Warm. Cosy.
Effortlessly neutral.
Chai is the colour people come back to. A soft sandy neutral with warm caramel undertones — it makes any room feel settled and lived-in without trying too hard.
The warmth you
can't quite name
Chai sits somewhere between cream and caramel — warmer than a white, softer than a beige. In morning light it reads almost golden. By evening it settles into something richer and more enveloping.
It's our most popular neutral for a reason. Bedrooms feel like sanctuaries in it. Hallways feel wider. Living rooms feel like somewhere you actually want to sit.
And because it's genuine limewash, the finish has movement — it catches light differently throughout the day, so the wall never looks exactly the same twice.
Limewash lightens significantly as it dries — always test in your space before ordering full bags.
Where Chai works best
Bedrooms
Chai's warmth makes bedrooms genuinely restful — the room gives something back. Works beautifully with natural linen, timber bedheads, and warm metals.
Living & dining
Grounding without being heavy. Chai lets furniture and art take centre stage — a calm backdrop that makes everything else in the room look better.
Hallways & entries
Chai on an entry wall signals warmth before anyone steps further inside — and it handles glancing light beautifully, which is where flat paint often struggles.
What do you need
before you paint?
Get the prep right and Chai will look exactly like it does in the photos. Skip it and the results can be unpredictable — especially on plasterboard.
| Your surface | Water-based undercoat | Dalray Primer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New plasterboard | 2 coats first | Yes | Undercoat first to seal, then Dalray Primer for best result |
| Painted walls | Not needed | Recommended | Regulates suction, reduces rub-off |
| Brick | Not needed | Not needed | Apply direct — order extra for porosity |
| Render | Not needed | Not needed | Apply direct — coverage will be lower |
| Fibre cement | Not needed | Yes | Dense surface — primer improves bonding significantly |
Chai works well with
Some colours sit quietly next to Chai. Others create contrast. Many people use them across different rooms in the same home.
Chai in the real world
Tag us at @dalraypaint — we love seeing how Chai looks in different spaces, lighting and surface types.
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Have a Chai transformation to share? Tag @dalraypaint on Instagram or send them to us directly.
What customers say
"Transformed our bedroom from a cold cubicle to a warm sanctuary. Love being in there now — the texture and how the shadows look through the day is just beautiful."
"Used Chai to paint my fireplace. Can't wait to do my lounge next!"
"Beautiful and mixes extremely well. Already this paint has transformed the space — note that coverage on render is lower due to absorption."