Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Paint Color | Julie Blanner (2024)

If you’re looking for a sophisticated, warm off white color, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee might be the one for you!

Warm, welcoming, and yet still light and bright, this color is popular for a reason! Learn how this color could work in your home with all the details and specifics.

See Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee in the freshly painted basem*nt of our home, and take a tour of the space!

For years I have been integrating cream paint colors into our home and advising readers. They’re a warm white without feeling yellow. Swiss Coffee is among my favorites for so many reasons!

We chose Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45) for our basem*nt remodel because like Soft Chamois, it’s soft and creamy, but not yellow and has a high LRV (light reflective value) which is perfect for spaces without a lot of natural light.

However, it is a versatile paint color that works well with lots of natural light, too! It will make any space feel light and inviting. It’s tranquil and serene.

Unlike most websites, I have personal experience with the paint colors I highlight and actual photographs to share that are a true reflection of the color. I love to share my own original photography and snapshots from people I have worked directly with.

In this case, I’ve also included a few photos from Studio McGee, because it felt relevant. It’s one of their favorite warm white colors and we all draw so much inspiration from them!

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Because I love sharing our home, DIY projects and choices with you, I know how difficult paint decisions can be.

Yes, choosing a “white paint color” seems easy at first, until you go to your local paint store and realize there are hundreds, if not thousands of options.

While Swiss Coffee is certainly not a true, authentic white color, it is a warm, creamy beige tone that we love in our home. I hope you enjoy these photos and examples of how the paint truly feels.

Frequently Asked Questions

LRV

LRV, (Light Reflectance Value) is a scale used by design professionals. Basically, 0 = the darkest black and 100 is a true white paint color.

Swiss Coffee paint color has an LRV of83.93, which is considered high.

Swiss Coffee has a high LRV (light reflective value) which is the percentage of light it reflects. It reflects nearly 84% of light making spaces appear lighter and brighter.

Undertones

The undertones in Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee are more of a golden yellow tone. This can read differently in different light, so be sure to test a swatch on your walls.

When contrasted against a truer white trim, the yellow undertone can be more pronounced, so be aware of this when you’re sampling.

Trim Color to Pair With It

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee works well with Benjamin Moore White Dove and Benjamin Moore Cloud White as trim.

You can also try it in a tone on tone method, which is Painting Trim and Walls the Same Color. This can actually help to tone down any undertones in the paint, because the comparison of a clear white to a cream is so much stronger.

I am actually a fan of simply using an un-tinted white paint throughout many rooms of our home. It’s always a fresh, clean white that contrasts beautifully with my cream paint colors and it keeps me from overthinking my choices!

Read more about The Best Trim Paint and Painting Trim White.

Colors to Pair It With

It pairs beautifully with an array of colors including Revere Pewter, Senora Gray, Nickel, and Nightfall. You can also easily pair it with other off whites.

Where to Use this Color

• Exterior
• Traditional and Cottage style homes
• Cabinetry
• Trim

Swiss Coffee Paint Color Tips

• For a little less color, dilute! Mix at 75%. This seems to especially be a great solution if it’s reading a touch to yellow on your walls.
• Have it made at Benjamin Moore for best results. Every paint company uses a different formula which can make a color read different. For example, having it made at Sherwin Williams could potentially make it feel too green or yellow.
• Test two coats. So often readers panic when they have applied a single coat. Unfortunately your original paint color will show and it tends to alter the color.