Farrow & Ball does not publish LRV; this value is estimated from the color’s hex using standard relative-luminance calculation. The matte estate finish typically reads lower.
Lime White is one of those colors that reads as white from across the room but reveals a gentle warmth when you get close. It sits in the off-white family, carrying just enough yellow pigment to keep walls from feeling stark or clinical. Think of it as the color of old linen left in the sun.
In rooms with plenty of natural light, Lime White can look almost like a clean, buttery cream. In lower light or north-facing rooms, it settles into something a bit more golden and cozy, like aged parchment. The shift is subtle but noticeable, especially against a truly neutral white trim. It never looks cold, and that is kind of the whole point.
On walls painted in Estate Emulsion, the chalky matte finish softens the color further and gives it a slightly powdery quality that photographs beautifully. In a full gloss on trim, the yellow warmth becomes more apparent as light bounces off the surface.
The dominant undertone in Lime White is yellow. Not a lemony, sharp yellow, but something closer to the warmth of natural beeswax or raw linen. It is bright and warm without tipping into gold or ochre territory.
In direct sunlight, the yellow reads clean and airy. As the light drops or in rooms that face north, that yellow can lean slightly green in certain conditions, which is where the "lime" in the name hints at its heritage. This green flash is faint and situational. Most of the time you will simply read it as a soft, warm white.
Because the undertone is warm rather than pink or peach, Lime White tends to play well alongside natural wood tones, stone, and other earthy materials. It will not fight with warm-toned flooring the way a cool white would.
Lime White is a workhorse. It is one of those colors you can confidently roll onto every wall in a house and know that each room will feel cohesive without being boring. Its warmth keeps hallways and landings from feeling like afterthoughts, and it gives smaller rooms a sense of openness without the harshness of a true white.
It is especially good in older homes where the architecture has some character. Crown molding, paneled doors, and plaster walls all look right at home under this color. Kitchens benefit from its brightness, and bedrooms benefit from its warmth. It can handle both.
For trim and millwork, Lime White in a higher sheen finish creates a tonal, layered look when the walls are painted in a deeper warm neutral. It also works beautifully on ceilings where a flat white would look too stark against warm-toned walls below.
Lime White is one of the best whole-house colors in the Farrow & Ball range. It creates a warm, unified backdrop from entryway to upstairs landing, adapting to different light conditions room by room while still reading as one consistent color.
In a living room with good natural light, Lime White makes the space feel bright and inviting without the sterile edge of a pure white. It is a strong backdrop for art, warm wood furniture, and textiles in earthy or jewel tones.
The warmth of Lime White creates a relaxed, restful atmosphere in bedrooms. Pair it with linen bedding and natural wood furniture for a look that feels effortlessly calm, especially in rooms with soft morning light.
On kitchen walls and cabinetry, Lime White keeps things bright and functional while avoiding the clinical feel of a blue-white. It complements butcher block counters, brass hardware, and terracotta tile beautifully.
Under evening candlelight or warm bulbs, Lime White deepens to a rich cream that makes a dining room feel intimate. It is warm enough to hold its own in a room that is mostly used after dark.
Lime White pairs most naturally with other warm, low-contrast colors. Old White is Farrow & Ball's own recommendation for trim, and it works because Old White carries a similar warmth but reads just slightly deeper, giving you definition without a jarring contrast. Off-White sits a step darker and more golden, making it a good choice for lower wall sections or wainscoting in a two-tone scheme.
For a softer ceiling or accent, Slipper Satin brings a touch of pink warmth that complements Lime White's yellow lean without clashing. The key with all these pairings is staying in the warm family. Cool whites next to Lime White will make it look dingy, and that is an easy mistake to avoid.
A cool blue-gray on trim or adjacent walls creates a temperature clash that makes Lime White look yellowed and dirty rather than warm.
Pairing Lime White walls with a brilliant, blue-toned white on trim and ceilings exaggerates the yellow undertone and makes the walls look like they were painted decades ago.
A strong, cool-leaning green accent can pull out the faint green flash in Lime White's undertone, making the wall color look muddy rather than clean.
Lime White has a warm yellow undertone. In most lighting it reads as a soft, buttery off-white. In some north-facing rooms or low light, a very faint greenish cast can emerge, but the dominant character is warm and yellow.
It is firmly warm. The yellow undertone keeps it from ever reading as cool or clinical. If you are looking for a warm white that does not veer into pink or peach territory, Lime White is a strong option.
Stay in the warm family. Off-White (No. 3) and Old White (No. 4) are natural companions for trim and wainscoting. Slipper Satin (No. 2004) works well on ceilings. For accent colors, earthy tones, warm greens, and muted terracottas all complement it without clashing.
Estate Emulsion is the classic choice for walls. Its chalky, flat finish gives Lime White a soft, velvety depth. For trim and woodwork, Estate Eggshell or Full Gloss both work, though the sheen will make the yellow undertone slightly more visible.
The hex code for Farrow & Ball Lime White (No. 1) is #E3DCC7. Its LRV is 71.6, which places it in the light range, bright enough to open up a room but with enough depth to avoid looking flat or washed out.
Yes. Lime White is one of the most versatile whole-house options in Farrow & Ball's range. It adapts well to different light exposures room by room while maintaining a cohesive warm thread throughout. It works on walls, ceilings, and trim depending on the finish you choose.
