Get Cozy with Shoji
It’s been a hot minute since I did a full Rugh Design Color Review, so I’m super excited to jump in again! Shoji White from Sherwin-Williams is currently one of my favorite whites and a color that works well in a variety of spaces. In this color review I will detail how I have used Shoji White for both interiors and exteriors and explain how and when you can use it as well!
For quick access to ALL of my color schemes, visit the Rugh Design Color Wheel page to search for any SW color complete with multiple color palettes.
Even though we have completed the Color Wheel, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop highlighting colors! There are so many other colors that I haven’t written about that deserve some time in the spotlight. I hope to spotlight and review at least 1 Sherwin-Williams color each month. If you have a specific color that you would like to see then reach out and let me know which color you want to see next!
If you would like to view my past posts on the Color Wheel Featured Colors and reviews you can go HERE. But also be sure to check out the Color Wheel complete with my hand-picked color schemes for the entire Sherwin-Williams color deck! There are over 1700 colors and each color has 4 schemes for you to explore using in your space.
Shoji White SW 7042 Review
I have been looking forward to writing up this review for a couple of reasons: 1) I have missed writing color reviews! 2) I love Sherwin-Williams Shoji White and it’s been a color that I have been recommending A LOT lately. As you may have noticed, the gray trend has been going strong for a while. However, it is starting to trend back into whites and warmer neutrals. Before you panic, I promise we aren’t going back to the days of Tuscany golds! More like soft tans and beiges that don’t get a strong yellow/gold or orange undertone. And lots of whites!
More and more of my clients are going lighter and brighter with either warm greige or beige off-whites. Trends are slow to get going, but I have definitely taken note of the desire and draw for warmer off-whites for interior main wall colors. Shoji White just happens to be one of those off-whites that I have been selecting and I wanted to take some time to outline this gorgeous soft neutral.
First, I want to start with the undertones of Shoji White and go into more detail on its qualities as a color. Secondly, I will show you some of my work from clients who have implemented Shoji White along with other places to use this awesome color in your home. Alright, let’s jump in!
Undertones of Shoji White SW 7042
I have to be honest, with Shoji White Sherwin-Williams created kind of a mystery color. Let me explain. Technically, Shoji White is one shade lighter than Worldly Gray, which is a warm gray/greige. I specify Worldly Gray for clients who want to go more gray, but with more of a warm gray vs. a cool gray. So, all logic would point to Shoji White being a soft warm gray/greige. Which, for all intents and purposes, I do “categorize” it as a soft, warm greige off-white.
However, once Shoji White is up on walls, it turns warmer than you would expect. For the sake of splitting hairs, my belief is that it has to do with the light that Shoji reflects once up on walls that causes it to have a warmer cast than expected. This holds true with the LRV (light reflective value) of Shoji White which is 74, meaning it will reflect a good amount of light.
What is a Shoji?
I was curious, so I looked up what a “shoji” was. A shoji is a Japanese sliding inner/outer door, window or room divider screen that looks like a lattice of tiny window panes. The “window panes” are actually paper framed out by wood. So delicate! Shoji in English means “paper screen.” So, if you are thinking of a shoji paper, that is the visual Sherwin-Williams had in mind when naming Shoji White. I do think of a creamy greige color! So, the name is fitting.
For a reference, Sherwin-Williams Shoji White is similar to Ballet White from Benjamin Moore. Of course it isn’t an exact match, but it has a similar undertone if you are looking to compare. Ballet White has a touch more warmth than Shoji, but it is very close. You can get a look at Ballet White in the inspiration picture below and tell the difference. For even more information about Ballet White, see my latest post on Benjamin Moore Whites HERE.
To sum it up, Shoji White has a warm greige undertone and is considered a “white” in the Sherwin-Williams paint deck. It has an LRV of 74, which means that if you have a space that needs a light off-white neutral with a touch of warmth, Shoji White could work for you! Ballet White from Benjamin Moore is a good equivalent if you are looking for similar match to Shoji White.
For convenience here are my hand-picked color schemes for Shoji White. Be sure to visit the color scheme page and leave a question or a comment!
ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEME
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEME
TRIAD COLOR SCHEME
COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEME
Now that you have a basis for Shoji White and have seen my color schemes, check out my Pinterest gallery for some inspiration. See below and let me know which one you like the most. If you have your own pictures, send them to me and I will post them!
