I've been exploring how color can impact your outdoor spaces a lot lately, but to do any of that, you first need to pick a paint color. Known for their earthier pigment, Farrow & Ball's paints work wonderfully outdoors. But which is best, and how should you choose?

There's a lot to think about when choosing paint colors for outdoor spaces, but the best place to start is by "taking clues from your planting and geographical location," suggests color expert and Farrow & Ball brand ambassador Patrick O'Donnell. Of course, it's worth keeping exterior paint trends in mind, too, but as a surface you don't want to revisit too often, timelessness is ideal, and the best results will always come from being led by your natural surroundings.

So, whether you are planning to paint your home, your trim, or your garden furniture, below, Patrick shares the best Farrow & Ball paint colors for outdoors, no matter your setting, scheme, or style.

The Best Farrow & Ball Paint Colors for Outdoors

There are so many colors to choose from; I mean, Farrow & Ball's green paint range alone has 57 shades to choose from. Sometimes choice can be overwhelming, but the the best Farrow & Ball paint colors for outdoors will blend with your home's natural surroundings and other elements of your scheme, like garden furniture colors.

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There are shows we remember because they seamlessly transport us elsewhere — be it a different, remote epoch, a surreal fantasy, or a faraway continent. Others feel worthwhile because they put us face-to-face with stories and narratives we had never even considered until that moment, bringing us closer to communities, carefully preserved traditions, and ways of being other than our own.

Unveiled at Tate Modern on February 27, Tracey Emin: A Second Life entrances you with its filterless, bittersweet portrayal of what it means to be uncompromisingly alive against all odds. Between glowing neons, large-scale installations, monumental canvases, and archival footage, its immersive set design will make you feel attentive and present, thanks in part to a grounding night-sky blue backdrop, chosen from Farrow & Ball's best paint colors.

The color? Stiffkey Blue, and as Livingetc's executive editor Pip Rich, who toured the new exhibition with Farrow & Ball's Joa Studholme and Tracey's creative director Harry Weller last week, tells us: "Stiffkey Blue reads so much blacker here than I’m used to it being, and reminded me how clever Farrow and Ball is with its pigments that change so subtly depending on how the paint is used."

One of the most anticipated art exhibitions on the 2026 London cultural calendar, this landmark presentation retraces four decades of Tracey Emin's provocative production across painting, sculpture, photography, quilting, ephemera, home-inspired displays, and audiovisual works, wrapping you in a tranquil marine palette that makes her artworks feel even more urgent, compelling, and soul-piercing.

"Tracey Emin: A Second Life" Captures the Highs and Lows of Being Alive

It does so by throwing it back to the early days of Tracey Emin's career, which was heralded by the shocking and deeply divisive yet ever-relevant My Bed (1998), retracing the life of the Royal College of Art alumna and prominent YBAs' member almost step by step via moments of pleasure, of joy, of heartbreak and pain, of illness, of healing, and becoming.

A life-size reproduction of her messy bed, sided by an unruly pile of worn knickers, empty alcohol bottles, used and unused condoms, cigarette ends, a cuddly toy, Polaroids, slippers, and more, that seminal piece stood as a tangible portrayal of the inner and outer turmoil of a particularly challenging, depressive chapter of hers.

My Bed debuted at the Sagacho Exhibition Space in Tokyo, Japan, in 1998, and was first presented in London, where it's now on view, within the 1999 Turner Prize showcase at the Tate Gallery, causing shock, disgust, and confusion in equal amounts, before going on to rewrite the definition of art.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life unofficially takes this revealing display as its centerpiece. It also features a series of haunting self-portraits that see the maverick reflect on her experience of rape and sexual assault as a teenager, and others she painted in the aftermath of her squamous cell bladder cancer diagnosis, which she received in 2020.

...and the Sensory, Visceral Essence of It All

The show doesn't shy away from the debilitating impact this and the surgery that followed it had on the artist — having had her bladder, urethra, uterus, ovaries, lymph nodes, and parts of her intestine removed, she now lives with a permanent disability, and often turns to art to document it — but feels, nonetheless, life-affirming.

Inspired by the unexpected hue obtained from the mixing of mud and crushed cockles on the beach on the Norfolk coast after which the paint has been named, Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue inserts another layer of poetry into an exhibition so powerful and raw that it quite literally keeps you on your toes.

The hue, which was picked by long-term Farrow & Ball admirers Tracey Emin and her creative director, Harry Weller, deepens "the emotional impact of Tracey's visceral works," Farrow & Ball's color curator Joa Studholme said after touring the exhibition alongside the latter last week — an experience she describes as "fascinating, inspiring, and harrowing."

Inky, pasty, and imbued with an earthy quality, Stiffkey Blue feels like a fitting choice for the background of Tracey Emin: A Second Life, where the filthiness of the human experience's darkest sides is put on a stage, scrutinized, and, in doing so, exorcized, making room for newfound, explosive energy.

It makes the trio of nudes gathered by Emin's Naked Photos – Life Model Goes Mad (1996) and captured above truly pop out against the pale blue of the flooring onto which the female protagonist of these shots is shown mixing colors, lying on a dark sheet of fabric, and painting.

Elsewhere in the exhibition, like in front of I Am the Last of My Kind (2019), Was Too Young to Be Carrying Your Ashes (2017-2018), and And So It Felt Like This (2018), the muted blue shade gives each artwork the semblance of a portal.

Three female silhouettes, rendered in turquoise and pink, fire red and black, and darker blue, purple, and red, respectively, stare back at viewers, ghostly embodiments of loneliness, grief, and physical trauma, as the darker walls recall the attention onto their agitated surfaces.

Combined with Tracey Emin's signature neon sculptures — striking windows into her desires and thoughts — the Farrow & Ball-authored backdrop looks like a starry night, or a dead calm sea with twinkling boats all over it.

"The Margate of my mind has the most beautiful sunsets that stretch across the entire horizon. Sharp white cliffs divide a charcoal blue sea from the hard reality of the land," the artist wrote of the place where she grew up in her book Strangeland. Tracey Emin: A Second Life cements her ability to reunite both in her work — passion, beauty, and hardship — without ever quenching her lust for more.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life is open at Tate Modern, London, through August 31. Book your tickets

Read about interior designers' favorite spring colors yet? You've still got time to catch up on the homework before the summer solstice lands on June 21. For more style advice, consider joining our community of subscribers for access to our weekly newsletters — a seasonal upgrade has never been more of a no-brainer.

Of all the decorating choices worth deliberating, settling on a paint color has got to be one of the most consequential. As a design writer living in a compact apartment, take it from me: this decision matters even more in small rooms. Get it wrong, and you’ll feel it as well as see it. Get it right, though, and you’ve done one of two things — blurred the boundaries, making your space feel bigger, or celebrated proportions and created a jewel-box effect.

The best Farrow & Ball paint colors succeed at doing both. Renowned for its sophisticated palette, the British brand creates pleasingly complex shades that have become an instinctive choice for interior designers in the UK and well beyond. Speaking from experience, working within its tight palette (there are just 132 shades on the color card) helps to steer decisions in the right direction rather than leaving you wandering through a maze of tonal hues. They’re also ideal for paint tricks for small rooms, maximizing tight dimensions or creating a sense of all-wrapped-up intimacy.

So, which are the best Farrow & Ball paint colors for small rooms? Is it best to be brave and go bold, or opt for a neutral with nuance? Pick up your paintbrush, and read on...

1. Farrow & Ball's Matchstick No. 2013

Farrow & Ball really know how to do neutral paint colors. From whites through to almost-blacks, its collection of tonal shades spans from cool and serene through to rich and warm. One of the latter, Matchstick, is the top choice of Tennessee-based interior designers Norris Studio.

“Matchstick is a creamy, warm neutral that appears alive,” explains principal and founder Samantha Feuer. “With yellow undertones, it often reads as soft yellow, especially as light shifts throughout the day. It’s highly light-sensitive, meaning it never seems flat."

This makes the color an excellent choice for small spaces. “Matchstick reflects light in a way that keeps the space feeling open and breathable, without compromising warmth,” explains Samantha. “It never looks overwhelming or heavy, making it especially well-suited for tighter areas.”

The Farrow & Ball palette is well-known for adding depth and character, making it a favorite in period properties as well as more contemporary projects. “In this kitchen, we chose the color to make the new construction feel more established and timeworn," Samantha adds. "Matchstick has the warmth and brightness we really needed.”

2. Farrow & Ball's Calke Green No. 34

Don’t be afraid to go a little bolder in small rooms: a nature-inspired hue gives tighter spaces a rich, grounded feel. “Green is one of the most versatile and emotionally resonant colors you can use, especially in smaller rooms,” says Susie Pfeiffer.

The interior designer nominates Farrow & Ball's Calke Green as her top choice for decorating a small room. “This deep shade sits somewhere between soft sage and forest green, offering the perfect balance between warmth and depth," she says. "It gives a nod to nature without leaning into a rustic feeling.”

This quality makes the color an ideal option for rooms dedicated to relaxation. “Although painting a small room in a dark color can seem counterintuitive, this shade of green works differently,” reflects Susie. “It has a natural, calming quality that softly absorbs light and creates a cocooning effect.”

The latter can be maximized by using the paint shade for color-drenching, as in the bedroom above. “Calke Green hits all the right notes when used all over," says Susie. "It becomes soft, cozy, and warm yet still feels powerful.”

3. Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White No. 239

As someone who has previously argued against painting small rooms white, believe me when I say that Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White is different. “Compared to a pure brilliant white, which can feel a touch too sharp, this color has more depth and softness,” agree Allison McAffee and Naina Hotchkiss, the duo behind Park Interiors.

“The color creates a gentle, inviting backdrop and allows layered materials like wood, stone, and softer textiles to feel richer against it,” the pair says, explaining their use of the shade in the small-scale living room above. “It works beautifully with warmer, material-driven palettes.”

Deciding between one white or another is a classic interior design quandary, so what makes Wimborne White special? “Many whites can lean too cool, too yellow, or too flat depending on their environment,” say Allison and Naina. “This shade avoids the harshness of brighter whites while consistently offering a softness.”

It's a reminder that not all whites function the same way. "Undertone and depth matter tremendously,” the designers add. “Often, the most timeless whites are not the brightest, but the ones like this that offer a bit more warmth and complexity.”

4. Farrow & Ball's Preference Red No. 297

“Farrow & Ball's Preference Red is a stunning combination of red, purple, and pink all in one,” explains Sophie Chapman, associate at The Vawdrey House. The color is the deepest red in the Farrow & Ball palette, making it a bold choice. “Many people incorrectly shy away from darker colors in small spaces, but this shade can actually add depth and height.”

While decorating with red can be a daring choice for a smaller space, this deep shade works far better than a brighter version of the color. “Preference Red is a deep, rich, and luxurious hue with warm, velvety undertones,” adds the interior designer. “A brighter red would appear jarring and have an adverse effect in small rooms.”

As a kitchen color, it is a considered design choice as it adds real contrast to the mix of different materials — wood, metal, stone, and more — typically found in the space. The darker shade allows the nuances of tone and texture to be better appreciated.

“Preference Red also gives a cozy, cocooning feeling and lends spaces a lived-in look,” says Sophie. “This is a perfect combination in a multi-functional space that has to encourage relaxation, socialising, and inspiration all at once.”

5. Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue No. 30

When you’re keen to make smaller spaces feel like jewel boxes, opt for a dark, dramatic tone. “Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue has a rich, moody character that creates a comforting, sophisticated atmosphere that looks striking and refined in small spaces,” says Charlton Brown’s Huseyin Bicak.

In this powder room, the dark color again allows materiality to take center stage. “There’s a real tonal richness to it, allowing it to act as a backdrop and letting other features in a space stand out,” explains Huseyin. “Here, it picks up and enhances the blue tones found in the agate basin and the glint of the brassware.”

Where light is limited, and you therefore have to rely on artificial sources, darker colors can feel particularly enveloping and give real presence. This shade’s inky undertones work well to create just that atmosphere without ever seeming closed-in.

“Hague Blue appears vibrant and blue in natural light, but really shines in dimmer spaces as it creates depth," Huseyin adds. "This makes it a bold statement color for small rooms, which is exactly why we chose it for this space.”

6. Farrow & Ball's Eddy No. 301

When is a neutral not a neutral? This complexity is characteristic of the Farrow & Ball palette. “Eddy sits somewhere between a classic neutral and a true color, changing slightly throughout the day depending on its light,” says Esme Amberg, in-house designer at The Roost.

“It is a gentle, easy green with a muted gray undertone,” she explains. “In smaller rooms, I tend to look for colors that feel soft and enveloping rather than stark, and Farrow & Ball's Eddy has that muted quality that helps walls to recede and rooms to appear larger.”

“The shade feels calm rather than fresh or sugary, which gives it more depth than a typical pale neutral. It makes rooms feel interesting without ever seeming loud or overpowering.”

This allows the color to work well in smaller spaces, which often need to tick multiple interior design boxes. “Eddy is ideal in bedrooms, small living rooms, or home offices,” instructs Esme. “It’s a top choice in rooms where you want to feel calm, but still want there to be character and personality.”

Whether you’re remodeling your compact home or simply giving one tightly-proportioned room a refresh, take inspiration from interior designers using Farrow & Ball’s sophisticated palette. These colors bring depth and personality, no matter how small your space.

Need more inspiration? Discover our pick of the best Farrow & Ball color pairings and sign up to Livingetc's newsletter to have ideas delivered straight to your inbox.

There's a certain sunny optimism to a kitchen bathed in yellow that is hard to replicate with any other shade. It's a breath of fresh air, even on the gloomiest of days, and as such, it's become a remarkably popular hue for this space among interior designers.

That being said, yellow can be a hard color to pull off. You need to carefully choose the right kitchen cabinet color so that the room feels welcoming and fresh. Go too bright, and it can quickly feel overwhelming, too harsh and acidic for comfort. What you need is that perfect in-between — something zingy and bright, but still creamy, and comforting. The perfect yellow can be surprisingly neutral, too, making it an ideal base to bounce off of.

And, as it so happens, the designers know just the shade — Hay, by none other than Farrow and Ball, is the best Farrow & Ball paint color for the perfect yellow kitchen. It's soft, warm, and inviting, with a brightness that brings an instant smile to your face. It's no surprise the designers can't stay away from it.

Why Do Designers Love It?

When we're so used to neutral kitchens, bringing in a pop of color can be an understandably intimidating task. But, I'd argue that yellow is the perfect stepping stone into decorating with color. Now, you may hear 'yellow kitchen' and instantly have nightmareish images of putrid, neon shades, but when you choose a shade like Hay, you'll find the result surprisingly neutral.

In fact, this shade was designed with these apprehensions in mind. "The brilliant thing about Hay is it’s a great yellow for those nervous about committing to yellow or even those who have turned their back on this once popular color family," explains Farrow & Ball's brand ambassador Patrick O'Donnell.

The muted tone is just that bit warmer than a standard cream paint, but far softer and more nuanced than your typical yellow paint. Part of this depth, Patrick explains, comes from the "undertone of green running through, which gives it more character than a normal ‘perceived’ yellow."

As the name suggests, this shade has a lovely sun-dried feel, a gentle, comforting warmth that feels more inviting than the trendy butter yellow shade. It's an understated color, as Ashley Chavis from Grant and Little describes it, "Hay is a dreamy mellow yellow — not citrus and not hot. We love that it feels happy yet calming."

It was this comforting warmth that drew Ailsa Macconnell from Studio Mac towards the shade. "Hay Yellow was the perfect choice because it strikes a beautiful balance between softness and presence," she says, "It has a gentle, comforting quality, yet it’s strong enough to make a confident statement within the space."

The kitchen is arguably the most used room in the home, so it's crucial to find colors and materials that uplift you and bring a smile to your face. "For me, yellow is a color that naturally evokes joy and happiness," says Ailsa, "So using it on kitchen cabinets, especially in a space that’s used every day, makes it a perfect choice."

Unlike the neutral kitchen colors that have become so popular, Hay is a tone that will bring more warmth to your space, which can be especially useful during the colder, gloomier months. "Even in a darker, north-facing room, it works beautifully by reflecting light and helping to lift the overall feel of the kitchen," Ailsa notes. In fact, this kind of color can be particularly effective in north-facing kitchens, as the natural, understated warmth can help bring some balance and brightness into your room.

The Best Colors to Pair With Yellow Cabinetry

The overall effect of yellow cabinetry is entirely dependent on the other kitchen colors and materials you use throughout your design.

If you want to double down on the bright, sunny tones, why not combine Hay with some more yellow accents? This can be done subtly, as Ailsa did in her Edinburgh kitchen project, where Hay cabinets were paired with "a stronger yellow on the window, Sudbury Yellow from F&B, which works beautifully alongside it." Or, for greater impact, use this stronger yellow across your walls, as shown above.

Though if you prefer a slightly more pared-back look, Patrick recommends pairing the shade with a soft white paint, like Off White or White Tie. Opting for a more neutral, subtle backdrop like this allows the cabinetry to take center stage, rather than competing for attention with the rest of your design.

That being said, don't be afraid of integrating other colors into your space. Creating some contrast can bring your kitchen to life and will help create more depth and personality in your room. Ailsa suggests pairing the paint with some red accents, noting, "Red and yellow complement each other wonderfully and add a real sense of character." In her design, this took the form of a red-and-white checkerboard kitchen backsplash, but it could also be achieved through some colorful kitchen appliances or your kitchen flooring.

Or, for a slightly more gentle contrast, Ailsa notes, "Blue and yellow are a timeless combination and always work effortlessly together." With warm, organic shades like this, pairing it with other colors from nature is always a safe bet. This is the approach Ashley adopts, saying, "Our favorite colors to bring in — in general — are found in nature." As a rule, if two colors are found together in the natural world, they'll likely pair well together in the home, too.

How to Style Yellow Cabinets

With its soft, almost-neutral finish, Hay can be surprisingly malleable in its styling, working well with a whole array of interior design trends and styles. That being said, there are a few materials and finishes that pair particularly nicely with this shade.

There's something about this light, warm tone that lends itself naturally to a more traditional kitchen finish. To lean into this, Patrick suggests, "Definitely err towards aged brass fittings for a more traditional look and use lovely textural elements with fabrics — Indian Block prints would work a treat with this look."

Opting for warmer finishes with plenty of texture and character adds to the inviting elements of this shade. "I’ve always seen yellow as a very homely, comforting color," says Ailsa, adding, "I love pairing it with warm wooden tones and antique pieces, as this combination creates a timeless feel that never goes out of style." A wooden butcher's block instead of a bulky modern kitchen island would look beautiful, especially with some aged-brass hardware.

In general, you want to aim to keep your styling as soft and delicate as possible. As Patrick says, "Try and keep things light and airy with all your decoration here to truly appreciate the softness of Hay, you don’t want to apply anything too heavy, too bold." Search for light, linen materials in muted tones, and steer clear of dark, heavy features.

This color is a great partner to many of the biggest kitchen trends of the moment, such as the uber-popular bistro kitchen look, so it's not hard to see why designers are big fans of this sophisticated shade. We are, too.

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Something about the start of spring and the color pink goes hand in hand. It's found in the sunsets of longer evenings, blooms on cherry tree branches, and in the wildflowers that sprout up all over our gardens. In interior design, pink is having a serious comeback — we're seeing subtle pops and peaceful, steadying variations that feel calming, and not at all saccharine. And nowhere is that more evident than Farrow & Ball's pink paint collection.

Decorating with pink in contemporary interiors is about muted tones and interesting undertones — a color that goes with almost everything, but adds flair. Across the 19 pink paint colors in Farrow & Ball's selection, there's everything from faded terracotta and rosy beiges to bright blushes and darker, purple-toned pinks. Basically, there's room to go as maximalist or as minimalist as you wish.

So, as the spring season settles in, maybe you're looking for a pink paint to brighten up your home. I asked interior designers to share the Farrow & Ball pink paint shades they are loving and using currently in interiors, and these are the three colors they swear by.

1. Farrow & Ball's Peignoir

The first pink paint to know is Farrow & Ball's Peignoir. Upon first glance, it looks more off-white than pink, but that's the genius of this color. It's one of Farrow & Ball's best neutral shades, but still brings a little personality to the table.

"Peignoir sits beautifully between pink and neutral, with a muted gray undertone that prevents it from feeling overly sweet or sugary," explains Pringle & Pringle founder, Sophie Pringle. It has a quiet sophistication, offering a softer, more liveable take on pink that works especially well in layered interior design schemes.

It's particularly lovely as a pink bedroom color, where its softness creates a calm, restful atmosphere. "We recently used it in a girls' bedroom; however, it also works well in spaces that need a gentle lift — adding warmth without overwhelming the scheme, making it a great choice for both lighter and slightly moodier rooms," says Sophie.

For the bedroom pictured above, Peignoir was used on the wardrobe joinery and woodwork, "to draw out the pink-gray tones within the wallpaper," explains Sophie. As you can see, it makes a great accent on cabinetry or trim, but could also be used more generously for a subtle color-drenched effect.

2. Farrow & Ball's Folly Pink

On the other hand, Farrow & Ball's Folly Pink is for those who crave something a little bolder. "This is a gorgeous soft terracotta pink which has no saccharine quality to it whatsoever, but all the warmth and calmness of pink," explains interior designer Laura Stephens. The terracotta tones make it feel more grounded, while still bringing that joyful color to the forefront.

Laura says that the best way to use this color is as a soft but impactful accent. "It's best for architectural details and ceiling paint colors," she adds. It provides that pop that's effective when balanced with softer tones or contrasting colors — plus, there are plenty of colors that go with terracotta.

"We've used it as a secondary paint color (seen above) over three stories of hallways and landings at half height, which gave just the right amount of color without feeling overwhelming," she adds. The natural tones make the color blocking technique feel more contemporary.

"I've also used it on a bedroom ceiling with neutral walls to 'bring down' a tall ceiling whilst adding a serene feel to the space," she adds.

3. Farrow & Ball's Tailor Tack

And lastly, Farrow & Ball's Tailor Tack is a pink paint color that blends true pink tones with subtle softness. "I love this shade of Farrow & Ball pink paint as it is very light and delicate, but strong in character," says Studio Raymond founder and interior designer Carina Raymond.

That mix of character and gentleness makes Tailor Tack quite versatile. "I have used it in a sunny kitchen, dining, and open plan lounge area that gets lots of natural light, but it could also be used in a hallway or bedroom," Carina says. Think of this shade as a subtle color in rooms where you'd naturally reach for a neutral like white.

"It works well in rooms that get lots of natural light (if you are looking for paint colors in south-facing rooms), as the light reflects really nicely off it, and it has enough contrast juxtaposed with creams and whites," she adds. But it "looks especially good on walls, ceiling, and joinery, and juxtaposed with bronze metallic finishes, and reds and blues," Carina adds.

It's official, pink trends are getting more neutral and more popular in modern interior design. Will you be trying any of these designer favorite Farrow & Ball pink paint shades?

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Farrow & Ball is known for its richly pigmented paint colors that bring a timeless, elevated feel to a space, from its subtly nuanced neutrals to its much richer tones. But with each of its stylish shades, the trick to creating a balanced room is to find the right pairings — or as we like to call them, 'room recipes'.

Since many of the most popular Farrow & Ball paint colors have a subtly darkened, earthy quality, they tend to all feel incredibly livable, which means the options when it comes to Farrow & Ball paint pairings are vast, depending on how bold (or pared back) you want your room to look.

To make it easy, I asked interior designers to share their favorite paint duos from Farrow & Ball, which you can use to gain some inspiration for your own home — whether you're looking for similar hues to create a tonal scheme or something much more contrasting for a color-confident look. Here's what to look at first.

1. Porphyry Pink and Dyrehaven

It's well known that pink and green go together — not least because they sit opposite each other on the color wheel, making it a balanced, harmonious pairing. In the pantry pictured above, this color combination was created using Farrow & Ball's Porphyry Pink, a muted terracotta-esque pink, along with Dyrehaven, a dark green paint.

"The contrast between these two colors as opposites on the color wheel allows them to stand out against each other, making the pantry feel distinctive yet still cohesive within the kitchen,” explains Cath Beckett, co-founder of Yellow London.

2. Charlotte's Locks and School House White

Often, the best pairing when it comes to the brightest paint colors, such as Farrow & Ball's Charlotte's Locks, a saturated and vivid orange paint, is pared-back neutrals that allow a room to breathe.

"In this open-plan kitchen and dining space, Charlotte’s Locks on the kitchen island creates a warm focal point, while School House White on the walls keeps things soft and balanced," explains the London-based designer Lonika Chande. "Together, they feel both lively and grounded."

3. Smoked Trout and Etruscan Red

"Farrow & Ball’s Smoked Trout and Etruscan Red work beautifully together because they share a certain earthy sophistication: one feels grounding and enveloping, while the other introduces warmth and a sense of richness that keeps the palette from feeling too serious," explains designer Zoë Feldman, who opted for this Farrow & Ball color pairing in this kids' room.

"It’s a pairing that plays with contrast in a very intentional way, creating a room that feels layered, cocooning, and full of character rather than overly composed," she adds.

4. Oval Room Blue and Inchyra Blue

Blue on blue is a failsafe way to create a calm color palette, while the use of lighter and darker tones adds depth and dimension to a room. "We painted the walls of this south-facing sitting room in Oval Room Blue, with the woodwork and joinery in Inchyra Blue, a deeper tone within the same color family," explains designer Gemma Tucker of Balance Interior Design.

"The result is cohesive and subtly layered, with enough contrast to give the joinery definition without breaking the calm," she adds.

5. Pink Ground and Verdigris Green

Another pink-and-green Farrow & Ball color pairing that is designer-approved is Pink Ground with Verdigris Green, which feels happy and slightly playful. Since the green paint is fairly rich, using it as an accent color keeps the room feeling grounded while still exciting.

"It’s a punchy shade, so it holds its own beautifully at the back of the bookcase rather than fading into shadow," says designer Sophie Garland of the brighter green. "The contrast between the two colors brings a sense of depth and quiet drama to the room," she adds.

6. Card Room Green and Pointing

Card Room Green is a popular green paint from Farrow & Ball, which feels soft and easy to decorate with due to its slightly muted, gray tone. Here, it was used on the vanity, alongside walls painted with Pointing to create a relaxing bathroom.

"Our client wanted to bring the outdoors in through color, while still maintaining a sense of calm," says Emily Brown, founder of House Franc. "We landed on Pointing, which is a soft, warm off-white that responds beautifully to natural light. Its subtle warmth pairs effortlessly with Card Room Green, gently tempering the depth of the green and lending it a more grounded, earthy quality without feeling overly saturated."

7. New White and Fowler Pink

This cozy bedroom teams white walls with a pink paint on the ceiling: New White and Fowler Pink. Since they're both warm colors, they feel balanced alongside one another, and limiting the pink to the ceiling allows the room to feel colorful and exciting, while still being light and airy.

"New White has a softness to it that doesn’t feel too stark, and the pink on the ceiling adds a gentle warmth without it feeling overly colorful," explains designer Laura Stephens. "It’s that slightly earthy terracotta tone in Fowler Pink that keeps everything feeling calm, relaxed, and easy to live with."

8. Oval Room Blue and Jitney

If you're looking for more pairings for the much-loved Oval Room Blue, try it with a warm, grounding neutral paint such as Jitney. This combination works as a stylish hallway paint idea here, adding coziness to the lower-light space.

"I love the depth of color in these two Farrow & Ball shades — they have the complete opposite undertones but complement one another beautifully," explains London-based designer Jenny Luck. "The warmer hues of the Jitney on the ceiling and cornicing enhance the depth of the Oval Room Blue, which was used on the walls. The strength of both colors adds balance and proportion, creating a cocooning feel in the large entrance hall."

9. Setting Plaster and Eating Room Red

Pink and red are emerging as a fun, happy color combination that feels like a bolder take on decorating with pink. In this living room, the soft Setting Plaster takes the lead, while a shade most similar to Eating Room Red, used on the woodwork, offers vibrancy and energy.

"We wanted a scheme that felt warm and defined," explains Lonika Chande. "Setting Plaster brings a soft, chalky warmth to the walls, while the Eating Room Red adds depth and richness."

10. Cromarty and Mizzle

Cromarty and Mizzle are similar shades of gray-green, but Mizzle is slightly darker. Used alongside one another, they create a harmonious scheme while the subtle difference in richness brings movement.

"In our Notting Hill project, we used Cromarty on the walls with Mizzle on the woodwork, creating a soft layering of green tones," says Sophie Pringle, founder of Pringle & Pringle. "In a south-facing sitting room with lots of natural light, this approach adds depth and character while still reading as a neutral."

"Farrow & Ball’s color chart is particularly helpful, as it is organized into families, making it intuitive to build tonal schemes," adds Gemma Tucker, perfect for if you're looking to create a low-contrast, subtly nuanced scheme.

Or, if you're feeling inspired to bring more color into your home, these stylish spring color palettes will no doubt help you on your way.

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Iconic paint brand Farrow & Ball has announced the winners of its inaugural, and aptly named, competition, Iconic Spaces 2026. Calling on design enthusiasts from around the world, the aim was to select spaces that have used Farrow & Ball paint in creative and inspiring ways, celebrating the positivity of color — a joyful approach to the new season.

Judged by a panel of Farrow & Ball experts, the five categories included: Best Outdoor Space, Best Front Door, Best Use of a Signature Palette, Best Use of an Archive Color, and Best Use of Wallpaper, along with the overall winning space dubbed 'Iconic Space 2026'.

However, due to the strength of the worldwide entries, the judges decided to award two overall winners rather than one. These are the five spaces that came out on top across the five categories, and we can absolutely see why they did — prepare to be inspired.

Overall Winners

Best Use of a Signature Palette

The visually commanding Farrow & Ball green paint on the window recess and shutters frames the view outside, drawing the outdoors in, while also providing a wonderful focal point in the space that brings life to the freestanding bathtub.

Patrick O’Donnell, international brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball, explained, “We were all unanimous that the award should be split to fully represent Farrow & Ball as both a heritage and modern brand.

"We all wanted to dive into the bath and were scenario playing on music and scent to accompany the bubbles." The pop of vibrant color is a wonderful contrast to the otherwise neutral color scheme in the space, and adds depth to the color used on the bathtub.

The owner of this winning space, Jane Manifold, explains, "The Grieves Farmhouse at Banchory Farm has always had an extraordinary story to tell, and my ambition was to honor its heritage while reimagining it for contemporary living. Working with interior designer Ali Heath, we balanced past and present with sensitivity and intent.

A palette of Farrow & Ball colors brings depth and richness that shifts beautifully with the light, creating warmth and a gentle sense of whimsy throughout. The result is a timeless, layered primary bedroom designed to be truly lived in and loved by our guests.”

Best Use of an Archive Color

"We loved the way soft pastels played such a striking, yet empathetic role in the structure of the new extension," says Patrick of this winning space in the UK. The joyful colors make the room light and bright, even when the sun isn't shining.

“The skillful layering of our Archive colors in this space can’t help but make one feel happy," adds Joa Studholme, color curator for Farrow & Ball. "The playful use of three colors makes for a sunny and uplifting space created by the juxtaposition of three very different tones, but each with the same intensity."

The winner, Anais Bléhaut, explains, "I chose the California FBKW color scheme to resolve playfully the different panes of the stair volume broken in triangular shapes. I couldn’t select the colors before seeing the surfaces finished and the light; colors are essential sculpting tools in my work; as soon as I saw the space, I thought that was the right place. The roof room was to be my client’s little California, her holiday place away from busy life."

It's a space that radiates warmth, and each tone adds another dimension to the architectural details.

Category Winners

Best Outdoor Space

I've only ever seen one other home use pale pink as an exterior wall color, and it was as impactful as this space — it makes its presence known without dominating, and it has a quiet confidence that sparks joy.

“Exteriors have been a major focus for us in the research and development team over the past few years," explains Gareth Hayfield, head of research and development for Farrow & Ball.

"Seeing this color used in such a vast environment, and in such an impactful way, made it an immediate winner for me, evoking a sense of happiness and bringing a smile to my face."

Best Use of Wallpaper

“We loved the bold use of our Closet Stripe wallpaper across every plane. While the tent-like effect draws on a traditional approach, the colorway and architecture gave the space a fresh, modern optimism,” says Charlotte Cosby, creative director of Farrow & Ball.

Hanging wallpaper in this way, with vertical stripes, draws the eye up, elongating the walls and adding dimension and depth to the space — it works with the architecture, rather than against it, creating a bold and playful design.

Best Front Door

There's something so refined about using this blue-black shade for a front door color. More blue-leaning in this space, it exudes understated drama, and painting the door surround in the same color adds depth and a design moment to delight guests before they even enter the home.

“This statement front door decked in sophisticated Full Gloss grabbed our attention straight away, and we loved how Railings was brought forward onto the door surround for a truly impactful first impression," adds Charlotte.

What I love the most about each of these spaces is how wonderfully unique they all are. And that's the joy of design — creating uplifting, beautiful, character-filled spaces that are uniquely personal, ultimately to be enjoyed by you, but appreciated by others.

If these winning spaces have inspired you to take on some decorating this season, these are the Farrow & Ball colors that designers say work perfectly for kitchens.

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Blue is arguably the most popular color; it's in the sky, the sea, it's everyone's 'favorite', and it has a rich history. In interior design, blue makes a home feel calming and serene — it's almost considered a neutral these days. But with such popularity comes profuse variety. And if anyone knows blue paint, it's Farrow & Ball, which has over 50 shades to choose from.

A baby blue kitchen? A moody navy study? Perhaps a gentle blue-green for your bedroom? While a plethora of shades to choose from means it's more likely you'll find one you love, it makes it harder to decide the best blue paint for your space, specifically. That's where a well-trained eye can help, and for that, I've asked designers for their favorite Farrow & Ball blue paint colors to narrow down your search.

Amongst the list are paint colors you may recognize, and some more obscure shades you might never have considered. Don't let choosing a blue paint stir up the renovation blues; let this designer-approved list be a guiding light.

1. Wine Dark

Starting strong with a deep but warm shade of blue: Farrow & Ball's Wine Dark. The name might sound misleading (I was expecting purple), but it sits just lighter than a traditional navy, which allows those subtle red undertones to really shine through.

Interior designer Carina Raymond, founder of Studio Raymond, says she's drawn to the paint color because "it's such a nuanced, characterful blue — rich and enveloping, but with a softness that stops it from feeling too heavy," she says.

What makes Wine Dark a real stand-out for Carina is its depth. The warm undertones give it a vibrancy and complexity you don't always get with darker blues. "It feels layered rather than flat," she says. "And, because of those red notes, it pairs beautifully with the warm side of the color wheel, particularly earthy reds, rusts, and burnt oranges, creating a warm color scheme that feels bold, joyful, and full of personality without being overpowering."

Use it in spaces where you want to create a sense of comfort and retreat. "We recently used it in a family room that needed to feel fun for the children but still sophisticated enough for the adults to unwind in the evening," explains Carina. "It works brilliantly in these kinds of multifunctional spaces; perfect for movie nights, hosting friends, or simply switching off after a long day."

Her pro tip is to use this Farrow & Ball blue paint color confidently. "Its richness makes it especially effective in rooms where you want to lean into the atmosphere rather than maximize brightness," she says.

2. Lulworth Blue

Next up, something a little lighter. London-based interior designer Laura Stephens is currently loving Farrow & Ball's Lulworth Blue. "It's such a lively blue — instantly uplifting without feeling sugary," she says. "It has a fresh, breezy quality that brings energy into a space, but it's still soft enough to live with every day. It feels optimistic."

Light blue paint colors can be especially hard to choose from as they have so many subtle differences. To that, Laura says that this one "really sings as a paint color in south-facing rooms where the sunlight enhances its clarity and brightness." That said, it's also a great trick for darker spaces; using it on trims, doors, or woodwork adds a hit of color and light without overwhelming the room.

"I tend to use it on joinery, doors, and architectural details rather than fully drenching a space," adds Laura. It works beautifully as a crisp accent, enough to lift a scheme and give it personality without taking over.

3. Stiffkey Blue

On the other hand, interior designer Sophie Pringle, founder of Pringle & Pringle, chose a darker shade from Farrow & Ball's blue paint colors. "We've recently used Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball in two of our projects, and it's a shade we return to time and again," she says. It's a beautifully inky, coastal blue with real depth, but it never feels flat. "There's a richness to it that instantly gives a space presence," says Sophie.

Stiffkey Blue is ideal for those trying to hit that balance between striking and liveable; "It's deep and atmospheric, yet it carries enough warmth to stop it from feeling stark," says Sophie. This comes from how the paint color responds to light. "It can feel almost dramatic in the evening, yet softer and more nuanced during the day," the designer adds.

Use it in spaces where you want a sense of intimacy — studies, snugs, bedrooms, or color-drenching units in sitting rooms. Sophie says it's especially good in rooms that lead off lighter spaces (layered with natural textures, crisp whites, or warmer accent tones), as the contrast makes both areas feel more dynamic.

4. Oval Room Blue

After a more modern heritage palette? Interior designer Melissa Hutley, co-founder of Hutley, says you can't go past Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue. "It has a wonderful depth of color that saturates a space effortlessly," she adds. "It's a blue that evolves throughout the day and never feels static."

From first glance, Oval Room Blue is a complex blue with a distinct green undertone, making it incredibly adaptable — "It feels grounded and earthy rather than overly crisp, which gives it a timeless quality," adds Melissa.

It holds its own in bright daylight, says Melissa, meaning it can work successfully in south-facing rooms, but "this blue really comes into its own in the evening or as a paint color in north-facing rooms, creating a wonderfully atmospheric setting," she adds.

Its natural tone works well for color-drenching, particularly in rooms with sloping ceilings or minimal architectural detailing, as it enhances the sense of cohesion and intimacy. However, in spaces with ornate cornicing, "keeping the cornice and ceiling white can be incredibly striking; the crisp contrast against the blue walls really highlights those period details," adds Melissa.

