Color selection can be a highly nuanced process, and our Designer Color Collection  was developed to provide a suite of truly exquisite color choices you can turn to time and again to bring your design vision to life. This collection was curated by designers to include the hues most often recommended and relied upon by discerning professionals.

Among them you’ll find contemporary classics, richly inviting shades, and—perhaps best of all—our brightest, purest whites. Made possible by our unique base, UltraWhite SW 9500, the stunning Pure + Pristine palette features 40 brilliant whites arrayed by light reflectance value and sorted into Warmth + Wonder (warm whites) and Light + Luminous (cool whites) to make it easier than ever to select the perfect white to suit any space. To add this new palette to your toolkit, reach out to your Account Executive  or order now with your PRO+ account  to get the designer-exclusive Pure + Pristine brochure.

Keep reading to see recent projects using designer-favorite whites from the Pure + Pristine palette and get inspired by all the ways that bright, pure whites are being celebrated in today’s designs.

For Ottawa, Ontario–based designer Saree Parry, every design deserves an approach that is as comprehensive as it is personalized. So when she set out to renovate a client’s primary bedroom, she combined classic elements with a calming atmosphere that allowed the room’s architectural details to shine.

With a goal to factor in both a serene vibe and the unique architectural foundations of the space, Parry selected her go-to white, Alabaster SW 7008 (255-C2), for the walls and Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1) for the trim. “The undertone of Alabaster was perfect for creating a sense of calm in this room,” she says. “It makes the space feel bigger, takes on different hues due to all the angles in the room, and works beautifully with the warmer tones of gray, brown, and beige.”

Jimmie Drummond III is a studio founder, architect, educator, and lighting artist with a portfolio of work that includes multi-housing development, commercial hospitality, mixed-use development, and office workspaces. When the time came to design his very own headquarters, Drummond Projects in Washington, DC, the accomplished Parsons alum brought the full weight of his experience to bear on a stunning two-story Romanesque Revival row house near Capitol Hill.

Photos by Derek & Victoria Miller (left) and Arseni Khazmin (center and right).

“To inspire collaboration, the new open-concept office focuses on meeting points throughout the space—each with a different functional program to support office rituals and activity,” Drummond says. “Defined by strong rectilinear forms, these areas are delineated by the contrasting of dark- and white-painted surfaces—Black Fox SW 7020 (244-C7) and Extra White SW 7006 (257-C1), a timeless combination that will remain appealing and relevant for many years.”

The result is both visually engaging and organized, intimate and inviting—the ideal setting for bringing together creative people and big ideas. This attitude of unifying diverse perspectives also extended to Drummond’s partnership with Account Executive Jasmine Jones, who Drummond says was an invaluable resource, ensuring that every detail was carried off as smoothly as possible.

Atlanta-area designer Seth Van Den Bergh of The Drawing Room is well-versed in the many nuances that attend color selection, especially when finding the just-right white. He contemplates the tonal temperature required, as well as the room’s direct and indirect lighting conditions, and orders large paint samples in a variety of colors to test in the space. His Account Executive, Katie Davis, assisted with providing these tools and coatings guidance.

Photos by Gregory Miller Pictures.

This sophisticated space was created for empty nesters who desired a refreshed look in their reclaimed living spaces. For this, Van Den Bergh selected the firm’s “default white,” Alabaster SW 7008 (255-C2), which he says has made its way time and time again into moodboards and final interior designs because of how beautifully it responds in a variety of different lighting. “We consistently reference natural whites for their warmth, depth, and versatility in pairing with other naturally occurring colors that we frequently use in our work.”

“Our goal is to ensure clients understand that selecting a color isn’t as straightforward as it seems,” he goes on. “We must consider how the color value can change in different conditions, so we use Sherwin-Williams tools to display 8x10" color samples in natural, artificial, and evening light.”

