Sherwin Williams’ Eider White 7014: See this complicated off-white in 29 real homes, and decide if it’s the right shade for your own home…
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (and again, and again)…white paint colors are HARD to pick. There are just so many factors to consider, from lighting to undertones, surrounding decor, and more.
So many people think “it’s just white,” but unless you factor in all the nuances, you’re more likely to choose a white that you’ll end up hating than you are to choose the one you’ll love.
Wait, is it possible to hate a white color? Why yes, yes it is. Ask me how I know. 😉
That’s why it’s essential that you really study and examine each potential white color that you seriously consider painting in your home. They may all look alike on small little swatch cards, but trust me, there are some serious differences between them.
That’s my goal for writing this paint color series. I hope to give you the information and tools you need to make an informed decision that you’ll love when you transform your home!
Sherwin Williams Eider White Motto – “It’s Complicated”
Think back, way back perhaps, to your dating life. Were you the type to typically go for that mysterious guy or gal? The one who was a little hard to read? Maybe he or she was a little shifty…one minute you thought he was a saint, the next she was a bit of a wild child…unpredictable, perhaps. You liked people who kept you on your toes.
If that sounds appealing, then SW #7014, AKA Eider White may be right up your alley.
This particular color is one of the most complex neutral colors. It can deliver a surprise here or there that can be unwelcome at times.
NOTE: every time I write one of these color study posts, I recommend getting paint swatches for each color you consider painting in your home. But with colors like this one, it’s ESSENTIAL because they can vary so much.
Save yourself the headache of picking colors you end up hating and spending tons of cash to repaint another color. Get paint samples; check them in every room you want to paint in different lighting throughout the day.
The samples I recommend? Re-usable, re-positionable, no-mess required peel and stick paint samples.
Let’s investigate SW Eider White so that it doesn’t give you any unpleasant surprises and to see if it might be a good choice for your home.
FAQs About Eider White
What color is Eider White?
The simple answer? It’s complicated. You could call Eider White either an off-white, or a light-gray, and I don’t think either answer would be wrong.
Eider White is a color that can look very different in different lighting situations. And the undertones of the shade are very important to understand before selecting this shade.
It’s a warm shade, despite its gray leanings. And also shows a hint of a pink and/or purple hue in certain light!
What undertones are in Sherwin Williams Eider White?
If we call this color an off-white, then we’d say it’s an off-white with gray undertones. But we could also say it’s a light gray with purple undertones. And that’s not all…this shade also look pink in certain lighting.
Because of those complicated undertones (or lots of “depth” as that is sometimes called), many people may steer away from this color. But it really is gorgeous and stands out well against white trim. It’s worth at least considering and taking a closer look at!
And how often do you get one paint color that can look white, or gray, or purple, or pink? That’s four shades for the price of one! How’s that for a positive spin?
Is Eider White a warm or cool white?
Although Eider White has gray undertones, it has a bit of warmth to it.
Where can you use Eider White?
Sherwin Williams Eider White can look amazing in bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and just about any space! Just please, oh please, test it first in your lighting…morning, noon, and night!
In cool north-facing light, Eider White will likely look cooler and more gray, possibly with some purple. However in west, or south-facing light, you’re likely to see it warm up and maybe even see some of that pink undertone.
What trim colors are best with Eider White?
Eider White has just enough pigment that it can really pop well against a light, bright white trim color. Or even a dark, dramatic black trim. Which shades would look best?
For a white trim check out:
1. Highly Reflective White (Sherwin Williams)
2. Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore)
3. Plain, old semi-gloss or high-gloss paint, straight outta the can (any brand will do) – A controversial choice? Maybe. But this is my favorite trim move. I just buy a can of white paint and add no tint, whatsoever. No fuss, no shady undertones to worry about…base paint colors are very pure in appearance. If anything, they’ll look a bit cool.
For a dark trim option check out:
1. Iron Ore (Sherwin Williams)
2. Caviar (Sherwin Williams)
Great Coordinating Colors for Eider White
This paint color looks stunning with lots of other colors. Pair it with black and white for a clean, timeless palette. If you love the modern farmhouse look, Eider White and taupe will be a winning combination.
You can pair it with darker neutrals or even bolder colors. Since it reads slightly warm or completely neutral, it can often go well with both warm and cool colors.
If you’re looking for specific coordinating colors, start with this list:
- Hale Navy
- Morris Room Grey
- Aqua-Sphere
- Mindful Gray
- Sea Salt
- Autumn Orchid
- Repose Gray
- Iron Ore
- Dried Lavender
- Chelsea Gray
- Fieldstone
- Comfort Gray
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
LRV of Sherwin Williams Eider White SW 7014
Let’s take a quick look at Eider White paint from a numbers perspective. Just looking at paint colors will yield very subjective results. That’s why I recommend adding objective evaluation (numbers don’t lie!) to your subjective visual methods for a more clear overall picture.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a number ranging between 0 and 100. Each paint has an assigned number on the LRV scale to indicate how much light a color reflects. Zero represents pure black because it doesn’t reflect ANY light, while 100 represents pure white because it reflects ALL the light. In other words, darker shades have lower LRV numbers, and lighter shades have higher LRV values.
