Portland Stone (77) is a warm, earthy putty colour from Little Greene: a neutral with real body that never feels cold. Little Greene count it among their best-loved putty shades, full of character and at its most refined when used with the lighter and darker versions in its family. It is the colour to choose when you want a stone neutral that sits between a beige and a grey and leans warm.
It also has a proper story. Little Greene based it on a sample of genuine Portland stone, and note that paint of this colour once covered the fronts of Victorian town houses. That history is part of why it looks so at home in period rooms, though it is just as comfortable in a modern space.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Portland Stone (77), Baluster (321), Pompeian Ash (293)
Why Portland Stone is not cold
Many stone and putty neutrals tip grey and flat once they are on the wall, especially in cooler light. Portland Stone has enough yellow and earth in it to stay warm, but not so much that it turns beige or creamy. The result is a quiet, grounded colour that flatters timber, linen, leather and brass, and makes a room feel settled rather than sparse.
It is also part of a family. Portland Stone - Pale (155) is a soft off-white, Portland Stone - Light (281) is another lighter tint, and Portland Stone - Dark (157) is a richer beige. Used together, they make it very easy to build a tonal room: the palest on the ceiling, the original on the walls and the dark on woodwork or panelling.
Where Portland Stone works best
Little Greene describe Portland Stone as a warm neutral for both interior and exterior use.
- Living rooms. A calm, warm backdrop for art, books and natural materials.
- Hallways. Little Greene show the family used in graduated shades through a hall, a clever way to give a long space structure.
- Studies and dining rooms. Paired with a deep colour, as in the study below, it feels considered and grown up.
- Exteriors. True to its origins, it suits rendered walls and period facades.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Portland Stone (77), Invisible Green (56), Livid (263)
Which finish to choose
Every Little Greene colour is available in every finish.
- Walls and ceilings. Absolute Matt Emulsion for living rooms and bedrooms, or Intelligent Matt Emulsion (2% sheen) for hallways, kitchens and bathrooms where walls need washing.
- Woodwork and joinery. Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen) or Intelligent Satin (30 to 35%), self-priming on clean, sound surfaces with a light key.
- Outside. Intelligent Masonry Paint for render and Intelligent Exterior Eggshell for windows and doors.
Colours that pair with Portland Stone
Little Greene suggest Linen Wash (33) and Portland Stone - Pale as related whites, Portland Stone - Dark and Baluster (321) as related neutrals, Livid (263) and Sage Green (80) as coordinating colours, and Jewel Beetle (303) as a contrasting accent. Their own photography also pairs it with Invisible Green (56) and Dark Brunswick Green (88): deep greens are a natural match.
From the other brands we stock, these are our own suggestions:
- Farrow & Ball Wimborne White (239). A soft, gently warm white for ceilings and woodwork.
- Paint & Paper Library Canvas I (301). A pale sand neutral for an adjoining room in the same warm key.
- Farrow & Ball Hague Blue (30). A deep, green-leaning blue for a door or a run of joinery against Portland Stone walls.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Portland Stone - Dark (157)
Questions we are often asked
Is Portland Stone grey or beige?
Somewhere between the two. Little Greene call it a putty colour, and it reads as a warm stone neutral: greyer than a beige, warmer than a grey.
Does Portland Stone work in a north-facing room?
Yes, its warmth helps counter cool north light, though it will look a little greyer there. Our guide to choosing colours by room orientation explains why, and a sample pot on a large board will show you how it behaves in your room.
Can I use Portland Stone outside?
Yes. Little Greene describe it as suitable for interior and exterior use. Use Intelligent Masonry Paint on render and Intelligent Exterior Eggshell on wood.
Shop Little Greene Portland Stone
Portland Stone - Pale · Portland Stone - Dark · All Little Greene colours
