BM Ballet White Vs SW Shoji White: What’s the Difference?

With so many gorgeous whites and off-whites on the market, picking the ideal one for your home can be challenging. Two of the most popular are Benjamin Moore’s Ballet White and Sherwin-Williams’ Shoji White. But what really distinguishes these beautiful, neutral paint colors?

In this guide, we’ll analyze Ballet White and Shoji White in depth, comparing undertones, finishes, light reflectance, real photos, and ideal room uses. Read on to determine if Ballet White or Shoji White is the best bright white for your interior design.

Key Differences Between Ballet White and Shoji White

Before diving into details, here is an overview of the main differences between Ballet White and Shoji White:

Undertones – Ballet White has faint cool, Shoji White has hints of green
Light Reflectance – Ballet White has an LRV of 71.97, Shoji White has an LRV of 74
Look – Ballet White is cleaner and brighter, Shoji White is crisper and cooler
Use – Ballet White for modern styles, Shoji White suits contemporary spaces
Rooms – Ballet White recommended for bathrooms, Shoji White ideal for kitchens

Now let’s explore Ballet White and Shoji White paint colors more closely.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White OC-9

With its clean, bright white appearance, Ballet White OC-9 immediately livens up any space. This versatile neutral provides an airy backdrop.

Here are some key details about Benjamin Moore’s Ballet White paint color:

LRV: 71.97
Undertones: Very subtle cool
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss
Rooms: Whole home, especially bathrooms and kitchens
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens

Ballet White is a gorgeous true white with the faintest whisper of blue-green. In certain lighting, it can read as an extremely subtle cool tone. Overall it remains close to a perfect white.

With a 71.97 light reflectance value, Ballet White maximizes brightness. This makes it ideal for any space needing ample illumination. The barely perceptible coolness prevents it from feeling sterile.

Ballet White’s clean, optimistic color immediately awakens rooms with its renewed look. This versatile neutral coordinates as well with cool accents as warm ones. Especially popular combinations include:

Benjamin Moore Horizon
Benjamin Moore October Mist
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
Benjamin Moore Boston Brick

Use Ballet White to create serene, airy spaces with an open, minimalist feel. This relaxed backdrop helps rooms feel uncluttered and tranquil. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Ceilings
Trim/moldings
Small spaces

Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

With its bright white appearance, Shoji White SW 7042 offers a clean, refreshed look. This versatile neutral provides an airy backdrop.

Here are some key details about Sherwin-Williams’ Shoji White paint color:

LRV: 74
Undertones: Subtle green
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss
Rooms: Whole home, especially kitchens and baths
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens

Shoji White is a crisp white with the faintest hint of green. In certain lights, it can read as an almost imperceptible green-gray. The overall effect is a color that straddles the line between true white and white with cool undertones.

With an 74 light reflectance value, Shoji White maximizes brightness. This makes it ideal for spaces that need ample illumination. The subtle green influence prevents it from feeling sterile.

Shoji White’s high-energy color immediately awakens and refreshes rooms with its clean, renewed look. This versatile neutral pairs beautifully with both cool and warm accents. Especially popular combinations include:

Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed
Sherwin-Williams Naval
Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn

Use Shoji White to create crisp, contemporary spaces with an open and airy feel. This minimalist neutral helps rooms feel uncluttered and tranquil. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Ceilings
Trim/molding
Hallways

Comparing Ballet White and Shoji White

Now that we’ve looked at Ballet White and Shoji White individually, let’s directly compare the two paint colors:

Light Reflectance

With LRVs of 71.97 and 74 respectively, Ballet White reflects slightly more light than Shoji White. However, both offer maximum brightness for any space.

Undertones

Here is where the main difference lies. Ballet White has the faintest whisper of cool blue-green. Shoji White has a hint of green-gray.

Ballet White’s barely perceptible coolness gives it a true white look. Shoji White’s subtle green adds crispness.

Uses

Thanks to its true white tone, Ballet White works well throughout homes for a cohesive look.

