Clove is one of those rich, earthy Edward Bulmer tones that wants to be wrapped in warmth — fight that and it sulks, lean into it and it sings.
The winning move is a warm tonal envelope. Put a soft creamy white on your woodwork, skirting and ceiling so the architecture lifts without going cold. Paint & Paper Library's Sand I is the one here — at an LRV of 95.4 it's about as bright as a white gets, but it carries just enough warmth to belong with Clove rather than snapping against it. That contrast on trim keeps the whole room feeling intentional rather than muddy.
For accents, push into earthy ochre and a deeper, more grounded green. Mylands Artichoke BH.13 (LRV 27.6) is a gorgeous mid-toned olive-green that picks up the earthiness in Clove and stops the scheme from feeling one-note — cracking on a piece of joinery, an alcove or a study door. If you want a genuine deep anchor, Dulux Sapphire Springs 1 at LRV 6.4 brings in a moody near-blue that reads almost black in low light — use it sparingly, on a single feature or in a snug, and it gives the warmth something to lean against.
The one rule I'd hold you to: keep every metal warm. Unlacquered brass, aged bronze, warm oak — they all flatter the ochre undertones. Drop in chrome, nickel or cool stainless and you'll muddy the whole thing instantly. Same goes for fabrics — terracotta, mustard, rust and warm neutrals all play nicely.
Practical tip: paint big A2 sample boards of Clove and your white, prop them against each other in the actual room, and check them at night under your own lamps. Clove shifts noticeably between daylight and warm bulbs, and you want to be sure you love it after dark — that's when these earthy tones really come into their own.