Where to Use Shoji White
With so many white options from both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore choosing the best white for your space is understandably a daunting task. I believe Shoji White is a great choice for both interior and exterior spaces and as I mentioned, it has been one of my top go-to soft warm greige neutrals. I am very excited to show you a few of my recent clients’ spaces to prove my point!
Shoji White as a Main Wall Color
Below is a picture of my client’s home who needed a main neutral color. She wanted to lighten and brighten up her space with a warm neutral and Shoji White fit the bill perfectly! It’s a beautiful backdrop for the warm wood on the built-in and texture on the fireplace stone. The white vases and the colorful artwork are perfect against the Shoji White walls.
The next client was similar to the previous one. She wanted a lighter and cleaner look and a neutral to complement her office in Riverway (one of my new favorite accent colors!). Shoji White was perfect in her space to open it up and create a pop against the brighter office color.
One more exceptional visual of Shoji White as a main neutral color is from High Street Homes project The Parks Home. Oh my word, this home is gorgeous. Shoji White is the overall wall color and it works so well with the warm light wood tones in the white oak flooring and furniture.
The pops of green, blue and gray in furniture and artwork are absolutely flawless with Shoji White as the “canvas.” Modern matte black lighting tops off the interior with simple fixtures that pull the design aesthetic together. The subtle warm undertone of Shoji White combined with its luminous LRV, make this the ultimate neutral for this space.
Shoji White in a Bedroom
As we have previously explored, Shoji White is gorgeous as a main neutral color. It’s also a splendid choice for the remaining walls in a bedroom that has an accent wall on the headboard wall. The inspiration picture below is a perfect example!
Urbane Bronze is the accent wall behind the headboard and I love the moody vibe it projects. Shoji White is the ultimate compliment to the deeper Urbane Bronze hue, providing warmth and brightness to the remainder of the walls. One more option that would work well is to have Shoji White on all walls in a bedroom against a darker headboard (fabric or wood) with deeper color on the bedding to contrast against the light feel of the white on the walls.
Shoji White on Kitchen Cabinets
If Shoji White looks good on walls, it looks just as amazing (if not even more amazing) on cabinets. Warm neutral colors on kitchen cabinets are trending and if you would rather not use a brighter white on cabinets for fear of a stark feel, look no further than Shoji White. I love that it doesn’t get a yellow or golden undertone, rather a soft creamy greige one, that turns out beautifully in a kitchen just like the inspiration picture below.
To further accentuate the warmth of the Shoji White on the kitchen cabinets, the hardware is brass as well as the lighting and sink fixture. Using a white for the wall color paired with Shoji on the cabinets helps them to stand out a bit and not blend in. Which is not a bad thing. I keep seeing cabinets that are more “blended” into the wall color and it’s totally fine. I think I personally like some contrast with my walls and cabinets.
Shoji White on Exteriors
When I’m specifying exterior paint colors, I always keep in mind that they will appear lighter than they do on interiors. Shoji White is one of my go-to exterior colors if the goal is a warm creamy white. That is exactly how Shoji looks on exteriors. The farmhouse style is still going pretty strong and exteriors are no exception. Several clients have requested a white and black exterior, however, they wanted more of warm white instead of a bright white. Shoji White is exemplary for this exterior look!
The exterior above showcases exactly what I’m talking about. Instead of a modern stark white and sharp, deep black exterior, the look is softer and has a traditional feel. The trim and gutter/downspouts are painted a more subdued black and the warm creamy Shoji White is the showstopper as the main body color for this exterior. For my recent client, they were going for a classic Mediterranean style for the exterior and Shoji was the winner to achieve this look and feel.
Wrapping up Shoji White
Simply put, Sherwin-Williams Shoji White is a winner. To recap quickly: If you are looking for a soft neutral creamy greige to brighten up your space and create a sense of warmth, Shoji White is your color. I love it, my clients love it and I can say with confidence that this one is a new favorite of mine.
If you are considering Shoji White, 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. The paint samples are hand 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.
Our 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 you test colors in your space. Get started now with Shoji White!
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!
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If you are in 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 for those DIYers check out my eBook on how to select paint colors for your home.
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- Laura
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