5. De Nimes

Next is a shade you may have heard of before, as Farrow & Ball's De Nimes is one of the brand's more popular paints. In my opinion, it's a perfect blend between contemporary and timeless, acting as a neutral paint color when you need it and an accent in more high-contrast moments.

One of the best qualities of this shade is its versatility — you can feel confident using it to coat an entire room (the gray undertones make it a very calming, sensory-conscious paint color), or you can use De Nimes as a way to deepen accent moments.

Interior designer Julia Miller from Yond Interiors says, "We used a fresh coat of De Nimes blue paint to highlight the incredible existing architecture." It's a shade that you'll love just as much in 10 years as the day after painting with it.

6. Hague Blue

Now here's a shade you've very likely already heard of. Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue has become a staple for anyone with a fancy for navy blue in their home. Interior designer Marie Flanigan, founder of Marie Flanigan Interiors, says, "I love Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue because it's incredibly decadent and rich, creating a cozy, cocoon-like effect."

The best way to indulge in this navy blue paint color is to use it in moody, confident spaces where coziness is still paramount. There are slightly green undertones that make the shade feel more natural and allow it to work well in spaces filled with light, too, though.

For something a little more daring, "You can also add a lacquered finish to beautifully reflect light and create the illusion of a larger space," adds Marie.

7. Blue Ground

Feeling brave? You might love this 'robin's egg-meets-mint green'. Architect Eddie Maestri, founder of Maestri Studio, liked Farrow & Ball's Blue Ground so much he used it on his own front door.

It's a classic light blue color, but when used in more daring scenarios, it becomes a shade that can really steal the show. Particularly when paired with high-contrast color combinations, like this black-and-white entryway.

"I love Blue Ground even more for its calming nature," adds Eddie. "It has a resort-like vibe that's also a tad retro." This recommendation definitely comes at the perfect time for anyone planning a spring color palette.

That aside, Eddie says he also loves Farrow and Ball's Stiffkey Blue. "It has a flair for the dramatics without being too dark," he adds.

8. A Custom Farrow & Ball Blue Paint

But even if you can't find a shade of blue you love, don't despair. You can always mix and match shades to curate your very own custom Farrow & Ball blue paint color, like designer Emily Tucker, founder of Emily Tucker Design, did.

"We wanted to have some color in the kitchen, but not so much that it felt overpowering," she explains. "In the end, we settled on this Farrow & Ball's Light Blue, which we mixed with a lighter green so that the kitchen reads as a pale green." Clever!

So there you have it, a designer-approved list of the best Farrow & Ball blue paint colors. Now you just need to find the right colors to go with blue — luckily, Livingetc can help with that, too.

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Considering paint options for a kitchen is no mean feat, and these become even more tricky the smaller the space you are working with. A paint color can either make or break your space, so it goes without saying that it's a high-stakes decision; as such, it makes sense to invest in tried-and-trusted paint brands, and who better than interior designers' favorite, Farrow & Ball.

With countless iconic shades and numerous different finishes, Farrow & Ball makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. The only downside to this breadth of choice, however, is not knowing what shade to go for. With hundreds of colors and no clue what will work for your small-space cabinets, sounds like a recipe for decision paralysis disaster.

So, before you begin your descent into a paint-powered frenzy, with mountainous piles of samples building up in your kitchen, take some pointers from the experts. I've asked some of the best designers what Farrow & Ball kitchen colors they love for cabinets in a small kitchen, and their answers did not disappoint.

1. Railings

It's often believed that light colors make a room look bigger, with people typically opting for bright, airy neutrals in smaller rooms in the hope that color theory will trick the eye into perceiving a greater expanse of space than there actually is. And while there is indeed some merit in this belief, in action, it can often leave your space feeling rather... flat.

Instead, you might be better off embracing the constraints of your space and playing into the intimate, cozy feel of a more petite kitchen. And for this, dark, rich tones are your best friend.

"In a compact space, depth is your friend," says interior designer Zoe Feldman. While bright whites can help open up a space, they lack depth and intensity. Instead, Zoe opts for a "rich color like Railings, which creates a sense of intimacy and confidence, and instead of trying to make the kitchen disappear, it gives it a clear point of view."

One of the best Farrow and Ball paint colors, Railings is a deep, inky charcoal shade with blue undertones. Softer than a true black, Railings has an enveloping warmth that gives any space an inviting sense of intimacy. "It’s deep and moody, but it has a softness that feels surprisingly expansive rather than heavy," explains Zoe.

While you may imagine dark tones would emphasize the lack of space in your kitchen, it can actually have the opposite effect. "While it reads dark, it has a softness and complexity that allows it to visually recede, which can actually make a compact kitchen feel more expansive and intentional," explains designer Kimberly Oxford. This moody neutral brings a richness and depth to your space, without overwhelming it.

However, because of this intense sense of depth, it's important to introduce some balance through your styling, counteracting the coldness from the blue undertones with soft, warm materials and finishes. "Think honed marble, unlacquered brass, aged oak, or even a creamy zellige tile," suggests Zoe. "The contrast keeps the kitchen from feeling too formal and adds that layered, lived-in quality we’re always after."

Plus, if you're worried that your space might feel too dark or heavy, you can always introduce some more brightness throughout the rest of the kitchen. "Keeping surrounding walls in a gentle off-white, such as School House White or Slipper Satin, helps maintain lightness while allowing the kitchen cabinetry to feel grounded and architectural rather than heavy," says Kimberly.

Though if you're feeling brave, this shade lends itself beautifully to a full color-drenching moment, especially in a vintage-inspired space.

2. London Clay

Over the past few years, we've seen warm, earthy color palettes reign supreme. Endlessly adaptable, welcoming, and gentle, it's easy to see why. And in compact kitchens, these popular tones are, arguably, at their best.

Opting for soft neutral colors with brown undertones is an easy way to ensure your kitchen has warmth and depth, without relying on overly dark shades.

If this approach sounds appealing, London Clay might be the Farrow & Ball color for you. "It has depth and warmth without feeling heavy, and it creates a grounded, architectural backdrop that makes a small space feel intentional rather than busy," Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn of House of Rolison explain.

In smaller spaces, you have to be particularly conscious of visual clutter, and this doesn't just mean keeping your kitchen countertops organized; it also bleeds into the colors you use.

A soft, warm shade like London Clay is neutral enough to blend into the background, acting more as a beautiful backdrop for your other design elements to bounce off of, rather than the focal point. It's a more welcoming, inviting alternative to stark white or an intense dark color, while still creating the same sense of neutral minimalism.

Because of this, London Clay can work well with a variety of accompanying materials and finishes. But, if you're a fan of the soft kitchen aesthetic, Amanda says, "London Clay pairs beautifully with natural stone like honed marble or limestone, warm woods such as oak or walnut, and aged or unlacquered metals."

Against this backdrop, the texture and tones of these materials shift into the foreground, so playing with richly veined marbles and other natural stones can be especially effective.

3. Shaded White

Although the experts clearly love using deeper, more intense tones in small-space kitchens, this approach is, understandably, not for everyone. As lovely as a moody, cozy kitchen can be, sometimes a bright, airy space is all you want, and you don't need buckets of space to achieve it. With the right colors, even a tiny, narrow kitchen can feel like a breath of fresh air.

What you'll want to prioritize is finding a shade that captures the same warmth as the previous shades, without all that darkness, so you can still have some sense of depth in your space. That means no stark white paint, no matter how much you might want it.

Instead, find a light color with warm undertones, like Farrow & Ball's Shaded White, a favorite of interior design duo The Brownstone Boys.

"Shaded White is one of our go-to cabinet colors for small kitchens because it has warmth without heaviness," they explain. "It reads as a soft, nuanced neutral rather than a stark white, which helps a smaller space feel calm and cohesive instead of overly bright or flat."

A more subdued, light neutral like this has a more tactile quality, blending seamlessly with other natural materials and aged finishes, which can look awkward and disjointed when paired with stark white. "It also shifts beautifully throughout the day, adding depth without visually shrinking the room," they say.

Play into this gentle warmth through the rest of your kitchen materials. "We love pairing Shaded White with natural stone countertops, especially honed marble or limestone, along with warm metals like unlacquered brass," says The Brownstone Boys.

"It also works incredibly well with wood accents — white oak shelving, butcher block details, or original millwork, which helps layer warmth and character into a compact kitchen."

What to Pair Them With

If you're looking for more inspiration, the kitchen cabinet color trends for 2026 will elevate even the smallest of spaces.

No paint brand has become quite so synonymous with understated, tasteful decor as Farrow and Ball, but with such a vast selection of kitchen color ideas, it has become increasingly difficult to pick out the best Farrow and Ball paint color, especially in a space where color holds so much importance, like in the kitchen.

I'm no stranger to the troubles of decision paralysis. When my brain is presented with a catalogue of colors to choose from (especially when the colors are as beautiful as those included in the Farrow and Ball range), it simply enters overdrive. Suddenly, I'm Sylvia Plath beneath the fig tree, but instead of ripe fruit for the picking, I'm surrounded by countless beautiful buckets of paint. Will I go bold and paint my kitchen bright yellow? Or do I stick to neutrals and go for a more calming color scheme?

So, if you're anything like me in this regard, I think my following findings might just help you out. Instead of driving myself crazy, seeing paint swatches in my sleep, I decided to turn to some of the most trusted designers instead and ask them for their favorite shades, and they did not disappoint.

1. School House White

For a classic look, it doesn't get much better than School House White. In fact, the shade was initially developed by the brand's own color curator, Joa Studholme, for her own home.

And it's remained a favorite of designers ever since. "School House White is my number-one go-to," shares Fiona Ginnett, co-founder of HØLTE.

"It’s a soft, warm off-white that works with everything, especially if you want a calm, neutral palette paired with oak or other mid-toned timbers," she explains. Unlike other white paints, it doesn't have any of that cold, stark sterility that has given all-white kitchens a bad rap. Instead, it's a softly comforting shade, an ideal backdrop for natural materials and bolder additions alike.

2. Pink Ground

There's something endlessly charming about a pink kitchen, but it has to be done right. Too bright and you end up with your very own Barbie Dreamhouse, and not in a good way.

With Pink Ground, however, you're safe from that risk. Its soft, almost neutral tone means it barely even registers as pink.

It pairs gorgeously with other materials, and Jennifer Acito from Dama and Wood says she "loved pairing this feminine yet grounded pink tone with brown details, giving a slightly more masculine tone, such as the walnut spice shelves in the range alcove, zellige backsplash, and the stained cane detailing on the pantry cabinets."

With checkerboard floors and warm wooden details, the kitchen feels cozy, classic, and inviting. "I find many people shy away from unexpected colors for their millwork, but I found this tone of pink to truly be a neutral tone, as it seemed to pair with most colors and materials," Jennifer explains.

3. De Nimes

The kitchen is often the room where you most want to create an inviting, welcoming atmosphere, and the colors you use will have a major impact on that. One of the most effective shades for making a kitchen feel cozy is a soft, comforting blue, and for that, De Nimes is the perfect fit.

It's got an almost antique quality to it, making it an obvious favorite for Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum of The Brownstone Boys. They say, "De Nimes is another go-to: it’s a muted blue-gray that feels both modern and classic, and it works beautifully with natural textures like wood, brass, and stone."

Despite the grey undertones, this shade never feels cold or uninviting; instead, the muted softness of the paint brings a gentle depth to the room. If it feels too intense for a full color drenching moment for you, it would work especially beautifully saved for your cabinets, and paired with a brighter shade on the walls.

4. Studio Green

One of their classic shades, Studio Green, is the deepest, darkest green offered by Farrow and Ball. What makes this shade so special is the way the color shifts throughout the day, at times appearing almost black, and at other points, a rich forest green.

"Our go-to for the dark shades that appeal to most is Studio Green," explains Allison Lynch, a senior designer at Roundhouse. While a true black can feel slightly harsh in the kitchen, this shade offers a new path into achieving that deep, moody look, while still maintaining a slightly earthy color palette.

"It teams up well with concrete worktops, timber flooring, and complements the views to the garden. It works in spaces that don’t have natural light, too, because it’s so rich and warm," says Allison.

Barry and Jordan also love using this paint when they're trying to create a moodier atmosphere. "It highlights cabinetry details and brings a sense of coziness and sophistication," they tell me.

5. Railings

A natural counterpart to Studio Green, Railings captures the same deep, moody spirit as the dark green shade, but instead uses blue as its base color.

"The other go to if the client likes more blue tones, is Railings," comments Allison.

The color can be used in much the same way as the previous, providing that cocooning coziness that can be particularly lovely in small kitchens.

"It’s a classic for the old dark blue kitchen. It works with all choices of flooring, timber or stone, and then the natural beauty of veined stone work surfaces pop with the dark blue/grey as the backdrop," Allison says.

