I was looking for a soft neutral paint that wasn't gray – here's why I landed on the ever-popular Sherwin-Williams Aesthetic White

Sherwin-Williams' Aesthetic White comes up a lot when I speak with designers about their favorite neutral paints. It's also one of the brand's most-searched-for colors. So in my hunt to find the perfect soft neutral shade, I paused on this unassuming but highly-recommended shade.

If you too have been on the hunt for a neutral paint, you will also know how surprisingly complex they can be. Subtle shifts in undertone, light, and texture can transform a shade from crisp and modern to soft and timeless.

With so many shades on the market – cool, warm, creamy, or clean – knowing how a color behaves in a space is key. If you're looking to decorate with neutrals, the first step is to understand how undertones, lighting (or lack thereof), and finishes work together to create the right mood.

Firstly, let me say, Aesthetic White is not actually a white paint, not a true white anyway. It does lean slightly cool, but it's definitely sitting more as a cool beige than a white, so ideal if like me, you are after something softer than a pure brilliant white.

Here, I’ll break down what makes Aesthetic White tick: its undertones, lighting behaviors, best pairings, and where it works best.

Aesthetic White carries a very subtle violet undertone, which gives it a cool edge and a crisp, clean finish. This slight hint of purple gives the color a refreshing, almost airy feel that sets it apart from warmer whites with yellow or cream undertones. The result is a neutral shade that’s perfect for contemporary spaces where clarity and simplicity is the key.

If you’re searching for tips and tricks for how to make a small house look bigger, you have probably already considered the space-enhancing effects of lighter paints. The cool undertones in Aesthetic White help to visually open up a room, making it feel larger and more expansive, especially when used across broad surfaces like walls or ceilings. The violet nuance can even introduce a whisper of lilac in certain lights, adding a barely-there layer of interest whilst still reading as a true, modern white.

Like all neutrals and whites, Aesthetic White is highly responsive to lighting conditions. It thrives in spaces with abundant natural light, where its coolness helps to enhance brightness by throwing the light around the room.

In sun-filled rooms, particularly south-facing rooms which are drenched in the most sun, it will amplify the feeling of openness and space. I always advise homeowners to dedicate east-facing rooms to morning activities, as they benefit from morning light, so if you breakfast in an east-facing room, this white will feel decidedly wakeful and bright.

In north-facing rooms, however, where light is more limited and much cooler and muted, Aesthetic White can read a little bit too icy-cold, and can lead to the space feeling stark and clinical. In these spaces, it’s better used in small doses, like on trims or cabinetry, rather than full walls.

If you are searching for paint colors for rooms without much natural light, a better choice would be Sherwin-Williams Limewash or Sherwin-Williams Mortar, both of which are warmer iterations of white, so they will brighten a room that is deprived of light, but it will not be as jarring and heady as a brilliant white, or a cool toned white.

If you have a room you think would benefit from Aesthetic White, it's worth swatching it with several different companion colors, to see how it works with them first. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking all because it's a neutral it will suit all other colors; contrary to popular belief, white can clash too.

Aesthetic White pairs naturally with colors and materials that share a sense of clarity and restraint. Soft grays, like Welcome Pale by Little Greene, stonewashed blues, like Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball, and musted charcoals like Charcoal Blue by Sherwin-Williams, all sit beautifully alongside it.

You can also introduce depth with richer shades like navy, deep plum, and even black, without overwhelming the space. Aesthetic White suits sitting beside cooler textures, too, like brushed metals, concrete, stone, and bleached or light ash woods.

Aesthetic White is a versatile backdrop that is perfectly suited for minimalist schemes or Scandinavian-inspired interiors, but it's best to avoid pairing it with overly warm or yellow-toned hues, which can clash with its cool undertone and throw it off balance.

It's worth considering how and where Aesthetic White functions best throughout the home. Its cool, fresh undertone can feel a little bit too clinical in hardworking spaces like kitchens, where warmth and practicality tend to take priority. In high-traffic areas like entryways and mudrooms, its lightness may also highlight scuff marks much more quickly than a deeper neutral shade would. Instead, Aesthetic White shines in rooms where you want a sense of brightness and energy, without too much wear and tear.

It's an excellent choice for bathroom ideas, where its coolness can enhance a feeling of cleanliness and light, especially when paired with sleek tiles or brushed metal fixtures. It also works beautifully in living rooms, guest bedrooms, or home offices that benefit from an airy, modern backdrop. If you're hesitant to commit to full walls, it is a reliable go-to for trim, ceilings, and woodwork.

Introduce this clean, cool and sophisticated white shade in smaller accents

Whether you’re totally renovating a house or just refreshing a single room, Aesthetic White offers a crisp, contemporary base. There are of course, times you should never paint a room white, like spaces with poor lighting or exposed to heavy wear, but if you have your heart set on white, be sure to take time choosing the best white paint. If you’re looking for a zingy white to put a spring in your step, look no further – Aesthetic White has just the right balance of freshness and sophistication.