Neutral Paints Tested: 4 Dulux & Farrow Ball Colors Compared (Honest Review)

Okay, confession time: I spent THREE HOURS in B&Q last week staring at neutral paint chips before I decided to properly test them. Egyptian Cotton? Gentle Fawn? Elephant’s Breath? They literally all looked the same to me!

So I did what any slightly obsessive person would do – I bought all four of the most popular neutrals and tested them properly in my actual home.

Not with those tiny chips. Not under shop lighting. But with proper A4-size swatches, in real rooms, at different times of day over a weekend. (Yes, I’m that person!)

What I tested:

• Egyptian Cotton (Dulux, £25)
• Ivory Matt (Dulux, £25)
• Gentle Fawn (Dulux, £25)
• Elephant’s Breath (Farrow & Ball, £60)

The big question: Is Farrow & Ball worth double the price? Spoiler alert: I was shocked by what I found!

Grab a cuppa and let’s talk paint!

_{This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’ve actually tested in my own home!}

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QUICK COMPARISON TABLE

Egyptian Cotton (Dulux)

• Price: £25
• Color: Soft warm white
• Best for: Anywhere

Ivory Matt (Dulux)

• Price: £25
• Color: Warm off-white
• Best for: Trim, cozy rooms

Gentle Fawn (Dulux)

• Price: £25
• Color: Light warm greige
• Best for: Budget greige lovers

Elephant’s Breath (F&B)

• Price: £60
• Color: Warm taupe-greige
• Best for: If budget allows

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I tested these neutral paints in my actual home over several days. Here’s my detailed breakdown of each one

1. EGYPTIAN COTTON (DULUX) – THE SAFE BET

What It Actually Is

Egyptian Cotton is Dulux’s “almost white but not stark white” paint. You know that fear of white being TOO white and making your house look like a dentist’s office? This fixes that.

It’s soft, warm, but still definitely reads as “white” not “cream.” My mum calls it “friendly white” and honestly, that’s perfect.

How It Looks Throughout The Day

I tested this over several days, checking it morning, afternoon, and evening. Here’s what I noticed:

Morning: Fresh, soft white with subtle warmth Afternoon: Stays beautifully white, never looks cold Evening: Slightly warmer, but still definitely white Never once looked yellow or grey – this is rare!

The Honest Truth

This is the most boring recommendation I’m going to make, but it’s boring because it’s PERFECT.

I used this in my rental hallway (landlord-approved neutral!). Even my very particular mum, who hates “modern white,” loved it. That’s when I knew it was special.

Who Should Buy This

You’ll love Egyptian Cotton if:

• You want a “can’t go wrong” option
• You’re decorating whole house
• You find pure white too stark
• You’re a first-time buyer panicking about paint choices (been there!)
• You need landlord-friendly neutral

My Verdict

If someone held a paintbrush to my head (weird scenario 😂) and said I could only buy ONE paint forever, this would be it. Most versatile neutral I tested.

The Catch: None. Genuinely none. This is as close to perfect as paint gets.

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2. IVORY MATT (DULUX) – THE WARM ONE

What It Actually Is

If Egyptian Cotton is “almost white,” Ivory Matt is “definitely cream.” It’s noticeably warmer, richer, and more… well, ivory!

How It Surprised Me

Here’s the thing – I tested this in my south-facing kitchen and by 3pm it looked REALLY yellow. Like “why did I paint my kitchen custard?” yellow.

But in my north-facing bedroom? Absolute perfection! Warm and cozy without being overwhelming.

So: Test this in YOUR actual room before committing!

How To Use It

Honestly, I think Ivory Matt works best as a supporting player, not the main star.

Perfect for:

• Trim and woodwork (looks stunning with Egyptian Cotton walls!)
• North-facing rooms that need warmth
• Cozy spaces like reading nooks
• Anywhere you want that “warm hug” feeling

My Verdict

Beautiful paint, but loses a star for being fussier about lighting. Works brilliantly in the right space, but definitely test first.

