The best cream and off-white paint colours are the ones that soften a room without turning it yellow. For a white with just a hint of warmth, Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White (239) and Pointing (2003) are hard to beat. Little Greene's Slaked Lime (105) is a soft, mineral off-white, and for a quieter, greyer neutral, Cornforth White (228) remains a favourite.
Off-whites are probably the colours we are asked about most. They look almost identical on a chart and completely different on a wall, and the right one depends on your light, your woodwork and what else is in the room.
Here we sort our favourites from all three brands by character, so you can narrow the choice before you sample.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Wimborne White (239)
White, off-white or cream?
- Off-whites are whites with a small amount of another pigment, often yellow or grey. They read as white in the room but feel softer and kinder than a brilliant white.
- Creams have more yellow or ochre in them. They are warm and traditional, lovely in older houses and in rooms that face north.
- Stone and grey-leaning whites have a touch of grey or earth. They feel calm and modern, and suit bright, south-facing rooms where a cream could feel too warm.
Soft whites with a hint of warmth
- Wimborne White (239). Farrow & Ball describe it as only a shade away from pure white, with the smallest amount of warm yellow pigment, making it a little softer than All White (2005). A versatile choice for walls, ceilings and woodwork alike.
- Pointing (2003). Named after the colour of lime pointing in traditional brickwork. Farrow & Ball describe it as a fresh, uncomplicated white with a warm undertone that always softens a room alongside strong, traditional colours.
- White Tie (2002). A slightly richer, creamier white from Farrow & Ball, good for woodwork in a warm scheme.
- Capuchin (289). A warm white from Paint & Paper Library with a soft ochre leaning that suits oak and natural textures.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Slaked Lime (105), Juniper Ash (115), Vulcan (324)
Creams and mineral whites
- Slaked Lime (105). One of Little Greene's neutral whites, with a soft, chalky warmth. It also comes in deeper versions, Slaked Lime Mid (149) and Slaked Lime Deep (150), which makes a tonal scheme easy.
- New White (59). A clean, creamy white from Farrow & Ball that feels fresh rather than heavy.
- Tallow (203). A deeper, more obviously cream colour, lovely in a cottage or a north-facing bedroom.
- China Clay (1). A gentle, warm off-white from Little Greene, part of a family of tones that run from pale to dark.
Quieter, stone-toned off-whites
- Cornforth White (228). Strictly speaking, a soft grey rather than a cream. Farrow & Ball describe it as the mid tone in their Relaxed Neutrals, neither too warm nor too cool, creating a hushed and calming retreat. Its complementary white is Wevet (273).
- Shaded White (201). A soft, earthy off-white with a little grey, good where a cream would feel too yellow.
- Joa's White (226). A warm, stony white from Farrow & Ball that sits well with timber and stone floors.
- Stone I (201). The palest of Paint & Paper Library's Stone family, a calm, warm neutral that pairs easily with the deeper Stone shades.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Pointing (2003)
How to choose the right one
- Start with your light. North-facing rooms make whites look cooler and greyer, so a cream or warm white keeps them welcoming. South-facing rooms can take a cooler, stonier white. Our guide to choosing colours by room orientation goes into more detail.
- Look at what stays. Floors, kitchen units, stone and fabrics all carry undertones. Hold samples against them.
- Compare, do not judge alone. An off-white on its own always looks white. Paint two or three on separate boards side by side and the differences become obvious.
- Think about woodwork. The same off-white on walls and woodwork, in a matt and an eggshell, gives a calm, seamless look. A slightly lighter white on woodwork gives gentle definition.
Questions we are often asked
Is Cornforth White a cream?
No. It is a soft, mid-toned grey. If you want warmth, look at Wimborne White, Pointing or Slaked Lime instead.
What is the most popular off-white?
Wimborne White and Pointing are perennial favourites, because they work in so many rooms. Slaked Lime is a popular Little Greene alternative.
Should ceilings be brilliant white?
Not necessarily. A ceiling in the same off-white as the walls, or a paler version of it, avoids the stark line a brilliant white can create.
Shop white and off-white paint
Wimborne White · Slaked Lime · Can white be a colour of the year?
