Cream is a warm, yellow-based neutral, and the trick is to play to that warmth rather than fight it. The colours that work hardest fall into three camps: soft greens, deep blues and earthy reds.
Soft greens are the easy win. A pale sage like Dulux Almost Pistachio (LRV 80.3) sits right next to cream on the warmth scale, so it feels calm and organic rather than jarring. At that high LRV it stays light and airy — perfect for woodwork, a feature wall, or a kitchen island against cream cabinetry.
Deep blues give cream the contrast it needs to stop feeling flat. Paint & Paper Library Blue Blood (LRV 16.4) is a proper inky, characterful blue that reads almost like a navy in low light. Use it on a chimney breast, panelling or joinery and the cream around it instantly looks more intentional and grown-up.
Warm reds and browns are the dark-horse choice. Mylands Arts Club No.281 (LRV 10.9) is a deep, dusky red-brown that brings real cosiness — brilliant for a dining room or snug where you want cream to feel enveloping rather than bland.
Now the "but what about greys?" question — because everyone reaches for one. Be careful. Cold, blue-based greys make cream look dingy and yellow by comparison. If you want a grey, choose a warm, greenish or putty-toned one so the undertones agree.
Practical advice: pick one accent and commit. Cream plus a deep blue is a complete scheme; you don't need to add a green and a red as well or it'll feel busy. Always test large painted boards — at least A3 — and look at them morning and evening, because cream shifts noticeably under warm artificial light and can drift towards looking slightly orange if your bulbs are too warm. Stick to soft white or warm-white LEDs around 2700–3000K to keep everything looking honest.