Pure White Color Review

Light and Bright with Pure White

Now that I’ve gotten back to my Color Reviews, I can’t stop! There are some stellar colors that I have yet to review and I am so thrilled to share them with you, my friends. One of these is my current favorite white, Pure White, from Sherwin-Williams. Pure White has quickly become one of my top go-to whites since it has the perfect amount of crisp brightness without being too stark. Pure White is great for interiors or exteriors and it’s hard to believe that it took me this long to discover its true greatness!

For quick access to ALL of my color schemes, visit the Rugh Design Color Wheel page to search for my hand-picked color schemes for the entire Sherwin-Williams color deck! There are over 1,700 colors and each color has 4 schemes for you to explore using in your space.

If you would like to view my past posts on the Color Wheel Featured Colors and other reviews you can go HERE.

Pure White SW 7005 Review

Whites and off-whites are having a big moment right now as the majority (not kidding!) of my Color Consultation clients want to go “lighter and brighter” with their main neutral color. Since the white and black trend is going strong, and the “all gray” palette is fading a bit, whites and off-whites are stealing the show as the main color for interiors as well as the main body color for exteriors.

So, first I want to start with the undertones of Pure White by Sherwin-Williams 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 Pure White along with other places to use this awesome color in your home. Alright, let’s jump in!

Undertones of Pure White SW 7005

A while back, I wrote a post detailing “The Best Sherwin-Williams Whites” and was remiss to include Pure White. I am actually looking to update that post soon to include a few newer whites/off-whites that I have been using. In that post, I put my top whites (at the time) in categories of undertones to help with making a decision on which white works best in the home. See below for the updated version of this visual “grid” now including Pure White!

One of the top questions that I often get is, “Is Pure White a warm white?” Yes, Pure White is a warm white in the sense that it does have a touch of warm to it’s undertone. Pure White fits under the “greige white” category because it has a very slight greige (a term coined for a combo of “beige and gray”) undertone that keeps it from feeling too stark and bright. That hint of warmth is key when I am searching for a white that works as a main neutral white or even as a trim/cabinet white.

Pure White has an LRV of 84, which is a tiny bit more than Alabaster (82 just to compare). Extra White has a LRV of 86. All that means, is that Pure White reflects more light than Alabaster and less light than Extra White. Lately I have been recommending Pure White for clients that don’t want to use a super sharp white (Extra White), but also don’t want a white with too much warmth (Alabaster). It’s the perfect in between. Cue the applause!

For convenience, here are my hand-picked color schemes for Pure White. Be sure to visit the Color Scheme page and leave a question or a comment!

Now that you have a basis for Pure 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!

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Where to Use Pure White

As I mentioned, my clients are wanting to go lighter and brighter for their main neutral interior color. Not only that, exteriors are heading in the same direction. Honk once if you have driven by a white house with black trim lately! If you scroll through the infinite gallery of gorgeous interiors on Pinterest, it’s plain to see that white has us all swooning. Major eye-candy going on with all of the white interiors and exteriors. Pure White works perfectly for a go-to interior and exterior white. Keep reading to see my fav places to use this perfect white.

Pure White as a Main Wall Color

I love Pure White as a main wall color and have recommended it several times lately. If you are looking to create a clean and crisp backdrop for pops of color in accessories and other furnishings, you’ve got your white! It’s the ultimate choice that has a lovely balance of warmth that helps spaces feel optimal.

To show you a great example, the picture above is a gorgeous home painted in Pure White . I love that it doesn’t feel cold and harsh. The lighting, wood floors, rug, and the added color/texture in the bench and pillows help cozy up the space. In addition, the contrast of the black railing and front door is so clean and classic.

Pure White is an ideal backdrop as an off-white main neutral and can easily coordinate with a variety of colors. The key to all of these interiors with the all white walls are the added texture and warmth of elements like wood floors/shelving, leather, fabrics, rugs, lighting, etc. The dining room of this home is also an ideal example of adding texture and warmth in accessories.

Pure White on Trim and Wainscotting

I can’t remember exactly when it happened, but I started to need a new go-to white for trim. Extra White has been my go-to white for trim for a long time (and I still love it!). However, I began to have clients that required a white that was not quite as bright white as Extra White. So, normally I would go with Alabaster. Yet, it kept coming up that in some cases Alabaster was a bit too warm. I needed a white that was right in between. Enter Sherwin-Williams Pure White.

This inspiration picture by Emily Henderson is beautiful! And if you can’t trust Emily Henderson, who can you trust? Amiright? I love how she used Pure White on the trim for this stunning entry. Needless to say, Pure White has been my saving grace for the perfect “not too bright, not too warm” trim solution. Seriously, look no further for a flawless white that doesn’t get too stark or too creamy.

You might be asking, “What wall color goes with Pure White trim?” There are so many that I couldn’t list them all, but here are my top favorites lately: Canvas Tan, Accessible Beige, Agreeable Gray, Repose Gray and Shoji White to name a few.

Pure White on Cabinets

Just like Pure White on trim, it’s perfection on cabinets as well. I had a client recently who needed a white to refresh her cabinets in a rental. The walls and ceiling were in Wool Skein and she wanted a white to update her cabinets that would be the ultimate complement. Pure White was the clear winner in this case and was an ideal contrast against the walls and ceiling.

I especially love how Pure White pops against the countertops/backsplash and the ceiling that is painted in Wool Skein (same as the walls). The freshly painted cabinets in this amazing off-white complete this rental to make it highly sought after. It is also just as eye-catching on bathroom cabinets!

Pure White on Exteriors

Since white is the quintessential trending exterior look (with black accents, mind you), Pure White on the exterior of your home will definitely fit the bill. The exterior below is an ideal example. Pure White is used for the main body white with black accents and a blue/green-gray front door.

If you are jumping on the bandwagon to paint your exterior white,  Pure White is a top choice. It’s a crisp and clean white that pops on exteriors, especially with black trim. Even if you aren’t painting your entire exterior white, Pure White is a great option for trim paired with a contrasting main body color.

Wrapping up Pure White

White is majorly trending. Even if it wasn’t on trend at the moment, you can’t ever tire of white, right? Ha! Totally wasn’t trying to rhyme. But it’s true that white is classic. Try to convince me otherwise. Yep. Thought so! Pure White Sherwin-Williams 7005 is now in my repertoire as one of my top whites and I’m not going back.

Check out my updated “The Best Sherwin-Williams Whites” post for even more white options and an easy breakdown of the undertones.

Easy way to sample

If you are considering Pure White, the best way to find out if it is right for your space, is to grab a Rugh Design Peel and Stick Paint Sample and test it out. Our 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. Support our family-owned, small business with your paint sample purchase today! Purchase a Pure White sample here.

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If you are in need of additional color help, check out my Interior and Exterior Color Consultation packages. I also have many different eDesign packages for all your interior design needs. And for those DIYers, check out my eBook on How to Select Paint Colors For Your Home.