swiss coffee benjamin moore swiss coffee benjamin moore

Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee (OC-45): A Review

Swiss Coffee is a special white paint color that many people love. It’s not too bright or too dull, but just right. This color has a tiny bit of warmth in it, like a drop of cream in your coffee.

When you put Swiss Coffee on your walls, rooms feel cozy but still clean and fresh. It works well in sunny rooms and darker rooms too.

Some white colors can feel cold or too stark, but Swiss Coffee feels friendly. It’s part of the OC-45 color family, so it has been carefully made to be a perfect warm white.

Swiss Coffee might be the perfect choice if you want your home to feel welcoming without being too colorful.

Understanding Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee (OC-45)

Color Terminology

PROPERTY VALUE
LRV (Light Reflectance Value) 82.93
Color Category Considered a light color (LRV between 75-85)
Comparison Pure white: ~90 LRV, Black: ~0 LRV
RGB Value Red: 238 Green: 234 Blue: 227
Hex Code #EEEAE3

Undertones:

  • Swiss Coffee has subtle creamy/warm undertones
  • It’s an off-white with muted beige and ivory influences
  • Not a stark or clinical white but a refined, natural neutral

Psychology of Warm White/Off-White Colors

  • Warm whites like Swiss Coffee: Create a sense of comfort and subtle grace.
  • Creamy tones: Offer softness and inviting appeal
  • Muted whites: Evoke tranquility, cleanliness, and versatility
  • Benefits: Less stark than pure white, adds subtle warmth to spaces, creates a welcoming backdrop for both darker furniture and colorful accents

Why Choose this Color?

J-Why_Choose_this_Color

Swiss Coffee brings the serenity of a light-filled sanctuary into everyday spaces, creating a timeless backdrop that balances freshness with natural warmth.

Its subtle creaminess provides an airy presence while still offering enough character to complement both traditional and contemporary elements.

The gentle warmth of Swiss Coffee evokes a sense of comfort and purity that promotes tranquility in any environment.

This enduring color carries soft undertones that shift gracefully with changing light, ensuring your space feels both current and timelessly tasteful.

Key Features

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee offers exceptional softness and versatility across different lighting conditions.

It maintains its gentle warmth in north-facing spaces while creating a bright, expansive atmosphere in rooms with abundant natural light.

Its timeless neutral quality provides a refined backdrop that complements both dark wooden elements and colorful accents without appearing stark or clinical.

Adaptability

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee demonstrates remarkable adaptability with existing elements like wooden furniture and colorful textiles, creating seamless transitions between spaces.

It provides enough warmth to feel welcoming while maintaining a clean, enduring quality that won’t quickly date your interior design choices.

This versatile off-white works equally well as an all-over color for creating bright, open environments or as a complementary tone to more dramatic accent walls.

Durability

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, particularly in premium finishes like Aura or Regal Select, delivers outstanding durability with excellent coverage in both new and repainted areas.

Its light tone and subtle undertones maintain a fresh appearance throughout your home while providing a forgiving surface for everyday living.

When properly applied, this paint resists yellowing and maintains color consistency even with regular cleaning.

Texture Patterns

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee creates a soft, velvety texture that adds subtle dimension to walls and architectural features.

Its gentle undertones produce a beautiful light play that enhances moldings and adds visual interest to even simple walls.

When applied to different finishes, it can elegantly highlight architectural details while maintaining a consistent, refined appearance throughout connected spaces.

Room-by-Room Color Recommendations with Swiss Coffee

Living Spaces and Open Floor Plans

J-Living_Spaces_and_Open_Floor_Plans

  • Swiss Coffee works exceptionally well as an all-over color in open floor plans, creating a bright, cohesive flow while maintaining a warm, neutral palette.
  • The 82.93 LRV of Swiss Coffee provides an airy, expansive feel that makes spaces appear larger and more inviting without feeling stark or clinical.
  • Use Swiss Coffee to unify different functional areas in open-concept spaces while allowing furniture and decor to define each zone.

Bedrooms and Relaxation Areas

J-Bedrooms_and_Relaxation_Areas

  • Swiss Coffee creates a serene, peaceful atmosphere in bedrooms that promotes relaxation.
  • The subtle, warm undertones in Swiss Coffee evoke a sense of comfort while creating a versatile backdrop for bedding and furniture of any style.
  • Consider Swiss Coffee for all walls in bedrooms with colorful accents, or pair it with deeper colors on an accent wall for visual interest without sacrificing brightness.

Kitchens

J-Kitchens

  • Swiss Coffee in eggshell or satin finish on kitchen cabinets creates a timeless, clean aesthetic that brightens the space while complementing colorful backsplashes or countertops.
  • The gentle warmth of Swiss Coffee enhances both light and dark countertop materials, making it adaptable to various kitchen styles, from farmhouse to modern.
  • Swiss Coffee cabinets paired with darker islands or lower cabinets create appealing contrast without sacrificing the kitchen’s bright, welcoming feel.

