Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a sophisticated warm white, and one of my favorite Benjamin Moore white colors! Warm, welcoming, and yet still light and bright, this color is popular with interior designers.
See Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee in the freshly painted basement of our home, as well as our brick tudor exterior!
For years I have been integrating warm white and cream paint colors into our home, and advising readers on how to do the same. They’re warm and cozy without feeling yellow. Swiss Coffee is among my favorites for so many reasons!
We chose Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45) for our recent basement remodel because like my favorite Soft Chamois, it’s soft and creamy, but not yellow. It also has a high LRV (light reflective value) which is perfect for spaces without a lot of natural light.
In fact, we loved it so much there, that we also chose it for the exterior paint on our vintage brick tudor. We’re sharing images of both today!
Swiss Coffee is a versatile paint color that works well with or without natural light. 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
Swiss Coffee is a paint color with a little touch of yellow and ever-so-slightly green undertones.
Yes, it can! In fact, Benjamin Moore suggests pairing Swiss Coffee Paint Color with Mt. Rainier Gray 2129-60 and Nickel 2119-50.
Swiss coffee paint color is a warm, creamy color that can actually be classified as more of a beige.
Swiss Coffee 81.91 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 of 81.91, which is considered high.
Swiss Coffee has a high LRV (light reflective value) which is the percentage of light it reflects. It reflects nearly 82% 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
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Exterior
This is a beautiful exterior color, too. Here are a couple great examples – and we loved it so much, we painted our home that color, too!
It’s interesting to see the difference that lighting makes with this color. In some bright lighting, our house feels quite white. Other times of day, it’s very much a soft creamy 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.
Hi Julie!
Had our walls painted swiss coffee at 75%. Do you have any recommendation for cabinet color? Was hoping for a cream color (deciding between BM creamy white (possibly too yellow) and fossil) but am worried that the contrast won’t be noticeable
Hi Anh,
I hope you love Swiss Coffee, it’s such a pretty color. Have you seen our guide to Cream Paint Colors? We’ve got some great suggestions in there. You might consider White Dove for your cabinets!
Good luck,
Julie
Hello,
What ceiling color do you recommend with Swiss coffee?
Thank you!
Hello!
We used white Ceiling Paint in our basement but you can also paint the ceiling in the same color, or even lighten the Swiss Coffee to 50% or 75%. I’ve also seen Studio McGee use Natural Cream on the ceilings next to Swiss White – there’s a caption on one of the photos in this post that showcases that combo!
Good luck,
Julie
In the picture with the wet bar (sink and mini fridge) what color is the cabinet? Guessing the walls are swiss coffee? Looking to recreate. Thank you
Hi Emily,
You can read all about our basement bar here, and the bar cabinets are painted in Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
I hope that helps – enjoy!
Julie
Hi there and thank you so much for the video! I love Swiss Coffee and we will be using it for most of our rooms. If you were going to put in wall to wall carpeting in a bedroom, what color would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Susan,
I think for carpet, you’ll still want to think more about the furnishings you’re bringing into the space, vs just the wall color (in this particular case). Swiss Coffee is such a good neutral that you could easily go more gray or greige, or even more into brown tones. I know that’s not super helpful but be sure to consider all the elements of your room in this situation! If possible, get samples and set them next to furnishings and the paint samples in different lighting.
Enjoy,
Julie
For your basements, which colors and sheens did you use for walls, wainscoting, trim, and ceiling?