The failsafe paint colour combinations that the experts always return to
If there’s one decorating dilemma we hear about time and again, it’s choosing the right paint colours for a room (or an entire house). It’s hard enough choosing a single colour that will enhance a particular space – which will depend on orientation and light levels, room proportions, architectural details, and so on – let alone trying to find two or more paint colours that will work in harmony. Whether it’s making sure your woodwork and ceiling look good with the walls, or picking an accent colour that will make a room sing, deciding on the right paint colour combinations is never a straightforward task – especially if it’s your first big decorating project.
Luckily, help is at hand. Our favourite interior designers and colour consultants have not only an excellent eye for these things, but also heaps of experience in pulling together perfect palettes – so you know theirs is advice you can trust. We have asked them to recommend their go-to paint colour combinations with real-life examples to show us all how it’s done. Their answers are refreshingly varied. Some designers swear by bold (and potentially controversial) combinations – blue and green, orange and turquoise, red and green – while others find themselves returning to a mix of earthy tones or classic neutral-on-neutral palettes. Colour is, of course, highly subjective, but there is surely a perfect pairing here for everyone and every room.
Dean Hearne1/19Tom Cox, HÁM
‘I painted the entrance hall of my cottage in Edward Bulmer‘s “Sang de Boeuf”. It is a rich, earthy red that sets a welcoming tone as you come in. For the sitting room next door, I chose Farrow & Ball’s “Oval Room Blue”, with the bookcase painted in “Sang de Boeuf” to carry the colour through. There’s a quiet continuity between the two spaces – distinct yet connected. I’ve always liked these shades. They’re grounded and muted and carry a quiet confidence. “Oval Room Blue” has subtle depth, almost historic, thanks to the blackened undertones. Sang de Boeuf, with its red oxide and yellow ochre, brings a natural warmth that anchors a space."
Dean Hearne2/19Meta Coleman
‘I once came across a study suggesting that the colour blue can stimulate creative thinking – a concept that resonates with me. When designing my home office, I was naturally drawn to incorporating blue into the space. Creativity is at the core of how I want to feel while working, and blue also happens to be one of my favourite colours. I wanted a shade of blue that would feel cheerful on overcast days yet remain timeless. The colour is a custom blue I mixed myself, but the closest match I’ve found is “Stone Blue” by Farrow & Ball. I like to combine colours that are not direct complements on the colour wheel, but compliment each other in that they are a cool colour versus a warm colour. This blue and red in my home office enhance each other, allowing both to stand out in a richer, more dramatic way.’
Peter Molloy3/19Harriet Slaughter
‘I loved this combination of paint colours in our old kitchen – “Masai” on the exterior and “Rhubarb” on the interior, both by Paint & Paper Library. It just showed me how much fun you can have with colour and it left me thinking, where can I do that again?’
Paul Whitbread4/19Anna Haines
I love the texture and colour of muddy blues and tomato reds together. I always think they make the other colour feel richer. This room in a flat in Marylebone in a flat in Marylebone is painted in Atelier Ellis’ “Double Smoked Green Blue”. It’s a restrained blue, which in this ‘Georgian light’ interior helps it all feel suitably aged! We continued the colour across the woodwork, including the architraves and glazing bars, to envelop the space in the one tone. The ceiling is painted in “Stone I” by Paint & Paper Library. It’s a perfect knocked back off-white which pairs well with the blue.’
Mark Roper5/19Phoebe Hollond
‘There is something to be said for blue and yellow. In recent years, it has become a symbol of strength, honour and resistance, thanks to the Ukrainian flag. They are also the colours of the very stylish Swedish flag. But probably most notable it is the colour of the sky (on a good day), a bright beaming golden yellow sun and a blue sky – it’s the perfect combination to bring a sense of warmth and joy. These two colours together evoke that, the feeling of hope and sunnier days ahead. I love the simplicity of just the two of those colours in various tones together in a small space like this bathroom. The bright pop of yellow on the bath and window architrave (Farrow & Ball’s “Yellow Ground”) against the softer hues of the tadelakt blue (a similar effect could be created using “Borrowed Light” by Farrow & Ball), it is soothing yet uplifting, everything you want from a bathroom.’
6/19Fiona de Lys
‘Generally speaking, my favourite colour combinations are ones with a juxtaposition between hues that appear as a shadow or highlight for a main colour. For example, in my living room, I have used Argile’s “Tige Brune” for the walls with “Terre du Sienne” on the ceiling and “Terre Brûlée” wood trim.’
