Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee: How to Choose

Are you trying to decide between Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee? I can see how you can get confused when looking at the two paint colors. I mean, they look like practically the same color, right?

Fortunately, several aspects differentiate them. The first difference is in their undertones. Ballet White OC-9 appears a little warmer than Swiss Coffee OC-45 and appears more muted. The second difference is that it has a lower LRV than Swiss Coffee. These are the main differences that jump out at you.

And they should be enough to get you to decide on which paint color is ideal for you. However, I’ve got more to disclose about these colors. So, let’s get right to it and discover all there is about Ballet White and Swiss Coffee.

When to Use Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee

When is the best time to use Ballet White in your decor instead of Swiss Coffee? And when is Swiss Coffee a better choice than Ballet White? Let’s find out!

Use Ballet White OC-9 if:

• A neutral off-white paint color is your style
• You don’t mind seeing some gray in your white paint of choice
• You want a muted shade that does not read like gray

Use Swiss Coffee OC-45 if:

• A bright and warm white will tie your decor together
• You want a light neutral to blend with everything
• The room doesn’t have a lot of light to show the paint color

Swiss Coffee is the brighter of the two paint colors, so it works better in a room where the lighting is not great. And because of its brightness, it doesn’t absorb too much light. Also, it retains warmth even in rooms with cold light.

Ballet White is the more muted of the two paint colors. And because of this, the color is ideal for rooms with relatively bright light. That is not to say Ballet White is not a bright color; it only performs better with good lighting.

A Visual Comparison of Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee

To drive home the differences between Ballet White and Swiss Coffee, I want to use pictures. Pictures speak louder than words, so I know you will better see how they perform in real-life pictures.

First, here is Ballet White looking more like a cream paint color than a white one:

Now, compare it to Swiss Coffee in this next picture looking bright and warm:

From the pictures, you can tell that Ballet White is a little less bright than Swiss Coffee, especially with the white ceiling paired with it. And as you can see, the colors look bright and amazing in bright lighting conditions. Besides, they perform well with other neutrals and even dark colors.

Both are superb paint colors if you want to keep things neutral without sacrificing brightness. However, the subtle change that can occur with different lighting and elements may make all the difference. Use samples for large swatches on walls and check the lighting in the rooms where you plan to use them.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee: A Rapid Comparative Analysis

Apart from lighting conditions, there are other aspects that determine the differences between Ballet White and Swiss Coffee. They are the basics of all paint colors, but they are vital enough to help with comparisons like this. Want to know what they are? Let’s go right to it.

	Ballet White	Swiss Coffee
RGB	229, 222, 208	237, 234, 224
LRV	71.97	81.91
Undertone	Yellow-gray	Green-yellow
HEX Value	#E5DED0	#EEECE1

Emotional Effects: Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee

Both paint colors are basically warm, and warm colors make you feel welcome. If you use Ballet White, be prepared to get a little more warmth than you do with Swiss Coffee. Ballet White looks like greige, and because of this, it makes you get a calm and relaxed vibe in the room.

Swiss Coffee is a brighter color, and it creates a feeling of peace, especially after a long day. And because of this brightness, Swiss Coffee can make a room feel bigger than it truly is. You get the feeling of more space and freshness when you use this choice.

If you are a conservative person or are not open to trying bright colors, Ballet White is muted to fit your style without looking bland or washed out.

Swiss Coffee is for every space, but especially for small rooms. This gives the impression of appearing bigger. Use any of these two colors if you want a great alternative to white.

LRV of Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee: Which Reflects More Light?

The LRV of a color, which means its light reflectance value, refers to how much light it reflects or does not reflect. The value uses a scale of 0 to 100, 0 being for pure black, and white being for pure white.

Since there is currently no paint color that is pure black or pure white, the scale for paint colors goes between 2.5 to 94. With this in mind, you can better understand how bright these paint colors are.

Ballet White has an LRV of 71.97. While it is pretty much higher than the middle point of 50, it is still not high enough to qualify as a white paint color. So, you can categorize it as an off-white.

Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91. This is good value and high enough to qualify as a white paint color. However, it has enough creamy or golden yellow to keep it looking more cream than white. Nevertheless, Swiss Coffee reflects more light than Ballet White.

