Our Review of Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

By:

In the world of off-whites, Shoji White by Sherwin Williams is a tried and true favorite. We named Shoji White one of the 6 best warm whites for your home in 2021 and included it in our roundup of the 12 best Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors of 2021.

Years later, we’re still crushing on this off-white — and we aren’t the only ones. Shoji White is listed as one of Sherwin Williams’ top 50 paint colors and was also named the company’s August 2022 color of the month.

Considering all the virtual designs we’ve used Shoji White in over the years, it’s high time we give the popular hue a proper review. Keep reading to learn more about how we use Shoji White in our designs, our recommended color pairings, and more.

Let’s get your home’s exterior paint color right the first time. We make it easy with our paint visualizer. We can also help you visualize design elements like windows, gutters, dormers, and more. Learn about our virtual exterior design services.

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. 

One story home virtually painted In Shoji White by Sherwin Williams with a black front door, and wood stained garage door.

Sherwin Williams’ Shoji White: The specs

Shoji White is a soft, warm off-white paint color with an LRV of 74. It’s not too bright and certainly not too dark. (Curious about LRV? Learn more here, including why LRV is so important to keep in mind when choosing the perfect paint color for your home.)

This creamy hue is a solid choice if you’re interested in brightening your home. Its warmth will be calm and inviting in both shaded and sunny environments, plus it will never read too stark or sterile. In heavily wooded environments, the smallest hint of green undertones could be noticeable.

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.
Traditional two-story home with aa brown roof, black and wood stair railings, white windows, and wood lintels.

Recommended applications for Shoji White

We appreciate a paint color that’s versatile, and Shoji White is exactly that. It has performed well as a central color and an accent color in many of our designs. Oftentimes, our designers use Shoji White with stone cladding or choose to color-block with Shoji White and another complementing hue. It’s also a color we turn to when clients want to paint their brick. The dimension of its undertones gives brick beautiful textural interest.

Popular building materials like natural stone, dark brick, and wood are all fabulous and fail-proof choices next to Shoji White. Light fixtures in black or copper, modern railings like those seen in the design above, and copper gutters also look lovely when used in conjunction with Shoji White.

Small two story home with an arched portico, black front door, black windows, and wood lintels.

Shoji White color pairings

Our designers have paired Shoji White with many colors for stunning results. Most often, we pair it with subdued hues of brown, gray, green, and greige. Shoji White can also be used with bright whites like Pure White by Sherwin Williams. On the home above, we’ve paired it with Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin Williams.

Gauntlet Gray’s warm greige undertones are an excellent match for Shoji White’s warm beige undertones. Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal is another smart color pairing for Shoji White.

Virtual exterior design of a brick rancher with black windows and wood columns, and painted in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams.

Above, Shoji White is paired with Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams. Pewter Green is a cool green hue with strong gray undertones. Wood, metals, and stone complement Pewter Green, leaning into its nature-inspired characteristics.

Large colonial style home with Shoji White by Sherwin Williams on the trim, wood front door, dormer windows, and copper light fixtures.

The design above is a great example of how Shoji White can be used as an accent color in a sophisticated palette. Our designers applied Anonymous by Sherwin Williams on the stucco of this traditional home with Shoji White on the trim and eaves. Adding to its elegance, the stairs leading to the entry are updated with limewashed brick in Avorio White by Romabio. Anonymous with Shoji White is a classic combination that will never go out of style.

A classy home needs elegant details. Copper light fixtures are a luxurious touch, as is the mahogany front door with sidelights. A new patterned flagstone walkway brings a a bit of dimension and plays on the stone surrounding the porch.

Modern farmhouse with steep roof pitches, vertical siding, stone cladding, and a wood look front door.

Pros and cons of Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

PROS:

  • It has a beautiful and timeless feel
  • Can be a central or accent color
  • Can be paired with bright white

CONS:

  • It might be too warm for those wanting a brighter or stark white
  • It has a subtle green undertone

Shoji White alternatives

Shoji White is a fantastic exterior paint color, but we know it’s good to have options. Below are a few alternatives to Shoji White if you need more inspiration.

Two-story home with a large balcony, dormers, black cable railings, and black windows.

Benjamin Moore’s Seapearl vs. Shoji White

Our 2021 exterior paint color of the year is still making an impression years later. Seapearl by Benjamin Moore is a gorgeous off-white with the slightest gray undertones. It’s slightly brighter than Shoji White with an LRV of 77. We love Seapearl for its versatility, and our designers have applied it to just about every home style with amazing results.

Like Shoji White, Seapearl pairs well with greens, grays, browns, and black. Design elements like stone and wood also complement Seapearl, and it works just as well as a central or accent color. Seapearl is a solid alternative to Shoji White.

Brick rancher virtually painted in White Duck by Sherwin Williams with dormers, a brick walkway, and a elegant landscaping.

Sherwin Williams’ White Duck vs. Shoji White

If you’re searching for a white paint color with a little less warmth than Shoji White, White Duck by Sherwin Williams might be just what you need. White Duck is another timeless off-white with slight gray undertones that contribute to its greige appearance in shaded environments. With an LRV of 74 — the same as Shoji White — it will look great in sunny environments too without coming across too bright.

Our designers have used White Duck on so many styles of homes, proving its versatility and ability to be flexible. We’ve had lovely results on Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes, cottages, traditional homes, and more. One of our favorite ways to play up White Duck is a tone-on-tone look created by pairing it with a darker greige like Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore.

However, in the design above, our designers went with a more contrasted look. Sherwin Williams’ Intellectual Gray can be seen on the shutters and door while Urban Bronze, also by Sherwin Williams, is used on the trim, fascia, and soffits.

Virtual exterior design of a home painted in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams with wood lintels and a stone and paver walkway.

The bottom line on Shoji White

Shoji White is a smart choice for an exterior paint color that’s versatile, trendy, and timeless. Its soft appearance will add a cozy vibe to your home while still feeling fresh and modern. White and off-white exterior paint colors don’t have to be complicated — and Shoji White is proof. We hope this paint color review offered you plenty of inspiration and information for your next home project.

If you’re on the fence about which off-white exterior paint color to choose, we’d love to help! After answering a few questions, we’ll get to work on a fully customized virtual rendering of your home and a clickable resource list that will help you execute the upgrade. Get started here.

Author

Originally from Tennessee, Ami currently lives in South Carolina, which has been home since leaving the military in 2016. Interior and exterior design has always intrigued Ami, especially the styles and characteristics seen in other countries as an avid traveler and photographer. She lives for the renewal of older or historic homes that maintain their character, and regularly creates her own mood boards and virtual designs for inspiration or to help others with their spaces. Having always had a passion for design and following their work for years prior, Ami was excited to be brought onto brick&batten’s team of writers. Her writing endeavors actually started in an academic/scientific setting, then in a regulatory aspect. Writing about paint colors, emerging or current trends in exterior design, and so much more revolving around something she’s always enjoyed was a fun and welcomed change!