We love an intriguing paint name – it’s such a conversation-worthy topic. Is your living room painted in Crayfish Party or Sang de Boeuf? Is the woodwork Vichyssoise or Bombolone? Sometimes a brilliant title can even propel an otherwise modest shade to cult status (we’re looking at you, Elephant’s Breath). From the deliciously absurd to the downright theatrical, these are 10 of the most gloriously out-there paint names to grace a tin – and the walls they adorn.
Dead Salmon, Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball has to be up there as one of the paint companies best known for its unusual paint names, and one of its most iconic is Dead Salmon. But don’t start imagining a lifeless fish. Its name actually comes from an old painter’s invoice uncovered at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. The invoice, which dates from 1805, references the ‘dead salmon’ colour that the library had been painted in: the word ‘dead’ used to describe the very matt finish and ‘salmon’ referring to the hue. It’s a colour that everyone sees differently, from strong mushroom to neutral to deep salmon pink. Perfect for candlelit dining rooms.
Dead Salmon, Modern Emulsion £64 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball
Elephant’s Breath, Farrow & Ball
This warm and contemporary grey by Farrow & Ball that’s famous for its characterful paint name was originally created by John Fowler, the notable English interior designer, who established his inimitable English country house style during post-war Britain. As a colourist in the days before paint companies, Fowler would have colours mixed in a paint studio for his decorating schemes.
But the name likely has even older origins, and is referenced as far back as 1874, when it was described as ‘a beautiful shade of blue with a sort of mistiness about it’. This modern interpretation of Elephant's Breath reads as an uplifting mid grey with a hint of magenta, but can become almost lilac in the cooler light of west-facing rooms.
Elephant’s Breath, Modern Emulsion £64 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball
Wash Stop, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Dishwater might not seem the obvious muse for a sophisticated paint shade, yet Edward Bulmer admits it sparked the name for Wash Stop. Inspired by an old painter’s bill charging to ‘wash, stop and paint three times in oil’, the title captures both process and palette. The colour itself evokes the pale grey of washing-up water, softened with a whisper of lavender, creating an elegant, understated hue that – surprisingly – balances charm with subtle sophistication.
Wash Stop, Emulsion £66 per 2.5L, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Mummy, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Yes, as you might have guessed, this paint shade is named after the appearance of mummified remains. According to Edward Bulmer, Mummy became a recognised term (even mentioned by Shakespeare) for an old brown. Somewhat macabrely, it was actually made from these remains for centuries, up until the late 19th century, when it became deeply unfashionable. While the production process is still unthinkable, the colour is rightly fashionable again. Warm and inviting, it’s perfect for a snug or cosy sitting room.
Mummy, Emulsion £66 per 2.5L, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Tea With Florence, Little Greene
This rich, blue-green paint shade by Little Greene is from the National Trust archives and is based on the Chinese Room at Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, which has the finest surviving example of chinoiserie in Britain. Generations of the Verney family used the Chinese Room as a private sitting room and for taking tea with visitors, including Florence Nightingale, the younger sister of 19th-century owner Lady Verney. Florence became a regular visitor, eventually occupying several of her own rooms at Claydon, where she developed her important work in nursing.
Tea With Florence, Absolute Matt Emulsion £60 per 2.5L Little Greene
Waving & Smiling, Atelier Ellis
As its name suggests, this shade greets you like a warm smile. A blend of umber, yellow ochre, and magenta gives a biscuity pink that’s perfect for bedrooms or bathrooms, bringing a little cheer wherever it goes. Now comes the fun part: summoning the courage to ask the paint shop for ‘a tin of Waving and Smiling, please’…
Waving & Smiling, True Matt Emulsion £60 2.5L, Atelier Ellis
Floof, Atelier Ellis
We love this name, which makes us think of pillowy clouds and marshmallowy softness – and one that brings a sense of whimsy to the, quite literally, most vanilla of colours. Atelier Ellis describes this as ‘Downy, fluffy white. Quiet and never crisp’. Floof balances umber, orange and blue pigments.
Floof, True Matt Emulsion £60 2.5L, Atelier Ellis
Lunching Ladies, Atelier Ellis
What sets Atelier Ellis apart is its storytelling – each name evokes mood and personality, transforming paint from a simple material into a source of charm, whimsy, and design inspiration. This delicate colour takes its cues from faded pink silk chiffon tea dresses and is in the same elegant pink family as Atelier Ellis’s Waving & Smiling.
Lunching Ladies, True Matt Emulsion £60 2.5L, Atelier Ellis
Blue Tiger, Paint & Paper Library
This zingy shade by Paint & Paper Library hails from the Indian town of Wagholi where this colour was found in a tiny, very rare specimen of the electric-blue mineral, pentagonite. Wagholi takes its name from the Marathi word for tiger. A stunning contemporary blue that works equally well among warmer or cooler neutral palettes.
Blue Tiger, Pure Flat Emulsion £63 Paint & Paper Library
Caravan, Paint & Paper Library
Despite the name, this shade isn’t inspired by retro holiday vans as you may assume, but by the travelling Berber caravans of Morocco. Proof that there’s often more to a paint shade name than meets the eye, it draws on the rich tones of their traditional textiles, translating that nomadic artistry into a colour that feels both storied and striking.
Caravan, Pure Flat Emulsion £63 Paint & Paper Library
