Swiss Coffee vs Alabaster: Which Warm White Is Best?

Swiss Coffee and Alabaster are two of the most loved warm whites in America, one from Benjamin Moore and one from Sherwin-Williams. They're often recommended for the same jobs, from living room walls to kitchen cabinets and farmhouse exteriors, and on paper they're almost identical. So which should you choose, and is there really any difference?

In this guide I'll explain how Swiss Coffee and Alabaster compare side by side, their undertones and LRV, how they look in different light, which works best in each room and outside, the colours that go with them, and how to choose between them.

The quick answer: they're extremely close. Swiss Coffee can look a fraction fresher, with a very subtle green-yellow cast in some light. Alabaster can look a fraction softer and more beige. If you already have Benjamin Moore colours in your home, choose Swiss Coffee; if you're using Sherwin-Williams, choose Alabaster. Then test both, because your light will make the final decision.

Swiss Coffee vs Alabaster Side by Side

Benjamin Moore describes Swiss Coffee as "an essential white paint color with just the right amount of warmth". Alabaster's values come from Sherwin-Williams' own colour page.

Watch out for Behr Swiss Coffee. Behr also makes a colour called Swiss Coffee (12), and it's a different paint, a little lighter, with an LRV of about 84. Always check the brand and code when you buy or have a colour matched.

The Difference in Undertones

Both are warm whites, so neither looks stark or blue. The difference is subtle:

• Swiss Coffee has a creamy warmth with a faint green-yellow cast. In some light, particularly with green outside the windows, it can look very slightly olive.
• Alabaster has a faint gray-beige softness. It can look a little more muted and relaxed, especially in shaded rooms.

A designer's tip: compare both samples against a sheet of white paper and against your floor or worktop. Whichever looks more natural next to your fixed finishes is usually the right choice.

LRV: Which Is Lighter?

Their LRVs are almost identical: 81.91 for Swiss Coffee and 82.2 for Alabaster. LRV measures how much light a colour reflects, from 0 for black to 100 for pure white. A difference this small won't be visible on the wall, so choose between them on undertone rather than brightness.

How They Look in Different Light

In a north-facing room, both look calm rather than bright, so add warm lamp light and avoid very cool bulbs.

Swiss Coffee vs Alabaster Room by Room

Living rooms and bedrooms

Both are ideal whole-house colours, warm enough to feel cosy and light enough to keep rooms bright. Alabaster suits schemes with greige, linen and oak; Swiss Coffee looks especially lovely with green, sage and natural wood.

Kitchens and cabinets

Both are popular cabinet colours. Swiss Coffee cabinets look fresh with sage, brass and marble, while Alabaster cabinets look soft with oak, terracotta tiles and natural stone. Both are lovely in utility and laundry rooms too, where a warm white makes a hardworking space feel calm.

Bathrooms

In bathrooms, which often have small windows and cool artificial light, both whites keep the room soft and warm. They pair beautifully with wood vanities, brass taps and terracotta or stone floors.

Trim

For a seamless look, use the same white on walls and trim in a satin or semi-gloss finish. For a subtle contrast, use a slightly cleaner white such as Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 or Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005 on trim.

Exteriors

Outdoors, strong daylight makes both colours look lighter and whiter than they do inside. They're both popular on farmhouses and cottages, and they look wonderful with black windows, a wooden door or a soft green front door. If you're planning an exterior scheme, ideas for a house with black windows or a white house with black trim work with either white.

Colors That Go With Swiss Coffee and Alabaster

Warm wood, brass, linen and terracotta suit both colours, and Edgecomb Gray is one of the easiest greiges to pair with either.

Similar Whites to Compare

If you're weighing up Alabaster against another Sherwin-Williams white, Greek Villa vs Alabaster is the closest comparison. If Shoji White is on your list too, Shoji White vs Swiss Coffee is the deeper option, and the best white paint colours offer a wider choice.

Can You Colour Match Swiss Coffee in Sherwin-Williams Paint?

Paint stores can colour match almost any shade, but a match is never perfectly identical because the bases and pigments differ between brands. If you love Swiss Coffee, buying Benjamin Moore paint gives you the true colour. If you need to use Sherwin-Williams, Alabaster is so close that many people simply choose it instead of a match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swiss Coffee the same as Alabaster?

No, but they're very close. Swiss Coffee is a Benjamin Moore colour with a subtle green-yellow cast; Alabaster is a Sherwin-Williams colour with a soft gray-beige cast.

Which is lighter, Swiss Coffee or Alabaster?

They're almost identical. Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91 and Alabaster has an LRV of about 82.2.

Is Swiss Coffee warmer than Alabaster?

Both are warm. Many people find Swiss Coffee looks very slightly creamier and Alabaster looks very slightly softer, but in most rooms the difference is small.

Does Swiss Coffee look yellow?

It can look creamy or slightly yellow under very warm bulbs or in strong evening sun. In most daylight it reads as a soft warm white.

Which is better for kitchen cabinets?

Both work beautifully. Choose Swiss Coffee for a slightly fresher look with green and brass, or Alabaster for a softer look with oak and stone.

Is Behr Swiss Coffee the same as Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee?

No. They're different colours from different brands. Behr Swiss Coffee is a little lighter.

Which is better for exteriors?

Both are excellent. Test them on the shaded and sunny sides of the house, because daylight changes them more than any difference between them.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Swiss Coffee if you love Benjamin Moore, your scheme includes green, sage or brass, or you want a white that feels a touch fresher. Choose Alabaster if you prefer Sherwin-Williams, your scheme is built on greige, oak and natural textures, or you want a white that feels a touch softer.

Either way, you're choosing between two excellent warm whites, so test both in your own light. And if you'd like help choosing colours for your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.