Crème Fraiche
What Crème Fraiche Actually Looks Like
Crème Fraiche is about as close to white as a yellow can get while still reading as a color. It sits in that delicate zone between a true white and a buttery cream, leaning just warm enough that you notice it without being able to name exactly why the room feels sunny. In strong daylight it can look almost like a tinted white primer coat. In softer or dimmer light it settles into a gentle, honeyed warmth that feels intentional and easy.
Crème Fraiche Undertones
The dominant undertone is yellow, but it is very quiet. There is enough green sitting underneath to keep it from going fully golden or peach, which is what puts it in the lemon-cream family rather than the butter or vanilla family. That green component is worth knowing because it can surface in rooms with cool north or east light, nudging the color toward a faintly citrusy quality. South and west light pull it back toward the warmer, creamier read most people are after.
Where Crème Fraiche Works Best
Because the LRV is very high, Crème Fraiche works hard in rooms where you want brightness without committing to a stark white. It suits spaces that get inconsistent natural light, since its warmth softens the flat feeling that a true white can produce on a cloudy day. It reads well on ceilings, especially in rooms with warm wood tones or natural fiber rugs, where a cool white ceiling would feel disconnected. It also works as a whole-house neutral if you want every room to feel cohesive and sun-touched without any one space feeling painted yellow.
Where to put Crème Fraiche
Crème Fraiche on kitchen walls keeps the space feeling bright and clean without the hard edge of a cool white. It plays well with natural wood cabinets and warm brass hardware, and it will not compete with food tones the way a stronger yellow can.
In a living room with south or west exposure, expect Crème Fraiche to feel like ambient warmth rather than a color you picked. In a north-facing room, add warm light sources so the green undertone does not take over in the evenings.
The high reflectivity keeps bedrooms feeling open and restful. Pair it with off-white trim rather than bright white trim to avoid making the walls look dingy by comparison.
This color earns its place on ceilings in rooms with warm wood floors or earthy textiles. It adds just enough warmth overhead to make the room feel whole rather than cut off at the top.
What to Pair With Crème Fraiche
No coordinating colors were specified in our database for this color.
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Colors that clash with Crème Fraiche
Cool gray trim pulls the yellow undertone out of Crème Fraiche and makes the walls read more yellow-green than you likely intend.
Very dark, cool-toned floors can make Crème Fraiche look washed out or slightly sallow on the walls above, because there is no mid-range warmth to bridge the gap.
In a cool north-facing room the green component in the undertone can surface, making the color feel less like cream and more like a pale citrus.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is 2023-70, the hex is #FBF8DD, and the precise LRV is 87.75, which puts it firmly in the high-reflectivity range alongside the lightest whites in the palette.
That depends almost entirely on your light. In bright south or west light it reads as a warm white with a barely-there glow. In dimmer or cooler north light the yellow, and occasionally a faint green cast, becomes more visible. Sample it on a large board and observe it morning, afternoon, and evening before committing.
For walls, eggshell is the practical choice in most living spaces. It is washable, reflects light gently, and will not amplify imperfections the way a satin or semi-gloss can on a color this light. Reserve flat for ceilings where you want zero sheen to draw the eye.
Our database lists this color for interior use. Check with Benjamin Moore directly if you are considering it for an exterior application, as the formulation and availability may differ.