Using Mid-Tone Paint Colours
Mid-tone colours provide a versatile backdrop in the home, bringing character to the walls, without overwhelming your space. Discover some of our most-loved mid-tone colours and be inspired by schemes that feature them in the home.
What are mid-tone colours?
Mid-tone colours are those that sit halfway between pale and strong – not too light, and not too dark or vibrant. Mid-tone colours offer just the right amount of depth and character, without giving the appearance of a particularly ‘bold’ paint colour.
A helpful way to identify mid-tones in the Little Greene palette is by browsing our colour cards. You can often define the mid-tones as around the fourth or fifth shade in each ‘Colour Scales’ family. You can also find many mid-tones in the middle width of our ‘Colours of England’ colour card, or in the top rows of the final few columns.
Mid-tones include rich neutrals like Lute, Bath Stone or Roman Plaster. This palette also includes gentle or muted colours like Grey Stone, Aquamarine and Light Peachblossom. These are all shades that you would describe as neither pale nor deep, but sitting helpfully somewhere in the middle!
Order a complimentary colour card to explore mid-tone paint colours.
The benefits of mid-tone paint colours
Mid-tones bring visible character to your walls
If you want to bring a touch more character, depth and personality to your home, mid-tone colours are the perfect solution. Looking at our ‘Colour Scales’ palette, you can see that mid-tones display their undertones more visibly than the palest shades.
Choosing a shade like Castell Pink instead of Ferdinand will add warmth to your walls. Both are earthy, pink-hued neutrals based on red oxide. But the overall scheme will still feel quite soft and relaxed.
Mid-tone colours are versatile
One of the trickiest aspects of choosing a paint colour is deciding if the shade will work in the room you are decorating. A pale neutral might lack the depth of colour required to warm up a north-facing room. Or your favourite rich blue could feel a little too intense in a sun-drenched, south-facing living room.
Mid-tone paint colours are a fantastic all-round option for decorating a whole host of interior settings. They work wonderfully in both period properties and more contemporary homes, providing the perfect combination of subtlety and depth.
Consider the orientation of a space when choosing mid-tone paint shades.
Helpful ‘compromise’ shades
Sometimes it can be hard to take the plunge with a dark, bold or vibrant paint colour. You might be afraid that the shade will overwhelm the room, or it might not work with how you use the space every day.
Mid-tone shades offer a great compromise. They will certainly deliver a sense of transformation, elevating your walls with a beautiful, distinctive colour. But they also have a reassuring softness, so the final space feels harmonious and balanced.
Mid-strength paints are simple to scheme
Mid-tones sit halfway between understated and impactful. This means you can accessorise your scheme in a variety of ways, depending on the look you want to achieve.
You might want to maintain a pared-back feel, and make your chosen paint colour the focus of your scheme. Choose light-coloured furnishings and natural finishes that won’t detract attention from the shade of the walls.
Or you might be looking for a scheme that feels contemporary and inviting. Or one that brings a burst of energy. Incorporate fabrics in contrasting colours alongside statement pieces and prints that reflect your personal style.
Beautiful when colour-drenched
When colour drenching with a single colour, or in a double drenched scheme, it’s important to think about the atmosphere you want to achieve. Used all-over, the deepest paint colours can feel very cocooning. But for rooms that you spend lots of time in, you might want to consider something a little softer.
Mid-tone colours are the perfect shades for colour drenching. They provide just the right depth of colour to make an impact on your walls, without overpowering your scheme.
You can confidently embrace shades like Masquerade, Normandy Grey or Bone China Blue. These colours work well in hallways, living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms. Incorporate the walls, woodwork and the ceiling to create beautiful all-over colour.
Learn more about colour drenching and double drenching in our Advice Hub.
Mid-tone colour schemes
Explore our gallery of schemes featuring mid-tone paint colours to find inspiration for your upcoming projects. From colour-drenched spaces to combinations with neutrals and dark accents, order sample pots to start planning your room refresh…
Book Room Green is an elegant mid-tone green, a timeless wall colour for dining rooms, hallways and bedrooms. For a harmonious scheme, accompany with related hues from the same ‘Colour Scales’ family.
Book Room Green
Masquerade is a beautiful, nurturing mid-tone pink to introduce in your little one’s nursery. As well as being a great shade for living spaces For added impact, team with a complementary rich green like Pleat.
Masquerade
China Clay – Dark is the deepest shade in its colour family of the same name. It has a delicate hue that can appear as a soft mid-tone pink or lilac depending on the natural light. Perfect for adding warmth and character to the walls of your hallway.
China Cay - Dark
A tempting mid-tone honey from our ‘Sweet Treats’ palette, Madeleine looks beautiful in a colour-drenched scheme. Pair with authentic wood finishes for a homely atmosphere.
Madeleine
Boringdon Green is a fresh and uplifting mid-green to use all over. Redolent of nature, it provides a soothing backdrop for a bathroom setting.
Boringdon Green
Bone China Blue is a tranquil mid-tone blue paint that works in interiors with both a classic and contemporary style. Pair with Lamp Black as a contrasting dark accent to give the scheme a contemporary twist.
Bone China Blue
Travertine offers a little more depth and richness than lighter-toned neutrals. This mid-tone neutral will exude warmth in a north-facing living room, accompanied by natural finishes.
Travertine
Soft and muted, mid-tone blue paint like Obscura are a great choice for home studies. They instil a sense of focus, whilst also providing a soothing and comforting environment to work in.
ObscuraRequest a complimentary colour card to explore more mid-tone shades, or order sample pots of your preferred paint colours. You can also read our helpful guide on how to use sample pots.