When we started planning our kitchen update, I wanted a bright, timeless color that felt warm and welcoming. After testing what felt like dozens of whites, Sherwin Williams Alabaster White (SW 7008) stood out immediately. It’s that perfect soft white paint color that makes a space feel light and airy but still cozy and inviting.
We used Alabaster White throughout our kitchen cabinetry and couldn’t be happier with the result. The color has just enough warmth to pair beautifully with our wood floors and metal finishes, while still keeping the space light, bright, and modern. It instantly brightened our space while tying in beautifully with the rest of our home.
Why We Chose Alabaster White
If you’ve ever searched for the best white paint for kitchen cabinets, you know how tricky it can be. Some whites are too cool and turn blue in natural light, while others lean too yellow. When trying to decide which white to use, do not compare the white samples to each other. Alabaster will look very creamy/slight yellow compared to a pure white. In my kitchen – it looks like a standard beautiful warm white. Not too stark of a color and not creamy or yellow. Alabaster White by Sherwin Williams hits that perfect balance.
It’s a warm white paint color with just a hint of beige undertone, giving it a softness that still looks crisp and modern. In our south-facing kitchen, we get a ton of sunlight that really enhances the brightness of the color. It also paired really well with our greige paint color – Agreeable Gray, the neutral warm tone backsplash, and our creamy granite colors.
The kitchen previously had dark cherry cabinets and dark wood floors. My personal taste is lighter and brighter, so we wanted to update the kitchen to timeless white cabinets and SW Alabaster was the best choice.
Undertones + Lighting
SW (7008) Alabaster White is known for its subtle warm undertones, sitting right between a true white and a soft greige. Its LRV (Light Reflectance Value) is 82, which means it reflects a lot of light — perfect for brightening darker or north-facing rooms. For more info on this color – check out Sherwin Williams site here.
Here’s what we noticed in different lighting:
- North-facing light: Alabaster reads as a true, soft white — no noticeable undertones, just a balanced glow.
- South-facing light: The warmth becomes more visible, giving your kitchen that cozy, sunlit look.
- Evening/artificial light: It stays beautifully neutral under warm or soft white bulbs, never looking yellow or flat.
In our home, with both our south facing natural and overhead lighting, Alabaster looks beautiful throughout the day — bright and fresh in the morning, then soft and serene at night.
Pairing Colors with Alabaster White
One of the reasons Alabaster is so loved is how well it plays with other colors and finishes. It’s incredibly versatile, which makes it a great choice if you want a cohesive, whole-home color palette. Get a sneak peak of our neutral home color palette here!
Here are a few combinations that work beautifully:
- Wall Colors: Repose Gray, Agreeable Gray (our kitchen & living room color), or Accessible Beige
- Trim: Pure White (SW 7005) or High Reflective White (SW 7757)
- Hardware Finishes: Matte black, brushed brass, brushed nickel or antique bronze
- Countertops: White quartz, marble, or light granite tones
We paired our Alabaster White cabinets with brushed nickel hardware and warm wood accents, and it gave our kitchen a bright, cozy feel that still looks elevated and high-end.
East Third Street Color Review
If you’re looking for the perfect warm white paint that feels fresh but never harsh, Sherwin Williams Alabaster White (SW 7008) is an easy choice. It’s timeless, versatile, and flattering in every kind of light — no wonder it’s one of Sherwin Williams’ most-loved colors.
For us, it completely transformed our kitchen cabinets, making the space feel clean, open, and welcoming. Whether you’re painting cabinets, trim, or walls, Alabaster White is a classic shade that never goes out of style.
Choosing Sherwin Williams Alabaster White for our cabinets was just one part of our full kitchen update — and it made such a difference in brightening the whole space. If you’re thinking about refreshing your own kitchen, check out our DIY Kitchen Update on a Budget post next, where we share all the details on how we transformed the space with affordable, high-impact changes.
