Trying to find the perfect soft white paint color for your project? There’s a good chance you might have Sherwin Williams Alabaster on your short list, but how does it compare to the lesser know Zurich White?
Here we will take a look at the similarities and differences between these two colors, and get you on your way to making the big decision!
Visual Differences Between Zurich White and Alabaster (Let’s Talk Undertones!)
If you were to see Alabaster and Zurich White separately, you would find that they look similar, both are white paints by Sherwin Williams with a hint of beige. Zurich White is definitely more like a very light greige, where Alabaster is a white with beige undertones.
Zurich White could look white, particularly when paired with darker beiges and no other whites, but it is less likely to look truly white than Alabaster.
When Alabaster looks its coolest, it will look white. When Zurich White looks its most cool, it will lean a little gray.
At its warmest, Alabaster can look a tiny bit yellow, but Zurich White tends to look more peach/beige.
Technical Difference Between Zurich White and Alabaster
Let’s take a look at the technical differences between these two colors!
Here are each of them marked on the color wheel:
You can see that Zurich White is both more gray than Alabaster, and it falls more into the deep orange area than the mustard color family of Alabaster.
All beige paint colors are somewhere in the orange color family. Here you can see better where each of these colors fall:
In terms of LRV, Alabaster is right on the line of white and off-white, with an LRV of 82.
Zurich White is a true off-white with an LRV of 76, but it is a little bit lighter than many popular options (such as Shoji White).
If you like both of these colors and the difference is too subtle, you might also like Aesthetic White, which is similar, but a little darker than both.
Now let’s compare these two colors in a few different scenarios!
Alabaster vs Zurich White on Kitchen Cabinets
On kitchen cabinets the difference between these colors will be more subtle, due to the dimension of cabinet doors. (Unless they are flat of course!)
Unless you have white walls or a bright white backsplash/countertops, you can expect Alabaster to look pretty white on cabinets most of the time.
From what I have seen, Zurich White looks white on cabinets about 50% of the time, and neutral creamy the rest of the time.
Alabaster vs Zurich White in a Bathroom
On a flat wall the difference in the colors will be more obvious. Zurich White ranges in appearance from a light beige or greige, to a subtle cream.
Alabaster ranges in appearance from a subtle cream to a fairly true white with a bit of softness.
Both colors will look their creamiest next to a bright white trim. If you want to keep them looking neutral and white, use the same color on your walls and trim. You can always use a different sheen for subtle contrast.
Alabaster vs Zurich White on an Exterior
On an exterior, both colors will look their lightest and brightest, and the difference between the two will be the subtlest.
You can expect Alabaster to look like a true white on your exterior most of the time. Zurich White can flex between true white and cream.
Both colors will look darker and creamier on brick than they will on siding.
If you happen to be looking for a white to use on exterior brick, check out my post: Stunning White Paint Colors for Classic Brick Exteriors
This post was short but sweet! I hope this helped you see the differences between these warm whites, and maybe made your decision for you!
Neither is quite the right white? Here are some similar colors that you might like:
