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52 Little Greene paint colours in real homes
Trying to extrapolate a colour from a tiny paint chart onto your walls using only your imagination can be an almighty task. Lighting, aspect, function and taste all need to be taken into account, so it's unsurprising that many of us feel overwhelmed when choosing paint colours.
It's all well and good selecting a lovely looking colour, but we can't stress enough how important it is to try and test the colours in situ first. North-facing rooms can be particularly cruel to pale colours and windowless bathrooms need a whole different approach. If you don't do your research properly, picking the wrong paint can be an expensive and time consuming mistake to cover up.
One of the easiest ways to narrow down the hundreds and thousands of paints available, is to decide which company best suits the project you are approaching. Farrow and Ball are best known for their elegant finish, Edward Bulmer paints are known for their eco credentials, and Little Greene? Well, think of them as the ‘line of best fit’ between the two. The family-run company have been mixing paints since 1773 and have partnerships with The National Trust and the Imperial War Museum under their belts.
To aide you in said research, we've found examples of Little Greene paints used by interior designers in real houses, to give you a better idea of which shades to choose.
The most popular Little Greene paint colours
- Hopper
- Olive Colour
- Invisible Green
- Hicks's Blue
- Slaked Lime
- Deep Space Blue
- Masquerade
- Sage Green
- White Lead
- Mambo
How to use and choose Little Greene paints, according to the experts
Little Greene has long been popular with interior designers, but which shades are their favourites?
“I have a soft spot for ‘Deep Space Blue’ by Little Greene. I first used it on the ceiling, walls and doors in a basement utility room for a client whose favourite colour is ‘Yves Klein’ blue. It has real punch and works perfectly when neutralised with earthy brown tones (‘Light Bronze Green’ by Little Greene in particular). I’m using it again to give a bit of impact to a large kitchen dresser in a current project in the Cotswolds." - Tom Morris
“When choosing white paint, ‘Slaked Lime’ from Little Greene is a lovely white and can have a similar effect as Farrow and Ball's 'Lime White' in that it’s particularly good when the fabric in the room has a yellow ground colour."- Nicole Salvesen
“I’m a big fan of the Little Greene paint colour family called ‘White Lead’, which comes in a scale of different depths.”- Brandon Schubert
On pairing colours, “‘Bone China Blue’ and ‘China Clay’ from Little Greene complement each other well." - Suzy Hoodless
It's not just interior designers who have a soft spot for Little Greene paints, but the House & Garden team too. One of former creative director Gabby Deeming's favourite colour combinations is "a Harebell blue with red. ‘Mambo’ from Little Greene is the blue for this – think Eighties Habitat and stick a bright red Anglepoise with it. Heaven.”
Our favourite neutral paints from Little Greene
House & Garden's decoration editor, Ruth Sleightholme says, “'Acorn' by Little Greene is lovely and fresh, for a kitchen, breakfast room or the bedroom of a ‘morning person’, and looks good when paired with ‘Starling’s Egg’ for the woodwork. ‘Celestial Light’, also by Little Greene, has a similarly wakeful effect, but perhaps should be avoided for small living rooms."
The best Little Greene paints to buy in 2025
Owen Gale1/52Slaked Lime
A popular neutral white, Charlotte and Angus Buchanan of Buchanan Studio have opted for ‘Slaked Lime’ in their own home in north-west London. They say it ‘is the neutral we return to again and again in our projects at Buchanan Studio… Our own home is painted in it top to bottom.’
Michael Sinclair2/52French Grey
In the living area of Pallas Kalamotusis' west London mansion, a sense of calmness is reached through the use of Little Greene's ‘French Grey’ on the walls, a grounding neutral that allows the immaculately curated furniture and artworks to sing.
Boz Gagovski3/52Joanna
In the bedroom of this Anna Haines project in Hampstead, the walls are painted in Little Greene’s ‘Joanna’, a taupe that adds warmth to the cosy room.
Martin Morrell4/52Celestial Blue
In Adam Bentley's 17th century cottage in Yorkshire, Little Greene's serene and dusky ‘Celestial Blue’ has been used on the walls and ceiling. The colour derives from a rare paint colour card from the 1800s.
Dean Hearne5/52Basalt
A glass light by Carlo Nason picks up on walls in ‘Basalt’ by Little Greene in Palefire Studio founder Rowena Morgan-Cox's house in Peckham.
Dean Hearne6/52Lemon Tree
In the same house, the walls in the study are painted in Little Greene’s ‘Lemon Tree’, an approachable yellow that creates a sunny yet neutral effect.
James McDonald7/52Atomic Red
In this Edwardian townhouse by Kate Guinness, the otherwise pared-back children’s bathroom is enlivened with bold paint colours, including ‘Atomic Red’ by Little Greene.
Sarah Griggs8/52Tuscan Red
The earthy brown-red of Little Greene's ‘Tuscan Red’ has been used to warming effect in the bedroom of a Chelsea house by Studio Duggan.
Rachel Whiting9/52Drummond
This alcove in this spare bedroom by Beata Heuman has been colour drenched in the rich paprika ‘Drummond’, creating a vibrant and cocooning effect.
Dean Hearne10/52Woodland
A surprising and striking example of combining unexpected colours, in this kitchen by Nicole Mardas, Little Greene's ‘Woodland’ is used on the cabinets, grounded by Farrow & Ball's ‘Middleton Pink’ on the walls.
Ursula Armstrong11/52Pompeian Ash
In this Georgian house in the Chilterns by Jennifer Pelzig of Parsnip Design, ‘Pompeian Ash’ is used on the windows and doors. The deep grey colour is derived from a paint colour used in the Pompeian room in Ickworth House in Suffolk.
Ursula Armstrong12/52Pale Wedgwood
In the same house, this paint based on the colour of Wedgwood's iconic Jasperware is used in the spare bedroom, allowing the rattan headboard of the bed to stand out.
Paul Massey14/52China Clay Dark
In the same house, the children's bathroom has wall's in Little Greene's ‘China Clay Dark'.
Mark Anthony Fox15/52Atomic Red
Ahmed Hassan and Atticus Branch's maisonette is a study in graphic colour. In the downstairs sitting room, the bookshelves are painted in Little Greene's ‘Atomic Red’.
Owen Gale16/52Garden
In this house in Bath, the walls are painted in ‘Garden’ by Little Greene feel both traditional and contemporary. Layers of contrasting textiles make for an eclectic space: the rug is from Nordic Knots, the lampshades are by Alice Palmer and the curtains are in ‘Arabella Red’ by Penny Morrison.
Milo Brown18/52Baked Cherry
The joinery and wall are painted in ‘Baked Cherry’ by Little Greene in a Stoke Newington house by Lonika Chande.
Milo Brown19/52Sky Blue
In the nursery of the same house, woodwork in the peaceful ‘Sky Blue’ complements the Vanderhurd wallpaper.
Sarah Griggs20/52Aquamarine Mid
In this terraced house in Chelsea by Studio Duggan, the walls are painted in Little Greene's ‘Apple Smiles II’, and woodwork is in ‘Aquamarine Mid’.
Milo Brown21/52Mister David
For this eaves bedroom, Lonika Chande and her team chose to paint the entire space - ceiling included - in Little Greene's ‘Mister David’, “Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls gives a lovely cocooning and cosy feel and avoids the eye being drawn to any awkward corners,” says Lonika.
Yuki Sugiura22/52Travertine
In the butler's pantry of this doll's house, the walls are painted in Little Greene's ‘Travertine’.
Jonathan Bond23/52White Lead
White Lead paint was chosen for the walls, beams and ceiling of Elizabeth Hay's cottage. It enhances the bright, airy feel of this open plan space, which was converted from an old outbuilding by a previous owner.
Paul Whitbread24/52Bath Stone
The dressing room in this classic Victorian house in Oxford revitalised by Charlotte Boundy is painted in ‘Bath Stone’ by Little Greene and features an Art Deco Dish light from Jamb.
Ollie Tomlinson25/52Hopper
In this 18th-century Cotswold house by Tom Morris, one of the children’s bedrooms the cupboard is painted in ‘Hopper’ by Little Greene to match the Enzo Mari ‘Pear’ print.
Paul Massey26/52Olive Colour
In this Victorian villa by Tom Morris, the bedroom walls are painted in Little Greene’s ‘Olive Colour’ which is the perfect backdrop for the rich blues of the cloth chair and blanket.
Dean Hearne27/52Clay Pale
Little Greene's colour maker and historical colour consultant Simon Hutchinson has used his own ‘Clay Pale’ on the dining room ceiling of the Yorkshire house he shares with his wife, Nicola. Playing with tone, the woodwork has been painted in ‘Clay Mid’, also by Little Greene.