Much like Studio Green, Railings also has that color-shifting quality, as interior designer Kimberly Oxford describes, "It sits in that refined space between charcoal and blue, shifting with the light to create depth and quiet movement. In lower-light rooms, the blue undertone softens and the color reads closer to a rich charcoal, which can be beautiful if balanced with layered lighting."

What makes Farrow and Ball unique is not just their rich color selections, but their vast array of finishes, too, and as Kimberly rightly says, "The finish matters, too." She continues, explaining, "On cabinetry, a durable eggshell brings out its subtle sheen, while a matte finish on walls gives it a more relaxed quality."

6. Old White

Despite its name, Old White is not really a white paint at all. The shade is a truly unique one, somewhere between a beige and a sage, with soft, grey undertones - and works beautifully in antique-inspired kitchens or in period homes.

It earns its name from its historic position as one of Farrow and Ball's original Traditional Neutral paint shades, and has an appeal that has persisted through the years.

"Our favorite Farrow & Ball shade for kitchens is Old White," says Jordan and Barry. They continue, "It’s soft, warm, and brightens a space without the coldness of a true white. It’s especially beautiful in historic homes where we want the room to feel fresh but still connected to its architectural character."

7. Setting Plaster

The raw plaster effect wall look has arguably been one of the defining trends of the 2020s, but Farrow and Ball have known the appeal of the pink-toned finish for quite some time. Setting Plaster was designed to replicate this look, only in a slightly more polished way.

It's a soft, dusky pink that is surprisingly neutral, pairing beautifully with a wide range of colors and finishes. Fiona notes, "For kitchens with bold or dark colors, Setting Plaster offers a gentle, softer contrast that keeps the space balanced."

Although it is technically a pink shade, the yellow undertones keep it feeling warmer and more neutral. However, depending on what you pair it with, you could easily emphasize the soft, pink tones more.

If you're still undecided on what colors work best in a kitchen, perhaps the best next step is spending some time studying some beautiful modern kitchen ideas and seeing what jumps out at you there.

Unless you are going for a dramatic high-gloss or purposely tactile limewash, choosing a finish for your paint may seem like a simple, straightforward, inconsequential decision. In truth, it's anything but. Paying careful attention to this small detail is what elevates your paint project from one that looks good to one that looks fabulous. So, what's the best option?

Over the past year, super-matte has become a tell-tale of a cool, contemporary interior, most popular for its durability and sophisticated low-sheen. Or, of course, you could lean into the high-gloss style that is also having a moment. For something that captures the best of both, though, Farrow & Ball has just released its new Flat Eggshell Finish.

It's a timeless, low-sheen finish that is as durable as it is versatile. For those who aren't as well-versed in the nuances of paint finishes, this Goldilocks product might be the solution you've been waiting for. Find more on Farrow & Ball's Flat Eggshell, below.

Firstly, What is Flat Eggshell?

Most of the best paint brands have released a matte paint finish, but Farrow & Ball's Flat Eggshell feels like the final piece to complete its well-rounded selection.

The brand's paint color expert, Patrick O'Donnell, explains, "After the introduction of Modern Eggshell and Farrow & Ball's Dead Flat, we wanted to complete the brilliant durability of these finishes by creating a low sheen product to create a trinity of products that are both beautiful, easy to apply, and incredibly hardwearing."

Hence, the introduction of Flat Eggshell. Together, these three finishes offer the homeowner "a choice of practical finishes at 40 percent, 2 percent, and 20 percent, respectively," says Patrick.

It has all the characteristics of our Modern Eggshell but at a reduced sheen level (20 percent vs 40 percent). What does that really mean? For those wanting a softer sheen on their woodwork, "this is the go-to product," says Patrick.

How and Where to Use Farrow & Ball's 'Flat Eggshell'

"Flat Eggshell works well across surfaces and materials in the home, including wood, metal, and concrete," says Patrick. And don't count this finish out for your walls either. "Flat eggshell has a soft sheen and is highly practical for all your decorating needs anywhere in your home," he adds.

For something a little bit more unique, try using it to spruce up old floorboards in your home. Flat eggshell is one of the most durable paint finishes, making it tough enough to withstand daily wear and tear, and a surprisingly beautiful floor paint.

It's a nice low-sheen option for other, more highly trafficked areas of the home as well. For instance, flat eggshell works well for kitchen cabinet ideas, or, as Patrick recommends, "As a way to make gloomy white radiators disappear by applying this finish to match your chosen wall color."

This finish provides a happy medium between regular, slightly glossy finishes and the trending ultra-matte styles. How you choose to use it is up to you.

Shop Paint Colors in Flat Eggshell

Whether you have a few of Farrow & Ball's most popular neutral paint colors in your shopping cart or daring blues and reds are more your speed, you can now shop your favorite shades in the new flat eggshell finish.

Below are a few of my favorite Farrow & Ball paint colors to inspire your next refresh.

When it comes to choosing paint finishes, start with understanding the basic differences between things like gloss vs matte paint, and go from there. Pretty soon, you'll be confidently navigating the paint finish selection at the check-out with ease.

The gradient gray-greens of leaves rustling in the wind, the deep leafy emeralds of an evergreen forest, the delicate greens of Spanish moss dangling from willow trees — green is all around us in the natural world, and translated to interiors, it invites that same calming familiarity. So, what are the best Farrow & Ball green paint colors to do it with?

When it comes to the best green paint colors, Farrow & Ball is a leader in the industry. "Not only does Farrow & Ball have 'chameleon shades' of green that change with the available light, but they also have true, beautifully stunning greens that carry immense depth, while remaining livable for the average room," says interior designer Melissa Oholendt.

However, to save you the daunting task of diving into the paint brand's extensive range of green hues (there are 57 in total), I asked interior designers to share their cheat sheet for which greens fall into their best Farrow & Ball paint colors lists and why. Below are six specific Farrow & Ball green paint colors they shared.

1. Farrow & Ball's French Gray

The most recommended Farrow & Ball green paint color among the interior designers I asked was the soft sage green, French Gray.

Seattle-based interior designer Lauren L Caron, founder and principal designer of Studio Laloc, says, "It's so versatile and changes tone, not just from room to room, but also throughout the day." At times, it can feel like a warm, rich green, while as a color for a north-facing room, it can bend to appear almost closer to a gray.

"My favorite use for French Gray is on millwork and joinery," she adds. "We've used it in both kitchens on cabinetry and bookshelves in libraries, numerous times."

If you are looking for something similar, but with a bit more true green as a base, interior designer Melissa Oholendt, founder and design principal of Oho Interiors, suggests Farrow & Ball's Mizzle. "I used this shade on my bathroom vanity cabinets in my own home," she adds.

2. Farrow & Ball's Green Smoke

Another highly recommended Farrow & Ball green paint color is Green Smoke. "I especially love incorporating Green Smoke when there's a need for a cooler, deep shade of green," says Melissa Oholendt.

As for how to use this alluring shade, Green Smoke has a beautifully timeless yet moody feel about it, making it perfect for places like media rooms, mud rooms, and even dining rooms.

And while you can use this Farrow & Ball green paint color as an accent, it also makes a great base. "Green Smoke pairs well with artwork and layered beneath gallery walls," adds Lauren.

3. Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green

Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green is ideal for those who want to experiment with a bit more color. The cool gray undertones, combined with subtle warmth, make it feel deeply connected to nature. It's an enveloping and comforting paint color, without being overwhelming.

In spaces where conversation and connectivity are key, this Farrow and Ball green paint color acts as a sensory-conscious paint color. "Card Room Green works so well in family rooms or dens," adds Lauren.

4. Farrow & Ball's Pigeon

"What I love about Pigeon is that it can shift from blue to green, and look lighter and darker depending on the light of the room," says Melissa.

It's an incredibly versatile Farrow & Ball green paint — elegant, adaptable, and endlessly usable. It’s that perfect blue-gray green that adds depth without overwhelming a space.

As for how to use it, Pigeon pairs beautifully with warm neutrals like Slipper Satin or Shaded White, or you can even try out bold color pairings like Railings or Off-Black for contrast.

However, Farrow & Ball Pigeon ideas are practically endless, and you honestly can't go wrong with the color.

5. Farrow & Ball's Inchyra Blue

Maybe it's cheating to add a Farrow & Ball blue paint color to the list, but that's where the in-between colors come in. Inchrya Blue was suggested multiple times by designers when discussing the best Farrow & Ball green paint colors.

With dark color trends on the rise, this moody hue reads more gray or green depending on the light. The shade feels totally in line with the 70s revival that's happening in design, but with a more accessible application.

In the home, Inchrya Blue would be a great alternative to charcoal, as it has a more intimate and personal feel. Color drench a small space or use it as an unexpected trim color for a more playful variation.

6. Farrow & Ball's Old White

Now, I know what you're thinking: how did an off-white make the list of the best Farrow & Ball green paints? Well, don't judge a book by its cover.

"Old White can read green as much as it reads an off-white," says Melissa. And to prove the point, this paint color is also actually listed in the green color family on Farrow & Ball's online store.

This soft gray-green simply earns its name by being one of Farrow & Ball's historic and traditional neutrals. It can read as a subdued green, particularly in north-facing rooms, but feels more of a classic off-white or gray in well-lit spaces.

If your home follows a neutral color scheme, but you want just a tiny touch of color, Old White is the Farrow & Ball green paint color for you.

You can't go wrong with any of Farrow & Ball's green paints, but you don't want to miss Farrow & Ball's new collection for 2025. It's the ultimate guide for how to successfully pair paint colors.

Few things excite the Livingetc team as much as a new launch from Farrow & Ball, and so far in 2025, we've been royally spoiled by the British paint brand. Alongside nine new heritage shades introduced in February, they've unearthed three archive colors that are now readily available once again — shades they think deserve to be part of the color conversation in 2025 (and rightly so).

Generously, Farrow & Ball has always sold its archived paint colors online made-to-order, but this official relaunch — the first of its kind — is a big deal. Not only does it signify that these "old" shades have newfound relevance in the design world, but they're now available to pick up in showrooms and can be sampled more easily. Launching these three hues alongside a wider, new collection also gives us an insight into Farrow & Ball's current curation, offering us a beautiful chroma of color that speaks to the mood of the moment.

So, what can you expect from the new shades, and will they join the prestigious lineup of the best Farrow & Ball paint colors? The shades are Broccoli Brown, Sap Green, and Etruscan Red, and in true Farrow & Ball fashion, they're all classically elegant with a distinctive heritage feel. Like the new hues that were recently released, they're also notably earthy, grounding, and subdued. Here's why they sum up decorating in 2025 so brilliantly, with tips on how to use them.

Broccoli Brown

If there's one color trend that's proved consistently popular in the past five years, it's brown. Quiet luxury, minimaluxe, the retro revival — so many important design movements have brown tones at their heart, and this timeless color will endure for years to come, too.

It's hardly surprising, then, that Farrow & Ball have given Brocolli Brown a permanent position on its paint roster. In a recent video, the brand's ambassador and color expert, Patrick O'Donnell, commends this livable shade for its versatility. "It's a little bit stronger than 'Mouse's Back' but it's still got a very usable quality," he says, recommending it for kitchen cabinetry or walls for a cozy, moody space.

"In a time when warm, natural neutrals are overtaking cooler grays, Broccoli Brown offers an alternative that feels grounding rather than dull," explains interior designer Nina Lichtenstein, who notes that this nuanced shade avoids feeling too flat. "In a study or library, Broccoli Brown creates a cocooning effect that pairs beautifully with warm woods and brass accents, or use it as a kitchen cabinet color where it exudes an Old World charm, especially when paired with cream walls and marble countertops."

Sap Green

Biophilic influences have had a firm hold over the design world of late. Ever since the pandemic, there's been a move toward grounding, nurturing spaces, and few colors deliver that as expertly well as nature's green thanks to its serene qualities.

If, however, you've grown tired of sage, you'll be pleased to hear that mid greens are now the talk of the town instead, which makes the reintroduction of Sap Green from Farrow & Ball all the more relevant. Patrick recommends this verdant shade if you're looking for more vibrancy in your interiors, describing it as a "slightly sharp, sort of acid-olive" shade. "It makes a lovely drawing room color," he says. "Very elegant, very smart."

Despite decorating with green being so ubiquitous and bordering on overuse, Nina says Sap Green stands out because of its liveliness. "It’s not too muted, not too bright, but just the right balance of warmth and saturation," she says. "It creates an instant connection to nature, especially in a kitchen with natural wood shelving or stone countertops."

Etruscan Red

Deep burgundy reds have been a huge trend so far in 2025, cropping up across various color of the year announcements, so Etruscan Red's prodigal return feels especially relevant.

