Want to paint your home cream? Here’s things to take into consideration and the best Sherwin Williams cream paint colors!
Cream is a super popular paint color for homeowners.
It is warm, inviting, and versatile. It has the lightening and brightening power of a white wall, with a big blast of softness and cozy vibes.
I love sharing all of my favorite cream paint colors with you, but today I am going to focus on paints by Sherwin Williams. This brand is a classic and trusted by designers and the pros!
In this blog post, we will explore the best Sherwin Williams cream paint colors to give your home that bright and cozy aesthetic.
What color is cream, anyway?
You might think that cream is white. However, cream actually is considered to be a very light shade of yellow. In reality, it is often an off white with heavy yellow undertones.
We will talk about Light Reflective Values later, but in general:
- LRV > 82 is considered white
- LRV of 73-82 is considered off-white
- LRV < 73 is considered not white at all
Why should you choose a cream color paint?
Cream paint colors are light and bright enough to work in many spaces. They are very neutral.
Even if they are light and simple, they are more warm and inviting compared to a pure white color.
Cream colors also tend to have a bit more depth to them than a warm toned white, making it great for very brightly lit spaces that can easily get washed out.
Cream walls are a soft, neutral option that works with many styles of home decor and different accent colors. Cream colored walls are timeless and this paint job will last you decades!
How do I choose a shade of cream paint?
The easiest way to get a feel for a cream paint color is to get a paint strip for that color.
Follow it down to darker shades. Suddenly it’s easier to see the brown, yellow, or pink undertones!
Here’s my complete guide to paint undertones!
The easiest way to tell this is to get a paint swatch and hold it up to something true white – such as a sheet of paper. Suddenly the undertones pop out!
Sherwin Williams Alabaster color palette
What colors go well with cream?
Cream is a neutral color that can go with almost any other color palette.
You can pair cream with other soft colors, such as light tans or grays, for a very neutral look. Or, you can pair it with darker or bold accent colors and it will still look great.
As far as picking accent colors, I suggest looking at the undertones of the cream paint color that you are using and choose colors that coordinate with or complement that tone!
What is the best cream paint?
The best cream paint will depend on where you want to use it and the light conditions and existing fixtures in your home.
My general process for picking a wall paint color is:
- Get paper swatches
- Hold them up all over the room
- Pick 3-5 to get samples of
- Paint on multiple walls, look at it day and night, lights on and light off
- Pick a color
You can read ALL about my paint color formula here!
What is the best cream paint color for walls?
The best cream paint color for walls will be one that the undertones coordinate with the existing features in your room.
Remember that light white and cream wall paint has a high LRV – light reflective value. This means that they are light colors but also means that they literally reflect light. They will reflect the colors of the things around them.
So, a cream wall next to a big red rug will get a bit of a pink reflection to it. If the cream already has pink undertones, it could look VERY pink! This is why it’s so important to swatch colors in yours space!
It’s very important to swatch colors on your wall to be 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!
What is the best cream paint color for the exterior of a home?
Once again, you are going to want to choose a cream paint with undertones that match or coordinate with the color of your home’s siding, brick, or stone outer finish.
Also consider how much bright light the space gets – whites and off whites can look completely washed out in bright light! If your home gets a lot of sun, pick a color with a lower LRV and a bit more color to it to help it still look creamy.
What is the best cream paint color for kitchen cabinets?
Pick a cream paint color that complements your existing features like countertops, flooring, and backsplash. If there are existing white elements, I’d suggest comparing those specifically to the paint samples to be sure you have a good match or at least they don’t clash.
What is the best trim color to pair with cream walls?
You have two options for trim colors when it comes to cream walls: use the same cream on the trim, or go with more of a stark white.
If you want a soft, layered look, going tone-on-tone with the trim is a great option. Choose a flat or eggshell paint for the walls and a semi gloss finish on the trim, but make it the same color!
If you prefer more contrast, you will want a clean white trim. Anything too warm will look murky next to the cream. Think of Extra White or Ultra White, for example.
The best Sherwin Williams cream paint colors
Sherwin Williams Creamy
LRV: 81
Undertones: warm yellow, tan
Creamy is a very soft yellow paint color. It is pretty solidly in the off-white color category, but those yellow undertones make it feel nice and – you guessed it – creamy.
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Creamy
Click here for my complete Creamy review.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster
LRV: 82
Undertones: warm, beige toned undertones.
Alabaster is an ultra popular (2016 color of the year!) creamy white paint color. It is not pure white but has creamy beige undertones. It is not at all yellow.
This color is a perfect balance between warm and cool, which is a big part of what makes it so universally appealing.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Alabaster
Click here to read my complete Alabaster review.
Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
LRV: 84
Undertones: warm with yellow and beige.
Greek Villa is a super popular off white paint color. It has just enough warmth to feel cozy and inviting.
In bright rooms, this will feel like a just off white, warm wall color. In darker rooms, it will feel a bit more cream or beige.
It is soft, airy, and easy to decorate with!
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Greek Villa.
Click here to read my complete Greek Villa review.
Sherwin Williams Steamed Milk
LRV: 76
Undertones: yellow, orange
Steamed milk is on the darker end of the range but is technically still considered an off white. However, it will give you a bit more color compared to some of the other light cream paint colors.
This color almost has a bit of orange to it – which can really show up in warm light. Always swatch before committing!
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Steamed Milk.
Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca
LRV: 76
Undertones: yellow, gray
Casa Blanca is a great neutral cream color. It has a lot of gray in it, which tones down the yellow. But, it still is definitely cream and not gray!
This color has enough depth to it to not get washed out, but is not dark at all.
Sherwin Williams Zurich White
LRV: 76
Undertones: gray, yellow
This color is really a warm greige. It has a lot of gray to it – in cool light it might even look more gray than beige.
However, it is truly soft and creamy, making it a great cream paint color choice.
Sherwin Williams Dover White
LRV: 83
Undertones: creamy white with golden yellow undertones
Dover White isn’t a typical white – its a very soft, creamy white, verging on the edge of beige.
If you pair Dover White with warm colors – gold, brown, beige – it will look whiter. If you pair it with cool colors – icy grays, silver, blue – it will look more beige/yellow.
This color is light bright and neutral enough to make a great whole house paint color. It’s great as a wall color in homes with warm-toned flooring and accents. It can work for the exterior of a home or even a piece of furniture on a stark white or dark colored wall.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Dover White.
Click here to read my complete Dover White color review!
Sherwin Williams Crème
LRV: 82
Undertones: Warm, yellow
Crème is a great option for a cream paint color that has a decent amount of yellow – but not brown – to it.
I would avoid this shade in a room with a ton of south-facing windows – it will read as pastel yellow. But, in a cooler feeling room, it can be a nice warm, cozy wall color.
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Crème.
Sherwin Williams Everyday White
LRV: 72
Undertones: beige, blush/pink
Everyday white is right over the threshold beyond being considered off-white and is more of a true creamy color. If your room is very bright, it will read as lighter. If the room is dark, it will look darker!
Everyday white has a bit of pink and blush to it, so if that scares you, it might not be the right fit!
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Everyday White
Sherwin Williams Antique White
LRV: 72
Undertones: yellow, beige, orange
With an LRV of 72, Antique White ironically enough is too dark to be considered a white or off white color. This color has a lot of depth which keeps it’s color and interest even in brighter rooms.
It has just a touch of orange to it and is almost approaching a tuscan color aesthetic. It’s definitely too dark for trim or cabinets!
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Antique White.
What is your favorite Sherwin Williams cream paint color?
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!
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!