Paul Massey7/19Brandon Schubert
‘Red and green is one of my very favourite colour combinations. In this kitchen in London I’ve mixed Farrow & Ball’s “Blue Gray” (which to me is really not blue at all!) with Paint & Paper Library’s “Very Well Red” on the kitchen units. The red brings a fun energy to the space while the cool green walls keep it from being too much.’
Mark Anthony Fox8/19Lucy Cunningham
‘This is the sitting room in my cottage, it is painted in “Sadhika” by Atelier Ellis. It’s one of the nicest yellows I have come across – it’s rich and warm without being too overpowering or strong, and it looks equally good in the day as well as the night where it becomes a little darker and moodier. I painted the skirting and ceiling in “Spanish White” by Edward Bulmer, which is a softer white and not too stark. I didn’t want the white to look too bright against the yellow – more of a soft addition. This is probably my favourite room in the house – yellow is such a happy colour!’
9/19Benedict Foley
‘I painted the drinks cabinet in our cottage in a custom turquoise – a close match would be “Lobster” by Farrow & Ball – to contrast with the walls in “Wet Sand”, also by Farrow & Ball. Orange and turquoise is the sort of combination that I can just hear people wrinkling their faces about, but for me, it’s heaven. Of course it is all about the shades you choose – you want the colour of an ancient Sienese Villa combined with the turquoise of an Isfahan tile. Silk Route meets Tuscan sun! Even better when the turquoise highlights something significant like the drinks cabinet!’
Paul Massey10/19Laura Stephens
‘We used “Bronze” by Paint & Paper Library on the outside of this tall pantry cupboard in the reception space of this London apartment. We wanted the kitchen to mimic real furniture rather than look utilitarian, which this glossy brown certainly helps to do. The shiny finish bounces the light around and added an extra feeling of luxury. We wanted the inside to be in an unexpected colour and, for this, chose “Arsenic” by Farrow & Ball for a real pop of acidic green to contrast the brown. The client loves it so much – she says she almost always has the doors to the pantry now open so she can see the inside.’
Michael Sinclair11/19Lucy Hammond Giles
‘If you know your Josef Albers from your elbow you will know that colour is relative. This bedroom in a house in west London is painted in Farrow & Ball’s “Matchstick” and the ceiling is “Oyster White” from Papers and Paints. The client wanted a pink bedroom but we found all the pinks too colourful. Once we put “Matchstick”, which is on the pink side of brown, with the off-white, it became pink enough for purpose.’
Hugo May12/19Howark Design
‘A colour combination we have used multiple times is Farrow & Ball’s “India Yellow” and Sanderson’s “Birch White Light”. This combination works so well as the rich yellow is mellowed by the cool neutral tones of the white, which stops it becoming too overwhelming. It works really well being used up to half height on walls, on panelling or just painted straight onto the wall as shown in our London Bridge project. This combination also works really well as a joinery colour combined with the white on the walls – it would make a fun pantry or boot room.’
Paul Massey13/19Lonika Chande
‘With neutral colours, I like to play around with different strengths of that colour. Paint & Paper Library’s Architectural series is brilliant for this. I particularly like the “Stone” Series. In my home in Queen’s Park, I painted the walls in “Stone IV” with woodwork in “Stone V”, which is very subtle but gives a much more decorated and cohesive feel.’
Paul Massey14/19Nicola Harding
‘In this house in Berkshire, I used “Chelsea Green II” on the walls and “Salvia” on the woodwork, both from Paint & Paper Library. This is a great combination when there are low levels of natural light, and the slightly clashing colours make for an interesting combination that reminds me of nostalgic 1950s colour pairings.’
