• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Paint Color Project logo
  • About
  • Colors by family
  • Colors by room
  • Explore Our Expert Services and Products
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Colors by family
  • Colors by room
  • Explore Our Expert Services and Products
    • Amazon
    • Etsy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Colors by family
    • Colors by room
    • Explore Our Expert Services and Products
    • Amazon
    • Etsy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Blog

    Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee: a complete color review

    Published: Feb 6, 2023 · Modified: Apr 22, 2025 by Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Looking for the perfect white paint color? Let's talk about Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee and if it might be the perfect color for your home!

    White paint colors are a classic for a reason. They make a space feel instantly light and bright and they are so easy to add almost any accent color to.

    Swiss Coffee is one of the most popular white paint colors. It's really been made super popular by Shea McGee of Studio McGee and Netflix fame. She used this color - actually lightened by 25% - in a lot of her home.

    But, as I always say, just because a color looks good on HGTV, in a magazine, or on Instagram, does not mean it will look the same in your home.

    Let's dive into Swiss Coffee and how to know if it's a good fit for your space!

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Swiss Coffee!

    Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee paint color guide

    Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

    Swiss Coffee is a super popular soft white paint color. It is called "soft" because it reads as slightly warm and will not feel cold or icy in your space.

    While Swiss Coffee is popular, it still has a few intricacies that might effect how it looks on your walls!

    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!

    Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

    Color Family

    Swiss Coffee is an off white paint color.

    Light Reflectance Value

    81.91

    Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.

    LRVs of 73 - 82 are generally considered off white. So, this color is one of the lightest shades of off white that you will find!

    In bright spaces, it will really read as white most of the time. It's just in darker rooms that it will feel creamier.

    swiss coffee bathroom

    RGB Colors

    R:237 G:234 B:224 

    RGB describes the amount of each color - red, green, and blue - present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!

    Hex Code

    #EDEAE0

    🤯 Too many color choices?

    Download my free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide—it’s the exact method I use to help readers choose a color that works the first time.
    📥 Grab it here!

    Undertones

    Swiss Coffee has warm undertones. These can read as yellow or beige in most circumstances.

    This color also has the tendency to sometimes read as a bit green. This can be particularly true in cool lighting such as a north facing room or LED light bulbs.

    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!

    Best uses

    This color is so neutral it works for almost any room in the house. It's a great whole house paint color for cohesiveness.

    Swiss Coffee is also a super popular cabinetry paint color! It's a great option for a warm white look.

    I would steer clear of using Swiss Coffee on an exterior as it tends to reflect greenery and read a bit green.

    swiss coffee bedroom

    Similar Colors

    • Benjamin Moore White Dove
    • Benjamin Moore Steam
    • Benjamin Moore Vanilla Milkshake
    • Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
    • Sherwin Williams Cotton
    • Valspar Picket Fence
    • Behr Sweet Surrender

    Coordinating Colors

    For neutral accent colors, it makes sense to pair Swiss Coffee with warm gray colors. The warm tones play nicely together and it gives a soft, layered look.

    Warm gray colors:

    • BM Kendall Charcoal
    • BM Rockport Gray
    • BM Revere Pewter
    • BM Natural Cream
    • BM Edgecomb Gray
    • BM Chelsea Gray

    Because Swiss Coffee can read as slightly green, I actually like pairing it with green accent colors.

    This might sound counter intuitive, but placing Swiss Coffee next to actual shades of green will make it look less green by comparison. The green undertones also ensure that it's most likely to match and not clash a green accent color.

    Green accent colors:

    • BM Lush
    • BM Ponderosa Pine
    • BM Shady Lane
    • BM Icy Morn
    • BM Duxbury Gray
    • BM Quiet Moments
    • BM Storm Cloud Gray

    See all of my favorite green-gray paint colors here!

    Do not pair Swiss Coffee with shades of blue - it's hard to pull off and almost always feels like it clashes.

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Swiss Coffee!

    swiss coffee kitchen cabinet

    Trim Colors

    For white paint colors, I highly recommend painting the trim and walls the same color. So, I would do Swiss Coffee in a flat or eggshell finish on the walls and then Swiss Coffee in a semi-gloss finish on the trim.

    This gives a softer look that reads as very flattering.

    Plus, if you pair a slightly-creamy off-white wall with a stark white trim, the whiteness of the trim will make the walls look dirty or dingy. It's very rarely a good look!

    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!

    BM swiss coffee paint color palette

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Swiss Coffee!

    Swiss Coffee FAQs

    Is Swiss Coffee warm or cool?

    Swiss Coffee is a very warm toned off white paint color. It has yellow and beige undertones. In cool lighting, this can lead to it reading as slightly green.

    Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Swiss Coffee!

    BM Swiss Coffee vs SW Alabaster

    SW alabaster vs BM swiss coffee

    When comparing these two colors, the main difference is in the undertones. Alabaster has a gray undertone, while Swiss Coffee has a beige undertone.

    If you prefer a cooler, crisper white, then Alabaster may be the better choice for you.

    However, if you want a warmer, creamier white, then Swiss Coffee may be a better option.

    Click here for the complete Swiss Coffee vs Alabaster review.

    BM Swiss Coffee vs SW Greek Villa

    sw greek villa vs bm swiss coffee

    These colors are almost identical - but not quite. Swiss Coffee has a touch more green and is slightly darker compared to Greek Villa!

    Click here to see the full BM Swiss Coffee vs SW Greek Villa comparison!

    Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?

    Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.

    👉 Click here to download the free guide!

    paint color formula square mockup

    My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.

    Learn more about the Paint Color Formula here!

    The best way to sample paint? Samplize!

    Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!

    Thanks for reading!

    Paint color project headshot image only
    Morgan

    Morgan is passionate about home decor and paint colors. She has been sharing DIY home decor tips since 2012 at CharlestonCrafted.com. From there, she learned to love paint colors, and the Paint Color Project was born in 2022!

    More Color Reviews

    • Benjamin Moore Barely Beige (Gentle Cream) vs Windsor Cream
      Benjamin Moore Barely Beige (Gentle Cream) vs Windsor Cream
    • Best Paint Colors to Pair With Taupe Walls
    • best taupe paint colors
      The Best Taupe Paint Colors for Your Home
    • Behr Limousine Leather vs Black
      Behr Limousine Leather vs Black: Let's compare!

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Primary Sidebar

    about me paint color project picture

    Hey - I'm Morgan!

    Here’s what I believe: choosing paint should be fun, not overwhelming. 

    That’s why I consider myself more than just a color consultant; think of me as your paint-savvy friend who’s here to guide you through every step of the process.

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    More about me

    Still unsure which paint color to pick?

    Grab my free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide and avoid the most common mistakes!
    📥 Get the Free Guide

    Footer

    Navigation

    Home
    Blog
    Work with us
    Privacy Policy

    Newsletter
    Pinterest
    Instagram
    Contact us

    Browse by category

    Room Colors
    Colors Families

    Paint Color Formula
    Picking Paint

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Success Stories
    • Glossary of Paint Terminology

    Learn More!

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Enroll in the Paint Color Formula
    • Shop Pre-made Color Palettes

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Book a Consult

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Foodie Pro on the Feast Plugin