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!
Thank you for the helpful insight! It’s amazing how many different whites there are and how they can change in rooms with low/high light. I have to say that I am soooo in love with your cabinets! The wood is amazing!!! Is it hickory??
Thanks, Bridget! The cabinets are from Kraftmaid. We have used them in three different kitchens now. You can learn more about them on my blog here: https://www.maisondepax.com/kraftmaid-cabinets-design-order/
We love our snowbound walls! So much so, we used it also on all the trim but changed the finish to gloss. It’s perfectly subtle of a change. I will say, this paint doesn’t dry well if its painted on a flat horizontal surface. We love the color and our white oak floor color plays very well with Snowbound. We are painting our exterior next week, also white but we chose Broken White for exterior.
How exciting about your exterior. I am glad you like using Snowbound so much!
Thank you, Rachel. I used Alabaster at our home in Texas and I love it, but when I put some on the wall here at our home in Florida, it looked totally different. I think the pool and greenery outside my window reflect inside, making it difficult to know which white will work. Maybe I will sample Snowbound next.
Isn’t it fascinating how different spaces affect colors? Especially whites… I hope you are able to find the perfect shade for your new house!
What a fabulous post! I love the discussion of the whtes and the comparisons. Also the reflective value scale. That is a concept that is a little hard for me to grasp, but I think I get it.
Another thing that I sometimes hear mentioned, that you did not bring up in this post, was the issues that come up with, say, a north versus a south facing room. It’s hard for me to understand how that could change how I color looks in a room.
Again, thank you for such an interesting discussion. I hope you will do this more often with other colors.
Ps- as an aside, you mentioned the color Alabaster. I am always surprised when I hear people love it – I tried it once in a space and it turned greenish. Since I’m the only one that’s ever mentioned that, I almost wonder if my paint was mismixed! Ah, the trials of picking paints! 🙂
Thank you, Shelley! I actually just had another reader leave a comment about Alabaster pulling green… so you’re not alone! But I hear you on colors; even a slightly different mix or sheen can affect the overall shades, especially with whites. And you’re right, the cardinal direction of a room (and whether it has light only from one side or more than one) can definitely affect colors! Maybe I’ll need to write a separate post on that. In the meantime, there’s some mention of it in this post on my favorite whites. I hope this helps!
I just read your post of Your Favorite Whites, that you referred me to. I know how I had missed it! Love your writing style: cozy and friendly enough to feel like a favorite neighbor, but specific and technical enough to feel like one is getting sound advice!
Thank you!
Hi Shelley! What an honor to be described that way as a writer. I want to be practical but also inspiring! Glad it helped you choose the right paint color.
I am a big fan of SnowBound. My entire first floor is painted that color.
Can you please tell me the details on your ceiling fan? Thanks in advance.
I love Snowbound too! You can find out all about the fan choices in this post: https://www.maisondepax.com/stylish-ceiling-fans-for-a-transitional-style/
I love this all! I’m curious what kind of floor do you have in the color of it?
Hi Anna! Yes, they are European White Oak by Green World Industries.
Hi, what color did you use for The trim and baseboard? Is it SW Extra White semi gloss?
Hi! Yes, the trim and baseboard is SW Extra White in semi gloss. I hope this helps!
What color would you use for your ceiling when painting the walls with snowbound?
Great question! We actually used Snowbound on the ceiling, as well. It’s such a wonderful, crisp, neutral white. But a flat untinted white would be great, as well.
Many thanks for the positive review of Snowbound. I was introduced to the color at a Sherwin Williams store today. I plan on using the color on all surfaces (ceiling-walls-trim). Am I correct, when using this color, you like 7006 for the cabinetry? For a galley kitchen, would you do the wall/base cabinets this same color. Again, many thanks.
