Sherwin-Williams Shoji White review (SW 7042)

What color is Shoji White?

Shoji White (SW 7042) is a warm, creamy off-white that leans toward greige. Sherwin-Williams describes it as a white that "borders on greige", and that is the key to understanding it: it is deeper and softer than a true white, so it gives walls a gentle, cozy color instead of a bright one.

Its yellow–blue value (b*) is +6.7, warmer than Alabaster (+5.2), and its green–red value (a*) is +0.3, effectively neutral. That combination reads as a soft beige-white with no pink or green cast.

Shoji White LRV and light

Shoji White has an LRV of 74.3, about eight points below Alabaster and ten below Greek Villa. That gap is enough to be visible: on a wall Shoji White looks like a pale warm neutral rather than a white.

Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.

That extra depth makes Shoji White a good choice for very bright, south-facing rooms where whites can glare. In dim north light it can look more gray-beige than white, so test it there before painting a whole house.

Best uses for Shoji White

Walls

Shoji White suits people who want light walls but find white too stark. It is a natural fit for warm, soft-white palettes with wood, linen and stone.

Kitchen cabinets

On cabinets, Shoji White looks soft and slightly vintage, especially with brass or bronze hardware. It pairs best with warm counters; next to a bright white quartz it will look noticeably beige.

Exteriors

Shoji White is listed for exterior use and is a popular soft-white siding color. Outside, strong sun lifts it so it reads as a warm off-white. With bright white trim, such as its coordinating color Pure White, the siding gets a subtle, layered look.

When to avoid Shoji White

Avoid Shoji White in dark or north-facing rooms, where its LRV of 74.3 and warm undertone make it look beige-gray rather than white. It is also a risky cabinet color next to bright white quartz, which makes it look dingy. In a windowless bathroom it can make the room feel dim. If you want a warm white that stays white, Alabaster (SW 7008) is the step up.

Shoji White color strip

Shoji White sits in the middle of the same strip as Greek Villa and Pearly White. The colors above it are brighter whites; White Duck, Natural Choice and Oyster White below it move toward light greige.

Shoji White hex code, RGB and LRV

Sherwin-Williams lists Shoji White (SW 7042) as hex #E6DFD3, RGB 230, 223, 211 and LRV 74.345. It is sometimes searched as "Soji White"; the correct spelling is Shoji, as in Japanese paper screens.

Shoji White coordinating colors and color scheme

Sherwin-Williams' coordinating colors for Shoji White are a bright white, a mid greige and a deep charcoal:

That gives you a ready-made color scheme: Pure White on trim and ceilings, Shoji White on walls, Fawn Brindle for a deeper accent or exterior body, and Perle Noir for doors, windows or an island. For complementary accents, muted greens and dusty blues sit well against its warmth.

Colors similar to Shoji White

Pacer White and White Duck are its nearest Sherwin-Williams neighbors. In Benjamin Moore, the closest we measured is Fog Mist (OC-31), only 1.4 apart, followed by Fossil (AF-65) at 1.7. Pale Oak (2.1 apart) is a little deeper and grayer.

ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.

If you are choosing between Shoji White and a brighter warm white, see Shoji White vs Alabaster: Alabaster is brighter and reads as a true white, Shoji White deeper and more beige.

Shoji White FAQs