The Bestselling Colours From The UK’s Top Paint Brands
Image: LITTLE GREENE
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The Bestselling Colours From The UK’s Top Paint Brands

With so many options to choose from, finding the right paint colour for your home can take time. To narrow the search – and ensure you don’t make an expensive mistake – we asked five of the country’s biggest paint brands to share their bestsellers…
By Sherri Andrew /
Image: LITTLE GREENE

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

FARROW & BALL

Creative director Charlotte Cosby says:

James Merrell

Joa’s White

Named after our colour curator Joa Studholme, this white is a great neutral option. It has a warm tone, complemented by a small amount of black pigment, and brings a cosy feel to any space of the home. It would work well with pinks and reds to create a soft contrast. 

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Elephant’s Breath

This is one of our most popular shades, originally created by the renowned British interior designer John Fowler. It’s a mid-grey with a hint of magenta that can almost look lilac in the cooler light of west facing rooms. Try offsetting it with shades like London Clay or Charleston Grey.

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Boz Gagovski

Stirabout

This earthy oatmeal colour was inspired by the nurturing porridge favoured over many centuries in Ireland. Part of the colour collection that launched in 2022, this tone has a hint of underlying grey which is ideal for relaxed interiors without feeling too cold. Try pairing it with Jitney and natural fabrics for a laidback look.

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James Merrell

Setting Plaster

This dusty pink is named after the walls in newly plastered houses. It’s a pink in historic terms but has a certain softness from a touch of yellow pigment. The timeless Setting Plaster creates a wonderful backdrop for antique furniture and works well with Tanner's Brown in a more contemporary home.

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James Merrell

Beverly

This clean mid green is named after a kind and generous member of the Farrow & Ball team who is sadly no longer with us. It’s a dependable, uncomplicated colour, which can feel even greener in bright daylight or more conservative in lower light. We recommend pairing it with Shaded White or Eddy.

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James Merrell

Hague Blue

This strong blue takes its name from the fantastically coloured woodwork used by the Dutch. It works on ground skirtings or as an accent colour on the walls when teamed with Borrowed Light. The green undertones of this deep and dramatic blue mean it sits as happily outside as it does in small, dark rooms. 

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LICK

Director of interior design Tash Bradley says:

@nina_moves_in

White 02

White is an eternally popular and safe option as it creates a soft and airy colour palette, balancing out the light and creating an effortless, crisp feel to a home. Our White 02 is an off-white with grey undertones that’s not too bright and just cool enough. It will make your space feel clean and sophisticated.

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Soho House

Grey 08

A velvet-soft, cool charcoal grey with blue undertones, Grey 08 has a glamorous character which makes a room feel rich yet relaxing. It’s the perfect colour for cosy living areas. Pair it with a soft, light pink velvet sofa to really bring the colour to life.

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@renov8teen

Taupe 03

Taupe 03 is a warm and subtle taupe with red and grey undertones. It has a dependable, nurturing quality that’s ideal for a calming and grounding home. One of our most popular colours for a reason, Taupe 03 suits any room, but works particularly well in bedrooms that crave a warm and earthy feel.

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Pink 01

This is Lick’s most delicate and understated pink. With its light grey undertones, the shade is soothing and nurturing for a calm and inviting space. Easy on the eye, it’s no surprise that it’s one of our most popular pinks as it can be used throughout the house. I recommend this to clients as it fills every room with a soft warm glow. 

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@we_are_the_russells

Green 02

Your eye needs little to no adjustment when looking at green, which is what makes it one of the most restful, soothing colours. People are particularly drawn to sage because it has the relaxing effects of being surrounded by nature. Our Green 02 has blue and grey undertones, and is versatile enough for kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms and more. 

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@innerpieces__

Blue 06

A slate blue with cool black undertones, Blue 06 is mentally stimulating, creating the perfect space to spark creativity and aid mental focus. It lends itself particularly well to home offices, but it’s also a lovely colour for bedrooms and living rooms. Blue 06 also creates a feeling of depth and spaciousness, so it also works in small, darker spaces.

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DULUX HERITAGE

Creative lead Stephanie King says:

Indian White

This white is sophisticated and warm. It's a soft and understated addition to any room but still feels light and airy enough to use in the darkest of corners. It works well layered with other coordinating pale tones such as Chalk White and Beachcomb Grey, allowing some brighter pops of colour in accessories to take centre stage. 

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Romney Wool

This is a classic grey and a great option for any space. It’s a very pale taupe and has a cooler appearance than a cream or beige of the same depth so it’s more flexible in what it can be paired with. For a dramatic contrasting, pair it with deeper blues and violets like our Midnight Teal or Mauve Mist. Personally, I like to keep this colour simple and use with tonal shades of grey for a more modern look.

