The Best White Paint Colors for a Modern Exterior

When we started choosing paint for our exterior, we thought white would be the easy choice. But as anyone who’s ever tested paint samples knows, white paint colors for exterior homes can be surprisingly tricky. Undertones, natural light, and even your roof color can completely change how a white looks once it’s up on the siding.

After the install of our 10-inch reveal lap siding (still one of our favorite design details), we knew we wanted a timeless, classic white that would highlight the clean, wide boards without feeling too yellow or too cold. We also knew there was something very classic about a white house with black trim. So we tested four of the most popular Sherwin-Williams exterior white paint colors: Pure White, Alabaster, Snowbound, and Shoji White. Read more on the best white exterior paint colors

The best white exterior paint colors

Pure White (SW 7005)

Pure White is known for being crisp and modern and a go-to for minimalist and coastal homes. On our house, though, it pulled noticeably cool. The blue undertones became really apparent in the lighting around our property, especially during morning and evening hours and when the sun is directly on the house. If your home gets lots of warm sunlight, or you’re pairing it with warm trim, Pure White would probably look beautiful. But for our northwest light, it felt a bit too icy.

Alabaster (SW 7008)

Alabaster is often described as a warm, soft white, and we were excited to try it. But on our exterior, it came across as surprisingly stark. While some homes pull out its subtle creaminess, our cooler light made it look bright and flat. It’s still a gorgeous shade and we actually debated this one for a while, since we did want a clean white home. It just didn’t offer the warmth we were hoping for.

Snowbound (SW 7004)

We also tested Snowbound, another designer favorite that’s often praised for its clean, neutral look. On our home, however, Snowbound felt overly cool, almost gray in certain light. While it can be stunning on homes with southern exposure or contrasting materials, the blue undertones stood out too much against our 10-inch lap siding and darker roofline. It lacked the soft warmth we wanted, especially in shaded areas.

Shoji White (SW 7042) – Our Winner

Then we tried Shoji White and instantly loved it. It has a natural, balanced warmth that feels calm and sophisticated without drifting into beige or yellow. We’d read a few reviews mentioning pink undertones, but we haven’t noticed that at all with the way our home faces the light. Instead, it’s a soft, creamy neutral that pairs beautifully with our 10-inch lap siding and dark trim accents.

Why We Chose Shoji White for Our Exterior

If you’re searching for the best warm white exterior paint color that still feels modern, Shoji White is worth testing. It has enough depth to stand out against landscaping and trim, but still gives that clean, classic white house look.

When you see it in person, you’ll notice it adapts beautifully to different lighting. It is bright and airy during the day, cozy and neutral in the evening. On our home, it brought out the subtle texture of our siding and gave our exterior the perfect amount of contrast.

Curious About Our Dark Trim? We debated heavily between Tricorn Black and Iron Ore, two of the most popular Sherwin-Williams dark exterior trim colors (both are beautiful!). We ultimately went with Tricorn Black for its crisp contrast in direct sunlight. When we painted samples of both and carried them around to different sides of the house, the difference was clear; Iron Ore looked more like a slate gray in direct sun, while Tricorn Black stayed true black and bold. In shaded areas, Iron Ore did deepen beautifully, but overall we wanted a consistent dark trim that popped against our Shoji White siding.

Always Test in Natural and Direct Light

The biggest lesson we learned? Always test white paint samples outdoors. Paint can shift dramatically depending on sun exposure, direction, and surroundings. Paint large swatches on different sides of your home before committing, especially with whites.

And if you’re curious about the lap siding style we used, check out our full post on why we chose a 10-inch reveal lap siding. It made all the difference in creating that modern classic feel we love.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right white paint for your home’s exterior can feel overwhelming, but once you find the one, it transforms everything. For us, Shoji White was that perfect balance of warm, timeless, and effortlessly beautiful.

If you’re planning your own exterior project, test a few shades in your lighting before deciding. You might just find your perfect white, too.

The Siding Installation Team That Brought It All Together

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