Let’s face it, Farrow and Ball is an iconic paint brand, not only in the UK, but also across Europe. Their colours are well thought out, stylish, and easy to navigate (if you can get over some of the silly colour names). However, the paint itself gets mixed reviews, with a lot of people opting to match Farrow and Ball colours to other paint brands.

In this blog, I’m going to explain a little bit about matching Farrow and Ball colours, the accuracy, and the best place to buy your matches. Then I’m going to work my way through each of the most popular Farrow and Ball products, explain the usual drawbacks, and give you a couple of recommended product alternatives.

There are a couple of things to mention before we get going. Firstly, I like Farrow and Ball paint, although I’m aware of the pitfalls with each product. Secondly, I’m a professional decorator, so I tend to stick to trade paint. Retail paint (the type you find at DIY shops), are generally of lower quality. Trade paints, although more expensive, will always give you better results.

How Accurate are Farrow and Ball Colour Matches?

Right, let’s get down to it. Can you trust a Farrow and Ball colour match to be accurate? There are a couple of things to consider. Farrow and Ball, for all their flaws, do use good quality pigments. They have a reputation for using more Titanium Dioxide (a very expensive white dye), than other paint brands.

This strengthens the opinion some have about Farrow and Ball having “great depth”, and “subtle undertones”, and to be fair, the quality of the pigments does contribute to that.

However, it is as much to do with the actual colours as it is the paint. Farrow and Ball use a lot of metameric colours, which basically means the colours look different in different lights regardless of which paint brand you go for (as I said in the opening paragraph, Farrow and Ball colours are well thought out).

It is easy to get Farrow and Ball colours matched. They’re never going to be 100% accurate; all you’re essentially doing, is getting the colour on a different system which is the closest to the Farrow and Ball colour you want.

To get the closest match, you should buy your paint from a merchant who is an expert at this type of thing. Otherwise the colour match might be way out. The Decorating Centre Online make it quick and easy to have a colour matched. All you do is choose the product you want to buy, then type the Farrow and Ball colour name in the appropriate box. Not only do they make it easy for you to get a colour match, but they’re colour experts too, and have their own lab. No merchant I have used can give a closer match. Click here to visit their website.

Which Products to Get your Farrow and Ball Colours Matched to?

I’ll keep this relatively brief. I’m going to go through each of the main Farrow and Ball paint products and give you two comparable trade alternatives for each, as well as linking to pages that offer each product and colour matching. I hope it helps.

Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion

Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion is a low-sheen (chalky) emulsion for interior ceilings and walls. It leaves a very contemporary finish but only contains a very small amount of polymer binder. This means the paint is not very durable at all. So, the comparable products should be low-sheen, but more durable.

Johnstone’s Trade Perfect Matt is a premium alternative. More expensive than standard trade paint, but has a very low-sheen contemporary finish, and is relatively durable. Not just that, but this product does have good-quality pigments. It’s a product that is designed to out-perform the designer brands. Click here to see online prices.

If the reason you want a colour match is to save a few quid, then Armstead Vinyl Matt takes some beating. This is a low-sheen trade vinyl matt that looks great and is easy to use. Click here to see online prices.

Farrow and Ball Modern Emulsion

This is a durable matt emulsion designed for use in high-traffic areas, kitchens, or bathrooms with low condensation. There are a couple of issues with Modern Emulsion; the high-sheen level isn’t ideal, especially in modern homes or hallways. The other issue is the poor opacity in certain colours, which means you often need to apply a third coat.

If you want a good product without spending big, then look at Armstead Durable matt. The finish is good, and it’s easy to use, but the opacity isn’t the best in pale colours. Still a great trade product though. Click here to see online prices.

Farrow and Ball Eggshell

Farrow and Ball has two eggshell products: the Estate and Modern. Estate Eggshell can be used on woodwork, as well as an emulsion on walls and ceilings. Modern Eggshell is best suited for woodwork, or even kitchen cabinets. So, I’ll recommend a good eggshell for walls, and a paint for woodwork. You can have your Farrow and Ball colour matched to either product.

Let’s start with the emulsion; my recommendation is Johnstone’s Trade Eggshell. It’s nice to use, great opacity and is durable. Click here to see online prices.

The woodwork paint is easy; Johnstone’s Aqua Guard is one of the best water-based satinwood products on the market. It performs brilliantly, whether you have it mixed in white, or tinted to a colour. It is easy to use, will never discolour, and is very durable. Click here to see online prices.

Final Thoughts

I hope this blog has helped. I know a lot of Decorators get Farrow and Ball colours matched to other paint brands for various reasons. Although I like designer brands like Farrow and Ball, trade paint normally gives you better results at a cheaper price.

Matching Farrow and Ball Colours to Other Paint Brands – by Mike Gregory