- my own kitchen</a> I chose Farrow & Ball’s “<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/cpMzueKu8CcfaDGZnUBExrMmx6uKfbdGnKkTr3szVpcKi5HNixnxBxgtZU9wmfrEggXJLCnfJsPz4cx1dGVeyJD3duqg3rY7Tbs2Y8nwnyDm9BWV5SzUe92pPWG7B7DZtXLNhQLqVqWfhpK6Xod1179uJGHDxqYFXnQkjNHceZHJh5kzuey1g2rFoYEsdhEro85NhaQuYEFxc1SZZcDXtA9kX1AejsfckTzcxMDetT4PvftPgQo3BKSRYXwuWhP4Dq4dK7ZAbY5dA4AW4mXc5t2gEFd1SMhtPfY5tZGNA9rSyrPrCCSQX8npZUgpGNEywtE3JqsFUXgoeNtWBSDhPpeQQ2YCCu5oZaYBn2Lx2E9GJqusRSfT4XN3jU/" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" isAffiliateLink=\"true\">Chappell Green</a>” for the low units and Paint & Paper Library’s “<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/2gRdHG7pk8rK3DGoKSJuAuCf5RAVBK64qGABXcDn9F14AgNT3kbVDmCgLjg8YhE3XRPKT7rjNDWRPFMobyDwfKossRdy9U7hFCXcSPe8eTZEiwNAFDy913A1TnEmsvYkNQot2YbVXztGnARv9mMGaejRHbrE9Xq7RZXZXqoXRMq9djJgCdJ6djHFUZbxggcfB6fAp9wiHhLBovnrze4cn98SJD8BeoHNJ6smYdtYe8VsosLpPTeArhqGVgFxXKk2oyhHDkksrR2zsWMhC8Na7vEFohN32MZL6P4hYyv2xCsa8hhN8RHJ3GQjdFghs8fuNzFx97XvvQ21SNBf276rrNRqVPB8BZ3JCHh6Roc46/" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" isAffiliateLink=\"true\">Slate I</a>” for the higher units and the tongue-and-groove splashback, paired with “<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/8R1h8mj7jPeecmAjSNi1GhQT4VesNWqMv1uXU6TQFNoEyimfy9RDZL6Ye7MiJtYa9GdWSHGVzeCrdCNphMA8GA1uXZkApNgYdft7R4vtkLDHVeBvXW2t1K6svsyHfQxKDbxd3nPxXZyjkSytPjtSa6p6YpQ23qTVwRWp9649agnEUYNvrs5T4hLnnwh2MVsRnpj624UoWSWznDEHirMytAT6fVXaT4hVczhuezF95z7jZsgdUjahX2N67Q74xMY88Eakf1YSoj3bBKsFMxr6A7qCK9qjihKMGLBH8E6e4GJv6yFo4hstGnEwCP3fEUo2WcEPVSaXQT1yV5WiR2hjGtUqHUK1duwSzMoANkeJdC/" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" isAffiliateLink=\"true\">Slate II</a>” on the walls. “Slate I” is a really fresh white without being too brilliant white or too creamy, and it works with most other colours but particularly with green. I would definitely revisit this combination time and time again.’","contentType":"photo","credit":"Alicia Waite","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_320,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"},{"height":426,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_640,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":426,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_640,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_1280,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":682,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_1024,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_2048,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_1280,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cf97c63ccf003960d60/master/w_1280,c_limit/09-emmaainscough-aw-hr.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Alicia Waite15/19Emma Ainscough
‘In my own kitchen I chose Farrow & Ball’s “Chappell Green” for the low units and Paint & Paper Library’s “Slate I” for the higher units and the tongue-and-groove splashback, paired with “Slate II” on the walls. “Slate I” is a really fresh white without being too brilliant white or too creamy, and it works with most other colours but particularly with green. I would definitely revisit this combination time and time again.’
Geordie Barrie16/19Angelica Squire
‘I still love the chic calm of Farrow & Ball’s “Setting Plaster”. Though it’s been increasingly popular lately, it’s such a flattering, warm colour and feels old fashioned yet timeless, in my opinion. I favour “Slipper Satin” for woodwork and the contrast between these two colours is one I often come back to.’
Paul Massey17/19Tom Morris
‘This combination is “Light Gray” on the walls with “Salon Drab” on the mantelpiece and “Ultra Marine Blue” on the wardrobes, all by Farrow & Ball. We wanted to use warm earth colours for the walls to create a calm space (it’s a guest bedroom). These wardrobes were original to the Victorian house but very shallow and so our joiner went to great lengths to carefully build them out to be a foot deeper. Doing that work accentuated their charming curved shape and it seemed a shame to disguise them by painting them to match the walls. The ultra marine was inspired by the client’s favourite Yves Klein blue – I like how the stone colour on the wall absorbs the extroverted nature of it. It’s colourful but calm.’
18/19Olivine Design
‘We painted the walls of this bathroom in “Green Smoke” by Farrow & Ball and the bath in “Beetlenut” by Paint & Paper Library. We are also using “Green Smoke” a lot, especially in smaller rooms. It contrasts really well with off-whites but you can equally throw colour against for bold effect.’
Paul Massey19/19Suzy Hoodless
‘“Bone China Blue” and “China Clay” from Little Greene complement each other, and “Trumpet Yellow” is a sharp punchy colour in the middle. It’s an east/west facing house and can be dark on gloomy days so the yellow really lifts the space.’
