How to use Dulux Rampart

If you love the look of a classic Hamptons interior but don't want to paint every wall white, Dulux Rampart is a colour worth considering. 

Rampart is a soft, warm greige with a subtle lavender undertone. It has enough depth to give your walls some definition, but is still light and understated enough to create the relaxed, elegant feel that works so well in a Hamptons-inspired home.

It is also a great example of why choosing a colour for your walls isn't simply about finding a white you like. Sometimes a very soft neutral can provide the perfect backdrop for your architectural details, white trim, beautiful furnishings and layers of blue and neutral tones.

In this post, I'll look at how I would use Dulux Rampart, including two whites that work particularly well alongside it: Dulux Whisper White for a softer, warmer look and Dulux Casper White Quarter if you prefer a crisper finish.

What colour is Dulux Rampart?

Dulux Rampart is a soft warm greige – a colour that sits between grey and beige.

What makes it particularly interesting is its lavender undertone. This gives Rampart a gentle, slightly sophisticated quality rather than the sometimes flat appearance that can occur with a straightforward grey.

The colour will naturally change depending on the light in your room and the colours surrounding it, so I would always recommend testing a sample in your own home before committing to it.

This is particularly important with greiges and colours with subtle undertones. 

And this is one of the reasons I love working with these softer neutrals. They aren't trying to be the star of the room – they are creating the background that allows everything else to work together.

Why use Rampart instead of white?

White walls can look beautiful, particularly in a Hamptons-style home where you have plenty of architectural detail, white cabinetry and classic trim.

But sometimes an entire house painted white can feel a little stark.

Using a soft greige like Rampart gives you another layer of colour without introducing a strong or distracting hue.

You get:

• More definition between the walls and white architectural details
• A softer backdrop for furniture and fabrics
• A more sophisticated alternative to plain white
• A colour that works beautifully with timber and natural textures
• A lovely foundation for blue and white decorating
• Enough contrast to make white trims, doors and cabinetry stand out

This is particularly effective in a formal Hamptons scheme, where the aim is often elegant and layered rather than stark and minimalist.

Dulux Rampart with Dulux Whisper White

One of my favourite ways to use Rampart is to pair it with Dulux Whisper White.

This creates a beautifully soft and warm combination.

Whisper White is described by Dulux as a warm white with an ivory quality, and it sits within their warm white collection.  The warmth of Whisper White works beautifully with the warmth in Rampart, while the difference in depth between the two colours gives you a subtle tonal contrast.

Where could you use Whisper White?

I would consider using Whisper White on:

• Skirting boards
• Architraves
• Doors
• Window frames
• Built-in cabinetry
• Ceiling details
• Other architectural trim

with Rampart on the walls.

The result is soft, elegant and cohesive.

You can see this combination in the images accompanying this post. The Rampart walls provide a gentle wash of colour, while the white architectural details remain prominent without creating the harsh contrast you can sometimes get when a warm neutral is partnered with a very crisp white.

Prefer a crisper look? Try Casper White Quarter

If you love Rampart but want a slightly fresher and crisper result, I would look at Dulux Casper White Quarter instead.

Casper White Quarter is a soft white with a subtle lavender undertone.

Related: How to use Dulux Casper White

So I would think about the two combinations like this:

Rampart + Whisper White

Soft • warm • relaxed • elegant

Rampart + Casper White Quarter

Crisper • lighter • more defined • classic

Neither is necessarily better – it comes down to the atmosphere you want to create.

This is something I always consider when putting together a colour scheme. The white you choose is just as important as the main wall colour.

A warm white can make a scheme feel softer and more relaxed, while a more neutral white can provide a little more contrast and freshness.

Dulux Rampart in a Hamptons interior

I particularly like Rampart for a formal Hamptons scheme.

Hamptons interiors are often associated with white walls, white cabinetry, timber, natural textures and plenty of blue and white.

But there is no rule that says your walls have to be white.