Patrick calls it his personal favorite, revealing that it was the first Farrow & Ball color he ever used, back in 1994, to decorate his kitchen. He calls the color an "un-red" akin to oxblood. "It has lots of brown through it, so it's really muted and really restrained," he says. "It gives you warmth and saturation of color without screaming too much."

If you want to embrace red but feel put off by fiery, true red hues, this quieter iteration is far more forgiving. It doesn't have that "pillar box quality" — as Patrick puts it — that was popular with 2024's "unexpected red" theory. Instead, it's reminiscent of a rich, warm mulberry.

As Nina puts it, "Red can be a tricky color in interiors, but Etruscan Red gets it right". "Inspired by the hues found in ancient Italian pottery, this shade has an earthy, sunbaked quality rather than the overt brightness of a true red," she goes on. "It leans terracotta but with a refined, slightly muted quality that makes it incredibly livable."

Decorating in 2025 draws some of the core trends of the past five years together: natural influences, warmth and comfort, and grounding earthy tones that nurture the soul. The return of these three archived Farrow & Ball shades — Broccoli Brown, Sap Green, and Etruscan Red — represents just that, encapsulating those ideas beautifully.

As Nina summarizes: "These shades don’t just follow trends; they tap into something deeper: a desire for authenticity, warmth, and a sense of place inside our homes."

New Farrow & Ball colors are always a cause for celebration. These paint shades tend to be tastemakers for our homes, whether you end up buying them from Farrow & Ball or not. Some of the biggest color trends in recent years have had a Farrow & Ball shade attached from them, be in when everyone was painting 'Downpipe' walls, or we all starting choosing 'Hague Blue'-inspired shades. 

These new launches, a partnership between premium paint and wallpaper maker Farrow & Ball and celebrated fashion designer Christopher John Rogers, is a match made in heaven. Andor the first time in a Farrow & Ball collab, this capsule collection also includes three new wallpaper patterns, each available in the collection’s colorways. 

The collection, named Carte Blanche, brings together a wonderful balance of heritage and modernity. Combining classic inspiration and the traditional techniques Farrow & Ball has perfected over 75 years with an unexpected twist and the personal touch of Rogers creates an exciting result that is sure to stay just as inspiring and relevant in years to come, as it is now. 

We promise it will spark more new paint ideas than you'll know what to do with. Exploring the space between pragmatism and glamour, Rogers’ designs emphasize quality, timelessness, and declaring your sense of self. The bar is raised high for this partnership, but I'm pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. 

Carte Blanche, a collection full of joy 

Through Carte Blanche, Farrow & Ball brings Rogers’ distinctive flair and unmistakable joy to the world of interiors. The collection comprises four neutrals, eight statement shades, and three playful wallpaper prints, aiming to put an emphasis on expressive, individual style. With such beautiful and vibrant paints in line with the latest color trends and papers to choose from, giving your home a refresh will feel like kid’s play. 

You’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Inspired by cherished memories of food and family, the colors range from vivid blue and verdant green to cheerful pinks and structural neutrals. It's one of the latter that's particularly caught our eye. New colorways 'Au Lait' is the warm minimalist off-white we've been dreaming of, while 'Roasted Macadamia' is the perfect taupe to use alongside it. 

The wallpaper ideas consist of patterns centered around playing with shapes and are all available in the Carte Blanche colorways, which makes it easy to mix and match without fear of getting it wrong. Far from being restrictive, the possibilities for creativity are endless. 

Charlotte Cosby, Creative Director for Farrow & Ball, tells us how this partnership came about: ‘I’m obsessed with Christopher’s use of color; he treats it so tenderly and the result can be a beautifully tempered explosion or a slick confident splash. It’s been incredible to work with Christopher because craft and attention to detail are intrinsic to both of our processes, so I always knew this collaboration was going to be something special,’ she explains. ‘Carte Blanche is all about finding the freedom to create a personal look and enjoying the process,’ adds Charlotte.

For Christopher John Rogers too the collaboration felt like a natural fit: ‘Colors, and the feelings that I get from them, are always my starting point when working. With Farrow & Ball’s emphasis on quality and longevity, and my emphasis on artful, declarative design, I think this partnership has created something incredibly exciting by mining the space between both feelings. I’m so excited for people to be able to access these paints and papers!’ And so are we! What better way to lift our spirits as we transition into autumn than with a joyful home update? 

Brown is the new black - or well, maybe blue. It's a color that's taken over in modern interior schemes as a shortcut to moody, atmospheric spaces - however, we're finding that everyday decorators aren't as confident using this shade as they were with the dark, jewel-tone blue it has replaced. 

For those looking to add depth, dimension, and a sense of calm to a space usually gravitate towards earthy hues. These have a natural allure, and a psychological effect on the dweller, calming them down. One such tone is Farrow & Ball's Broccoli Brown. This quiet, mid-tone hue has a muted quality and an anchoring effect on a space. But at times, can be challenging to use – should you paint walls and ceiling with this tone? Which rooms are best suited for it?

To answer these questions, we asked color experts and designers who have experimented with this paint. Take a look at these paint ideas for making this on-trend color work for you. 

Why is Broccoli Brown trending?

For a rooted interior that instantly feels calming, there is no better hue than brown. Whether you're designing a brown living room, bedroom, or bathroom, this inherently tranquil tone ensures that the space always looks and feels timeless.

'Brown, in all its forms is effortlessly chic and essentially is a fantastic neutral whether dark or light,' says Patrick O’Donnell, International Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball. 'The joy of Broccoli Brown is its wonderful ‘softness’ as a color. Despite being a relatively dark, mid-weight tone, it will act as a brilliant foil for almost anything you throw at it – from complementary shades to fabrics of every ilk, or a great background for pictures. It will bring a cosseting ambiance to any space.'

'This is a great brown because it has a tiny bit of green in it, so it reads more neutral than other browns we looked at, which tend to have red undertones,' says Alison Damonte, founder of the design studio Alison Damonte.

What type of a mood does this paint create?

Since the color has a restrained, understated yet elegant quality to it, it can create a deeply pensive mood; one that would be ideal as a bedroom color, for the dining or the study. The paint tone conjures up a more intimate mood, perfect for 'me time' or special moments with close friends and family. It can be used across walls and ceilings, enveloping the room like a warm hug.

'In this dining room, we wanted to bring a feeling of warmness and coziness to this space, and so we chose Broccoli Brown,' says Jake Arnold, founder of Studio Jake Arnold.

What colors are the perfect pairing with Broccoli Brown?

'Try mixing Broccoli Brown with a verdant green like Yeabridge Green for some added oomph, such as fitted bookcases, or pair with dusty pinks like Setting Plaster for the dreamiest of bedroom palettes,' says Patrick. 'To add more drama, throw in a gun-metal blue for your woodwork such as Inchyra Blue, for a calming yet elegant hallway paint idea.'

What are the best ways to use this color in interiors?

'You can use this paint color anywhere – from a utilitarian boot room (all over please!) to hallways, bedrooms, and living rooms or a smart alternative for kitchen cabinetry, mixed with a drab eau de nil on your walls such as our timeless Blue Gray,' says Patrick.

Consider adding this tone to a small modern bedroom, and to lift its look, add pop-colored accessories to restrain the room from looking too dark.

'We had tried a lighter color in this room, but it never looked right and because the room doesn't get much natural light, so we decided to lean into a dark color,' says Alison. 'The room is small so painting the walls and ceiling with the same color creates a cozy, cocoon feeling, perfect for sleeping. We wanted to hang the vintage Paco Rabanne screen, made of bronze-colored palettes, over the bed. The brown walls create a nice tone-on-tone effect with the screen, allowing the screen to reflect light, but not overpower the small room.'

Broccoli Brown is a paint tone that looks wonderful in all paint finishes, but it depends on the type of room and its use. In a more public space like a dining room or a family room, consider a semi-gloss effect to give the space a more formal feeling. This will also be useful to bounce more light in the room, in case it doesn't receive enough sunlight.

In smaller, private spaces like a powder bathroom or a bedroom, consider a matte or eggshell finish to give the space a more earthy, subdued touch.

When it comes to painting our homes, ultra-matte walls are certainly the mood of the moment. For an on-trend look, it's all about soft, cocooning spaces in flat finishes that completely immerse you with color, as seen with the color-drenching trend. The problem is, traditional matte emulsions aren't as hardy as an eggshell or satin finish, forcing you to choose between the matte aesthetic and a practical, family-friendly finish... until now.

Farrow & Ball has just introduced a brand new paint finish to their range, and it's their most durable and mattified yet. Perfect for intense, rich, color-drenched spaces, Dead Flat is a low-shine paint with just a 2% sheen, offering a hard-wearing finish that not only minimizes imperfections but also emphasizes your color. 

From taps to tiles, smooth, flat finishes have been the defining theme of contemporary design in recent years. If you love a chalky matte look on your walls but find that your standard matte emulsion just doesn't go far enough, this new paint finish is the answer. Being multi-surface, it's also suitable for use on woodwork and metal, too. Here's everything you need to know about the new low-shine look. 

Gone are the days of using glossy, high-shine finishes to create a luxurious space. Instead, flat, low-sheen paints are favored for their velvety finishes that emanate a more sophisticated, contemporary feel. These days, even eggshell and standard matte emulsions aren't enough. We're craving seriously dulled-down looks, and this new finish offers just that. 

The new Dead Flat formulation has been refined by the technical experts at Farrow & Ball over the last five years. It's all thanks to a new ingredient which, when combined with Farrow & Ball's signature blend, makes for their most durable finish yet. Scuff-resistant, washable, and wipeable, it's about as practical as they come, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like entryways and kids' playrooms. 

'Dead Flat is a unique combination of truly fantastic features: it’s matte, durable, and multi-surface,' says Charlotte Cosby, Creative Director at Farrow & Ball. 'The super matte quality has the incredible effect of making our colors look even richer, especially the darker shades.'

Compared to their Full Gloss finish which has a sheen of 95%, Dead Flat has a mere 2% sheen which dramatically minimizes light bounce so that you can enjoy your paint ideas from every angle and in any type of lighting. Not only does this increase the richness of the shade, but it also minimizes imperfections caused by uneven surfaces or dirty finger marks. 

There's a lot to love from an aesthetic point of view, too. Patrick O’Donnell, color expert and Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball, thinks it makes the best choice for color drenching. 'Whether you want color saturation in a space or just to create a seamless matte flow of finish through your home, Dead Flat delivers all,' he explains. 

'You can also use it to create the illusion of more space in a bedroom through painted closets to match the walls or hide utilitarian radiators in your chosen Dead Flat color,' he adds. 'It’s a decorator's dream.' 

Like all Farrow & Ball finishes, Dead Flat is water-based, low odor, and only contains traces of VOCs, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your paint is the safest choice for your home. 

Farrow & Ball's Dead Flat paint finish will be available to buy from March 28th 

3 on-trend colors that we love in Dead Flat finish 

If you haven't yet heard, red tones are trending. The latest color trend dominated our favorite paint brands' forecasts for the year ahead and the flaming shade has been cropping up in designs everywhere in recent months. But why the sudden rush toward red, and how should we be using it in our homes?

No doubt a gorgeous and versatile hue, we wouldn't be doing our job properly if we didn't question the origins of a fresh emerging trend. From earthy, smoky shades to rich, jewel tones, we can almost guarantee that you've witnessed the reclamation of red, too. (And if you haven't, you're bound to notice it now.)

But as is the case with any trend, there's an underlying reason why it's our latest obsession. The colors we use to decorate our homes represent the mood of the moment, and they say a lot about what's going on in interiors more widely. To help us unpick the latest paint trend we spoke with Farrow & Ball's color curator, Joa Studholme, who also shares her advice on how we should use it to decorate.

Why are reds more prevalent than ever?

There's no escaping red at the moment. Red shades were chosen as the Color of the Year 2023 by the likes of Graham & Brown, Benjamin Moore and Dunn-Edwards, all in slightly different variations of course. But why is it such a popular color for our homes right now?

'Without doubt red, with its positive energy, is becoming one of the most important colors in interiors,' says Joa Studholme of Farrow & Ball. 'Post pandemic we all relish more color -  and particularly bringing warmer inviting tones into our homes. Bright red shades can create an element of surprise to give us a lift, but kicked back reds create a cocooning atmosphere which is perfect to embrace us and make us feel safe.'

From vibrant scarlets to gentle maroons, it's red's versatility that makes it such an exciting color to inject into the home, but our long standing connotations of the shade can also cause us to hold back. As Joa notes: 'Red is perceived to be a little provocative and can dominate spaces so it takes a bit of thought as well as some confidence to use it in the home.'

She urges caution when contrasting red with other dominant colors. For example, it's a good idea to avoid red walls with white on the trim as very strong contrasts like this can make for an unrelaxed space. Instead, take time to use red in a more balanced way through your color palette with smaller doses.