Undertones of Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee: Are They the Same?

The undertones of Ballet White and Swiss Coffee are similar in some ways and different in others. Ballet White has yellow undertones with some gray in it. That is why the color looks neutral and slightly like white with gray undertones.

Swiss Coffee also has yellow undertones with just a smidge of gray. Most times, you will hardly notice the gray. However, the yellow undertones read green in most cases, and the green hint is almost invisible. So, even to the untrained eye, Swiss Coffee looks creamy with just a hint of yellow.

A Closer Look at the Undertones of Ballet White

Talking about these undertones will not do justice to what they really look like except you can see them at work. If you have never used Ballet White and are wondering how it performs when the undertones are obvious, here is a good example.

A Closer Look at the Undertones of Swiss Coffee

If you are wondering whether there is any green in Swiss Coffee, I understand because I’ve been there. At face value, it shows no promises of green. But here is a picture showing just a bit of green in the paint color.

You can hardly tell any difference between the walls and the ceiling because of how bright Swiss Coffee is in the second picture. But in the right setting, it also shows a hint of green. If that is going to put you off, you may want to check the lighting and other elements to see how they may affect the paint after application.

Ballet White looks like an off-white with a hint of cream and gray. In many cases, that is the result you will get. And it is not as dull or bland as you would expect, even without a lot of natural or artificial lighting. You’d agree that it’s laid-back and stately, right?

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee: Are They Warm or Cool?

This is another key area where Ballet White and Swiss Coffee differ. Ballet White is a warm color, but I don’t like leaving it just at that. The reason is that it can also read cool a few times and blends with different color schemes. Therefore, it’s more neutral than strictly warm.

On the other hand, Swiss Coffee is warm without overdoing it. The paint color is not as versatile or neutral as Ballet White because of its obvious undertones. You can’t deny the yellow creaminess exuding from it. However, its shade makes it easy to blend with many other colors.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee Complementary Colors

While you can use Ballet White or Swiss Coffee alone or add neutral tones like gray or wood tones, it is usually great to know what other colors work well with them. In this case, we’re looking at the complementary colors.

These are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They typically cancel each other to create white or black and don’t necessarily have to match. So, what are the complementary colors for Ballet White and Swiss Coffee?

For Ballet White, the best color to complement it is Benjamin Moore’s Celestia Blue 1429. It is a pale purple shade that has just a hint of gray. Close to it are Sherwin Williams’ Wishful Blue SW 6813 and Behr’s So Blue Berry S540-1.

For Swiss Coffee, the ideal complementary color is Benjamin Moore’s White Heaven 2068-70. It is a pretty light shade of blue with a similar RGB. You can also try Sherwin Williams’ Lady’s Slipper SW 7139 as it is very close to this color.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee Color Palettes

Complementary colors are great, but color palettes can change the tone and mood of an entire room. I always recommend caution in picking colors for a palette, especially for those with complex undertones.

Color Palette for BM Ballet White

Kendall Charcoal, Puritan Gray, and Pashmina are some colors that combine well with Ballet White. They excuse neutrality without being boring or bland.

• Kendall Charcoal HC-166: A dark neutral with various undertones that bring out the beauty of Ballet White and makes it pop
• Puritan Gray HC-164: A medium gray paint color with just enough coolness to complement Ballet White
• Pashmina AF-100: A perfect neutral that is balanced between cool and warm tones and pairs well with the similar Ballet White

Color Palette for BM Swiss Coffee

Newburg Green, Fossil, and Lush are ideal colors to add to this palette. They may not look like they work well together, but you’d be amazed at how beautiful they look.

• Newburg Green HC-158: A beautiful shade of teal that brings versatility and depth to any space and pairs well with the warm Swiss Coffee
• Fossil AF-65: This laid-back beige paint color is perfect for Swiss Coffee because of their similarities
• Lush AF-475: A lush green paint color with subtle blue undertones that evoke a connection with nature and is grounded by Swiss Coffee

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee on Exterior Walls

There are many white and off-white paint colors you can use on the exterior of your house. Since these are classic colors, they never get old, and I want to show you how good they can look.

