Read all about Sherwin Williams Dover White, plus check out 25 examples of real homes that use it!
Sherwin Williams Dover White (#SW 6385) is a popular and beautiful creamy white that can be used for walls, trim, bookshelves, and kitchens.
Dover White is a similar shade to Sherwin Williams Creamy, another very popular off white color. However, Creamy tends to read as much neutral creamy while Dover White has a little more obvious yellow in it.
Its yellow undertones can pull through very noticeably at times, which may or may not be desired. That’s why I say it’s vital to test your color with your permanent decor fixtures (flooring, counters, etc) as well as your furniture to determine if this color is right for your home before committing to it.
Are you ready to learn all the ins and outs of this shade? By the time you reach the end of this post, you’ll have a clear idea as to whether Sherwin William Dover White is the right color for you. Let’s jump right in!
Is Dover White Warm or Cool?
When it comes to neutral colors, I would argue that whites are the most deceptively complex colors. White may seem like a simple choice, but trust me, it’s anything but simple.
White paints, perhaps more than any other color, are subject to big variances due to undertones.
The Impact of Undertones
Undertones are tints of other colors that are added to the white paint to change its overall look. When you look at it, you’ll still see primarily white…but you’ll also see a hint of another color coming through too.
And those undertones will determine whether a particular white paint is warm, cool, creamy, beige, gray, blue, or even slightly pink.
Pay attention to those undertones, because they have a huge impact on whether the color you think you like will actually look good in the area of your home where you want it.
With Dover White, you’ll find a warm, creamy neutral white that creates a soft, cozy atmosphere. This color works well with muted blues and soft browns.
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LRV of Sherwin Williams Dover White
Ok, let’s chat about LRV for a moment, shall we? If you have been following our Paint Color Series posts, you have likely read about LRV. For those who haven’t, well, here’s quick recap.
LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value, and it’s basically a numerical value designed to indicate how much light a color reflects (how light it appears) or absorbs (how dark it appears). The range goes from 0-100, with higher numbers indicating brighter colors.
Every paint color is assigned an LRV number, and I LOVE this system because it offers a guide and a starting point as you start choosing colors for your painting project.
Sherwin Williams Dover White has an LRV of 83, which puts it solidly in the light, off-white cream range.
A Quick Note About LRV of Neutrals
In general, I’m not a huge fan of beige or dark neutrals.
I think people tend to pick darker colors than they usually should. It’s not hard to do if you don’t have the experience behind you telling you it’s a big no-no.
Small color swatches of a too-dark paint can look amazing, making you think that your top choice color will look amazing. Until your entire room is painted in that color and suddenly feels very dark and small.
The good news for Dover White is that’s not even close to being a problem!
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Dover White vs Other Soft Whites
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: white paint can be one of the most deceptive shades out there! You think a color is the right white until you hold it up against another shade, and end up a little confused. Here’s how Dover White stacks up against some of the other popular shades of paint.
Dover White vs. Alabaster
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another popular creamy, soft white. With an LRV of 82, it’s just the teeniest bit darker then Dover White. But it reads more neutral, whereas Dover White reads slightly more yellow.
They both read more white than any other color, but the slightly higher creamy look of Dover White makes it pair better with warm colors. Alabaster, on the other hand, can pretty easily span that bridge between cool colors and warm colors.
Dover White vs. White Dove
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a go-to white for many people, and as a bright, warm, neutral white, it’s not hard to see why.
White Dove’s LRV of 85.38 makes it brighter than Dover White. And where Dover White reads as a very creamy (yellow) white, White Dove reads more neutral with a touch of greige.
While Dover White looks pretty white in bright light, it will still retain that soft, creamy quality. White Dove, on the other hand, will tend to read more true white.
Dover White vs. Agreeable Gray
Wait…what? Comparing Dover White to Agreeable Gray? You’re probably saying “Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray isn’t white”, and YES you’re right!
However, I feel that Agreeable Gray is worth a mention here because the two colors pair very well together. They both read warm, and Dover White’s creamy undertones set off Agreeable Gray’s darker greige color in a way that makes both colors “pop” against each other.
If you like these colors, Dover White could be your trim (albeit a bit of a dark one) with Agreeable Gray on your walls.
Unsure if this is the right color for you? Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
25 Real Life Homes Using Sherwin Williams Dover White
Now it’s time to take a look at how Dover White looks in actual homes. It’s one thing to look at color swatches on a computer screen, but that alone is NEVER a good way to choose a paint color for your own home.
By seeing examples of how Dover White actually behaves in real life, you can get a better sense of whether it might be the color you want for your own home. Let’s take a look!
Real Life Bedrooms Using Dover White
The bedroom should be a place of relaxation. A cozy place that puts you at ease and helps to release the stresses from the day. A stark, cold white just won’t do in that area, but the creaminess of Dover White is perfect. Check out these examples of Dover White bedrooms.
1.) Soothing Creaminess| Houzz
If you are looking for a soft and cozy bedroom that’s also light and bright, consider Dover White. This example shows just how inviting and soothing this creamy white can be.
2.) Soft Bright White | The Home Colorsite
In rooms with less natural light, like this nursery, Dover White’s high LRV keeps the room bright while also giving it a soft vibe. The yellow undertones are muted here thanks to the natural lighting and the other decor items in the room.
3.) @haz_fam_
The light and decor in this room bring out the creaminess of Dover White without feeling to yellow.
And that’s the beauty of this color. It can read yellow, but more often than not, the yellow undertones are perfect for simply giving this white a soft bit of COLOR so that it can contrast with other whites.
