White Tie → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball White Tie (No.2002), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for White Tie
If you love Farrow & Ball White Tie but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
White Tie (No.2002) is a light cream with warm formal cream undertones. A warm cream named for the formal dress code. Between Slipper Satin and James White in warmth. Elegant and appropriate for any room. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 76) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between White Tie and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Alabaster Variant (SW 7009) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Pearly White is similar. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for White Tie
Pearly White is similar.
| White Tie | Alabaster Variant | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 76 | 83 |
| Hex | #E4E0D6 | #EDEAE2 |
| Undertone | Warm Formal Cream | Warm Pearl |
| Family | Cream | White |
Undertone Comparison
White Tie has warm formal cream undertones. A warm cream named for the formal dress code. Between Slipper Satin and James White in warmth. Elegant and appropriate for any room.
Alabaster Variant has warm pearl undertones. A warm pearl white. Slightly cooler than Alabaster.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
White Tie in Your Room
Warm and elegant. Reads as a warm off-white with visible cream. The F&B warm white for formal spaces.
Alabaster Variant in Your Room
Clean and warm. Between Alabaster and Pure White.
LRV and Brightness
White Tie has an LRV of 76, while Alabaster Variant has an LRV of 83. That means Alabaster Variant reflects more light. If you switch from White Tie to Alabaster Variant, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for White Tie
Farrow & Ball recommends White Tie for: living room, dining room, hallway, bedroom, whole house. With an LRV of 76, this is a light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Alabaster Variant is recommended for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
White Tie in Other Brands
Looking for White Tie equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for White Tie (No.2002) is Alabaster Variant (SW 7009) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Pearly White is similar. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. White Tie is a Farrow & Ball color with warm formal cream undertones and an LRV of 76. Alabaster Variant is a Sherwin Williams color with warm pearl undertones and an LRV of 83. With a Delta E of 3.8, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 3.8, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.