In her own office buildout project, Jasmine Crockett, founder and CEO of Joy Meets Home, aimed to create a space that felt like “a home away from home” for visitors, emphasizing the multiuse space’s natural brightness and a warm atmosphere. Casual seating, striking wall art, and ample greenery added comfort and personality to complete the look, with a clear, bright, and airy environment supplied by Extra White SW 7006 (257-C1) to make the details pop.

Photos by Hannah Lozano.

“Choosing the perfect white paint involves considering several nuances to ensure it complements the space and meets the client’s needs. We first assess the amount and direction of natural light in the space, and we also consider the existing color scheme and furnishings to ensure the white harmonizes well with other elements in the room,” Crockett says.

“The purpose of the space and the desired atmosphere play a crucial role, as different whites can evoke different feelings—from crisp and modern to warm and inviting. My go-to Sherwin-Williams whites are Extra White, for its crisp, clean appearance; Pure White, due to its versatility and warmer undertone, and Alabaster to create cozy and inviting outdoor spaces. These shades are reliable and adaptable, allowing me to achieve the desired ambiance for various projects while ensuring a harmonious and visually appealing result.”

San Diego Interior Design Group’s principal designer and owner, Alynn Etzler, shares how she achieved subtle contrast with a carefully curated mix of whites in this crisp and clean residential project, with help from Account Executive Rojelly Anne Almira, who provided samples. The San Diego firm was brought on to update the look of a kitchen and guest bathroom with current colors and finishes and a comfortable aesthetic that the client could love for many years to come.

Photos by Tailor and Reach.

In the kitchen, this took shape with cabinets of fresh and clean Extra White SW 7006 (257-C1) against a modern tile backsplash, both of which allowed the quartzite countertops to shine and were offset by walls of designer-favorite Shoji White SW 7042 (254-C4) and an island and base cabinets in Jogging Path SW 7638 (247-C2). 

“We tend to pull Extra White often for doors and trim,” Etzler says. “It has never let us down and we rarely find it competing with any of the finishes and other colors in a space. Another we use often is Drift of Mist SW 9166 (238-C2), which may be considered a taupe, but we love it on the walls to soften a space or use on a cabinet.”

The owner and namesake of Joni Spear Interior Design showcases her beautifully classic and crisp personal home in Virginia. As an empty nester, she says her previous homes were always filled with all the boldness and vibrancy of her children, but the three-story 1890s Queen Anne Victorian she currently occupies has taken on a quieter, nature-inspired atmosphere using varying shades of white.

“Each room reads differently depending on how the sunlight hits the windows,” Spear says. “As a designer, I look at color all day long. For my office, I needed a calming space that wouldn’t distract me while looking at fabrics, wallpaper, and rug samples.” Her choice for a focused workspace? Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1).

Photos by Kip Dawkins.

While she acknowledges the complexity of scrutinizing undertone, playing with natural and artificial lighting, and determining whether the walls being painted are the focal point or the background when choosing a white, Spear does have a few go-tos—Alabaster SW 7008 (255-C2), White Snow SW 9541, and Natural Choice SW 7011 (254-C6)—as well as a tried-and-true method for showing different white options to her clients. “I simply hold the color sample over a sheet of white paper and look at it on all four walls of the room,” she says. Lately, one of her favorite modern ways of using white is to apply a uniform sheen for every surface, instead of the traditional approach of varying the sheen for wall, trim, and wainscoting.

To experience our brightest whites firsthand, you can order your Designer Color Collection sample kit using your PRO+ account or through your Account Executive. And be sure to explore the complete Designer Color Collection, with carefully crafted color palettes in an exquisite array of shades.

Top image: Alabaster SW 7008 (255-C2) (custom cabinet and kitchen cabinets), Neutral Ground SW 7568 (261-C5) (custom wall panels), Canvas Tan SW 7531 (261-C6) (interior walls). Design by Seth Van Den Bergh. Photo by Gregory Miller Pictures.