Pointing

Pointing’s role in warm neutral schemes

Named after the lime used between bricks, Pointing has a gentle warmth that flatters period details and modern architecture alike. It is bright enough to keep rooms airy, yet creamy enough to soften sash windows, picture rails, and plaster coving. Because it straddles warm and cool palettes, you can pair it with both contemporary black fixtures and traditional oak furniture without clashing undertones.

Treat Pointing as a flexible anchor. Paint walls and trims the same colour for a cocooning feel, or contrast it with cooler neutrals such as School House White and Slipper Satin to subtly zone open-plan spaces. On exteriors, Pointing looks at home beside stone lintels and red brick, making it a perennial choice for cottages and townhouses.

How to test dupes and finishes

When comparing alternatives, focus on undertone. Paint two coats on a primed board, inspect it in daylight and under warm lamps, and hold it next to your flooring or masonry. Pointing should stay creamy but never yellow; if a sample leans grey or peach, it won’t deliver the same easy warmth. For trims and cabinetry, invest in satin or estate eggshell finishes that can handle knocks; for walls, washable matt products keep the soft look while remaining wipeable.

Exterior projects need breathable or masonry-rated paints so the colour doesn’t chalk quickly. If you’re pairing Pointing with deeper shades such as Skimming Stone or London Stone, match sheen levels—glossy trims will make the warmer undertone feel stronger than it is.

Where Pointing excels

Use Pointing in living rooms, stairwells, and bedrooms when you need light but want to avoid the starkness of bright white. It’s superb on built-in wardrobes, traditional kitchens, and conservatories, especially when balanced with unlacquered brass, woven rugs, and linen textiles. The only caution is prep: because the colour is light, any filler or sanding marks will show, so prime thoroughly and sand between coats on woodwork. Style the finished space with layered neutrals, vintage pottery, or matte black picture lights to keep things grounded. Pointing continues to rank highly because it delivers a timeless, sunlit backdrop that makes every architectural detail feel intentional.