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Ochre Line

A small, independent colour chart

Ochre Line is an independent online publication about colour and decorating at home, written in Britain for people who paint their own walls. It is the work of its editors, with occasional contributions from outside writers.

What we do

We answer practical questions about paint: which finish goes where, how to read a label, what a north-facing room needs, and how to get a wall ready. Where a claim depends on a rule, a study or safety guidance, we open the original page, link to it, and write down what it says. If we cannot verify something, we say so or leave it out.

What the chips are

Every article is tied to a chip with a name and number, as on a manufacturer's card. They are our own invention. There is no Ledger Ochre or Night Bus in any shop that we know of, and on-screen colours would not match a tin anyway. Chips are here to give an article a character and to make a point about colour.

We draw our room mock-ups by hand in code, to show an effect rather than to promise a result.

What we do not do

We sell no paint and take no position on which brand is best. Where a page from a retailer or manufacturer is the clearest source for a practical point, we may link to it, and that is not an endorsement. We are not your surveyor, doctor or decorator. Asbestos, lead and persistent damp all need the right professional advice, and our safety articles point to where to find it.

Guest articles

We accept well-informed articles from outside contributors, and any paid or sponsored relationship must be disclosed. The rules are on our write for us page.

Getting in touch

Corrections are very welcome. Email [email protected].

Image credits

All room mock-ups, diagrams and chips are drawn by Ochre Line.