You’re welcome! You have several options with Snowbound walls when it comes to white cabinetry. You can do Snowbound in a different sheen (satin or semigloss, while walls are flat or eggshell), you can use a slightly brighter white like 7005, or you can go extra bright white with 7006. 7006 will be the coolest/starkest color choice of the three, but if you like crisp and clean, then it’s a great option. The main thing you don’t want to do is something warmer like Alabaster, as it will make your cabinets look dingy by comparison to the Snowbound. As always, I encourage holding up the color in the space to make your final decision if you can since light can affect whites so much. I hope this helps!
Rachel
Many thanks your prompt response. Its refreshing to see that people still care about helping others! You are a true professional! Again, thank you.
Thank you, Kevin! And you are so welcome. 🙂
This is a wonderful article and your home is beautiful. I am curious how you think Snowbound would look with golden/honey oak trim, especially in a south facing room with moderate light. My home is a typical early 2000s suburban home. The trim is golden/honey oak and the doors are white. Thank you.
Hi Barb, my parents have a lot of wood tones in their home with Snowbound, but as always, I’d recommend getting a sample and seeing how you like it in your space.
Found this article at a perfect time! I painted my kitchen cabinets snowboard, however, now I’m struggling to pick a white for the ceiling/ trim and surrounding interior walls. Would you go with snowbound on the kitchen walls as well? Or a complimentary white? Any suggestions?
I would consider using Snowbound on the walls too. It makes a great trim color.
Hi there! We just had our trim and doors painted in Snowbound and they look great! What would you recommend as a wall color that is slightly darker? We currently have SW Aesthetic White and it looks very creamy (too yellow) next to Snowbound. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
I’d take a look at the card that Snowbound came from and play with those colors, like Toque white or Eider White.
Hi Rachel! This article has been so informative! I’m currently stuck and wondered if you can offer some advice:) My ceilings, trim, baseboards and doors in my house are all SW Pure White which I love! We are remodeling our kitchen and I’m wondering what color of white to have our kitchen cabinets painted? I was wanting Snowbound since it seems to match well with our Cambria quartz countertops we’re having put in, but should I just paint them the same Pure White?? They go right up to the ceiling, so I wasn’t sure if you’ll see a huge contrast with the Snowbound cabinets next to the Pure White ceiling:) Thank you for any suggestions!!
Hi Tiffany!
There won’t be a huge contrast, but I do think those colors look lovely together! As always, I recommend trying the color before you commit.
Hi Rachel,
I love your post and all of these tips you included, you are an amazing interior designer! I’m moving to an old house but need your recommendations 🙂 I ordered Snowbound, Pure White, and Extra White sample from Samplize. I adore the Snowbound and Extra White, I thought the Pure White has a bit of yellow I’m not too keen on.
Wall – Snowbound 7004 – I don’t like shiny walls, would an eggshell do? Or what finish do you recommend?
Baseboard, door trims, doors, cabinets, white risers for staircase, – Should I do Snowbound Semi-Gloss or Extra White 7006 in semi gloss or another finish if I expect to clean them often? I have cats who adore their dusty litter 🙂
Thank you for your help!!
Hi Erica,
I prefer eggshell on walls and satin for trim. Extra white would be great for trim!
Hi Rachel!
This review of snowbound has been beyond helpful! We will definitely we using it on our walls. I’m torn about what color to use for the trim: extra white vs highly reflective white. I like how highly reflective white shows off how grey-beige snowbound is but worry it is too much? While extra white is more subtle color difference than snowbound, I worry it won’t show off the trim enough? Any suggestions?
I don’t think you can go wrong with either. I would suggest trying both in your space and seeing how you like it. Highly reflective white can be pretty stark on trim and doors, but as you said, it would definitely give you more contrast to your Snowbound walls. 🙂
Such helpful commentary on white paint…thank you!
Would you suggest Pure white or Snowbound for an exterior west facing modern farmhouse?
Black roof and windows. Concerned about either looking really gray on the east and north side.
Thanks so much!
Cheryl
I wouldn’t be concerned with either of these appearing gray! Snowbound would be my choice.