Our Review of Origami White by Sherwin Williams
By: Sarah
Because the options are seemingly never-ending, we’re going to review yet another off-white paint color that we recommend for exteriors: Origami White by Sherwin Williams. Sherwin Williams calls it “a clean, delicate white with cool violet undertones.” Read on for our thoughts as to how this hue translates to exteriors. Plus, we’ll share some recommended paint color pairings and offer similar color options as alternatives.
We love writing these reviews — but we also love helping property owners make decisions that will help them see the potential of their exterior! From paint colors to gutters to walkways, and everything in between, our expert exterior designers know how to maximize your curb appeal. We help our clients visualize their updated façade and give them the tools to bring it to life. Learn more about our virtual exterior design service.
Sherwin Williams’ Origami: The Specs
With an LRV of 76, Origami is decidedly off-white. (Not sure what LRV means? It stands for Light Reflectance/Reflectivity Value and is a hugely important factor when choosing the perfect paint color for your home. Learn more here.) While Sherwin Williams notes the cool violet undertones, we see this shade reading quite neutral. It can have a tan or gray feel to it, making it lean a bit greige. Additionally, it’s less creamy than some other off-whites.
Recommended Applications for Origami
As with many off-white paint colors, the versatility of Origami means it can be used in all sorts of applications. It works well as a field color, as part of a color-blocked look (see above, where it’s paired in roughly equal weights with a warm wood cladding), or on trim. We love it for all home styles, from traditional to contemporary to Mediterranean or Spanish-style. Plus, Origami can be used on just about any building material and on homes that are shaded or that get substantial direct light. Just note that its brightness and undertones will vary based on lighting and which direction it faces.
Origami Paint Color Pairings
As a true neutral hue, Origami pairs with a massive range of colors, from mid-range to dark and warm to cool. Keep in mind that we always recommend taking care when using more than one white or off-white in combination, though it can work.
Origami is the field color, used on the stucco and brick, of the Tudor-style home above. It’s used in conjunction with Chelsea Gray on the half-timbering, for a noticeable but soft contrast, and the deeply saturated Tricorn Black on the eaves, brackets, and gutters.
Next, our designers suggested a two-tone look for this split-level house. We rendered the lower level brick in Origami. The upper level siding is in James Hardie’s Cobble Stone, a rich, deeper neutral. Black windows, lighting, and the front door bring contrast to this earthy exterior.
Finally, we want to showcase how gorgeous Origami is as a trim color. On this simple home, Origami brings gorgeous, warm contrast that draw out the home’s architectural lines. We love how it pull the eye to the thick trim and soffit as well as the front columns. It looks beautiful alongside Peppercorn on the siding and with the lovely warm gray-blue stone veneer accents.
Pros & Cons of Origami
PROS:
- Neutral and versatile
- Clean, soft, and warm
- Plays well with other paint colors
CONS:
- If you want strong, bright contrast against a mid-range tone, you might want something with a higher LRV (e.g., Benjamin Moore’s Simply White)
- It’s a neutral, so if you’re looking for an exterior that makes a strong statement, this isn’t the hue for you
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
Origami Alternatives
It makes sense to consider similar colors before committing to a hue. Here are a few options that aren’t far from Origami.
Aesthetic White by Sherwin Williams
Aesthetic White has an LRV of 73 and is markedly darker than Origami. This is a good choice for a home that gets lots of direct sunlight, if you still want your exterior to read off-white (as opposed to bright white). According to Sherwin Williams, the two paint colors share a violet undertone.
City Loft by Sherwin Williams
A couple of shades darker still (LRV of 70) is Sherwin Williams’ City Loft. Some consider this paint color to be a light greige rather than an off-white. It’s cozy, warm, and extra soft.
Seapearl by Benjamin Moore
Seapearl was our paint color of the year in 2021 and is still a designer go-to. With an LRV of 76.43, it’s almost imperceptibly brighter than Origami. It has cool gray undertones and is just as neutral as our feature color. If you’re on the fence, it’s worth doing a side-by-side comparison between the two. We find that, depending on light, Seapearl can have a bit more yellow/green in it when placed next to Origami, which in turn leans toward taupe.
The Bottom Line on Origami by Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams’ Origami is a soft, neutral off-white that our designers love using for our clients. And perhaps it’s the paint color you’ve been looking for to kickstart your exterior update project!
Our designers at brick&batten are experts at choosing the right color choices for your home and its environment. We take into account the amount of natural light your home gets, your desired style, fixed elements (i.e., those you don’t plan to change), and more to suggest the perfect hue for your property. With your answers to a few short questions, we will create an exterior design plan to transform your façade! Let’s make your dream reality. Get started here.
Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Subscribe for more content like this!
