Neutral colours are having a moment, and it’s not hard to see why. But with dozens of whites and near-whites on offer, choosing the right one, and knowing how to layer them, is where most people get stuck.
Design experts Three Birds Renovations, who recently collaborated with Dulux on their Most Loved Neutrals collection, have a few principles they return to on every project.
Undertones are everything
A warm white and a cool white can read completely differently once natural light hits them, and both will shift again depending on the timbers, stone, tiles, and metals already in the room, says the Three Birds Renovations team. Before you commit, test your chosen colour at different times of day. Dulux sample pots or A4 colour stickers are a low-stakes way to do this properly.
Related article: House 17 by Three Birds Renovations is a Stunning Neutral Vision
Neutrals don’t have to mean white
Three Birds Renovations is gravitating toward a new generation of neutrals: greens, warm yellows, earthy blues, and clay-based hues. Dulux Still (a soft green), Dulux Scallywag, Dulux Spanish Olive, and Dulux Terra Rose are among their current favourites. These shades add personality without overwhelming a space, and they live comfortably alongside more traditional whites.
Think in palettes, not single colours
Dulux’s three most-used whites, Antique White U.S.A., Natural White, and Lexicon Quarter, work precisely because they’re versatile enough to carry different rooms while still reading as cohesive throughout a home. Using multiple whites, or different strengths of the same colour, within one home can create a considered tonal effect when the undertones are compatible.
Don’t forget the ceiling
The so-called “fifth wall” is often overlooked, but painting the ceiling in a soft colour, or going all-in with colour drenching (walls, ceiling, doors, and trims in the same shade) instantly makes a space feel intentional. Powder rooms and laundries are the ideal place to experiment before committing to a larger room.
Start with your vision board
Three Birds Renovations always return to the project’s overall colour story before selecting their neutrals. The neutral paints from Dulux exist to support that story, not lead it, which is a useful reframe for anyone who’s ever spent too long agonising over paint chips in isolation.