The LRV of SW Eider White = 73
This value puts SW Eider White firmly in the light range. It’s an off-white that will easily wash out in lots of natural light but could look slightly flat in low artificial light.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got 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!⤵️
Eider White Compared to Other Similar Paint Shades
I love comparing similar colors side by side so that I can get a more accurate picture of a specific color’s undertones. Here’s how Sherwin Williams Eider White stacks up against three other popular paint colors.
Sherwin Williams Eider White vs Alabaster
When you put these two colors side by side, you can see that Eider White reads as gray with purple undertones while SW Alabaster reads as a little grayer with a touch of beige undertones. In addition, with an LRV of 82, Alabaster is quite a bit brighter.
Sherwin Williams Eider White vs Egret White
Sherwin Williams Egret White has an LRV of 69.92, so that means it’s definitely darker than the Eider White. They both have gray and purple undertones, but Egret White also has some definite beige undertones to make it more greige than gray.
When placed side by side, Egret White looks warmer than Eider White does.
Sherwin Williams Eider White vs Crushed Ice
With an LRV of 66, Crushed Ice by Sherwin Williams is quite a bit darker than Eider White. Crushed Ice has stronger gray undertones as well as a teensy bit of blue undertones.
It reads as darker and cooler than Eider White does.
Other White and Off-White Paint Colors To Consider:
Not ready to commit to Eider White just yet? Check out these other white paint colors to see if they catch your eye, including several similar options from competitor Benjamin Moore:
- Pure White (Sherwin Williams) – warm white that can lean slightly greige
- Snowbound (Sherwin Williams) – a slightly cool, yet very livable white
- Dover White (Sherwin Williams) – a warm, creamy off-white
- Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore) – a crisp white that brightens any space
- Super White (Benjamin Moore) – a bright, neutral shade of white
- Simply White (Benjamin Moore) – a creamy white with yellow undertones
- Linen White (Benjamin Moore) – sophisticated, traditional warm off-white
- Agreeable Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a very popular warm, and much darker greige
- Greek Villa (Sherwin Williams) – a neutral soft, and creamy off-white
- Aesthetic White (Sherwin Williams) – a beautiful off-white with greige undertones
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! 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!⤵️
Eider White in the Wild: Real Examples of SW 7014
Are you ready to get to the fun part? Seeing how the paint looks in real homes is a great way to help you pick the color you want. Let’s see this paint in action as I show you more than 20 real homes using Sherwin Williams Eider White paint.
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
Living Rooms in Eider White Paint
1. Inviting Gray Family Room
Eider Gray complements the decor in this home perfectly. The various grays draw out the gray undertones, and the cool natural light makes the color read slightly cool.
The trim color in this space is SW Extra White.
2. Living Room in SW Eider White
This room from The Spoiled Home is another example of this color being paired with gray and black accent pieces.
On the left side of the image, you can see that it reads as a light off-white where the natural light hits it. But on the right side of the picture, Eider White reads as a light gray.
3. Eider White seen in low light
The low levels of cool natural light draw out the light gray undertones, and I definitely see a wink of that soft purple undertone peeking through in this lovely, neutral living room from Adrienne Alvis.
Sherwin Williams Eider White Bedrooms
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
4. Cool Gray Bedroom
Ooooh, this color is very interesting in this room. At first glance, it appears to be reading blue, but if you look in the mirror, you can see a blue dresser.
So the natural light is shining off the blue dresser and reflecting that color onto the opposite wall. Elsewhere in the room, it’s reading as cool and slightly gray.
5. Master Bedroom Eider White Paint
Oh, I love this bedroom from Building Bluebird! Sherwin Williams Eider White is presenting as a slightly warm, soft off-white here. The mauve accent pieces highlight the slight purple undertone in a brilliant way.
6. Farmhouse Bedroom in Eider White
This farmhouse bedroom is stunning. I’m feeling a sudden urge to redecorate 😂 The various shades of taupe and beige make the paint read less gray and more beige. It’s the perfect color pairing!
7. Light and Bright Eider White Bedroom
For just a moment, forget about that barn door (painted in SW Pure White) that I want to rip off its track and take home.
The Eider White walls are reading cool gray and slightly purple, thanks to the low amount of cool natural light coming in.
8. Eider White Looking…White
See the wink of gray peeking through that off-white paint? It’s reading warm here thanks to the warm south-facing natural light.
9. Trim and Ceiling in SW Eider White
Sherwin Williams Eider White makes a terrific ceiling and trim paint for the right wall color. I’d say this taupe wall color shared by Tiny Bits of Happiness is the perfect color!
