Finding The Perfect Warm Neutral With Elle Decoration By Crown Paints
[Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Crown Paints. As usual, all words and opinions are my own, and the paint review is completely honest.]
Selecting a neutral paint colour is a lot harder than choosing any other shade of paint. It is quite easy to distinguish between heavily pigmented colours, but with neutral tones, you have to work out what the base colour is for each shade. This base colour - commonly known as the ‘undertone’- will determine if the neutral will feel warm or cool when up on your walls. Neutrals with a blue or green undertone tend to look fresher and brighter, while neutral colours made up with elements of browns and pinks will lend themselves to feeling a lot warmer.
After looking to source the perfect warm neutral for my bedroom, I was delighted to discover that interior bible Elle Decoration has just collaborated with the historic UK paints brand Crown. After spending months lusting after on-trend warm neutral colour schemes featured within the magazine, I felt confident that I would find the perfect muted tone for a calming (yet sophisticated) bedroom design via this exciting paint partnership.
‘Bare Concrete No 132’, Elle Decoration by Crown.
Elle Decoration by Crown is a collection of 60 paint shades categorised into six colour palettes. A premium, durable interior emulsion, the finish is incredibly matt and can be used on both the walls and the woodwork - eradicating the need for an extra tin of gloss or eggshell and allowing you to colour wash a room (painting all the walls, doors, windows and skirting the same colour) quickly and easily.
I’ll talk about the palettes of Obsidian (the blacks and greys), Drift (blues and purples), Botanical (greens, yellows and browns), Crafted (pinks, reds and oranges) and Feather (the cooler whites) a bit further on in this post, but it was the palette of Powder (the warm neutrals) that was my focus to find the perfect neutral for my bedroom revamp.
Powder contains 12 varying neutral shades - from warm taupes to soft beiges - featuring undertones of pink, brown, purple, and yellow. For my bedroom, I wanted to have a warm white with a slightly biscuit-coloured base. I craved a lighter colour in this room after it was previously wallpapered, but I did not want the room to feel cold or painted a bright white. I tested a variety of Elle Decoration by Crown Powder sample pots by painting them directly onto the wall - narrowing it down to three final options:
‘Delicate Touch No 511’ is a light shade with a pretty pink undertone - perfect if you want a brighter neutral with a feminine feel. ‘Natural Look No 531’ had a caramel undertone and was a huge contender, but after a few days’ consideration I decided on ‘Flawless No 527’, and I couldn’t be more delighted with the final result:
I painted my bedroom in ‘Flawless’ No 527, Elle Decoration by Crown.
Manufactured as part of Crowns’ Breatheasy range, Elle Decoration by Crown is perfect to use in a bedroom as it has low VOCs (meaning no nasty smells and making it asthma and allergy-friendly). Even though it is kinder to the environment than traditional plastic-based emulsions, it can be washed down and scrubbed without damage. This was particularly important for me having installed thick panel mouldings which - although they look nice - provide areas for dirt and dust to settle (and will require wiping regularly).
Elle Decoration by Crown is 99% solvent-free, making it a perfect choice for a bedroom due to the low odour. I particularly loved the great coverage it gave - you can see that just one coat covered up previous dark paint patches and multiple pencil marks where the panelling had been measured out on the wall.
As Crown is a leading British paint manufacturer, it was no surprise that the paint was a dream to apply. The consistency was thick enough to avoid drips, but smooth enough not to leave unsightly brush marks. For me, the real winner was the level of coverage that the paint gave. I had removed wallpaper in this room and then applied panelling to the walls before painting it. The walls were covered in pencil marks where I had outlined where the panels were to go (plus there were lots of dark blue paint lines where the previously dark blue wallpaper joined). Just one coat of ‘Flawless’ covered up all these stains and imperfections, and they were erased from sight. I did, however, apply two coats to really get the depth of colour from this pleasing warm neutral.
I wanted to paint my skirting boards, coving, windows and doors all in the same shade. As the collection is for walls and woodwork, I only required one finish to complete the room (resulting in less expense and waste). It was also incredibly easy to just carry the paint over onto the skirting, rather than section off the woodwork from the walls.
With Elle Decoration By Crown I have found my perfect warm neutral. The shade is modern and luxurious with the matt texture - resulting in a high-quality finish. If you are looking for a complementary or an alternative colour, then I’d urge you to discover the five other palettes within the collection:
Left: ‘Rock Solid’ No 173, Right: ‘Sculpture’ No 147.
With names such as ‘Rock Solid, ‘Bare Concrete’ and ‘Soft Alabaster’, the collection of soft blacks and greys within Obsidian have been influenced and inspired by the darker tones of natural earthy materials. Elle Decoration by Crown is a new interpretation of colour which leans towards unprocessed, organic tones and avoids stark, synthetic shades. Expect mineral-like grey hues and soft whispers of brown dusted in the blacks.
Left: ‘Open Water No 217, Right: ‘Movement’ No 242.
With a focus on the intense blues found at the bottom of the ocean, to the more clear blues found at the top, Drift encompasses six exquisite blue shades that - while jewel-like and vivid - refrain from being overly brazen. With Elle Decorations’ sophisticated design-eye, these blues are purified and elegant.
Left: ‘Pigment No 1472, Right: ‘Black Glass No 194.
There has been a lot of talk about using green in the home and biophilic design for 2020 as we all clamber for a bit of calm and try to bring nature indoors. Botanical embodies a full palette of colours found in natural landscapes. Via ‘Forest Vista’, ‘Enchanted Ivy,’ and ‘Trailing Plant,’ you’ll find sifted browns and raw greens that feel peaceful and serene - bringing a harmonious ambience into your home.
Left: ‘Trailing Plant’ No 323, Right: ‘Botanical Noir’ No 347.
With soft lilacs, pinks and earthy colours such as rusty oranges the current du jour colours of the moment, I expect the Crafted palette to be the most well-received out of the six offerings. The colours found in Crafted significantly complement each other: the blush tone of ‘Personal Touch’ works well with the fig-coloured ‘Colourfast’; while the pink-tinged ‘Stitch In Time’ pairs perfectly with ‘Weaved’ - a shade containing hints of pink, purple and soft brown.
The colours of Crafted were developed with rich textiles in mind. Sumptuous silks and woven fabrics are alluring and comforting and the Crafted palette emulates this.
Walls: ‘Personal Touch’ No 429, Ceiling: ‘Pigment’ No 472.
Pure and refined, the palette of Feather contains the cooler whites. ‘White Feather’ has crisp blue undertones for a feeling of freshness. ‘Heart Felt’ and ‘Nestled’ are warmer, but they have more of a brightness and openness than the neutrals found within Powder. Timeless and classic, the premium matt finish works particularly well in this palette to create a sophisticated and serene backdrop to your furniture.
‘White Feather’ No 604
Prices start at £4 for a Elle Decoration by Crown tester pot, and £35 for a 2.5L tin. The paint collection can be purchased instore or online at Homebase and in Crown Decorating Centres. Please visit the Crown Paints website for more information.
Photos taken in my bedroom and styled flat-lays belong to Melanie Lissack Interiors. Styled room shots are the property of Crown.
