Salt V is one of those gentle, whole-room neutrals that does its best work as a calm backdrop rather than a star. The trick is giving it some edge, because left to its own devices it can drift a touch flat.
Start with the woodwork. A crisper warm-white on trim and skirting lifts Salt V and stops it sitting heavy in the room. Farrow & Ball All White (LRV 92) is the obvious move here — clean, bright, no yellow muddiness to fight against the wall. That contrast between wall and woodwork is what gives the scheme its definition.
For accents, lean cool rather than warm. Polished nickel taps, handles and light fittings sit far better with Salt V than brass — brass can pull it slightly sickly. Paint & Paper Library Blue Blood (LRV 16.4) is a cracking choice for a feature: a deep, inky moment on a panelled wall, an internal door or joinery that anchors all that softness without going cold.
If you want a little warmth back in the mix — and most rooms benefit — Mylands Beehive Place No.140 (LRV 58.6) is a lovely honeyed mid-tone for an adjoining space or a textile run. It plays nicely against Salt V's quietness without overpowering it. For something braver, Dulux Fuchsia Falls 2 (LRV 29.8) gives you a punchy pink accent — think a single armchair, cushions or the inside of a bookcase, not whole walls.
The real magic, though, is in the materials. Layer limed oak floors, natural linen, a bit of pale stone or marble, and Salt V comes alive. It's a colour that responds to texture more than it responds to bold colour.
Practical tip: order sample pots and live with Salt V on the wall facing your main light source for a couple of days. In north light it goes cooler and quieter; in warm evening light it softens right up. Match your woodwork and metals to whichever face of it you see most.