Nursery’s Painted SW Eider White
10. Contrasts with white trims
Eider White is a lovely soft off-white for a nursery! And in low natural light, it’s just dark enough to contrast with white trim!
11. Boy’s Nursery in White
In bright natural light, Eider White washes out but never becomes blindingly bright or harsh, like seen in the home of The Alwayz Fashionably Late.
12. Off-white in Sunlight
This is such a cute nursery! I love how Eider White softens the room just so. In the natural light, it looks off-white, but above the windows, I see some gray coming through.
Eider White Kitchens and Dining Spaces
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
13. Eider White Kitchen Walls
Eider White even works with creamier whites. Here the cabinets appear white next to the creamy wall color.
14. Walls in Sherwin Williams Eider White Paint
The gray undertones come through in The Inspired Hive‘s kitchen thanks to the cool natural light, and the effect is lovely. It’s just enough to soften the white so that this kitchen looks bright and comforting.
15. Eider White Reflecting its Surroundings
Here, Eider White seems to be having an identity crisis. It appears slightly green in the corner on the right but gray with some purple undertones in the corner on the left.
I suspect that the corner on the right is reflecting some green from outside the window (because white paints REFLECT).
16. SW Eider White Open Concept Kitchen
Because this paint color leans slightly warm, it looks white next to the cool stainless appliances in Building Bluebird‘s kitchen.
Bathrooms in Eider White
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
17. Powder Room with Eider White Upper Walls
I definitely see some purple undertones in the corner of this bathroom from Redeeming Hampton! I love how the paint contrasts with the slightly darker gray tiles below.
18. Sherwin Williams Eider White Bathroom
The warm wood tones and brass accents keep this paint warm and just slightly off-white in appearance. You can see some gray in the dark corners, which ties in with the flooring of this bathroom from Sorento Custom Homes.
19. Master bathroom with SW Eider White Walls
Do you see the purple coming out to play ever so subtly on the wall to the right? It looks great with the blue cabinets!
20. Eider White Works Well with Darker Gray Hues
I love how this bathroom takes advantage of the gray undertones in the paint by pairing it with the gray vanity.
SW Eider White Laundry Rooms
21. Eider White Changing with this Laundry Room Light
Scroll through the pictures, and you’ll see a great demonstration of how a change in the angle of the lighting can impact how paint reads.
In the first image, it reads more beige, while in the other photos, it is less beige and more gray.
22. SW Eider White Small Laundry Space
The bright artificial light washes out the paint, which helps to make this small laundry space from Tag and Tibby feel much larger.
23. Gray with Cool Undertones
Eider White keeps this laundry room light while also preventing it from being too bright in the harsh artificial light.
The cool light pulls out the gray undertones, which pair perfectly with the gray appliances and flooring.
Home Exteriors in Eider White: A Good Idea, or a Bad One?
What about using this paint shade outside? I’d say be cautious with this one. Investing in exterior paint isn’t cheap.
Choosing a shade with complicated undertones could work just as well in your favor as against. With so many other options out there, I’d probably shy away from this shade.
That said, this shade has definitely been used on exteriors, so see for yourself how Eider White stacks up in these stunning examples!
24. SW 7014 Brick Exterior
The warm bricks warm up Eider White and help it bridge the divide between the bricks and the black door. Lovely!
25. Exterior Stucco Painted Sherwin Williams Eider White
I absolutely love this exterior shared by Paper Moon Painting! It’s clean and crisp without being stark or blinding.
Other Homes Using Sherwin Williams Eider White Paint
26. Basement in SW Eider White
In this space from M House Development (see them here on Instagram), you can see the paint is washed out where the natural light hits it and reads as gray in the shadow.
Photo credit: Stoffer Photography Interiors.
27. Eider White Entryway
White and off-white paints reflect what’s around them, and that’s what’s happening here. It looks grayer near the gray flooring and more beige to the right of the wooden stairs.
28. SW Eider White Foyer
I love how elegant this entry space from the Sorento Custom Homes “Laurel” model looks. It’s bright and welcoming.
29. Condo Painted in Eider White
This paint helps to create a timeless look in this open concept kitchen, dining room and living area from Elements of Style Blog, while also making a fairly small space appear quite spacious.
And there’s just enough color in Eider White to contrast with the white cabinets and trim.
Eider White: Final Thoughts
So…are you ready to see how this paint will look in your home?
Sherwin Williams Eider White is one of the few off-white/light gray colors that I know can turn some people off, but in the right setting, it can be a lovely choice.
Be careful, get a sample, and if you aren’t completely smitten, check out some of the other paints we suggested here. There are “safer” choices without the undertone “issues” this shade has.
But if you do commit to Eider White, it can certainly be a shade that may add a perfect soft touch to a room.
Happy painting!
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
Leave a Reply