Which spaces in the home should we be using reds? 

No matter the shade, red is a vibrant and vivacious color. Even the more subtle and understated hues wield a lot of power, making it difficult to know where to introduce your red paint ideas. 

In general, reds are best suited to social spaces. 'Traditionally red has been a favorite in dining rooms, and for good reason,' says Joa. 'Nothing feels more welcoming and creates a more intimate backdrop for entertaining.' Rich, heritage reds can make a dining room feel warm and inviting, especially when used alongside soft, ambient lighting. 

When it comes to more relaxing spaces, red might not be the best option for creating a calming atmosphere. Despite the fact we often find earthier red shades comforting and enveloping, red actually stimulates us, and from a color psychology perspective, it evokes passionate emotions of dominance and power. As Joa notes: 'most reds just have too strong a personality for bedrooms.' Psychologists also suggests that reds can prevent sleep. 

However, there are otherwise to use paint other than our walls. If you think red might feel too overwhelming on the walls of your space, consider painting the floor. 'If used on a painted floor in a neutral room, red can create a very special glow,' Joa adds. 'Strong color used under the eye line is much easier to live with, so kitchen islands or floor units in deep reds feel right on trend with their old world feel.'

You could also adds more subtle accents by painting your furniture. 'Think about using it on a bookcase or inside a cupboard where it can't fail to make you smile,' Joa says. 

What about lighting? 

Be it a red living room idea or a red kitchen, falling in love with a shade can be pretty devastating if you then learn that it isn't complimentary in that room's natural lighting. Luckily red is very versatile, but picking the right tone is important. 

In north facing rooms, colors with a warm undertone are essential if you want to prevent the space feeling too cold. The natural lighting can make these rooms feel dark and enclosed so you ought to counteract that with opposing colors. 'These spaces benefit from really warm shades like Bamboozle which will help you achieve a cozy, welcoming atmosphere even in rooms that are lacking in that warm glow of sunshine,' says Joa. 

South facing rooms on the other hand receive plenty of natural light during the course of the day. Using too much red in these areas risks overwhelming that warm feeling completely; in fact, paler blue tones will work better at maximizing the light. If you do want to use a hint of red in a south facing room, opt for a sophisticated red based neutral. 

East and west facing rooms see very different lighting during the course of a day, meaning complex reds offer a range of different tones in the changing day light. 'The bluer tones of east light in the evening can be warmed by use of Bamboozle, but it will feel even richer in the warm yellow light in the morning,' says Joa. 'In west-facing rooms, as the sun starts to set the space will take on an intense golden glow so reds can be particularly fiery!'

How to decorate using Farrow & Ball's 'Bamboozle'

In Farrow & Ball's new range of colors they released Bamboozle, a warm, earthy and spirited red. 'Although it is guaranteed to have impact in your home, we make it with earthy red pigments which are easier to live with than a cleaner primary red,' explains Joa. 

'The addition of a touch of magenta and little bit of black pigment (a Farrow & Ball favourite trick) makes it super sophisticated,' she adds. 'So for anyone having trouble committing to a bold scarlet, Bamboozle will give you that special glow without being too intense.'

When it comes to decorating with the shade, Joa suggests experimenting with your paint ideas rather than just using it top to bottom on your walls. 'Think about using a tide line with Bamboozle on the bottom (including the skirting) and  warm neutral like Jitney above.'

If you want to introduce the shade to your room in a more understated way, try using it on your woodwork. One of Joa's favorite uses of Bamboozle is on a feature door in full gloss - it makes a fantastic design statement without overwhelming your space!

There's no month in the interior designer's calendar more exciting than September, especially when it comes to color. As the year draws to a close, paint brands and color forecasters are looking to the year ahead and releasing new shades that speak to the mood of 2023. This year, it's all about tones that transform our homes into restful yet characterful spaces. 

This year's also extra exciting for color-lovers, as Farrow & Ball is releasing new colors - something the British paint brand only does every two-three years. We're sure these are set to be the biggest interior design trend of the new year.

'Our relationship with our home has changed so much over the last few years, it felt like the perfect time to introduce these new colors,' says Joa Studholme, Color Curator for Farrow & Ball. 'We all feel ready to show off our spaces and personal style. Our palette is made even more relevant through the introduction of these gentle lights and dramatic and atmospheric darks.'

From neutral taupes and powdery pinks, to rich smoky greys and fresh greens, these new colors form an indulgent palette that we think Farrow & Ball fans will love. But don't just take our word from it - we've asked a few top designers for their opinions, favorite shades, and advice on how to use them to create a color palette.

Eva Sonaike

Interior designer Eva Sonaike knows a thing or two about using color. Although she's renowned for using bolder colors than those in Farrow & Ball's new palette, she praises the range of shades for their compatibility.

'What I love about the colors in the new Farrow & Ball collection is that they're all really complimentary, you can mix and match almost all of them,' she says. 'They all have Farrow & Ball's unmistakeable powdery softness to them which makes them warm, elegant and very versatile.' 

While she's not usually one to be drawn towards calmer colors, she chooses Eddy as her favorite. 'It's so fresh and elegant, I can see it working as a neutral among brighter colors.' Hopper Head however is one color she'd probably avoid due the notorious difficulty of greys. 'To incorporate such a dark color in my designs, I'd use it for proportional work, a feature wall, or shelving to add depth to a space.' 

Amy Youngblood

Amy Youngblood knows the power a calming neutral color scheme can hold over a room, and she believe these colors lend themselves well to the increasingly popular nature-inspired interior. 

'I believe that the organic modern style that is very in will continue to rise in popularity in 2023, which this color palette represents,' she explains. 'These warmer toned cool colors pair well with natural woods and stones which we are seeing more and more of.'

For Amy, the colors strike the perfect balance of playful yet calming. 'The more neutral colors are great for an all-over paint color while the more colorful make for a great accent wall.'

Pip Rich

Livingetc's Editor, Pip Rich, has seen many a Farrow & Ball color come and go during his time on the magazine and, as such, he has an eye for which colors are likely to stand the test of time. 

'It’s always noteworthy when Farrow & Ball release a new set of colors,' he says. 'Happening once in a blue moon (now, there’s a good name for a paint), each collection ends up including at least two shades which set the tone for how we all want to decorate our homes.'

So, being familiar with the best Farrow & Ball paint colors so far, he asks what will be the new Stiffkey Blue, launched in 2014, or Jitney, from 2018? 'Both have ended up in my house, and countless other homes we feature in Livingetc. From this lot, my money is on Templeton Pink, a slightly duskier version of Sulking Room Pink, but it could also be the soft blue grey of Kittiwake to the comforting richness of Wine Dark. I'll be using both, immediately, I am sure.'

Anastasia Casey

As a master of naturally calming designs, Anastasia Casey of Identite Collective is more attuned to neutral hues. However, she's keen to experiment with the new colors on offer from Farrow & Ball. 

'We're seeing a shift away from light, bright spaces and toward a cozier aesthetic with plenty of European vibes,' she explains. 'Mid- and dark-toned blues and greens continue to be popular because they are extremely livable and pair well with natural materials and neutral shades.'

With that in mind, Anastasia suggests using Selvedge or Beverly for a painted kitchen cabinets to add color to your home while still retaining a fresh, timeless look. 'When it comes to walls, white isn't going away for good, so to update the look, we're seeing subtle contrast on millwork and trim,' she adds. 'Stirabout is the ideal not-beige, not-grey warm neutral for that task.'

Bethany Adams 

As a big Farrow & Ball fan, Bethany, of Bethany Adams Interiors, is itching to decorate with these new shades. She believes the nurturing tones are exactly what we're all looking for now that we're all spending more time in our homes. 

'I think after a season of finally being free to leave our homes, people are starting to look inwards again and want spaces that evoke calm, creativity, and comfort which is what every color in this collection provides,' she explains. 

'Tailor Tack and Templeton Pink prove that blush hues aren't strictly millennial, they're here to stay, but I'll never say no to more gorgeous greens and blues so Kittiwake and Eddy are particularly inspiring to me.' 

Cristina Lehman

Pairing neutrals with smoky hues is a common theme in Cristina's designs at C.Lehman Home, and so, Farrow & Ball's new palette is giving her lots to work with.

'I like the 'grown-up' and more muted takes on these classic colors,' she says. 'I'm really loving all the neutral colors (Stirabout, Tailor Tack and even Templeton Pink) and the cool and calming colors (Kittiwake, Eddy, Whirlybird and Selvedge) for offices and bedrooms, especially in kid spaces.'

Never one to shy away from a grey paint idea, Cristina loves the darker tones within the palette. 'For moody spaces, I think the Hopper Head and Wine Dark are great new options. I've always been a fan of Farrow & Ball's Railing and Down Pipe, so the fact that Hopper Head sits between those two shades makes it a great option,' she notes. 'I could see these making a big impact in an entryway, study/office or even small powder rooms.'

If you're looking for Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster ideas, this collection will show you how to use this gentlest of pinks in the right way. A favorite among designers, its lime-washed look matches the appearance of freshly applied and dried plaster; something that isn't altogether easy to mimic.

This dusty pink has an inherent softness and features a beautiful yellow pigment. When it comes to paint ideas, this color is a wonderful backdrop for antique furniture, walls, ceilings, and even joinery. The shade does not overwhelm nor does it disappear in space. Its textural quality envelopes a room in a welcoming embrace.

'If you are after something utterly soft and forgiving, look to the eminently flattering Setting Plaster,' says Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador and color consultant for Farrow & Ball. 'Think of this shade as neutral – the gentle brown notes will flatter your complexion and make you positively glow with good health. It will also add warmth to those trickier spaces that feel starved of natural light.'

We spoke to leading designers about different ways this tone can be used in interiors and they did not disappoint with suggestions. Here's how to use Setting Plaster, in, well several settings.

Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster ideas to inspire your scheme

1. Paint a ceiling in Setting Plaster

Ceiling decorating can seem like a daring move, but a bright ceiling can add a layer of personality to a space that just can’t be achieved by painted walls alone. The usual approach to any space is to add color to the upholstery, furniture, and accessories but by focusing on the fifth wall, you open up the space below to less visual clutter.

Using Setting Plaster on the ceiling will help cocoon rather than encroach the room, and drench the space in soft radiance. Interestingly, pink is a color that can make you look good.  'The color pink hints at retro but also continues to be modern. Lights reflecting off pink walls or furniture make pale skin look brighter and more luscious,' says Jennifer Morris, interior designer and founder of JMorris Design.

Soft colors painted on the ceiling can also work to boost the room's perceived proportions. The hue forces the eyes to look upwards, thereby taking in the entire volume of the space. 

'Setting Plaster continues to be a go-to for our projects. Here, it hits the feminine mark so well, but a little dirty – not too sweet. I've used it in so many different rooms with different lights and it's always perfection,' says Anne McDonald, founder of Anne McDonald Design.

2. Bathe the room in this neutral pink

Think pink morning sky, market-fresh rhubarb, and French breakfast radishes – pink has a mood-lifting quality. Gone are the days of pink being regaled to images of candy and princess ponies. The timeless color is packed with style and personality and is an interesting and richly varied hue.

If pink calls out to you, perhaps start by painting an accent wall in this hue and if all goes well, an entire small room can be the perfect canvas for this powerful hue. Setting Plaster, being a more subdued tone can fill in as a neutral in the space, yet give it all the vibrancy it needs. 

In this room, the color appears paler and more peachy, and pairs well with the neutral sofa and rug. 

'For a subtle touch of blush we have a few firm favorites, like Setting Plaster or Peignoir by Farrow & Ball; this pink evokes a feeling of calm and has a versatile neutral base, making it easy to pair with other colors,' say Jen & Mar, principal designers, Interior Fox.

3. Use it to color match actual plaster walls 

Setting Plaster is a paint color idea that is actually very close to the color of actual plastered walls. And with the trend for textural wall finishes not looking like they're abating any time soon, it can be used in interesting ways with raw skimmed walls. 

'We have effectively used Setting Plaster on joinery and doors in some of our projects, often to match the pink skim finish to the walls,' says Jean Dumas, principal designer at Trellik Design Studio. 'In this project, which shows exposed skimmed wall, the access panel door (on the extreme left) couldn’t be plastered so we used Setting Plaster to match the overall plastered walls.'

4. Take this color outside

Painting exterior walls can require some consideration. That's because, unlike the interiors, the exterior hues can affect the entire street. Usually, it's a good idea to look for undertones in nature or in your exteriors that could inform your palette. It's worth considering paint colors that tie fixed elements together in a harmonious way.

Many paint manufacturers have a collection of historically accurate colors, that can be the perfect springboard for your palette. Or, when looking for paint color inspiration, you could take the braver route. Setting Plaster is a muted tone that serves as a lovely backdrop to dark browns and greens – colors found aplenty outside. The hue draws the natural tones of the earth and can create a smart, picture-perfect look outside.

