Best Farrow & Ball paints 2020: 11 gorgeous colors you'll love

Looking for the most popular Farrow & Ball paints? From classic Ammonite to stylish Hague Blue, here are the best picks

Best Farrow & Ball paints 2020
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

British paint brand Farrow & Ball has long been iconic in the world of interior design, not only for their... original names (Broccoli Brown, Dead Salmon, Mole's Breath), but also for their gorgeous rich, traditional hues and amazing quality. More recently, thought, thanks in large part to social media and the brand's debut on Anthropologie.com, F&B's appeal has gone mass market, and decor-lovers everywhere are now clamoring for their best hues. 

If this is your first experience buying a Farrow & Ball color, or you're simply curious about the brand's best-known shades, we have rounded up our favorite Farrow & Ball paint colors, from the understated Ammonite to the cult-classic Hague Blue.

Also good to know? All of Farrow & Ball's best-selling wall paints are available in two finishes: Estate Emulsion (a chalky matte finish), and Modern Emulsion (a washable flat paint). They also offer additional finishes for wood, doors, and floors, including Estate Eggshell, Modern Eggshell, a matte finish called Dead Flat, and a lacquered-look Full Gloss, plus Exterior Masonry and Eggshell finishes. Look out for low sheen Specialist Finishes, too. 

If you're looking for a bargain, head to our best paint deals page, or find out more about how to paint a house with our handy step-by-step guide.

1. Farrow & Ball Ammonite

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Farrow & Ball Railings used on a door

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Ammonite is Farrow and Ball's most popular neutral. It's neither too warm not too cool so will work in any room no matter what the natural light situation. It has a very subtle grey tone that you can bring out more if paired with a brighter white like All White, but without that contrast, it just looks like a lovely soft white. 

2. Farrow & Ball Wimborne White

Farrow & Ball Wimborne White

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Another popular neutral, the timeless elegance of Wimborne White's classic just off-white shade has made it a design firm favorite for many years. A versatile choice for almost any room – particularly one you want to feel light and bright – the smallest touch of warm yellow pigment makes it a more inviting shade than bright white.

3. Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray

Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Of course we all still love grey. An enduringly popular choice for stylish bedrooms and living rooms, it is an easy way to create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. Pavilion Gray is a cool mid-toned grey - neutral enough for any room, but with a distinctive edge. Pair up with bright cool white like Blackened for a clean, simple look.

Browse grey living room and grey bedroom design ideas to inspire your schemes.

4. Farrow & Ball Down Pipe

Down Pipe colour by farrow and ball

Farrow & Ball describe this color as 'a dramatic lead grey' – Down Pipe is the best Farrow & Ball color option for making a statement in the hallway or bedroom, but now finding its way into living rooms, home offices and dining spaces, too. Deep, dark grey-black has been an on-trend color for quite a few years now and shows no sign of going out of fashion. A characterful alternative to light neutrals, it works brilliantly combined with off-whites or pastels. 

Browse dark and atmospheric room design ideas to inspire your scheme.

5. Farrow & Ball Railings

Bedroom panelling in room painted dark grey. By Farrow & Ball

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Blue or black? Why choose if you can have a color that occupies a perfectly balanced space in the middle? With its unique, rich tone, it is no wonder that Railings has become a bestseller. This color works especially well for adding character to a study or dining room, as shown here. Why not use it on woodwork and doors, too, to up the contemporary appeal? The perfect Farrow & Ball paint for those looking for a dark option.

6. Farrow & Ball Hague Blue

Fireplace in a festive period home

(Image credit: Farrow and Ball)

The most popular of all Farrow & Ball colors right now seems to be Hague Blue, which is cropping up on walls, floor and kitchen cabinets in magazines, on Instagram and IRL, too. It has a slight green undertone which lends itself to rooms that don't get much natural light, it also works well in smaller rooms too. Team it with a fresh, light blue like Borrowed Light to give it a lift. 

7. Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue

Stiffkey Blue

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

A bold and dramatic shade, Stiffkey Blue works wonders on rooms that are often overlooked, such as dining rooms and pantries – but don't overlook its potential for a bathroom or kitchen, too. Consider using it as an all-over color for a really striking effect, as shown below. We think this is the best Farrow & Ball paint color for those wanting a darker striking effect.

8. Farrow & Ball Dix Blue

Dix Blue

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

A delicate duck egg shade, Dix Blue sits somewhere between blue and green. A great option for injecting any room with a dash of summery, light-hearted color, it has a touch of black pigment that creates a slightly aged and relaxed vintage feel, making it perfect for use on upcycled furniture, panelling and woodwork, as well as living room walls. Pair it with a neutral shade, such as Pointing, for an understated effect, as shown here.

9. Farrow & Ball Light Blue

Farrow & Ball Light Blue

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

A very popular choice for shadier spaces, Light Blue has a shimmering, silvery quality that will add interest to rooms with a light quality that may otherwise look flat, especially if they are north-facing. Pair it with some warm, creamy whites to add softness to the space. 

10. Farrow & Ball India Yellow

Kitchen walls and dresser painted in Farrow and Ball India Yellow

(Image credit: Farrow and Ball)

A popular color choice, and not just for walls, a splash of India Yellow shouldn't go amiss in your home come spring-summer time. It'll certainly grab your guests' attention, and it works wonders in naturally dark rooms. Whether you're thinking of using it for a feature wall, to jazz up your flooring or revive some old-looking furniture, it's a daring choice we think you'd love. The best Farrow & Ball color for those looking to step out of their comfort zone.

11. Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster

Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

A lovely grown up pink, this dusty hue replicated newly plastered walls that are super on trend right now. No you don't have to go ripping off your wallpaper and sanding down walls to get the look, just give them a coat of Setting Plaster. It's a really soft color with plenty of yellow pigment that makes it perfect for sunny bedrooms. 

Charlotte Cosby, the company's Head of Creative, explains the reasons behind Farrow & Ball's continued success, 'Our paints have high levels of pigment, rich resin binders and high quality ingredients, giving them a unique depth of color. We carefully source our ingredients from suppliers to ensure you’ll find only the highest quality in each tin. We have a thoughtfully created palette of 132 colors in a range of interior and exterior, modern and traditional finishes. Our paint is meticulously tested, giving you the extraordinary color and long-lasting finish you expect every time.'

More paint inspo:

Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

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