A Sneaky & Subtle Shade of Off-White: Pearly White
Are you looking for the best shade of off-white for your walls, cabinets, or exterior? I’ve got tons of them. However, not every off-white is cut out for every home project—you have to be careful with undertones and intentions. This is why today, we’re taking an up-close and personal look at a super underrated, off-white paint color – Sherwin Williams Pearly White.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
IS PEARLY WHITE A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?
Pearly White is a warm, off-white paint color. It winks at the cream world without as much commitment as colors like Sherwin Williams Creamy and Dover White. Pearly White is a great way to get a passive warmth on your walls, cabinets, or siding.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S PEARLY WHITE’S LRV?
Most popular off-white paint colors are at the lower end of the range. With its LRV of 77, Pearly White is brighter than the average shade while still offering a contrast with a well-chosen white trim color (more on this shortly.)
Now, having such a high LRV means it will wash out a TON if your room gets a lot of natural light. As for dark rooms, because Pearly White has a low chroma (not a ton of color/undertone), it can look a bit dingy. You must improve your lighting situation and/or choose a color that has more life.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – and it ain’t with paint!
The Best Paint NUMBER for Your Home – 62
NEED HELP?
Let me make it easy for you.
WHAT UNDERTONES DOES PEARLY WHITE HAVE?
The main body of Pearly White is cream, which means it has some yellow undertone. However, unlike traditional shades of cream, Pearly White has a ton of gray, taking the edge off. While not many colors can be called this, Pearly White is the EPITOME of a ‘creamy-gray.’
Could Pearly White pick up a touch of pink or green in its travels? You bet it can. This color can be very responsive to its environment. Sample it carefully to see how it settles for you. Notice if it picks up on nearby reflecting colors (e.g., green grass outside or your neighbor’s red siding).
WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH PEARLY WHITE?
Pearly White is fussy with its white trim and cabinet colors. Being a soft, subtle shade, it can tolerate some whites but prefers one that’s pretty darn simple, just like Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
As for warmer, creamier whites, because Pearly White is a bit ‘dirty,’ many of these whites are too yellow and will make Pearly White look dingy in comparison.
6 Questions to Ask Before You Paint Your Cabinets White
3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Color
Arrives ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY
Get your Samplize PEEL & STICK sample of Pearly White!
IS PEARLY WHITE A GOOD EXTERIOR COLOR?
With exterior paint color trends shifting away from white, we’re seeing a lot more off-whites pop up on siding and stucco. Choosing your exterior color is all about finding the one that speaks to your home’s finishes, e.g., roof, stonework, brick, landscaping, etc.
Pearly White is an interesting option as it’s not as yellow as many of the popular shades popping up (Sherwin Williams Creamy) and not as bright as the warm whites we see a lot of.
For this exterior, my client hired me to fix the siding color. She chose Pearly White, but as you can see, its subtle creamy warmth is too yellow-toned for the brick fireplace…
(I can’t wait to see the AFTER photos!)
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
IS PEARLY WHITE A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
Pearly White can be beautiful for kitchen cabinets, especially given recent off-white cabinet trends. Make sure your countertop and backsplash suit Pearly White’s depth and undertones before slappin’ paint on those cabinets.
In this next kitchen, Pearly White is on the cabinets, walls, and trims for a seamless, color-drenched look…
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO PEARLY WHITE?
Pearly White is a color unto itself, but it’s important to sample and compare similar shades. You might find something even better suited to your home and its finishes!
PEARLY WHITE vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AESTHETIC WHITE
I love the comparison between Pearly White and Aesthetic White—they’re like two sides of a coin! Both are soft, subtle, warm neutrals. Both have an awesome gray undertone that calms them down—that’s where they’re similar.
They differ because while Pearly White leans into a soft cream base (yellow), Aesthetic White caters to a beige base (orange). There’s also a difference in depth, as Aesthetic White’s LRV is 73, making it a bit darker than Pearly White’s LRV of 77.
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
PEARLY WHITE vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CREAMY
Another great comparison (if I do say so myself). Both of these colors have yellow in common. However, while Creamy is considered a reasonably ‘muted’ shade of cream (compared to others), Pearly White takes it to another level. With Pearly White, the yellow falls WAY back, and the gray comes forward, creating a beautiful blend of both. Creamy is more ‘yellow-centric.’
As for depth, Creamy is the lighter of the two, with its LRV of 81. This means it’s closer to the white world (winking at it with a ‘come-hither’ glance), while Pearly White is a definite off-white.
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Creamy
PEARLY WHITE vs. GREEK VILLA
Greek Villa is a white paint color (a soft white) with a reasonable yellow undertone. Pearly white is an OFF-WHITE with a subtle yellow undertone. Sure, they share yellow, but they’re not in the same ballpark, really.
Greek Villa walls, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace cabinets and trim.
Greek Villa’s LRV is 84, which is in the white world. In comparison to Pearly White (77), Greek Villa looks brighter and cleaner, making Pearly White look a bit dingy and dirty.
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
A few more colors to compare with Pearly White…
- Sherwin Williams White Duck
- Sherwin Williams White Heron
- Or, make your sampling a heck of a lot easier with a CURATED COLOR BUNDLE—and add Pearly White tothe mix!
WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH PEARLY WHITE?
With such subtle undertones and a reasonably high LRV, Pearly White has many colorful friends, including…
- Light-depth shades of greige
- Gray-blue blends can be beautiful with Pearly White (both light AND dark!)
- If you need an accent wall with Pearly White, medium-depth greiges can look gorgeous, as can darker shades of green.
- Warm grays, especially those with a soft green undercurrent.
READ MORE
The 10 Best Warm, Neutral, Off-White Paint Colors
The Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
