Cream #FFFDD0

Cream is a softer, warmer white. Pure white can feel clinical in some settings, while cream feels homely and gentle, and people associate it with comfort, nostalgia and classic style. It is the white people choose when they want a room or page to feel welcoming.

In weddings, cream and ivory are traditional alternatives to bright white for dresses, invitations and flowers. The color keeps white's ideas of purity and celebration and adds a little warmth. Cream invitations printed in dark ink are a familiar combination.

It also looks old in a good way. Cream paper, vintage tiles and painted wooden kitchens give it a sense of heritage, which is why it shows up so often in traditional, cottage and Scandinavian-inspired interiors. It also suits brands that want to look established.

Cream is a strong page background for food, bakery, wedding, stationery and lifestyle brands. Almost any dark text reads well on it, including black, charcoal, navy, dark brown and deep green. Avoid white text. It can make photographs look warmer and cozier than a white background does.

In UI, some readers find cream gentler than stark white for long reading, though it can look dated beside old-fashioned fonts. In interiors, cream walls and textiles suit warm wood and brass. In fashion, cream knitwear and trousers are a soft alternative to white.