Our Review of Snowbound by Sherwin Williams

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We’ve reviewed numerous white paint colors for home exteriors, and now the spotlight is on Snowbound by Sherwin Williams. Our design experts have used this beautiful white many times for client’s home transformations. We love it so much it was even included in our list of Best Sherwin Williams Exterior Colors of 2021. Keep reading to learn why you’ll love Sherwin Williams’ Snowbound, too.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re patting ourselves on the back for our timing — shortly after this post was published, Sherwin Williams named Snowbound their September 2022 color of the month!]

Choosing the perfect white for your home’s exterior can be a daunting task. Our design experts at brick&batten are knowledgable, experienced, and happy to help! Not only will we recommend paint color(s) for your property, we also provide recommendations for windows, siding, lighting, and more! Learn more about what we do.

Modern two story urban farmhouse with black trim and wood accents

Sherwin Williams’ Snowbound: The Specs

Snowbound reflects enough light to feel like a true white on exteriors but enough warmth to keep it from being stark. A creamy off-white with pink undertones and an LRV of 83, Snowbound is considered a soft-white. (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.)

The more natural light a surface receives, the less the cream and pink undertones of Snowbound will show through. The more shade a surface receives, the more you may start to see those characteristics more and therefore need to adjust the complementing colors or finishes accordingly.

Narrow two story home with frosted glass paneled garage door and black accents

Recommended Applications for Snowbound

The versatility of Snowbound is why we love it so much. This white looks good on just about any style of home, from classic and traditional Colonials to coastal dwellings to contemporary urban homes. Snowbound is beautiful front and center as the main color, but can also act as a support to other colors when used as an accent hue.

Two story white home with blue gray shutters and stone accents around the front door

Snowbound Paint Color Pairings

The above rendering shows Snowbound paired with a fun color on the shutters. Although Snowbound is technically a warm white, its versatility allows it to be paired with some cooler colors like the blue shown above. The cool-hued Benjamin Moore’s Boothbay Gray pairs well with Snowbound and the tan stone and roof. This color combination would also be beautiful on a coastal bungalow!

If the breezy coastal look isn’t quite your style, try pairing Snowbound with a navy blue like Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy for a timeless and classic look. We did an entire review on this popular navy hue, which includes an example where we used it on shutters as an accent color.

beige colonial with arched windows, a flat roof, and white stone accents around the bottom

As mentioned above, Sherwin Williams’ Snowbound is also a great accent color. Instead of using a stark white to contrast with the main beige color (Sherwin Williams’ Oyster White) used on the property above, Snowbound was used for the stone accents around the bottom of the home and for the keystones. You could also accent a home with Snowbound by using it on the trim, fascia, and soffits.

The above and next couple of photos are examples of how, when paired with darker colors, Snowbound can appear more as a pure white rather than an off-white. Note that it still reads soft, not bright.

modern white farmhouse with black roof and accents, and sandstone walkway

Our designers often use Snowbound with darker accents such as black or almost-black roofs, trim, and doors. The above and below photos are gorgeous examples of how to achieve this style. Both homes create the perfect amount of contrast with the use of black gutters, windows, and porch or portico, respectively.

Two story white farmhouse with black accents and lush landscaped walkway to front door

Proof that the white house, black trim trend is still going strong!

Stone flanked entrance to a white cottage with

Pros & Cons of Sherwin Williams’ Snowbound

PROS:

  • It is gorgeous as the main or accent color
  • Its versatility lets it shine on many home styles
  • Will brighten a heavily shaded home

CONS:

  • Because of its high LRV, Snowbound may be a bit blinding if your home gets lots of direct sunlight
  • While not always noticeable, beware of the pink undertones
  • The undertones may limit color pairing, depending on the home’s environment
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.

Alternatives to Snowbound

With hundreds of white paints to choose from, you shouldn’t feel tied to just one in the early stages of your exterior redesign project. There are many other whites with similar profiles to Snowbound that can serve as points of comparison, helping you feel confident in your final decision.

Modern white bungalow with wood stained front door and dark gray garage

Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster

If you are looking for an even warmer white paint that has more creamy undertones, try Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. Alabaster is a popular choice for an off-white without yellow undertones and is extremely versatile. Its LRV is only one point lower than Snowbound, so it’s a bit softer, yet still not a bright or stark white.

White mid-century modern rancher with yellow-green front door

Sherwin Williams’ Dover White

If you do happen to be looking for yellow undertones, Dover White by Sherwin Williams is a great choice. At an LRV of 83 (just like Snowbound), it is also considered warm. Also like Snowbound, Dover White is flexible enough to be paired with some cooler hues along with the warmer tones. Dover White works perfectly on mid-century modern homes when paired with interesting accent colors, like the front door shown above.

White split level home with black garage doors and large steps leading to porch

The Bottom Line on Snowbound by Sherwin Williams

Snowbound by Sherwin Williams is a great off-white to use as a central color or accent color on your home. It pairs well with darker hues in the black, blue, and green family, but can also coordinate with some lighter options with cool undertones. This versatility means it can be used in a variety of settings whether your home is coastal, a modern farmhouse, or a woodsy retreat.

The expansive list of white paint options can be overwhelming. They’re so similar on swatches, yet so different in execution. 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, desired style, accent colors, and more to ensure the perfect hue for your home. The process is easy. Answers to a few short questions and photos of your home are all we need to get going. With this information we will produce a virtual design of your home with our suggested paint colors — plus so much more. What are you waiting for? Let’s make your dream reality. 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!