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4.) @guildstreet
Speaking of contrasting with other whites, here’s a perfect example.
The bottom half of the walls are painted Dover White which contrasts beautifully with the brighter whites in the furniture and wallpaper while still keeping the entire room bright.
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Real Life Living Room Areas in Dover White
If you seek a bright living space but want a bit of color to provide a simple background for the rest of your decor, check out these living rooms that use Dover White.
5.) Soft Contrast | Fresh American Style
Here, Dover White frames out the very white kitchen in a lovely creamy frame. It’s a beautiful contrast that works well here and makes the small space feel more spacious.
6.) @lauraofpembroke
Different lighting situations can make the same paint color look VERY different. Check out how pure white Dover White looks here! But the magic of Dover White is that even in this lighting, it still reads soft – that’s the advantage of this white over other, less creamy, white choices.
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7.) Soft and Beautiful | Painted Nonsense
I love how this white can add just a touch of color while taking a step back and letting the fixtures and other decor elements take center stage.
8.) Perfect for Bookshelves | Rugh Design
In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing appealing about bright white bookshelves. If the shelves create too much glare to be able to see what’s on them, it’s too white. Not a problem with Dover White.
9.) @sarahjones.homes
If you want a color that looks different even in different areas of the same room, look no further than Dover White to provide some visual interest. Here you can see the range from pretty yellow to fairly pure white, all depending on the amount of shadows there are.
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Real-Life Kitchens Using Sherwin Williams Dover White
Cooking in a dark kitchen is not appetizing at all. Check out how Dover White looks in various kitchens!
10.) Creamy Kitchen Cabinets | Painted by Kayla Payne
In this kitchen, the surrounding fixtures and the wall color work together to highlight Dover White’s light white quality instead of its yellow undertones.
11.) @hayloft.home
How gorgeous is this kitchen? Dover White really shines here and shows off it’s soft, bright white qualities. I’m gaga for the gorgeous wood accent pieces.
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12.) @katenicolecorliss
Sometimes Dover White may look too creamy on kitchen cabinets, but not here. The color provides the perfect amount of creaminess for this kitchen.
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13.) @coloradopaintmasters
This kitchen is lovely. Remember how I mentioned above that Dover White works well with muted blues? Here’s the example I was hoping to find. The kitchen cabinets sparkle (in a soft way) against the muted blue island and greige walls.
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14.) @immeasurablymorehomes
Not too creamy…not too bright…just right.
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15.) @natewainscott
Light, bright, and soft. Dover White is the perfect color to bring together (and contrast against) the beautiful warm wood floors and the stainless appliances.
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16.) @designedtoflourish
The way that Sherwin Williams Dover White keeps this kitchen light and interesting completely attracts your attention away from the small size.
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Real Life Dining Spaces Using SW Dover White
Dover White provides a nice environment for dining. Check out these examples!
17.) Creamy to Bright White | Tag & Tibby
The shadow effect in this room highlights a range of tones for Dover White in a way that looks terrific.
18.) @happyplace_house
In this example, the hutch and trim are painted Dover White. The shade looks much brighter and more white than in the room above thanks to the cool tones throughout the rest of the room.
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Real Life Bathrooms That Use Dover White
Bathrooms can be very small, dark rooms, which makes the need for a light color even more important. Check out how Dover White looks.
19.) @annerundeinteriors
I love how Dover White pairs with the greige backsplash, white vanity, and dark accents to pull everything together and keep it from looking stark.
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20.) @mycraftedhome
Lovely and soft…and perfect for farmhouse decor!
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Sherwin Williams Dover White in Other Small Spaces
We’ve covered various rooms in the house, but what about hallways? Check out these examples.
21.) Bright, Natural Light | Lantern Lane Designs
Bright natural light brings out Dover White’s soft, white side.
22.) @hatcliffconstruction
Bright, yet soft in areas with low light. You can see how the yellow undertones start to show even more in the corners where the light is just a touch darker.
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Dover White as Exterior Paint
House interior…check. What about the exterior? Check out how Dover White performs.
23.) @farmhouseonwaters
Dover White with wood and brown-toned stone? A thousand times, YES!
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24.) @horizoncustombuilders
Dover White’s creaminess pairs well with the dark accents on this home’s exterior to keep it bright but not blinding white.
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25.) @horizoncustombuilders
An exterior example with muted blues paired with Dover White. It’s stunning.
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There ya go! Sherwin Williams Dover White’s creamy nature and versatility are the reasons behind its huge popularity. As with ANY paint color, thoroughly vet it in the space you want to paint before fully committing.
However, for the most part, if you love a creamy warm white with yellow undertones…go wrong with Dover White. Or at least add it to the list for consideration!
Pin this post for later! And if you decide to use this shade, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this color, too!
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Deb Stover says
Hello!
I am so pleased to have found your blog. We built a new home with an open floor plan and a large kitchen with custom cabinets painted Dover White. I love the color and had the 20 ft ceilings and trim in Dover. I do want to change it up now and paint my walls, less golden and more greige as they are painted SS Whole Wheat now. Another blog slammed DW to the point that I didn’t think greige or any color for that matter could go with it. I love it with Agreeable Gray! After putting it next to my counters and wood floors it’s perfect. I could hug you. :):)
C Allen says
Stay away from SW DOVER WHITE. we have it on our trim and the yellow undertone is too strong. We painted the walls SW alabaster and they look good with it, but I’d definitely pick another trim color if I had the choice