The Catch: Can look too yellow in south-facing rooms with loads of natural light.

Best combo: Egyptian Cotton on walls + Ivory Matt on trim = chef’s kiss! 🤌

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3. GENTLE FAWN (DULUX) – THE SHOCKING DISCOVERY

The Paint That Changed Everything

Okay, buckle up because this is where it gets interesting!

I bought Gentle Fawn as a “let’s see if the budget option is any good” afterthought. I was planning to use Elephant’s Breath (the £60 Farrow & Ball everyone raves about) in my bedroom.

Then I painted them both. Side by side. And I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

They’re 90% The Same Paint

I’m not exaggerating. My best friend came over and I asked her (without any context) which was which. She guessed WRONG.

Side-by-side, yes, you can see differences:

• Elephant’s Breath is slightly deeper
• It has a bit more richness and complexity
• The pigment feels more luxurious

But in separate rooms? Honestly, I think I’m the only one who can tell, and that’s purely because I spent days staring at them!

How It Looks

Morning: Soft, subtle greige – like a warm cloud Afternoon: Perfect balance of grey and beige appears Evening: Richer, cozier, but still sophisticated

It’s one of those chameleon colors that adapts to your lighting, which I love.

Why This Is My Favorite

Look, I’m not saying Elephant’s Breath isn’t beautiful (it is!). But Gentle Fawn gives you 90% of that look for £35 less.

The maths:

• Paint 3 rooms in Gentle Fawn: £75
• Paint 3 rooms in Elephant’s Breath: £180
• Savings: £105 (that’s like… a lot of coffee!)

Who Should Buy This

Literally anyone who:

• Wants that “expensive greige” look on a budget
• Loves Elephant’s Breath but can’t justify £60
• Wants subtle, sophisticated color
• Values incredible quality at fair price

My Verdict

Best value paint I tested. Period.

If you take nothing else from this post, take this: Try Gentle Fawn before you buy Elephant’s Breath. You might save yourself £35 and not even notice the difference.

The Catch: Like all greiges, it looks different in various lighting. Test extensively! But honestly, I loved it in every light.

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4. ELEPHANT’S BREATH (FARROW & BALL) – THE LUXURY QUESTION

The One Everyone Wants

Let’s talk about Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath – Instagram’s favorite neutral, Pinterest’s most-pinned greige, and the paint that costs £60 a tin.

First, I’ll admit: When the Farrow & Ball tin arrived, I felt fancy. The box is gorgeous, the tin is beautiful, and yes, I felt a bit bougie painting my living room with it.

Is It Actually Better?

Okay, deep breath – here’s my honest take.

YES, it’s beautiful. The depth is undeniable. The pigment is richer. It feels more premium to apply. And it genuinely does have more complexity than Gentle Fawn when you look closely.

BUT – and this is a big but – you’re paying £35 extra for maybe 10-15% more depth.

How It Looks

Morning: Soft, sophisticated warm greige Afternoon: That perfect taupe-greige everyone pins Evening: Rich, deep, almost mocha undertones appear It changes MORE dramatically than the Dulux paints

This is the most chameleon-like of all four paints. I actually love that about it!

When It’s Worth The Money

You should buy Elephant’s Breath if:

• £60 genuinely doesn’t stretch your budget
• You’re painting one feature wall (not whole house)
• You can see the difference from Gentle Fawn
• You love Farrow & Ball quality
• You want that “I used the real thing” feeling

When It’s Not Worth It

Save your money if:

• You’re decorating multiple rooms (costs add up FAST)
• £35 difference matters to you
• You can’t really see the difference from Gentle Fawn
• You’d rather spend that money on better brushes/decor

My Verdict

Gorgeous, luxurious, and yes, slightly better than Gentle Fawn. But I can’t give it 5 stars when Gentle Fawn exists at less than half the price and looks 90% the same.