BM Ballet White on Exteriors

Here is a picture of a beautiful house done up in Ballet White and looking warm in the sun.

BM Siss Coffee on Exterior Walls

In contrast, Swiss Coffee looks bright and fresh in this stunning outdoor fireplace. Check it out.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee on Bedroom Walls

Another popular place Ballet White and Swiss Coffee are used are bedrooms. But are they ideal for your decor and lighting situation? Let’s find out!

BM Ballet White on Bedroom Walls

Although this room is not brightly lit, Ballet White still looks so soft and smooth on the walls. I love how this user paired it with other neutrals for a balanced look.

BM Swiss Coffee on Bedroom Walls

On the flip side, Swiss Coffee looks all buttery and warm on these bedroom walls. It helps that there is ample natural light from the window.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee in Living Rooms

As with bedrooms, living rooms are ideal for Ballet White and Swiss Coffee. They usually have a good amount of light, whether artificial or natural. So, they do well and look bright in these rooms.

BM Ballet White in Living Rooms

This paint color doesn’t show much gray in this living room. So, it looks really light and warm.

BM Swiss Coffee in Living Rooms

Although this next living room is not as brightly-lit as the one before it, Swiss Coffee still looks bright and white. It is a truly beautiful and warm color, and I love the various colors in the room paired with it.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee in Bathrooms

Want a classic white bathroom that does not look ordinary or bland? Take a warm off-white like Ballet White or Swiss Coffee to complete the look. I recommend either of them.

BM Ballet White in Bathrooms

So, what does Ballet White look like in a bathroom, whether or not it is well-lit? Is it a good choice? You decide for yourself.

BM Swiss Coffee in Bathrooms

Swiss Coffee will always be an excellent color for any room, including bathrooms. Check out this room to see how it performs.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee on Cabinets

Whether you are looking to switch things up in your kitchen or change the color of your powder room vanity, Ballet White and Swiss Coffee have got you covered. Let’s see them on cabinets.

BM Ballet White on Cabinets

These cabinets match the kitchen island top and the chairs. Ballet White looks whiter than usual, and this may because of the lighting and surrounding accessories.

BM Swiss Coffee on Cabinets

Swiss Coffee also looks fresh and white in this kitchen, giving the room a clean and airy look. This is one of the reasons you are glad to cook meals, right?

Benjamin Moore Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee Under Warm Lighting

Warm artificial lighting can change how any paint color appears, including dark colors. I’d like you to see what it may look like in your space if you go this route.

BM Ballet White Under Warm Lighting

This picture is a perfect example of how much paint colors can change under different lighting. Here, Ballet White looks almost like pale peach in the warmly-lit room.

BM Swiss Coffee Under Warm Lighting

The lighting is not as bright or warm as in the other picture, but it looks different from its usual hue. And it also shows a bit of that green undertone I talked about earlier.

Lighting Conditions

The pictures above already show you the effect of warm artificial lighting on Ballet White and Swiss Coffee. But I must point out that white artificial light can also affect the colors, although not as intensely as warm light.

However, natural lighting is the most important for colors. Rooms can face north, south, east, or west. Sometimes, there are variations, but these are the basics. South-facing rooms have the best and most direct sunlight. Warm and cool colors look great in them.

North-facing rooms have cold light, so they tone down the brightness of colors. So, warm colors like Ballet White and Swiss Coffee work best in such rooms.

West-facing rooms have the best sunlight in the late afternoons, while east-facing rooms get the best sunshine in the mornings. That means at other times of the day, such rooms may have cold light. Keep this in mind when picking any of these colors.

Final Thoughts

There you have it: all the details of Benjamin Moore’s Ballet White vs Swiss Coffee. I have compared them to bring out their similarities and differences. The undertones are similar but different in other ways.

Ballet White is more muted and has more depth than Swiss Coffee, but Swiss Coffee reflects more light and appears brighter than Ballet White.

You will also find a guide to picking ideal paint colors for their respective color palettes. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision. Remember to use samples before painting entire walls to be sure you have the right shade.

Let me know your thoughts and experience with these paint colors in the comments section. And have fun with your painting project!