Shoji White’s faint coolness makes it ideal for kitchens, baths, and trim where you want clean, bright illumination. Its tone remains flexible across spaces though.

Aesthetic

Ballet White’s near imperceptible undertone gives it an airy, modern vibe. This makes it ideally suited to contemporary, minimalist spaces.

Shoji White’s subtle green-gray undertone provides a crisper, brighter aesthetic. This makes it perfect for modern designs.

Ballet White vs Shoji White Comparison Chart

Here is an overview of some key differences between Ballet White and Shoji White:

Paint Color	Ballet White OC-9	Shoji White SW 7042
LRV	71.97	74
Undertones	Hint of cool blue-green	Green-gray
Use	Ceilings, trim, small spaces	Kitchens, baths
Aesthetic	Modern, minimalist	Contemporary, modern
Sheen	All sheens	All sheens

Real Room Photos – Ballet White vs Shoji White

To better visualize the variations between Ballet White and Shoji White, let’s look at real room photos showcasing the paint colors:

Ballet White

With its clean, bright white appearance, Ballet White OC-9 immediately livens up any space. This versatile neutral provides an airy backdrop.

Here are some key details about Benjamin Moore’s Ballet White paint color:

LRV: 71.97
Undertones: Very subtle cool
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss
Rooms: Whole home, especially bathrooms and kitchens
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens

Ballet White is a gorgeous true white with the faintest whisper of blue-green. In certain lighting, it can read as an extremely subtle cool tone. Overall it remains close to a perfect white.

Benjamin Moore Horizon
Benjamin Moore October Mist
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
Benjamin Moore Boston Brick

Use Ballet White to create serene, airy spaces with an open, minimalist feel. This relaxed backdrop helps rooms feel uncluttered and tranquil. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Ceilings
Trim/moldings
Small spaces

Shoji White

With its bright white appearance, Shoji White SW 7042 offers a clean, refreshed look. This versatile neutral provides an airy backdrop.

Here are some key details about Sherwin-Williams’ Shoji White paint color:

LRV: 74
Undertones: Subtle green
Sheen: Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss
Rooms: Whole home, especially kitchens and baths
Pairings: Grays, blues, greens

With an 74 light reflectance value, Shoji White maximizes brightness. This makes it ideal for spaces that need ample illumination. The subtle green influence prevents it from feeling sterile.

Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed
Sherwin-Williams Naval
Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn

Use Shoji White to create crisp, contemporary spaces with an open and airy feel. This minimalist neutral helps rooms feel uncluttered and tranquil. It works in any area but really excels in these:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Ceilings
Trim/molding
Hallways

In the photos, Ballet White appears slightly cleaner and brighter, while Shoji White looks crisper and cooler. But lighting affects their look – they can seem quite similar in some conditions.

Should I Choose Ballet White or Shoji White?

So how do you decide between Ballet White vs Shoji White for your home? Here are a few tips:

Choose Ballet White if you want:

A true bright white with hardly any undertones
Maximum light reflection
A versatile foundational color
A clean, modern minimalist look

Choose Shoji White if you want:

A hint of cool green-gray undertone
Crisp, contemporary style
Lots of brightness for kitchens and baths
A very subtle cool tint

It’s best to get samples of both paint colors. Paint large sections on your walls and view them at different times of day and lighting. This will give you the clearest sense of which hue you prefer in your unique environment.

While quite similar, Ballet White and Shoji White each have subtle differences. Choose the one that best matches your goals and decor.

Ideal Room Combinations

Here are some rooms that are particularly well-suited to Ballet White and Shoji White:

Ballet White OC-9

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Ceilings
Hallways
Doors/trim
Small spaces

Shoji White SW 7042

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Ceilings
Cabinets
Hallways
Laundry rooms

With their bright whites and maximum light reflectance, Ballet White and Shoji White work beautifully throughout homes. But the above applications tend to perfectly complement each shade’s subtle strengths.