Ylang Ylang
What Ylang Ylang Actually Looks Like
Ylang Ylang is a gentle, warm cream. It sits on the lighter end of the cream family without tipping into stark white or yellowy gold. In strong natural light it reads almost like a warm white. Pull back the light and it settles into a more noticeable creamy tone with a quiet richness to it.
Ylang Ylang Undertones
The hex and RGB values point clearly to yellow and just a touch of peach working beneath the surface. That combination gives the color its warmth without making it feel overtly golden. It stays soft and approachable rather than bold. In north-facing rooms or under cool LED lighting, the yellow can flatten slightly, pushing the color toward a more neutral, slightly tan read.
Where Ylang Ylang Works Best
A high LRV means Ylang Ylang reflects a good deal of light, making it a practical choice for rooms you want to feel open and airy. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where a warm but understated backdrop is the goal. It suits both traditional and relaxed contemporary spaces. Avoid pairing it with very cool or stark white trim, which will make the wall color look dingy by contrast. Warm whites and off-whites for trim will let it hold its own.
Where to put Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang gives a living room a calm, welcoming feel without demanding attention. Natural linen, warm wood furniture, and woven textures all sit comfortably against it. Keep the trim in a warm white family to avoid a stark contrast.
In a bedroom, this cream reads restful and unhurried. It pairs well with soft bedding in warm neutrals or dusty blush tones. In a room with limited natural light, test a large sample first to make sure the yellow undertone reads the way you want.
Because of its high light reflectance, Ylang Ylang can brighten a darker hallway while still feeling warmer and more inviting than a flat white. Warm wood floors and simple trim in a compatible off-white finish the look cleanly.
In a kitchen, Ylang Ylang feels clean without being cold. It works especially well with natural wood cabinetry or warm-toned hardware. Under warm incandescent or warm-white LED lighting, its creamy quality comes through most pleasantly.
What to Pair With Ylang Ylang
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color, so the suggestions below draw from general color knowledge. Ylang Ylang pairs well with warm browns, soft terracottas, muted greens, and natural wood tones. For trim, reach for a warm off-white rather than a bright white.
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Colors that clash with Ylang Ylang
Placing Ylang Ylang next to cool gray or blue-gray in an open floor plan can make the cream look dingy or yellowed by comparison, and the cool tones will look harsh next to it.
Pairing Ylang Ylang walls with a crisp, bright white trim creates a contrast that makes the wall color look off or slightly dirty rather than deliberately warm.
Gray or blue-undertoned tile or laminate flooring can fight with the yellow-peach warmth in Ylang Ylang, leaving the room feeling tonally disconnected.
Common questions
The LRV is 79.5, which puts it well into the light range. That means it reflects a large share of the light in a room and will keep spaces feeling open and bright. It is not so high that it reads as a near-white, but it is high enough that even rooms with modest natural light will feel reasonably airy.
The Benjamin Moore code is AF-305, placing it in the Affinity collection. The hex and RGB values are available in the color spec block on this page.
It can, but test a large sample first. North light tends to be cooler and more diffuse, which can flatten the warm undertones and push the color toward a more muted, slightly tan appearance. If you want the creamy warmth to come through, a warm-white bulb in that space will help.
For walls in living spaces and bedrooms, an eggshell gives enough light reflectance to show the warmth while staying practical and wipeable. Matte works in low-traffic bedrooms if you want the softest possible look. Save satin or semi-gloss for trim only.