Bathrooms and Spa-like Retreats

J-Bathrooms_and_Spa-like_Retreats

  • Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee creates a fresh, airy atmosphere in bathrooms. Its subtle, warm undertones establish a sense of comfort while complementing white fixtures.
  • This versatile shade pairs beautifully with both chrome and brass fixtures, marble, and natural wood, creating a timeless, refined retreat that feels both clean and inviting.
  • Use Swiss Coffee on walls and trim for a cohesive look that maximizes the sense of space in smaller bathrooms.

Swiss Coffee Color Combinations

J-Swiss_Coffee_Color_Combinations

Swiss Coffee is soft, warm, off-white with subtle creamy undertones. Its high Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 82.93 makes it a bright, airy foundation that adds refinement and versatility to spaces while maintaining a gentle warmth.

Let me help you with color pairings and combinations for this shade.

1. Complementary Trim Colors

  • Simply White (OC-117) – A clean, crisp white that enhances Swiss Coffee’s subtle warmth
  • White Dove (OC-17) – A soft white that creates a seamless, layered look with Swiss Coffee
  • Decorator’s White (OC-149) – A bright white that creates subtle definition without stark contrast
  • Chantilly Lace (OC-65) – A pure white that highlights Swiss Coffee’s creamy undertones

2. Coordinating Wall Colors

  • Revere Pewter (HC-172) – A versatile greige that creates a refined neutral palette
  • Pale Oak (OC-20) – A light warm neutral that extends Swiss Coffee’s inviting qualities
  • Stonington Gray (HC-170) – A cool gray that balances Swiss Coffee’s warmth
  • Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) – A light taupe that complements Swiss Coffee’s subtle depth

3. Accent Colors

  • Hale Navy (HC-154) – A deep blue that creates classic contrast against Swiss Coffee’s softness
  • Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) – A rich gray that grounds Swiss Coffee’s lightness
  • Palladian Blue (HC-144) – A soft blue-green that creates a serene, calming palette
  • Alexandria Beige (HC-77) – A warm neutral that enhances Swiss Coffee’s creamy undertones

Coordinating with Furniture and Decor

J-Coordinating_with_Furniture_and_Decor

Wood Tones

Swiss Coffee pairs exceptionally well with a wide range of wood tones, from light to dark. Medium wood tones like oak, maple, and hickory create a warm, inviting balance against Swiss Coffee’s soft backdrop.

For a more dramatic look, dark walnut or espresso woods provide striking contrast while maintaining a lavish atmosphere.

Whitewashed or pickled woods extend Swiss Coffee’s airy quality and create a cohesive, Scandinavian-inspired look.

Metals

Polished nickel, chrome, and silver hardware highlight Swiss Coffee’s clean undertones and create a fresh, timeless look.

Brass and gold fixtures add warmth and culture, complementing Swiss Coffee’s subtle creamy notes. The versatile off-white base allows black matte elements to make a modern statement.

At the same time, brushed stainless steel creates a seamless transition in contemporary spaces without competing with the gentle backdrop.

Decor

Textural elements like linen, cotton, and soft wool in various neutral tones create dimensional interest against Swiss Coffee walls without overwhelming the space.

Colorful textiles in both muted and vibrant hues stand out beautifully against the neutral backdrop. Glass, clear acrylic, and mirrored accents enhance Swiss Coffee’s light-reflecting properties and amplify its spacious feel.

At the same time, natural elements like jute, rattan, and untreated wood reinforce the organic warmth inherent in this versatile off-white.

Similar Paint Colors: Perfect Alternative to Swiss Coffee

J-Similar_Paint_Colors_Perfect_Alternative_to_Swiss_Coffee

Simply White (OC-117) vs. Swiss Coffee (OC-45)

Simply White

  • Bright, clean white with minimal warm undertones
  • Higher LRV that maximizes light reflection and brightness
  • Creates a crisp, fresh atmosphere with a contemporary appeal

Swiss Coffee (OC-45)

  • Soft, warm, off-white with creamy undertones
  • A high LRV of 82.93 balances brightness with subtle warmth
  • Establishes an inviting, refined presence with timeless refinement

Key Differences:

  • Simply White offers a cleaner, more neutral approach to white with its higher LRV
  • Swiss Coffee provides a gentler, more nuanced warmth as a refined, neutral
  • Simply White has minimal undertones, while Swiss Coffee leans into subtle creamy qualities
  • Simply White works better for modern, minimalist spaces seeking maximum brightness
  • Swiss Coffee shines in traditional or transitional spaces where stark whites might feel too clinical

Final Thoughts

After looking at all the good things about Swiss Coffee, it’s easy to see why so many people pick this color for their homes. It’s a warm white that doesn’t shout for attention but makes rooms feel good.

Swiss Coffee complements many other colors and styles, from modern to old-fashioned. Its slight warmth helps rooms feel cozy even when it’s cold outside.

If you’re not sure what white to choose, Swiss Coffee is a safe bet that rarely disappoints. Remember that OC-45 Swiss Coffee gives you that perfect balance – not too yellow, gray, or white – just the right touch of warmth to make your space feel like home.

It’s truly a classic color that never goes out of style. For more such color reviews, Click Here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *