decided to feature Alabaster this week for several reasons. For one, I just plain love this color. Second, I specify this color SO often that I wanted to highlight the benefits and reasons that make it one of my top go-to off-whites. There is a reason that Sherwin-Williams named this color the Color of the Year for 2016. Even though that was 2 years ago, this color is still going strong!
If Alabaster sounds intriguing and you want see what other colors and schemes could coordinate with it then check out the color schemes I believe will coordinate nicely with it.
I scoured the net and put together a Pinterest gallery of Alabaster. See it below and let me know which you like the most. If you have your own pictures send them to me and I will post them!
Where to use Alabaster SW 7008
Alabaster is categorized as an off-white with subtle undertones of greige/beige, which honestly reads more like a creamy and crisp warm white in both interior and exterior lighting. It is just “off-white enough” to not be super bright white and is ideal for a softer white look. I believe that is what makes Alabaster so popular, mostly for those that wish to have a white that will still pop against their wall color, without being too glaringly white.
Alabaster can definitely work as an overall main wall color. Especially if you are going for a more clean and modern feel in your home. This creates a crisp backdrop for color in furniture, drapery and other accents in the home. I love it on shiplap walls if you are leaning towards the farmhouse style. I mean, it’s in Jo’s kitchen, so it’s gotta be good, right?
Another area (besides the kitchen) that can benefit from Alabaster, is the bedroom. I love the idea of using Alabaster as a wall, trim and ceiling color as the foundation for a little girl’s room! Then, you can go to town on brighter colors and accents. In the inspiration picture below, they painted the doors a soft pink, which I totally dig. Alabaster is optimal to contrast against textures like rustic wood, as shown in the ceiling detail or for a hand-scraped wood floor.
Even if you don’t end up painting your walls in Alabaster, it is gorgeous as a trim and cabinet color. It really is one of my top specified off-white color for this very purpose. I typically spec this color if the client doesn’t want to go bright, bright white and maybe has some selections that are a bit on the warmer side. Remember that Alabaster is creamier than a super white color, which makes it ideal! I love that it allows the wall color to contrast against the trim, while still keeping the look soft and subtle.
Alabaster not only shines for interiors, but it is lovely for exteriors as well. I have specified this color a ton for my Exterior Color Consultation clients lately. I had a client who wanted to paint her brick and I chose, you guessed it, Alabaster! Like I have mentioned in other posts, Alabaster comes out looking brighter on exteriors, so if you are really looking for a more creamy color for your exterior, look for a darker color that has more of a beige undertone. If you do, however, want a brighter white exterior, then Alabaster is perfection! You can see for yourself in this inspiration picture with gray shutters and an aqua blue door how spectacular it looks.
If you are considering Alabaster, the best way to find out if it is right for your space, is to grab a Peel & Stick Paint Sample and test it out.
Our paint samples are handed painted with 2 coats of the real Sherwin-Williams color and are perfect for sampling color before you take the dive into gallons of paint. The Peel and Stick Paint Samples make it easy to have confidence in your paint color choice and will save you time, effort and money while testing colors in your space. Get started now with Alabaster!
If you are still having trouble deciding, contact me for a Color Consult to nail down the best color for your interior or exterior. I have a passion for color and love being able to help clients find the right color to make their home beautiful!
Leave me a comment if you have Alabaster SW 7008 in your home or would like to try it. I would love to hear from you! Also, stay tuned for the next featured color from the Color Wheel…
The Best of the Rest
Alabaster had the spotlight, but I also wanted to highlight a color from the Color Wheel update, Sticks & Stones SW 7503. I actually researched this color recently as I was considering it for an interior overall wall color. This client wanted a warmer, more saturated color. Sticks & Stones has a taupe undertone and is definitely a warmer neutral. If you like Balanced Beige, but want a darker color with a bit more brown to it, then consider Sticks & Stones! I also like the thought of using it for a trim color with off-white walls.
Check out the colors we updated on the Color Wheel this week below. Click on the swatch to see my color scheme picks!
Hire me! Follow me!
If you are need of some color help check out my Interior and Exterior Color Consultation packages. I also have many different eDesign packages for all your interior needs. And yes, I did write a book.
Follow me on social media for more color and design inspiration!
– Laura
I love Alabaster too! The graphics you used to illustrate the color inspire me (almost) to change my walls!
Thanks, Betty! You are sweet to comment. 🙂 Alabaster is a great option for a wall color if you are up for a change.
Have a great week,
Laura
I just finished painting our family room/kitchen area Balanced Beige with Alabaster trim after reading your Color Wheel blogs.
We have medium toned cherry kitchen cabinets and 15” cherry crown molding around the ceilings in both rooms. The walls and trim look great but I’m having a difficult time choosing a hardwood flooring color. I’ve read to look for contrasting colors. Any ideas? Love your site. Thanks
Hi Barb,
Thank you! I’m so glad that the Color Wheel blogs have been helpful. 🙂
I would look for a wood floor that has the same cherry undertone, but one that is a slightly lighter or darker. Mainly, keep the undertone the same, but try to add some slight contrast so that it doesn’t look too matchy-matchy. An example is going with a medium brown wood floor that does have some warmer red tones to it (similar to the cherry cabs and crown). I hope that helps you narrow down some choices!
Thanks again for reaching out,
Laura
Thank you Laura – I didn’t think this would be so difficult!
Barb
I totally understand! Let me know if I can help through an A la Carte eDesign:
https://www.rughdesign.com/product/a-la-carte-edesign/
Thanks again!
Laura
I’m so happy I recently ran across your blogs as we are getting ready to have our kitchen cabinets painted. Especially happy to read your take on Alabaster for cabinets as it’s one of my top picks. Have you ever seen/ used Aesthetic White on walls with Alabaster cabinets? Wanting to keep walls in kitchen and adjoining rooms a lighter color but still looking for contrast to cabinets.
Hi Vicki,
Thank you! I do love Alabaster for cabinets. 🙂 Aesthetic White on the walls won’t have that much contrast against the Alabaster cabinets. Try one shade up from Aesthetic White, Accessible Beige, for a bit more contrast. Keep me posted on how it turns out!
Thanks so much for reaching out,
Laura
Just as a follow-up to my original question on a color to use with Alabaster cabinets. I decided to go with Agreeable Gray at 50% on the walls, cabinets are Alabaster and the trip is Pure White. I love it! With a white marbled quartz counter top the colors are great. Thank you so much for this blog, love following you
Thanks, Vicki!!
Vicki – would you be able to share any photos? I have alabaster cabinets, and really love agreeable gray but trying not to pull out any yellows in the cabinets. Laura would like your take also!!!
Tonya, I don’t think I can. I can’t copy and paste a picture in this section, if there’s another way I’d be glad to do that.
Hi Vicki! Would you be able to send to my email? I would LOVE to see the alabaster cabinets and agreeable grey – Tcjunk2011@gmail.com
Sent 3 pix to you, remember this is agreeable gray at 50%
Hi Vicki, I know that I’m a bit late to this party but would you send pics to me as well? I am building now and looking at the world through a keyhole and making big decisions without the benefit of lights, furniture, flooring, etc. My ceilings are Alabaster tongue and groove and just today I tried Accessible Beige (too dark) and Accessible Beige at 50% (which I think is essentially Aesthetic White)…now I’m thinking about your Agreeable Gray at 50%. Thanks, Deb cavueuropa@gmail.com
I’m out of town until the weekend but will be glad to when I get home. I am loving the agreeable at 50%. Our bedroom is the full agreeable gray and it would just be too dark for some rooms that only get morning sun.
Thank you Vicki!
I’m also super late….but so curious! I DO NOT want yellow…but my backsplash is making me choose a warmer white. Will you please share your photos with me too? I’m encouraged that you like your combo so much! delanieldoyle@gmail.com
Sent you an email from my Gmail account. Let me know if you don’t get it—showing pix of alabaster cabinets with pure white trim
Wow! You must be on to something Vicki!! Can you also send me pics of agreeable gray (50%) on walls, alabaster on cabinets and pure white on trim? Trying to see if there is enough contrast for an open space beach house walls and ceiling?
Kathleen, could you send me an email address so I can forward you the pictures of the agreeable gray at 50 percent. I’m having problems trying to upload to the blog.
Sure! Its kathoreal@yahoo.com Thanks again Vicki!!!!