The Catch: Price! £60 vs £25 is significant. Do the math for your project before committing.

My recommendation: Paint Gentle Fawn first. Live with it for a few days. If you feel like something’s missing, THEN try Elephant’s Breath. But I bet you won’t need to!

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All Four Together: What I Learned

After living with these paints for two weeks, here’s what honestly surprised me most:

1. Gentle Fawn punches WAY above its £25 price point

Seriously, if I hadn’t tested Elephant’s Breath, I’d think Gentle Fawn was the premium paint. It’s that good.

2. Egyptian Cotton is boring in the best way

Sometimes boring = reliable, versatile, perfect. This is that.

3. Ivory Matt is brilliant but fussy

Love it in the right room, hate it in the wrong lighting. Test, test, test!

4. Elephant’s Breath is beautiful but not essential

Controversial opinion: For most people, Gentle Fawn is enough.

Using Them Together

Here’s the scheme I’m using in my home:

• Main walls: Egyptian Cotton (£25) – bright, fresh base
• All trim: Ivory Matt (£25) – warm contrast
• Bedroom: Gentle Fawn (£25) – cozy sophistication
• Feature wall: Saving up for Elephant’s Breath one day! (£60)

Total so far: £75 for three beautiful neutrals that work perfectly together.

The Progression

From lightest to darkest:

1. Egyptian Cotton (soft warm white)
2. Ivory Matt (warm off-white)
3. Gentle Fawn (light greige)
4. Elephant’s Breath (medium taupe-greige)

They’re like a family! You could use all four in one home and they’d be completely cohesive.

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PRICE REALITY CHECK

Let’s Talk Money

Dulux (£25 each):

• Egyptian Cotton
• Ivory Matt
• Gentle Fawn
• Buy all 3 = £75 total

Farrow & Ball (£60):

• Elephant’s Breath alone
• Double the price of any Dulux paint

What That Means For Real Projects

Paint a bedroom (12m²):

• Dulux: ~£12-15 worth of paint
• F&B: ~£28-32 worth of paint

Paint whole house (4 rooms):

• Gentle Fawn: ~£50
• Elephant’s Breath: ~£120
• Savings: £70!

My Take

Look, I’m not saying don’t buy Farrow & Ball. I’m saying think about your whole project cost first.

If you’re painting one feature wall? Sure, splurge on Elephant’s Breath!

If you’re doing multiple rooms? Gentle Fawn will give you incredible results for way less money.

Best value winner: Gentle Fawn – hands down, no competition.

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HOW TO TEST PAINT PROPERLY

Learn From My Mistakes!

Can I rant about those tiny paint chips for a second? They’re USELESS!

Every single paint looked completely different on a large swatch. Gentle Fawn looked like plain beige on the chip – on my wall it’s sophisticated greige perfection.

My Testing Method (That Actually Works)

Step 1: Buy tester pots (£5-8 each) Worth every penny!

Step 2: Paint A4-size swatches (MINIMUM!) I used white card. Paint 2 coats for accurate color.

Step 3: Test at different times

• Morning (9-11am)
• Afternoon (2-4pm)
• Evening (6-8pm)

Paint looks SO different! This step is crucial!

Step 4: Live with it for 24-48 hours Tape swatches to actual walls. See them with your furniture, your lighting, your life.

Once you’ve chosen your paint, learn how to style your space with my entryway decorating guide.

What I Learned The Hard Way:

• One coat = patchy and wrong
• Tiny chips = completely inaccurate
• Shop lighting = lies!

• Testing costs £24 (for all 4) vs repainting wrong color = £££

Just test properly. Please. I’m begging you!

Next up: I’m testing these paints in different lighting conditions (day vs evening) and sharing my entryway Christmas decorating ideas! Follow along for more home decor inspiration.

For more paint testing tips, check out Dulux’s official guide to choosing paint.

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