If you're on the hunt for a simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent, you've probably already realized that matching white paints is a surprisingly tricky business. On paper, it seems easy—it's just white, right? But anyone who has stared at twenty different "white" swatches under hardware store fluorescent lights knows that whites are rarely just white. Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) is one of those legendary colors that designers swear by because it has this magical ability to look crisp without feeling like a cold hospital room. It has a tiny bit of warmth that makes a space feel lived-in and bright.
However, if you're a Sherwin Williams loyalist or your contractor only works with their products, you need a workaround. You can't always just ask them to "match it" because the base tints are different, and sometimes the result comes out a little too green or a little too gray. To get that same glow, you have to look at the specific Sherwin Williams colors that mimic the undertones and the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of Simply White.
Why Simply White is So Hard to Copy
Before we dive into the specific equivalents, it's worth looking at what makes Simply White so special. It has an LRV of about 89.5. In the paint world, LRV is a scale from 0 to 100 that measures how much light a color reflects. Since Simply White is nearly at a 90, it's incredibly bright. It's one of the brightest whites you can get before you hit "un-tinted" territory.
The secret sauce in Simply White is its yellow undertone. It's very slight—not enough to make your walls look like a stick of butter—but just enough to counteract the natural blue light that comes into many rooms. This gives it a "clean" look that still feels cozy. When looking for a simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent, you're searching for that same balance: a high LRV combined with a hint of warmth.
The Top Contender: Westhighland White (SW 7566)
If you want the closest thing to a "out of the box" match, Westhighland White is usually the winner. It's often overlooked because everyone talks about Alabaster, but Westhighland White actually shares a lot of DNA with Simply White.
Westhighland White has that same creamy, warm undertone without being overtly beige. Its LRV is around 86, which is a bit lower than Simply White's 89, so it won't reflect quite as much light. However, in a well-lit room, the difference is almost impossible to spot with the naked eye. It captures that "soft glow" that makes Simply White so popular for kitchens and trim work. If you want a Sherwin Williams paint that feels "happy" rather than "stark," this is the one to sample first.
The Popular Choice: Alabaster (SW 7008)
You can't talk about Sherwin Williams whites without mentioning Alabaster. It was the 2016 Color of the Year, and it remains a staple for farmhouse-style interiors. Many people point to Alabaster as the definitive simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent, but there are some caveats you should know about.
Alabaster is definitely "heavier" than Simply White. It has an LRV of 82, which means it absorbs a bit more light and feels a little more substantial on the wall. While Simply White is a "bright white with warmth," Alabaster is more of a "soft, off-white." If your room gets a ton of natural sunlight, Alabaster might look like a perfect match. But if the room is a bit dark, Alabaster can start to look a little muddy compared to the crispness of Simply White. It's a great alternative if you actually want something slightly more "moody" and less "blindingly bright."
The Brightest Option: High Reflective White (SW 7757)
On the other end of the spectrum, we have High Reflective White. This is Sherwin Williams' cleanest, brightest white. If you find that Simply White looks almost too yellow in your specific lighting, this might be the way to go.
Its LRV is around 93, making it even brighter than Simply White. However, it lacks that touch of yellow warmth. It's very neutral. This can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's the closest you'll get to that "pure" look. On the other hand, without that bit of warmth, it can feel a little clinical in rooms that don't get much sun. Designers often use this for trim and ceilings when they want a sharp contrast against colored walls.
Greek Villa (SW 7551)
Another solid option for a simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent is Greek Villa. It sits right in the sweet spot between Alabaster and Westhighland White. It's a very popular choice for whole-house painting because it's warm enough to feel inviting but clean enough to look modern.
Greek Villa has an LRV of 84. It's slightly warmer than Simply White, leaning just a tiny bit more toward a "tan" undertone than a "yellow" one. In most lighting conditions, it provides that same soft, airy feel. If you're worried about Simply White looking too "bright" or "stark" in your space, Greek Villa is a safer, more grounded alternative that still stays firmly in the white family.
Why You Shouldn't Just "Color Match"
It's tempting to just walk into a Sherwin Williams store and ask them to mix Benjamin Moore Simply White into their base. While their computers are very good at mimicking the "recipe," it's never a 100% perfect match.
Every paint company uses a different "white base." Some bases have a slightly blue tint, while others are more gray or green. When you drop the Simply White tinting formula into a Sherwin Williams base, the underlying color of the base itself reacts with the tint. This is why you'll often hear horror stories of someone trying to match Simply White and ending up with a wall that looks slightly mint green or dingy gray. If you really want that specific look, it's usually better to pick a Sherwin Williams color that was designed to look that way from the start.
How Lighting Changes Everything
Before you commit to a simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent, you have to look at your light. North-facing rooms get a cool, bluish light that can make warm whites like Simply White or Westhighland White look a bit more neutral. In these rooms, the warmth is actually a good thing because it balances out the "cold" light.
South-facing rooms, however, get that warm, golden afternoon sun. This light will amplify the yellow in these paints. If you have a south-facing room and you use a warm white, it might end up looking much more yellow than you intended. This is why it's so important to paint a large sample board and move it around the room throughout the day. What looks like a perfect match at 10 AM might look completely different by 4 PM.
Tips for Testing Your Samples
Don't just paint a tiny square on your wall. The existing wall color will bleed through and mess with your eyes. The best way to find your simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent is to use large pieces of white foam board.
Paint two coats on the board, leaving a small white border around the edge. This white border prevents your current wall color from "contaminating" how you see the new paint. Carry that board into the corners, hold it up against your trim, and see how it looks next to your flooring. You'll be surprised at how much your brown hardwood floors or gray carpets can change the way a white paint looks.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Right Match
At the end of the day, searching for a simply white benjamin moore sherwin williams equivalent is about finding a "vibe" rather than an identical twin. If you want that bright, clean, "I just bleached my house" look with a hint of sunshine, Westhighland White is your best bet. If you want something a little more classic and cozy, go with Alabaster or Greek Villa.
White paint is notoriously finicky, but when you find the right one, it completely transforms a house. It makes everything feel bigger, cleaner, and more intentional. Take your time with the samples—it's much easier to spend $20 on sample pots now than it is to repaint your entire living room because the "white" you picked ended up looking like a lemon. Trust your eyes more than the computer screen, and you'll find a Sherwin Williams shade that makes you just as happy as the Benjamin Moore original.