Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Natural Choice

If you love Sherwin Williams Natural Choice but need a Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.

Natural Choice (SW 7011) is a light white with warm cream undertones. A warm cream off-white. Slightly darker than Alabaster with more body. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 79) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.

We calculated the perceptual color distance between Natural Choice and every Farrow & Ball 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 good news: there is a strong Farrow & Ball match for Natural Choice. Shadow White (No.282) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Shadow White is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 78. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.

Farrow & Ball Matches for Natural Choice

Shadow White No.282
Excellent match · ΔE 2.2

Shadow White is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 78. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.

Natural ChoiceShadow White
LRV7978
Hex#E8E3D9#E8E3D9
UndertoneWarm CreamWarm Cream
FamilyWhiteWhite

Undertone Comparison

Natural Choice has warm cream undertones. A warm cream off-white. Slightly darker than Alabaster with more body.

Shadow White has warm cream undertones. A warm, creamy white with gentle depth. Less stark than Wimborne White.

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

Natural Choice in Your Room

Warm and inviting. A rich warm white with visible cream.

Shadow White in Your Room

Warm and subtle. Reads as a rich warm white.

LRV and Brightness

Natural Choice has an LRV of 79, while Shadow White has an LRV of 78. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.

Best Rooms for Natural Choice

Sherwin Williams recommends Natural Choice for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, trim. With an LRV of 79, 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.

Shadow White is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, kitchen. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Shadow White in the same rooms you planned for Natural Choice.

Natural Choice in Other Brands

Looking for Natural Choice equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

The closest Farrow & Ball match for Natural Choice (SW 7011) is Shadow White (No.282) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Shadow White is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 78. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth. 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. Natural Choice is a Sherwin Williams color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 79. Shadow White is a Farrow & Ball color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 78. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.

There are several practical reasons to look for a Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.

Colors on screen are approximations. Your monitor, lighting, and paint finish will affect how colors appear in your space. Always test with a physical paint sample before purchasing.

Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.