Looking for the perfect off-white paint color for your home? Let’s compare Soft Chamois vs Swiss Coffee to see which best fits your space!
Off-white paint colors are amazing for adding coziness while keeping things neutral.
They’re not as stark as pure white, while still being versatile. You’ll find them pairing well with any decor style.
But with so many off-white shades out there, it can be a little tricky making the perfect choice.
Some shades are cool, some are warm, and the undertones can change how they look throughout the day.
So to help, I’ve broken down two popular off-white paints – Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee – to see which one suits your space best.
Read my full review of Soft Chamois
Read my full review of Swiss Coffee
Soft Chamois vs BM Swiss Coffee
Both Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee are warm off-whites that look fantastic in many spaces. They have a lot in common but also some key differences.
What is similar about Soft Chamois vs BM Swiss Coffee?
Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee are both off-white paint colors with a hint of green undertone.
They’re both light and bright enough to be used as whole house paint colors.
Fun fact: both Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee have counterparts; Behr also has paint colors with the same names!
What is different about Soft Chamois vs BM Swiss Coffee?
Swiss Coffee is lighter, with an LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of 82, compared to Soft Chamois’ LRV of 77.
Both Swiss Coffee and Soft Chamois are considered off-whites, although with an LRV of 82, Swiss Coffee is right on the edge of that line. Anything higher than 83 is considered true white.
While both have warm undertones, Swiss Coffee has yellow / beige with slight green undertones, and Soft Chamois has greige with a hint of green and gold.
Overall, Soft Chamois is a bit more saturated, while Swiss Coffee is more muted.
| Soft Chamois | Swiss Coffee | |
| LRV | 77 | 82 |
| RGB | R: 232 G: 228 B: 215 | R: 237 G: 234 B: 224 |
| Undertones | greige, slight green and gold | yellow / beige, slight green |
Light Reflectance Value
LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white).
Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee are both considered off-whites based on their LRV.
Generally, anything with an LRV from 72-82 is considered off-white, with anything higher than 82 being true white.
- Swiss Coffee: LRV 82, making it closer to true white.
- Soft Chamois: LRV 77, adding a bit more color.
So you can see that Swiss Coffee is much closer to “true white” than Soft Chamois is.
Undertones
Though both Soft Chamois and Swiss Coffee have warm undertones, they come across differently.
Swiss Coffee has yellow / beige with slight green undertones, and Soft Chamois has greige with slight green and gold undertones.
Soft Chamois is one of those colors that changes throughout the day depending on a space’s lighting.
In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, it looks warmer and creamier.
Meanwhile, in north-facing rooms with less light, it can appear cooler and a bit gray.
Swiss Coffee can lean yellow or beige in bright light but may look slightly green in north-facing rooms or under LED lights.
It’s very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
How do I decide between these two colors?
- True white: If you want an off-white closer to true white, go with Swiss Coffee. If you prefer a neutral with more saturation, Soft Chamois is your pick.
- Lighting: If you want something that holds its color more evenly throughout the day, go with Swiss Coffee. Soft Chamois changes color in different lighting.
- North-facing light: If your room has north-facing light, Swiss Coffee might lean green, so Soft Chamois could be a better choice.
I hope this helps you pick the perfect off-white for your home!
Benjamin Moore Soft Chamois Paint Color Palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Paint Color Palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Still not sure what paint color to choose?
My Paint Color Formula ebook walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.