The floor finish is the reference
Judge Cotton against your actual wood finish, not a generic wood species label. The starting material direction here is limestone and white upholstery. Cotton's high LRV supplies a clear lightness reference, but the available description does not support a precise undertone claim.
Limestone and white upholstery create a close palette in which the actual material boundary should decide the preferred white.
Test the dominant wood color, not one grain line
View Cotton vertically where it meets the installed timber. The floor can make a light white look warmer by comparison, but that does not establish a universal undertone. Include the existing trim so the wall is approved between both fixed neighbors rather than against wood alone.
Cotton has an LRV of 83; Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa SW-7551 is 84. The difference is 1 points, with Greek Villa returning more light under the reference measurement.
The condition for keeping Cotton
Use the actual stone to assess the white; the published data do not justify a universal undertone promise.
Keep the Cotton board vertical at the floor edge. A match to one pale grain line can misrepresent the dominant color across the installed floor. Judge the broad timber background from standing height. If the floor will be refinished, repeat the comparison with the approved new stain sample before ordering the wall paint. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Sherwin-Williams Cotton SW-9581. The recorded LRV is 83. Named comparison values come from the respective manufacturers; material schemes are editorial suggestions.
This guide reviews published color information and proposes practical sample checks. It does not claim first-hand paint testing or customer-review scores. Sherwin-Williams does not sponsor or endorse this site. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Confirm the color in a physical sample and select the coating for the actual surface and finish.