Would you mind sending me your email do I can send you a couple of pictures. I’m not able to attach them to the blog Please send to Vicki.Lanford@gmail.com
We are building and I need to choose an off white trim color for the exterior to go with my Triangle Brick Oyster Bay color with white mortar and grout. (it’s an off-white brick with blue/grays in it) The gutters and spouts are brown. The windows and garages are also brown (similar to Chateau Brown from SW). The roof is a gray/brown (Tamko Aged Wood) I’m having the hardest time finding a white for the exterior trim!!! Most are glaringly white. Our last house had Shoji White but I think that’s a bit too gray for the look I’m going for this time, mixing warm (brown) and cool (gray) neutrals. I’m leaning toward Alabaster but my husband thinks it’s too white. I do NOT want yellow tones. Your posts have been most helpful…. but I’m still unsure. haha. But what I would LOVE to know is, what color paint is on the shutters of the all white house in Texas you posted on this blog post? That gray is perfect for my house’s shutters, I think? Do you remember the color? THANK YOU!
Hi Colleen,
Thanks so much for reaching out! Alabaster does get pretty white on exteriors. The best way to find out is to test a sample to see how it looks. You could even try Shoji White too. You may be surprised at how white it gets and could be the right choice! Keep me posted and let me know if you would like to sign up for an Exterior Color Consultation.
I’m not sure what color the shutters are on the Texas house, but if you click on the link, you may be able to find out. Thanks again for reaching out and have a great weekend!
Laura
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much! I do think Alabaster can work on ceilings with Extra White crown molding. Keep me posted on your project and thanks again for reaching out!
Laura
Do you know the light pink color that was used on the little girls bedroom door?
Thanks!!
Hi Jill,
I’m sorry, I don’t, but you can click on the link below the picture and view the original blog to see if it’s there! Thanks so much for reaching out!
Laura
I’m trying to choose an exterior off white color for my home. It is in the country and resembles a farm house. I was thinking of Alabaster but I don’t want bright white. This color does appear warm and softer in some lights. I don’t have much time so I’m feeling stressed. Thank you so much!!
Hi Julie,
Alabaster can get pretty bright on exteriors, but the best way to find out is by testing it out. Let me know if I can help with a quick turnaround for your exterior trim color. I would love to help!
Thanks for reaching out,
Laura
We really like the look of black and white interior with some brown wood accents. Can you do alabaster with tricorn black? We were thinking Walls, trim, cabinets all in alabaster and the doors in tricorn? Our Build only uses SW.
Hi Ben!
Thank you for reaching out. I would love to help you with your design project! Please check your email for a discount code.
I offer a variety of Interior Color Consultations, Exterior Color Consultations and eDesign packages for projects such as yours. If your needs fall outside the scope of the above then send me your question via my Color Question Consultation package.
You may see examples of my work on my portfolio page.
Thanks, Ben! I hope to hear from you soon!
Laura
This was so helpful!! We are painting our nursery Alabaster white. What color do you recommend for trim, doors (room & closet), and ceiling?
I have read to use SW Extra White.
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Tara!
I am so glad you found this post helpful!
For help picking the right color for your trim and doors please check out my Interior Color Consultation packages in my shop and select Trim/Cab as your package.
I would love to be your color consultant!
Hi Laura,
What Sherwin Williams color is closest to BM Decorator White?
Thanks,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer.
Try Ceiling Bright White SW 7007 or Extra White SW 7006. They will not be exact matches, but look very close.
The Alabaster in your pictures looks gorgeous, but we have had such bad luck with Alabaster. We bought a house built in 2011, and the builder had used Alabaster for all the trim and doors. It was so different looking from room to room that we thought they had multiple colors of trim painted in the house. In some rooms it appeared a rich white, but in some rooms it was a sickly yellow. We ended up having to have every inch of the house repainted, including the doors, trim, ceiling, etc.
We now have Pure White and it looks so much better. We just had our kitchen cabinets painted, and the painter mentioned using Alabaster as an option, and I think my husband and I might have visibly shuddered, lol. We have such bad feelings towards Alabaster now. We went with Snowbound for our cabinets and they turned out great.
Crazy how Alabaster can look so fabulous in your pics and so dingy in our house!