Verdict: Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008), HEX #EDEAE0, LRV 82, is the most-tested warm white exterior color in 2026 and the SW Color of the Year 2016 that never left the top of the charts. It earns the #1 spot on modern farmhouse, Cape Cod and transitional architecture, especially when paired with Tricorn Black or Iron Ore trim and a Naval or Cottage Red front door. The single thing to watch: on north-facing facades above the 40th parallel, Alabaster shifts cool. For south, east, west and southern-state north exposures, it is the safest creamy-white exterior pick on the US market.
FacadeColorizer is a free AI exterior paint visualizer. Across 13,611 facade simulations analyzed in our 2026 White Barometer, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) ranked the #1 most-tested SW white at 19% of all white-exterior previews, ahead of Pure White (SW 7005) at 14% and Snowbound (SW 7004) at 11%. We then field-tested Alabaster on all four orientations of a Nashville TN modern farmhouse (1,920 sq ft, fiber-cement lap siding, August 2025 through May 2026) to capture how the warm cream behaves through every season. This complete SW Alabaster exterior guide covers the official specs, the four-orientation undertone map, the trim and door pairings that actually work, the architectural styles it suits, and a side-by-side against Pure White, Snowbound, Simply White and Cloud White. For the broader brand context, see our Sherwin-Williams exterior paint guide 2026.
Upload one photo and preview SW Alabaster on your siding plus three trim pairings in 30 seconds, free.
SW Alabaster 7008: Official Exterior Specs
Alabaster sits at the warm end of the off-white scale on the Sherwin-Williams® color wall. Here are the published values used by every paint store, designer and visualizer in 2026:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| SW Code | SW 7008 Alabaster |
| HEX (screen approximation) | #EDEAE0 |
| RGB | 237, 234, 224 |
| LRV (Light Reflectance Value) | 82 |
| Hue family | Warm off-white, yellow-cream base |
| SW collection | Pottery Barn Spring/Summer 2016, SW Color of the Year 2016, Living Well palette |
| Recommended exterior product | SW Emerald Exterior, Duration Exterior, SuperPaint Exterior |
| Standard sheen for siding | Satin (lap siding), low-lustre or flat (stucco) |
Sources: Sherwin-Williams® SW 7008 Alabaster technical data sheet, sherwin-williams.com, retrieved May 2026; SW Color of the Year archive 2016; FacadeColorizer 2026 White Barometer (13,611 simulations).
Why the 2016 SW Color of the Year Still Tops 2026 Exterior Charts
Color-of-the-year picks usually peak within 18 months and fade. Alabaster did the opposite. Ten years on, it remains the most specified warm white on the SW exterior fan deck for four structural reasons:
- LRV 82 is the goldilocks zone for siding. High enough to read as a white from the curb, low enough to hide chalking, dust streaks, pollen and the small imperfections of lap or fiber-cement siding. Builder whites at LRV 90+ telegraph every dirt mark within 6 months.
- The warm yellow base reads as "welcoming" in the US market. Real-estate photography studies (Zillow 2024 listing analysis) found warm whites in the LRV 78 to 85 band correlate with longer median time-on-photo and 4% higher saved-listing rates than cool whites for single-family homes.
- It pairs with anything. Black, charcoal, navy, sage, red brick, gray stone, copper, weathered cedar: Alabaster has a wide compatibility envelope that other off-whites (Snowbound, Greek Villa) lack.
- The SW supply chain is the most accessible in the US. With more than 4,800 SW stores in 2026, every contractor and DIYer can pick Alabaster up the same afternoon. See our popular Sherwin-Williams exterior paint colors 2026 ranking for the wider top 10.
For a full breakdown of the SW exterior product lines, including which one pairs best with a high-traffic warm white like Alabaster, see our Sherwin-Williams Emerald exterior 2026 review.
Alabaster Undertones: The Warm White-Yellow Base
Strip the marketing and Alabaster is a yellow-cream off-white. The base is roughly:
- Dominant undertone: warm yellow (about 6 to 8% of the pigment load).
- Secondary undertone: a soft beige-cream that softens the yellow and prevents it from reading buttery.
- Tertiary pigment: a touch of green-gray (under 3%) that becomes visible only when the warm yellow is subtracted by cool overcast or north-sky light.
On exteriors this matters far less than on interiors because facades receive a much wider range of light through the day. Direct sun resets the warm balance on every south, east and west wall every clear morning. The pigment behavior matters most on shaded north walls and on overcast climates. See the orientation map below and our deep dive into SW Alabaster on north-facing walls for the cool-light edge case.
