De Nimes is one of Farrow & Ball's most likeable blues — that soft, faded denim quality means it behaves more like a warm neutral than a punchy colour, which is exactly why it's so easy to build a scheme around.
Whites first. Don't reach for a cold, blue-toned white or you'll just flatten the room. Go warm. Farrow & Ball All White (LRV 92) is the natural in-house partner for trim and ceilings — clean but never clinical. If you want something with a touch more body and softness, Paint & Paper Library Sand I (LRV 95.4) is a beautifully gentle off-white that keeps the whole thing feeling lived-in rather than showroom-fresh.
Then add warmth to fight the cool. Denim blue wants a contrast that brings heat, and that's where muted clay and ochre earn their place. Dulux Copper Glow (LRV 30.1) is a lovely terracotta-clay tone for an accent wall, soft furnishings or a piece of joinery — the orange-against-blue relationship is classic complementary colour theory and it always sings.
Ground it with depth. For skirting in a richer scheme, panelling, or a contrasting lower wall, Mylands Cigar BH.20 (LRV 11.8) gives you a deep tobacco-brown anchor that stops the blue floating off. It's a grown-up, slightly smoky alternative to going full black.
On the metals: avoid brass and aged gold here — they fight the cool undertone and look a bit dated against denim. Reach for polished nickel, chrome or matte black on handles, taps and light fittings. That's the detail that makes a De Nimes room feel considered rather than accidental.
Practical tip — De Nimes can read quite differently north versus south facing, leaning greyer in cool light. Get a sample pot, paint a decent patch on two walls, and live with it across a full day before you commit.