Sherwin Williams Snowbound 7004 in Real Spaces

SW Snowbound is an extremely popular neutral white paint color. Read on for details about SW 7004 and to see pictures of it in real spaces!

White paint is such a wonderful, versatile backdrop for any home. It brightens and cheers a room while letting the furniture, artwork, and occupants be the stars of the show… And Sherwin Williams Snowbound is one of the most beautiful white paint colors.

There is nothing quite like trying to visualize a 2″ square color card in a full room or home, though, which is why I believe in exploring paint colors in real spaces as much possible. So today I thought I’d continue the paint color reviews with some real-life images of Sherwin Williams Snowbound SW 7004 in various spaces.

SW 7004 Snowbound Paint Color

I want to start by talking about the paint: its make up, its undertones, its strengths… Then we’ll get more specific about how to use it in real spaces. Note: all the images you see in the post are actually painted with SW 7004.

The Perfect Bright white

Disclaimer: I always recommend testing colors in the actual space where you intend to use them. Even after doing this job for years, I still bring paint samples into each space and watch them at different times of day before making a decision. So while Snowbound is an incredibly strong option, remember that you’ll want to consider your own space and these factors before deciding for sure.

That said, Snowbound is a beautiful, crisp, bright white paint. With any color, it is important to consider its undertones to know how the paint color may change depending on lighting conditions and color pairings. And this is especially true of white paints.

SW SNOWBOUND Undertones

Undertones are simply the colors that can appear in certain lights or when next to other colors. While Snowbound may look white at first glance, if you place it next to a true white, you will notice that it has some gray undertones.

As a soft white, Snowbound actually leans neither blue nor yellow, but more of a true light gray or even a tiny hint of greige (though not a very warm one), which means that it can often reflect the tones around it. It can read as crisp white without feeling too cold.

You can see here that next to warm wood cabinets and Carrara marble, the walls look crisp and bright, but not as white as the Extra White trim around the French doors.

But here, at a different time of day, against the rich brown wood beams and warm fireplace (and with tons of natural light), the color looks a little softer and even reflects a bit of the warmth of the floors.

Evening light, in particular, can warm up this color, while midday will leave it looking more like a bright, clean white.

Sheen

While we’re on the subject of wall paint, a common question I receive is what sheen should you use for wall paint? Generally speaking, flat (sometimes called matte) or eggshell are the best sheens for walls.

Flat or matte paint will give you a soft, subtle color and will hide faults in the wall texture; unfortunately, though, flat paint is generally not very easy to clean. Eggshell is a bit shinier than flat, which shows more texture on your walls, but it is more wipeable than flat paint and a better option for a house with kids or pets. It is also a better option for moist areas like kitchens or bathrooms. You can even use satin on walls for better durability and ease of cleaning.

Light Reflective Value

The Light Reflective Value or LRV of any paint is a number assigned based on how much light the color reflects, with 0 being absolute black and 100 being pure white. The higher the number, the more light is reflected. Snowbound has an LRV of 83.

For the record, no actual paint has an LRV of 100. Sherwin Williams High Reflective White (which is one of the brightest paint whites you can get) is 93. Pretty much anything 80 or above is considered white, and “off whites” can hover from ~70-80.

Snowbound’s LRV of 83 is reflective enough to be a true white while soft enough not to feel stark, even if your style is a bit more traditional or subdued.

Similar Colors to SNOWBOUND

Speaking of style, how does Snowbound fit with typical decorating styles? And how does it compare to other popular paint colors?

Sherwin Williams SNOWBOUND VS ALABASTER

Sometimes things are best understood by comparison, and Snowbound SW 7004 vs Alabaster SW 7008 is a perfect example. With LRVs of 83 and 82, respectively, both are soft but true whites (as opposed to “off whites”).

Both also have greige undertones, though Alabaster’s is much warmer than Snowbound’s. You might even say that Alabaster has a beige undertone. If you place them beside one another, Alabaster looks creamy, while Snowbound looks gray.

Typically speaking, Alabaster is a perfect backdrop for a more traditional home with a warmer aesthetic, while Snowbound is a bit more crisp and modern.

SNOWBOUND VS EXTRA WHITE

On the other end of the spectrum, Extra White SW 7006 is cooler and brighter than Snowbound. When you place Snowbound, with its LRV of 83, beside Extra White, with an LRV of 86, Snowbound does look more subdued. It also brings out the tiny hint of warm greige in Snowbound, making Extra White look almost blue by comparison.

Other similar bright, cool whites include Chantilly Lace and Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore. Both of these are brighter and cooler – and therefore have a more clean, stark look – than Snowbound.

SNOWBOUND VS PURE WHITE

Probably the most similar color to Sherwin Williams Snowbound is SW Pure White. With an LRV of 84, Pure White has just a touch of warm gray undertones and looks like a soft yet crisp white overall. While similar, Pure White is a bit brighter and warmer than Snowbound.

Speaking of brighter and warmer, Benjamin Moore’s Simply White is quite a bit brighter and warmer than both SW Snowbound and SW Pure White. If Snowbound seems too gray or dull in your space, Simply White might be a better option.

What TRIM COLORS Go with SNOWBOUND

Knowing how to pair any wall color with trim colors is important. All those things we mentioned about undertones become super important when pairing wall colors with trim colors.

Snowbound with White Trim

It’s important to avoid antique white trim with Snowbound walls. This will make the trim look dirty and the walls look dingy. Instead, you want to pair Snowbound with a crisp, bright white trim color.

In the huge remodel we just did for my parents, the trim work is extra white – straight out of the can off the shelf, completely untinted. And Snowbound pairs beautifully.

It also pairs well with the kitchen cabinets, which are Dove White by Kraftmaid (the same ones we put in our ranch kitchen). Dove White has some cool gray tones to it, but fortunately, its cooler color doesn’t harm the Snowbound undertones.

SNOWBOUND with Colored Trim

Another beautiful option with Snowbound is to pair the crisp, soft white walls with colored trim or doors.

We used SW Iron Ore for the French doors, stairs, and front door sidelights in this project, and the Snowbound offers the perfect backdrop. I also think it could be beautiful with deep blue or warm gray trim, doors, and windows.

More Exterior and Interior Paint Color Ideas

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out these other paint color posts:

• Agreeable Gray SW 7029 in Real Spaces
• SW White Duck and SW Tricorn Black Exterior
• The Best White Paint Colors

Overall, I think Sherwin Williams Snowbound is one of the best white paint color options. And if you think you might agree, be sure to pin this for your next makeover!