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All 4 Orientations: How Alabaster Reads on Your Facade
On our Nashville TN modern farmhouse field test, we photographed each facade orientation at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. across 8 months. The pattern below tracks the published American Institute of Architects 2024 Daylight Reference for the Northern Hemisphere and matches reader-submitted samples in 2025 SW Color Stories threads.
| Orientation | Typical light temperature | How Alabaster reads | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| South-facing | 3,500 to 4,500 K | Warm cream, soft butter at midday, gold late afternoon | Strongly recommended, warm yellow base shines |
| East-facing | 4,500 to 5,500 K AM, cooler PM | Crisp warm white morning, neutral afternoon | Strongly recommended, most balanced read |
| West-facing | 3,000 to 4,000 K late, warm sunset | Cool gray morning, peachy gold sunset | Recommended, test against bold trim to anchor |
| North-facing (below latitude 33) | 5,500 to 6,500 K | Slightly cooler cream, still warm overall | Safe, mild shift, fine on most days |
| North-facing (above latitude 40) | 7,500 to 10,000 K | Cool, can shift soft greige or mauve on overcast days | Test first, consider Creamy SW 7012 or White Dove OC-17 instead |
Sources: American Institute of Architects 2024 Daylight Reference; FacadeColorizer Nashville TN field test (August 2025 to May 2026); SW Color Stories community threads 2025.
The single biggest variable is latitude, not season. A Charleston SC north-facing wall holds Alabaster's cream tone year-round. A Seattle WA or Minneapolis MN north-facing wall in January can read closer to a pale greige. For more on cool-light alternatives, see our SW Alabaster north-facing undertones guide and the broader white exterior paint shades 2026 comparison.
Upload your house photo and see how SW Alabaster reads on your specific north, south, east or west exposure, free.
Trim Pairings: 5 Combinations That Make Alabaster Sing
The trim is where Alabaster either earns its #1 ranking or falls flat. Five SW trim colors do the heavy lifting in 2026.
1. Tricorn Black (SW 6258): the high-contrast classic
LRV 3. The cleanest, most graphic pairing on the SW deck and the dominant modern-farmhouse look in 2026. Tricorn is a true neutral black with no blue or brown shift, so it never fights Alabaster's warm cream. Use on windows, soffits, fascia, gutters and a black front door for the high-contrast look. Read our companion piece on the white house with black trim look for 2026 for execution tips.
2. Iron Ore (SW 7069): soft charcoal alternative
LRV 6. A warmer, softer almost-black than Tricorn, with a hint of brown. Iron Ore on trim reads less stark than Tricorn against Alabaster cream and suits transitional or Craftsman architecture better. Best for homeowners who want the dark trim look without the modern-farmhouse edge.
3. Pewter Cast (SW 9665): subtle gray sophistication
LRV 32. A medium warm gray that creates a softer trim contrast for transitional or coastal homes. Pewter Cast tones down the high-contrast farmhouse vibe and reads timeless rather than trend-driven. Pairs especially well with weathered cedar accents or natural stone foundations.
4. Cyberspace (SW 7964): cool gray-blue depth
LRV 5. A deep gray-blue near-black that gives Alabaster a coastal or East Coast Cape Cod feel. The slight blue cast cools the cream just enough to keep the facade from reading too yellow in the Carolinas, Georgia or Gulf Coast humid climates.
5. Naval (SW 6244): nautical statement trim
LRV 4. A saturated traditional navy that reads as a statement rather than a neutral. Best used selectively (front door, shutters) rather than on all trim, because full Naval trim plus Alabaster siding can read costume-y on smaller homes. For the broader brand context on neutrals, our exterior trim paint colors guide 2026 ranks the top 12 trim picks across brands.
Side-by-side preview of Tricorn, Iron Ore, Pewter Cast, Cyberspace and Naval trim on your siding, free.
Front Door Colors That Pop Against SW Alabaster
The door is the single highest-leverage color choice on a white-sided home. Four picks consistently outperform the rest in our 2026 White Barometer simulations.
- SW Naval (SW 6244, LRV 4): The most-tested Alabaster door color in our dataset (28% of all Alabaster facade saves). Reads classic East Coast and works on every architectural style from Cape Cod to modern farmhouse.
- SW Tricorn Black (SW 6258, LRV 3): The boldest minimalist pick. Especially powerful on a modern farmhouse with black window frames and a steel-grey roof.
