Clay

With its hex value #D4C59C, Clay reads as a muted sandy beige with a gentle olive-brown cast, so it feels warm rather than stark. It lifts light softly without looking pale or chalky, which gives a room a calm, grounded atmosphere. In north-facing light it can look a little deeper and more muted, with the green-brown notes becoming more apparent. In south-facing light it takes on a sunnier, creamier character and feels lighter and more open. It sits well beside natural oak, walnut and painted timber, as well as upholstery in flax, stone, tobacco and faded green tones.

Clay suits sitting rooms, bedrooms and hallways where you want a restrained, lived-in warmth. It works particularly well with pale timber joinery, linen-look curtains and upholstered furniture in warm neutrals, mossy greens or muted terracotta.