Earthy Paint Colours
Earthy colours are drawn from nature: clay, terracotta, ochre, moss and soil. They feel grounding and warm, and sit beautifully with timber, linen, stone and plants. Many of the colours below are built on earth pigments such as ochre, umber, sienna and green earth. Every shade is available as a 60ml sample.
Earthy colours, or earth tones, are colours found in nature: sunbaked clay and terracotta, golden ochre, moss and olive green and the rich browns of soil and bark. Designers value them because they feel grounding and warm and work with natural materials. Many of our earthy shades are built on earth pigments such as yellow ochre, burnt umber, burnt sienna and green earth, which gives them a soft, natural depth. Pair them with oak, linen, stone, rattan and plenty of plants.
At a glance
- Start here
- Colours drawn from nature. Think clay, sand, moss and bark. Earthy colours are softened and slightly muted, never bright or synthetic.
- North light
- Warm earth tones thrive. Clays, ochres and browns warm up cool north light beautifully and feel cosy rather than dim.
- South light
- Greens and deep browns. Strong sun makes warm earth tones more intense. Mossy greens and deep umbers stay balanced.
- East light
- Sunny mornings, softer later. Warm morning light flatters earth tones, and their warmth stops the room feeling cold later on.
- West light
- Golden evening glow. Clays and ochres glow in warm evening light. Check samples in the morning too, when the light is flatter.
- Pairs with
- Oak, linen, stone and plants. Earthy colours come alive with natural materials. Mix two or three earth tones for a layered scheme.
- Pigments
- Built on earth pigments. Many of these colours use ochre, umber, sienna or green earth as dominant pigments, giving them a soft, natural depth.
- Sample tip
- Check every change of light. Move your sample between walls. Check it in morning and afternoon daylight, then under the lights you use at night.
Tap any tile to read more.
Clay, terracotta and rust
Sunbaked reds and oranges from the earth.
Best in north-, east- and west-facing rooms
Clay, terracotta and rust bring sunbaked warmth to a room. They suit kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, and look wonderful with timber, rattan and terracotta tiles.
Best in north-, east- and west-facing rooms. Foundry™, Chopped™ and Barker™ are best kept to north-facing rooms.
Ochres and golden earth
Warm golds and buffs with a natural glow.
Best in north-, east- and west-facing rooms
Ochre is one of the oldest pigments there is, and these golden earths and buffs give a room a gentle, sunlit glow without the brightness of yellow.
Best in north-, east- and west-facing rooms, where their warmth lifts cooler light. Wynnie™ suits every direction.
Moss, olive and green earth
Muted greens drawn from moss and lichen.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Earthy greens are softened with , ochre or black, so they feel like moss, lichen and olive groves rather than fresh leaves. They are among the easiest colours to live with.
Best in any direction with Cameron Green™, north-facing rooms with Nobbie™ or Workhouse Green™, and south-, east- or west-facing rooms with Caunton Green™, Clumber™, Woodsage™ or Medlar™. Forester™ is best in east- or west-facing rooms.
Umbers and earthy browns
Grounding browns for snugs, studies and panelling.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
browns, from soft mushroom to deep chocolate, are the most grounding of the earth tones. Use them on a whole room, on panelling or on lower walls beneath a lighter earthy shade.
Best in north-facing rooms with any of these, south-facing rooms with Turney™ or Riverbed™, and east- or west-facing rooms with Whimgin™, Twitchell™ or Gruit™.
Sample it the way we would
Step 1
Paint your peel-and-sticks
Each £5.99 sample comes with three paintable peel-and-sticks. Give them two coats and let them dry fully.
Step 2
Stick them around the room
Put them on two or three walls, including the wall opposite the window, at eye level and lower down.
Step 3
Live with them for a day or two
Look in the morning, the afternoon and under your evening lamps. Move them around until you are sure.
Your questions, answered
What are earthy paint colours?
Colours drawn from nature, such as clay, terracotta, ochre, moss green, olive and umber brown. They are softened and slightly muted, and pair beautifully with natural materials.
What colours go with earthy tones?
Other earth tones, warm whites and natural materials. Try a clay with a mossy green, or an ochre with a deep umber, and add oak, linen and stone.
Warm neutral paint coloursAre earthy colours good for a north-facing room?
Yes. Warm earth tones such as clay, ochre and brown are some of the best colours for cool north light.
North-facing room colours