The Grey Barn

Off-whiteSimple bright white and pale grey have been the neutrals of choice in recent times, with magnolia a bad 1990s memory. However, in the US, four paint brands chose off-whites as their colours of 2016, sod there’s a lot to be said for a well-chosen off-white paint shade, whether you call it cream, buff, nude or biscuit. Less harsh than brilliant white, and more forgiving of scuffs and marks, off-white adds a subtle softness to rooms, while still going with everything. It also opens up spaces and adds a feeling of light. Take care when choosing off-white paints – always experiment with tester pots as they can be deceptively tricky to get right. How they appear will depend on which direction the room faces and which other colours they’re teamed with.