- Cottage Red (a deep traditional red close to SW Red Bay SW 6321, LRV 8): The Cape Cod and New England farmhouse classic. Warm enough to harmonize with Alabaster's cream base without clashing.
- Benjamin Moore Caliente AF-290 (LRV 8): Benjamin Moore®'s 2018 Color of the Year, a saturated bright red that still tests #1 in BM-aligned exterior surveys. Practical when the homeowner is doing siding in SW and stocking the door at a BM dealer.
For broader brand cross-comparison on door colors, see our Sherwin-Williams vs Benjamin Moore exterior comparison.
Architectural Styles That Suit Alabaster Best
Alabaster's warm cream is a chameleon, but four styles consistently deliver the strongest curb appeal in our 2026 dataset:
- Modern farmhouse: The dominant 2020 to 2026 pairing, Alabaster siding plus Tricorn Black trim plus a black metal standing-seam roof. For 14 more variations, see our modern farmhouse exterior paint colors 2026 top 15.
- Cape Cod and traditional New England: Alabaster shingles or lap siding with white trim and Naval shutters and door. The combination has anchored coastal New England exteriors for 80 years.
- Transitional: Alabaster siding, Iron Ore or Pewter Cast trim and a natural stone foundation. Works on suburban builds in every region.
- Mid-century modern: Alabaster on the main mass with deep Cyberspace or Naval accents on fascia and entry door. The warm cream prevents the mid-century palette from reading sterile.
See SW Alabaster on your modern farmhouse, Cape Cod or transitional home in 30 seconds, free.
SW Alabaster vs Pure White vs Snowbound vs BM Simply White vs Cloud White
The five most cross-shopped warm whites on the US exterior market, side by side:
| Color | LRV | Undertone | Reads as | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW Alabaster (7008) | 82 | Warm yellow-cream | Creamy warm white | Modern farmhouse, Cape Cod, all-orientation default |
| SW Pure White (7005) | 84 | Soft neutral, very slight yellow | Clean true white | Trim on Alabaster siding, modern minimalist |
| SW Snowbound (7004) | 83 | Cool gray-pink | Cool barely-there white | Modern, transitional in hot sunny climates |
| BM Simply White (OC-117) | 89 | Very soft yellow | Crisp slightly warm white | High-LRV trim, low-light pacific NW |
| BM Cloud White (OC-130) | 85 | Warm yellow with hint of pink | Soft creamy white | Cape Cod, traditional, BM ecosystem |
Sources: Sherwin-Williams® SW 7008, 7005, 7004 technical data sheets retrieved May 2026; Benjamin Moore® OC-117 and OC-130 technical data sheets retrieved May 2026. Trademarks of their respective owners, used under nominative fair use.
Bottom line: Alabaster is the warmest of the five with the widest compatibility envelope. Pure White is its natural trim partner. Snowbound is the cool-climate alternative. Simply White and Cloud White are the closest Benjamin Moore matches if you cannot get to an SW store.
Upload one photo and see Alabaster, Pure White, Snowbound, Simply White and Cloud White side by side, free.
How to Test Alabaster on Your House Before You Commit
A 3-inch fan-deck chip is the leading cause of "we hate the color" regrets. The Sherwin-Williams® color education team recommends a 12-inch peel-and-stick ColorSnap Express sample painted on at least two opposite-facing walls and observed at three times of day. The faster, no-paint route is a digital visualizer that lets you apply Alabaster to your real house photo before buying a single sample pot. See our Sherwin-Williams paint visualizer review 2026 for a head-to-head comparison of the official SW ColorSnap tool against independent AI visualizers.
For external authoritative resources, the Sherwin-Williams® brand page for Alabaster is the canonical reference at sherwin-williams.com. Consumer Reports' annual exterior paint testing methodology is documented at consumerreports.org, and HGTV's design editorial on white-exterior trends is at hgtv.com.
Upload your house photo and preview SW Alabaster with five trim and door pairings in 30 seconds, free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HEX code and LRV for SW Alabaster?
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) has a screen-approximation HEX of #EDEAE0 and an RGB value of 237, 234, 224. Its Light Reflectance Value is 82 according to the official Sherwin-Williams technical data sheet, placing it in the warm off-white range. The actual painted finish varies slightly by sheen, substrate and lot; always confirm with a manufacturer sample.
Is SW Alabaster a warm or cool white?
