Sherwin Williams Extra White Paint – Only Good For Trim?
For a bright and modern paint color, Extra White 7006 by Sherwin Williams is the favorite of many. Most people use Extra White for trim but it's also ideal for moulding, cabinets, doors, and ceilings.
If you're on the hunt for a perfect white trim paint and love that clean and fresh look, Sherwin Williams Extra White 7006 may just be the right choice for you. Read on and learn what this paint color has to offer for your home.
If you're just starting off looking for the right white paint and not sure where to start, How to Choose White Paint for Your Home is a perfect jumping off point.
You May Also Like Other White Paint Reviews
What Color Is Sherwin Williams Extra White?
SW Extra White is a "true white" according to Sherwin Williams because it's a bright white with minimal undertones. (If you're looking for a warm white or cream, jump over to my paint reviews on Alabaster SW 7008 or Dover White SW 6385 instead.)
Is SW Extra White paint warm or cool?
Extra White is a balanced neutral paint color which isn't strongly warm or cool.
What are Extra White Sherwin Williams undertones?
Extra White has a slightly cool bluish cast to it which keeps it from being a major player in the white wall league because a slight blue undertone on walls can be difficult to work with and sometimes appear to stark or bright.
That hint of blue in Extra White can make other warmer whites look yellow in comparison, so be careful what you pair it up with if you're using it as a trim or cabinetry color. On the other hand, you never have to worry that Extra White will look yellow.
What is Sherwin Williams Extra White LRV?
With an LRV of 86, it’s pretty bright, and only one other Sherwin Williams color, High Reflective White SW 7757, is brighter (it has an LRV of 93). If you’re looking for a less bright white for trim, Pure White SW 7005 may be a good choice.
Extra White can look dull in shadowed rooms and stark in northern facing rooms because of the already cool natural light. (Warm whites like Greek Villa SW 7551 or a warm greige like Repose Gray SW 7015 are better for northern facing rooms.)
Since Extra White Sherwin-Williams is highly reflective, be aware that it may be vulnerable to picking up on the colors around it, including outdoor greenery or a red brick wall.
Examples Of Rooms And Exteriors With SW Extra White Paint
For Extra White to show at its best, it's all about light. Your home's unique lighting conditions can make a color look much different than it did on a paint card in a store.
Seeing a photo also doesn't replace the actual paint on your walls in your unique setting. That's why I recommend that you use Samplize and get a sample of SW Extra White for reliable paint comparisons.
The Best Way To Test Paint Colors On Your Walls
No need to buy paint samples and paint big squares of each color on your walls! Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples from all major paint brands delivered to your door so you can put them up on the wall with no mess.
Sherwin Williams Extra White exterior
Many people ask whether Extra White is too white for exteriors. Not necessarily.
In these home examples, Extra White's brightness outside balances well with the dark roofs and window frames which add a strong dose of modern appeal.
SW Extra White exterior trim
Sherwin-Williams Extra White is truly in its element as an exterior trim color; here it provides a bright and balanced complement to the moody blue siding and wood door.
Sherwin Williams Extra White walls
You need lots and lots of natural light, with walls of windows and skylights, to make Extra White succeed as a wall color. A warmer white like Alabaster SW 7008 is usually the better choice for walls in whole-house color schemes.
The understated neutral palettes in these bedrooms are a lovely balance of woodsy warmth with crisp light. SW Extra White on the board and batten accent walls adds homey character and comfort without appearing stark or clinical.
Extra White on theses kitchen and bathroom walls serves to emphasize fresh and clean. These rooms resist the urge to clutter the walls with "stuff" and the result is a soothing zen.
Extra White Sherwin Williams is an ideal choice on ceilings. Its high light reflectivity helps create a sense of open spaciousness even when the ceilings are low and the room is small. This bathroom designed by Jonathan Stiers totally nails the light and airy look with Extra White gracing the ceiling, trim, and door.
Sherwin Williams Extra White cabinets
Lots of people choose Extra White cabinets in the kitchen and pair it with cool quartz or marble counters and white backsplashes like this kitchen by Paper Moon Painting. Black countertops are always a classic and timeless choice for white kitchen cabinets.
This black and white contrast kitchen at @the_broadmoor_house looks particularly striking with Extra White cabinets above and Iron Ore SW 7069 black cabinets with gold hardware below.
Chrissy over at Chrissy Marie Blog used Extra White in various sheens throughout her home on trim, railings, shiplap and cabinets.
Extra White interior trim
Sherwin Williams Extra White trim (doors, baseboards, spindles) is a winner in this example when paired with this immensely popular wall color, Agreeable Gray SW 7029.
Crisp and clean, Extra White on moulding also makes good sense with today's modern farmhouse styles, like this elegant fireplace remodel by Maison de Pax.
No matter what you're painting, the best white complement for Extra White anywhere is Extra White. Once you start toying around with different whites (one for the cabinets, another for the trim, a third for the ceiling, etc), you risk dueling undertones especially in a kitchen or bathroom. So go all in with Extra White; you'll just want to change up the sheen to differentiate.
Linda from Life on Summer Hill demonstrates this "all in" concept in this entry with Extra White not only on the walls and trim, but the painted bench, too.
When choosing white paint it’s important to choose the right paint sheen. I list the various sheen types and give you general guidelines on knowing which ones to use in this post.
SW Extra White vs Other White Paint
Sherwin Williams Pure White vs Extra White
Pure White SW 7005 is more flexible as a white because that drop of gray gives it a softer edge; Extra White is brighter and starker. However, you can use Pure White as a wall color with Extra White on ceilings and trim if you're not looking for high contrast.
Sherwin Williams Snowbound vs Extra White
Like Pure White, Snowbound SW 7004 is in the same color collection as Extra White, and it's quieter and warmer in comparison. Snowbound is one of the trickier paints when it comes to shifting undertones, though, while Extra White has no surprises. Snowbound's more subdued whiteness make it a better choice for walls and exteriors.
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White vs Extra White
Unlike some of the other whites that are whites in name only (like Eider White), High Reflective White SW 7757 (also called Ultra White) means business. With an LRV of 93, it's Sherwin Williams's whitest white and has pretty much zero undertone or softness. Seen side by side that slight blue undertone in Extra White is obvious. Both colors makes great ceiling and trim choices; avoid pairing these two together.
Sherwin Williams Ceiling Bright White vs Extra White
Ceiling Bright White LRV 83 is darker than Extra White but has the same blue undertones, making it cool and crisp. Like Pure White, Ceiling White sits next to Extra White on the color strip and it's blue undertones can be more noticeable in a room. Like Extra White, Ceiling White pairs best with cool colors (blues, grays, blacks).
Need More Paint Help?
Get My Free Color Palette Cheat Sheet!
Learn the easy steps to create your own whole home color palette with my free printable / downloadable color palette cheat sheet and get the color clarity you need!
