Swiss Coffee vs Alabaster
A side-by-side comparison of Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45) and Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008).
| Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee | Sherwin Williams Alabaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Code | OC-45 | SW 7008 |
| Hex |
#F0EBDD
|
#EDEAE0
|
| RGB | 240, 235, 221 | 237, 234, 224 |
| LRV | 83.93 | 82 |
| Undertone | Warm Yellow | Warm Cream |
| Family | Off-White | White |
| Best Rooms | Living Room, Bedroom, Whole House, Hallway, Dining Room | Whole House, Trim, Cabinets, Living Room, Bedroom |
LRV Comparison
Light Reflectance Value measures how much light a color reflects. Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 83.93 (very light) and Alabaster has an LRV of 82 (very light). These two colors reflect a similar amount of light, so the brightness of a room will feel comparable with either choice.
The Full Comparison
Two of the most popular warm whites in America, from different brands with the same cozy intent. Swiss Coffee (BM) has slightly more yellow-cream warmth and a touch more depth. Alabaster (SW) is a softer, more muted warm white that leans less yellow. In a kitchen with warm countertops, Alabaster's subtlety keeps the space from feeling too yellow. In a living room where you want that warm, inviting glow, Swiss Coffee delivers more visible warmth. Both are excellent cabinet colors, but Swiss Coffee reads warmer against cool-toned backsplash while Alabaster stays more neutral.
Swiss Coffee Undertones
A classic warm off-white with yellow-cream undertones. Slightly warmer than White Dove, with a cozier, more enveloping feel.
Alabaster Undertones
A warm, creamy white that's one of the most popular paint colors in America. Not stark, not yellow, just comfortably warm.
Lighting Behavior
Swiss Coffee: Reads warmest in south and west-facing rooms. Under cool north light, it settles into a pleasant warm neutral. Can look noticeably yellow under warm incandescent bulbs.
Alabaster: Looks warm and inviting in nearly every lighting condition. In very bright south-facing light, the cream undertone becomes more apparent. Under cool light, it reads as a soft neutral.
Explore These Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Swiss Coffee (Benjamin Moore) and Alabaster (Sherwin Williams) are not the same color. They're in the same family (off-white), but they differ in undertone, LRV, and how they behave in different lighting. Swiss Coffee has warm yellow undertones, while Alabaster has warm cream undertones. Always compare physical samples before choosing.
Swiss Coffee is lighter with an LRV of 83.93, compared to Alabaster's LRV of 82. LRV (Light Reflectance Value) measures how much light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (black) to 100 (white).
You could, though most designers would recommend the opposite: Alabaster (the darker shade, LRV 82) on walls and Swiss Coffee (the lighter shade, LRV 83.93) on trim. That said, rules are made to be broken.