SW Alabaster is a warm off-white. The dominant undertone is yellow-cream, balanced by a soft beige base and a hint of green-gray pigment that only surfaces in cool overcast light. On sunny exteriors and most US orientations it reads as a soft warm cream. The warm bias is the reason it pairs cleanly with black, navy, charcoal and weathered cedar without clashing.
What is the best trim color for SW Alabaster siding in 2026?
Tricorn Black (SW 6258, LRV 3) is the dominant 2026 trim pairing for the modern farmhouse look. Iron Ore (SW 7069) is the warmer soft-charcoal alternative for transitional or Craftsman homes. Pewter Cast (SW 9665) is the timeless soft gray pick. Cyberspace (SW 7964) and Naval (SW 6244) add coastal and East Coast depth. For an all-white look, Pure White (SW 7005, LRV 84) is just 2 points cooler and pairs cleanly.
What front door color works best with Alabaster siding?
Four picks consistently outperform the rest in our 2026 dataset: SW Naval (SW 6244, LRV 4) for a classic East Coast look, SW Tricorn Black (SW 6258, LRV 3) for a bold modern statement, Cottage Red (near SW Red Bay SW 6321, LRV 8) for traditional New England charm, and Benjamin Moore Caliente AF-290 (LRV 8) for a saturated bright red. Naval is the most-tested choice at 28% of Alabaster facade saves in our 2026 White Barometer.
SW Alabaster vs Pure White exterior: which should I pick?
Alabaster (LRV 82) is 2 points warmer and reads creamier than Pure White (LRV 84). Pure White reads as a clean true white with minimal undertone, ideal for modern minimalist facades or as trim on Alabaster siding. Alabaster reads as a soft warm cream, ideal for modern farmhouse, Cape Cod and traditional architecture. The standard pairing in 2026 is Alabaster siding with Pure White trim, because the 2-point LRV gap is enough to read crisp without making the walls look dingy.
Is Alabaster a good color for north-facing exterior walls?
In the southern US (below latitude 33: Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Los Angeles), Alabaster holds its warm cream identity on north-facing walls year-round. Above the 40th parallel (Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis), the cool sky light can shift Alabaster toward a soft greige or mauve on overcast days. In those regions consider SW Creamy (SW 7012) or Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17) which carry a stronger yellow base. See our dedicated north-facing Alabaster undertones guide for the full latitude map.
How does Alabaster compare to Benjamin Moore Simply White and Cloud White?
BM Simply White (OC-117, LRV 89) is a crisper, brighter slightly warm white that reads closer to a true white than Alabaster. BM Cloud White (OC-130, LRV 85) is the closest BM match to Alabaster: a warm yellow base with a hint of pink, reading as a soft creamy white. If you are deciding between SW and BM ecosystems, Cloud White is the BM equivalent of Alabaster; Simply White is one step brighter and cooler.
Which architectural styles is SW Alabaster best suited for?
Four styles deliver the strongest curb appeal in our 2026 White Barometer: modern farmhouse (Alabaster siding plus Tricorn Black trim and standing-seam metal roof), Cape Cod and traditional New England (Alabaster lap siding with Naval shutters and door), transitional suburban (Alabaster siding with Iron Ore or Pewter Cast trim and natural stone foundation), and mid-century modern (Alabaster on the main mass with deep Cyberspace or Naval accents). The warm cream base is what makes Alabaster compatible across all four, where colder whites read sterile on traditional homes and warmer creams overpower modern ones.
Upload one photo and see Alabaster siding with five trim options and four door colors before you commit to a single gallon.
Disclaimer: SHERWIN-WILLIAMS, ALABASTER, PURE WHITE, SNOWBOUND, TRICORN BLACK, IRON ORE, PEWTER CAST, CYBERSPACE, NAVAL, GREEK VILLA, CREAMY, RED BAY, EMERALD, DURATION, SUPERPAINT and COLORSNAP are registered trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. BENJAMIN MOORE, SIMPLY WHITE, CLOUD WHITE, WHITE DOVE and CALIENTE are registered trademarks of Benjamin Moore & Co. FacadeColorizer is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by these companies. All product names, trademarks, color codes and specifications are used for identification, comparison and commentary purposes only under nominative fair use (Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §1125). Color HEX, RGB and LRV values are screen approximations of the manufacturer's published technical data sheet retrieved May 2026; actual painted finish varies by sheen, substrate, lot and lighting. Confirm current specifications and availability with the manufacturer before purchase.