Tom Mannion28/52Stone Dark Warm
The panelled walls of this Max Rollitt house are painted in Little Greene's ‘Stone Dark Warm’, a timeless, moody neutral that pairs well with the bold teal cupboards.
Owen Gale29/52Aged Ivory
In Alice Palmer’s north-west London house, the hallway opens into the sitting room, which has walls painted in Little Greene's ‘Aged Ivory’ with a wallpaper effect by the decorative painter Hughie Turner.
Paul Massey30/52Bone China Blue Mid
In Annabel Bevan's London home, her daughter's room has walls in Little Greene's ‘Bone China Blue Mid’.
Simon Bergström33/52Lemon Tree
A different angle of the same room reveals shelves flanking either side of the doorway. Painted in ‘Lemon Tree’ by Little Greene, the pale, neutral yellow lifts from the slightly darker mushroom grey of the walls.
Simon Bergström34/52Celestial White
An uplifting blue-white, ‘Celestial White’ contrasts beautifully with the red accents elsewhere in Sebastian's bedroom.
Simon Bergström35/52Sage & Onions
Another Little Greene colour in Sebastian's apartment is the delightfully named ‘Sage & Onions’, a verdant green that has been used here, to vibrant effect, on a chest of drawers.
Yuki Sugiura36/52Sage Green
Matilda Goad's kitchen cabinets have been painted with 'Sage Green,' which perfectly complement the cherry red tiling and the dusty pink walls.
37/52Sage Green
Good paint need not be constrained to the walls, deftly demonstrated in Louise Roe's house. Here, her farmhouse-style kitchen cabinets are painted in the fresh but calm hue of Little Greene's ‘Sage Green’.
Dean Hearne38/52Masquerade Mid
In Simon Hutchinson's bathroom, the walls are warmed up with a lick of Little Greene's ‘Masquerade Mid'.
Paul Massey39/52Trumpet
In Suzy Hoodless's living room, the neutral backdrop with a bold 'Trumpet' detail creates much needed brightness: ‘It’s an east/west facing house and can be dark on gloomy days so the yellow really lifts the space,’ she says.
Paul Massey40/52Aquamarine
In the bedroom of Annabel Bevan's London home the walls are painted in ‘Aquamarine’ by Little Greene. This gentle, fresh spring colour diffuses the light perfectly.
Dean Hearne42/52Masquerade Mid
In Simon Hutchinson's studio, the walls are also painted in Little Greene's ‘Masquerade Mid’. It makes a perfect backdrop to the bright products and illustrations in the room. The woodwork is painted in Little Greene's ‘Slaked Lime’.
Jan Baldwin43/52Bronze Red
It might not be a real house, but one wall of this Seventies Palm Beach-inspired open-plan living room is painted with Little Greene's 'Bronze Red'. It's ideal for a little warmth and drama, without being too shouty.
Alicia Taylor44/52Obsidian Green
This modern living room decorated by Gabby Deeming has deep and dark statement walls painted in Little Greene's 'Obsidian Green'. This dark shade is complemented by the smart black detailing around the windows.
Paul Massey45/52Ashes of Roses
In her Queen's Park house, interior designer Lonika Chande has painted her Aston Matthews bath in Little Greene's ‘Ashes of Roses’. On the walls she has paired Dulux's ‘Gravel’ with it.
Owen Gale46/52Invisible Green
Painted in Little Greene's ‘Invisible Green’, the cabinets in this Cornish kitchen are wonderful in all seasons and weathers: vibrant in the summer and welcoming and cosy in the winter.
Paul Massey47/52Theatre Red
In this bedroom, Little Greene's ‘Theatre Red’ provides a dramatic entrance through to the dressing room.
Andrew Montgommery48/52Yellow-Pink
It's always a coup when a colour goes against your perception of it. For this statement room, the walls have been painted in ‘Yellow-Pink’ and the effect is thoroughly sophisticated, rather than playful.
Owen Gale49/52Yellow-Pink
The same colour has been used in Olivia Laing's eclectic living room in her Georgian house in Suffolk.
Owen Gale50/52French Grey
Also in Olivia Laing's house, the easy neutral ‘French Grey’ can be seen on the walls of the main bedroom.
Paul Massey51/52Bone China Blue
The library of Suzy Hoodless's house has custom-made shelves and cupboards painted in ‘Bone China Blue’ also by Little Greene.
Paul Massey52/52Ultra Blue
In the kitchen of Suzy Hoodless' house, the cabinetry is painted in Little Greene's 'Ultra Blue', a bold and contemporary hue.