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Flax Seed

Flax Seed is a muted pale beige that captures the timeless quality of vintage pearls while also being a modern and sophisticated vanilla shade for everyday use. It works well with tones of subtle olive green such as Cornish Clay and Olive Tree, which enhances its natural straw-like tones. Consider it for hardworking transitional spaces such as hallways, landing areas and family living spaces.

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Potters Pink

Potters Pink is a great option for injecting colour and warmth into the home. It’s a pale blush shade reminiscent of Edwardian cottage garden blooms like peonies. It works with Marble White if want to keep pink as the central focus, but I like it with unexpected colours such as Mud Lark which neutralises the traditional, ultra-feminine feel pink often has. 

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Stone Green

Stone Green is a personal favourite, too. It’s a mid-grey green that has natural connection to materials like granite and marble with its muted tones reflected in their flecks. It’s a sophisticated and versatile shade, and its relatively neutral in tone, so works well with numerous colour families. I like how it sits with pinks and terracotta shades. 

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DH Oxford Blue

This is a deep, sumptuous navy that once would have been exceptionally expensive to create – it retains some of that extravagance with its ultramarine, deep violet undertone. It works well with other blues in a tonal scheme as well as in combination with crisp neutrals such as Edelweiss White or Quartz Grey. With its moody, evocative feel, it’s an ideal wraparound colour in a study or office.

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LITTLE GREENE

Creative director Ruth Mottershead says:

Silent White

White is often one of the most difficult shades to choose because there are many variants and finding the right tone can be a challenge. Avoid ‘brilliant whites’ which can feel clinical and go for ‘off whites’ like our Silent White which adds softly spoken depth to an interior. It will work well with lighter and deeper versions of the colour on walls, ceilings and trims.

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French Grey

Greys should be well balanced like shades from the French Grey family. This colour is incredibly versatile as it’s not too warm or too cold. It goes well with blues, greens and pinks, as well as earthy colours like Nether Red and French Dark Grey to create a comforting, soothing scheme that evokes a sense of calm. 

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Portland Stone

We’re seeing a real shift away from cold toned greys and a move to warm neutral shades like Portland Stone. It's earthy, versatile and particularly elegant when used alongside its sister shades Portland Stone Pale and Portland Stone Dark.

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Confetti

In recent years pink has found its way into every corner of the home. Soft pinks like Confetti are particularly popular, as they provide warmth to a space while remaining light and welcoming. It contrasts well with darker colours such as Lamp Black for a bold kitchen space, or moody greens like Livid for a contemporary take on a classic pink and green pairing.

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Sage Green

Green is a wonderful colour to embrace in any space, from bedrooms to bathrooms and kitchens. Muted shades like Sage Green are favourites because they’re timeless and versatile. Not too warm nor too cool, it works in urban or country settings, and traditional or contemporary spaces. 

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Hicks’ Blue

Hicks’ Blue is a deep inky blue paint created by prominent mid-century designer David Hicks. He was known for using powerful colours combinations for dramatic effect. Pair this shade with a related white such as Slaked Lime for a soft and gentle scheme.

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ATELIER ELLIS

Founder Cassandra Ellis says:

Warm White

This is our everyday go-to white. With a wonderful balance of red and ochre undertones, it has just enough colour in it to be warm and inviting. It’s a fool-proof shade that goes with just about everything.

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Lulling

Lulling is an elegant neutral grey. We don’t make cold greys, instead creating shades that are quietly warm. This shade sits in the family with Milk and Quiet Grey, so these all work beautifully together. It also loves Aged Black, Totara and Bitter Chocolate for darker contrasts.

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Kalina Krawczyk

Khadi

This is probably our most popular shade overall. Khadi works in every space as it has lots of gorgeous ochre pigments. If you live in a new build or modern home, it’s a great colour to soften the edges.

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Kalina Krawczyk

Solstice

Solstice is our perfectly ‘dirty’ pink neutral. It glows but it’s still quiet, so you could use the shade as a white or neutral in your space. It’s also a great option for a ceiling and works particularly well with the shade Pollen.

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Under Wood

This is our deepest green, inspired by the forest floor. It’s a beautiful option for the kitchen, or any living areas where you spend time during the evening as it’s incredibly calming.

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KALINA KRAWCZYK

Sumira

Sumira is a lovely deep blue. Extremely complex in its pigment make-up, it’s like being wrapped in an indigo bath. The colour works with all our neutral families and loves Zumai – brown and blue are a beautiful combination.

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