In fact, introducing a soft neutral like Rampart can make the other elements in the room feel even more considered.

Think about Rampart with:

• White plantation shutters
• White architraves and skirting
• Classic white cabinetry
• Navy blue accents
• Duck egg blue
• Natural timber
• Linen upholstery
• Warm beige carpet
• Brass or aged metal accents

The lavender undertone in Rampart can also sit beautifully with the blue family, which makes it particularly useful if you love the traditional blue and white Hamptons palette.

The result isn't a bright blue-and-white scheme. Instead, the Rampart creates a softer, more sophisticated background.

Related: Hamptons Style: 7 steps to achieve this look

Rampart with blue and white

One of the things I love about this colour is how easily it can move beyond a simple neutral scheme.

Add soft blue accessories, artwork or textiles and the lavender undertone in Rampart can become part of the overall colour story.

This is where I would encourage you to look at the whole palette rather than individual colours.

For example, you could create a scheme around:

Dulux Rampart
Soft warm greige with a lavender undertone

Dulux Whisper White
Warm white for trim and architectural details

Soft Duck Egg Blue
For cushions, throws and occasional furniture

Navy Blue
For deeper accents and contrast

Natural Timber
To bring warmth and texture into the scheme

This gives you a layered palette rather than simply decorating with "grey and white".  And that is often the difference between a scheme that feels flat and one that feels beautifully considered.

Where could you use Dulux Rampart?

Although I'm particularly drawn to Rampart in living rooms and bedrooms, it could work throughout a home.

Living rooms

Rampart would provide a beautiful backdrop to upholstered furniture, timber furniture and white architectural details.

It is particularly effective in a room with plenty of natural light, where the subtle lavender undertone can become part of the overall character of the space.

Bedrooms

This is where I think Rampart really comes into its own.

The softness of the colour lends itself beautifully to bedrooms, particularly when combined with white bed linen, soft blue fabrics and warm neutral flooring.

The bedroom shown here demonstrates how you can use the colour as a quiet background and then introduce stronger colour through textiles and accessories.

Bathrooms

Rather than extending wall tiles to the ceiling, you could introduce this soft neutral onto the walls in a bathroom too.

Hallways and connecting spaces

Rampart could also be useful in hallways where you want to create continuity between rooms.

Because it is a relatively soft neutral, it can provide a consistent backdrop while allowing each room to introduce its own accent colours.

Don't forget the lighting

As with any paint colour, Rampart will look different depending on the light in your home.

A north-facing room, a south-facing room, artificial lighting and the colours outside your windows can all influence the way you see a subtle greige.

And with a colour like Rampart, the undertone is important.

The lavender quality may be more noticeable in some conditions and much more subtle in others.

This is why I would never recommend choosing a paint colour from a small colour chip alone.

Paint a large sample and look at it:

• In the morning
• During the middle of the day
• In the afternoon
• At night with your lights on

And look at it alongside your flooring, cabinetry, curtains and other fixed elements.

Related: How to sample colours

Is Dulux Rampart right for your home?

If you are looking for a colour that is softer than a traditional grey but more interesting than white, Rampart is worth considering.

I particularly like it for homes where you want:

A classic rather than contemporary look
A soft alternative to white walls
A formal Hamptons aesthetic
A backdrop for blue and white decorating
White architectural details to stand out
A warm, layered and sophisticated neutral palette

And perhaps most importantly, it shows that you don't need to use a strong colour to create a beautiful colour scheme.

Sometimes the most successful schemes are built around these quiet, subtle neutrals – and then the personality comes from the furnishings, fabrics, artwork and accessories. 

If you are building a new home or renovating the one that you have, you should purchase my checklists.  You will find all the elements of a new build or exterior and interior renovation that you need to consider, with plenty of space to write down supplier and product details for reference. Gain control and satisfaction when you can check each one off the list.

I also have an online colour consultation service.  From just a quick 30 minute zoom session to address one or two key elements through to a full done for you solution for your entire home.