'It is a versatile shade that can be used both indoors and outdoors. I've used it twice in my residence both in the living room and the exterior of my pool house folly,' says Jessica Lagrange, principal designer and founder of Jessica Lagrange Interiors. 'It looks good everywhere.' 

5. Layer the pink paint with prints and organic tones

While pink may be a bold choice when it comes to design, a color like Setting Plaster can work for everyone. Not too powerful, not too stark and neither barely there, this tone can infuse a modern vibe in a room and bring the space to life.

When it comes to colors that go with pink, the soft pink of Setting Ball looks good when layered with prints and other natural tones such as green. The patterns counteract any potential sugariness and together the beautiful layering gives depth to the interior.

'Setting Plaster is my go-to warm dusty pink. I’ve used it in bedrooms time and time again. It is the definition of a warm hug,' says Lauren L Caron, principal designer, Studio Laloc. 'In this bedroom, while we used Clunch by Farrow & Ball on the ceiling, the wall color is Setting Plaster.'

6. Use Setting Plaster to highlight architectural features

In our minds, there's no doubt that Setting Plaster is one of the best Farrow & Ball paint colors. It is a beautiful backdrop color that works exceptionally well in older, larger houses and rooms. It is also a wonderful hue to highlight specific details in a room without creating too much drama. 

In this room, the color is offset against white, and as the dweller looks up to admire this lovely discreet paint, the eyes rest on intricately detailed crown molding. The effect is both luxurious and restrained. A combination like this can be a great conversation starter too. 

Is Setting Plaster a warm color?

Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster is a welcoming, soft, subtle shade of pink. The color works wonderfully well on walls, ceilings, trims, joinery, and even on the exteriors and gives the space warmth and a feeling of a light embrace. 

Of course, how Setting Plaster looks in your space will depend on factors such as the facing, and the amount of natural light your room gets. Consider how the other colors you choose for your room, including flooring, large furniture, ceilings and trims will also affect the look. 

What colors go best with Setting Plaster?

Setting Plaster being a muted tone pretty much goes with most hues. Pink and blue are a great combination – against a Setting Plaster wall, blue furniture easily stands out. A light shade of green along with the pink paint can create a beautiful, natural combination that reminds you of the outdoors.

The color looks particularly nice against other Farrow & Ball colors such as Pink Ground for color layering and Blue Grey for a nice color blocking effect. With Mahogany it can give a more contemporary look. If you want to add further warmth to your setting, use Setting Plaster along with a dusty background color for a feature wall.

Setting Plaster also looks lovely against brown, where both colors together ground the interior and give it warmth. Orange and pink can seem like a stark combination but a lively one. The pairing is bold and can add dynamic energy to any room of the house, indoors or out. 

For the perfect light and shadow combo, consider pairing this paint color with black. While the latter is impactful and dramatic, the lushness and depth of pink can help keep the space restrained.

Trying to pick the best Farrow & Ball paint colors is a tough job – after all, we're spoilt for choice. A favorite brand of interior designers, Farrow & Ball has a kaleidoscope of colors available with all the shades and undertones you can think of, so there's a hue out there for every decorating project.

Adding a new lick of paint to walls is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to transform a room, but the problem comes when trying to narrow down your paint ideas, even once you've decided on a Farrow & Ball palette. Then, of course, there are color trends to take into account. 'Our use of color has transitioned so much in the last two years, moving away from anything too cool to empathetic neutrals, earth tones, and colors that spark optimism and joy,' says Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador and color consultant for Farrow & Ball.

'If it's neutrals you love, consider School House White which will sit happily against many colors,' he goes on to suggest. 'From the mid-century aesthetic of Bancha to the warming mustard tones of India yellow, through to wonderful earthy mid neutrals of Jitney, we have a large selection in place.' So that's Patrick's top picks, but what about the best Farrow & Ball shades account to interior designers? We went on a hunt to find out and rustled up 12 paint options to appeal to your inner aesthete.

12 Best Farrow & Ball Paint Colors that Come Expert-Approved

Before you jump right into our paint edit, take a moment to consider the best way to choose a color that suits you, your lifestyle, and your interiors. Take for instance that you want to color your room blue. How do you narrow down which shade of blue is perfect?

One way to select paint shades is to think about the vibe you want to create in your room. If you want a cozier feel, pick a blue on the darker end; perhaps one with a gray undertone. For a more serene vibe, a lighter shade - say, a sea blue - may be better. You could choose to paint an accent wall or drench the entire room in the color depending on how intense you want the color to feel.

You'll also notice that paint colors look different in artificial light, in the sunlight, and even during different times of the day, so be sure to test with a swatch before you take your brush to the wall.

1. Green Smoke

Green proves to be an enduring color trend, and Farrow & Ball's Green Smoke is a perfect tone for a relaxing space. 'Green Smoke has lots of blue in it, and proves to be fantastically popular,' says Joa Studholme, color expert at the brand. She also says it's perfect for north-facing rooms despite being a cool tone.

We love seeing this soft sage-like shade alongside warm woodwork or pops of bolder color, like the red accent chair pictured above.

2. Railings

Dark grays have all the drama of a black, but with just the right amount of softness, and the shade Railings offers just that. 'The beauty of Farrow & Ball really lies in its rich pigments; the colors are so dynamic that they evolve as the light changes throughout the day,' says designer Cristina Cleveland, who quotes Railings as one of her favorite shades.

'I used Railings on my kitchen cabinets and at times it looks inky blue, moody gray, and in the evenings a dramatic black,' she adds. 'I find it's a more nuanced alternative to stark black paint.' We think these qualities make it the perfect choice for a monochromatic color scheme.

3. Elephant's Breath

One of the best greige shades, Elephant's Breath is a great mid-neutral for dousing your walls. Designer Adriana Schor of Iconique Design Studio quotes it as one of her favorite Farrow & Ball shades and thinks it's a shade that's often overlooked.

'Whilst some people might think a neutral palette like greige is boring, it actually allows space for creativity that feels more sophisticated, as you can play around with different shades and textures to create movement and depth,' she says. 'The neutral greige tone also reflects light exceptionally well, and creates an ideal canvas to add a splash of color.'

4. Calamine

Those who don't fear pink can jump onto the bandwagon of Calamine; a beautiful, milky pink with a gray undertone. The presence of gray prevents the pink from looking too sugary and gives it a deeper grounding. The tone is easy on the eyes and can be used sparingly or even painted on walls across rooms for a perfect pink living room.

'My favorite is Calamine by Farrow & Ball; I've used it in dining rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, sunrooms, and even closets,' says interior designer Mary Patton. 'It is the perfect soft pink neutral.'

5. Treron

Treron is a soft, yet dark green hue perfect for modern homes that receive plenty of natural light. The color can be used in large amounts as it has a muted vibe and plays well in any space.

'When selecting paints, we find it's important to get the mineral balance right, to give a tone that is natural and has a calm, muted quality,' says Tom Cox, principal designer, HÁM Interiors. 'In this project, the custom-made HÁM kitchen is painted in deep green Treron.'

6. All White

Colors play an imperative role in interior design, and our minds. A room's entire mood can be enhanced or completely ruined by one paint decision. Usually, neutrals are the safest bet. But even neutrals need some consideration.

When it comes to the best white paint for walls, remember that this color has associated temperature, mood, light reflectivity, and style. If you don't consider that, your seemingly fresh, crisp white paint will make your room look flat and cold. Usually, warmer whites can look welcoming. When painted in a room that has lots of sunlight, a clear white will optimize the light and keep things cool.

White works especially well in small rooms. Consider painting the trim to match, as eliminating the lines between the walls and woodwork will allow the space to remain frameless, expanding the proportions of the room.

To that end, Farrow and Ball's All White is a good choice. It isn't stark like Brilliant White but it contains no other pigment except for creamy white, creating the softest interior.

'Farrow & Ball colors respond so beautifully to the north-eastern light in our region – they have the kind of luminosity that our clients love,' says Maria Viola-Kuttruff, principal designer at Viola Interior Design. 'All White #2005 has also been a winner for walls and woodwork as it reads as a pure white, no gray tones, no yellow tones.. just gorgeous.'

7. Pitch Blue

Sometimes a single blast of color can refresh a tired space. Most people are used to playing it safe with whites, grays, and even going as far as sky blues but nothing gives a better boost of energy and personality to a space than this dreamy cobalt hue.

The paint color has an inherent glam side to it and looks especially great against other jewel tones or metallics. In fact, several colors go with blue and can lift a space. It's a color of nature, a trusted hue that manages to be fresh and sophisticated all at once.

Pitch Blue by Farrow & Ball has a small dose of black pigment, and gives the paint an almost purple feel at times, especially in south-facing rooms. It looks deeper and soberer in dimly-lit areas or spaces lit by candles.

'We loved using Pitch Blue No. 220 in this client’s otherwise white kitchen,' says Georgia Zikas of Georgia Zikas Design. 'The vibrancy of the island reflects the spirit of their young family. This color is youthful but has depth and agelessness. We prefer using Farrow & Ball paints because of its color saturation, and the luster of its finishes feels special and bespoke.'

8. Cromarty

A combination of gray and green can look very refreshing and modern, resulting in a serene and unexpectedly beautiful look. Think of lush green fields and smooth pebbles – it's a pairing made in nature.

This paint with its deep, silken tones is ideal for layering with texture-rich materials, soft furnishings, and artworks. Even contrasting colors can creep in, to punctuate the color scheme. If you're wondering how to paint a room using this tone, you could consider a fully drenched space in Cromarty or even go half-and-half with another color like pink.

This neutral tone is neither too gray nor too green; it's just right and can add muted softness to any room. Cromarty from Farrow & Ball works especially well when grouped with Blue-Gray or Pigeon.

'We chose the Farrow & Ball Cromarty shade of green for its beautiful muted quality,' says Stephanie Waskins, interior designer at LARK+PALM. 'Working well into the diamond pattern on the floor, we designed for this custom kitchen space. We love using shades of green in many of our designs. We see green being just as much a neutral as the shades of white.'

9. Hague Blue

Whether it comes to painting the walls or painting furniture, the right blue can set a dramatic tone. Blues remind one of the East Coast peppiness, antiques, and the deep blue sea. Blues also offer a crisp contrast to neutrals and are friends with metallic tones.

A nice, saturated blue like Hague Blue can inspire the ideal home decor. It looks fantastic on woodwork, skirtings, or as an accent color on the walls. With its slight green undertone, the paint color has a beautiful, natural finish. It's a perfect living and dining room color idea for this vibrant design, for example.

'At times it reads teal and at others navy, but either way, it ensures full-on drama and I’m here for it,' says interior designer Cindy McKay, who curated the space pictured above. 'This dining room I designed in Toronto features Hague Blue on the walls. I love how it adds such richness to the space and highlights the incredible wall molding.'

10. De Nimes

Deep blues make a great background for a mix of antiques, and vintage and modern pieces. You can use this color to even design a wall mural if it's that artsy touch you're looking for. Blue can anchor elements and create a unifying surrounding.

The elegant De Nimes by Farrow & Ball has an earthy quality to it and can be used in a kitchen island to an airy drawing room. 'The layered blues in this Indianola living room are beautiful – the Farrow and Ball De Nimes built-ins mirror the color of the nearby armchairs nicely,' says interior designer Julia Miller of Yond Interiors.

11. Brinjal

Aubergine or purple can invoke a visceral reaction – you either love it or you don't. But let's not forget, this color has been related to royalty for eons and has an inherent rich appeal.

If used in the right proportions, purple can fill a space with a style that very few other colors can achieve. It is a good alternative to brighter colors and, in the right shade, can even play the role of a neutral.

With it comes colors that go with purple, deep brown wood tones and creams make a happy pairing. Orange can play off well with purple too; a classically playful theme. To have a more royal theme, consider adding silvery tones for elegance.

Brinjal looks great in full Gloss and is ideal for feature walls. The paint color is the best contrast to neutral tones like gray or white.

'The best Farrow & Ball color is Brinjal,' says Chad Dorsey, principal designer and founder of Chad Dorsey Design. 'In this space we turned a secondary kitchenette into an adult lounge inspired by the color of Cabernet.'

12. Parma Gray

'Farrow & Ball's Parma Gray is the perfect blue-toned gray that adds interest while keeping it fresh and bright,' says Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design. The hue can create a period feel, especially when paired with neutrals, and because this color is so easy on the eyes, there are lots of colors that go with blue on the color wheel.

'The walls of this living room are painted Farrow & Ball Parma Gray,' says Lauren Stern, principal at Lauren Stern Design. 'We love this blue-gray because it feels rich and complex, without being too strong. It provides a perfect backdrop, without distracting or overwhelming the other elements in a room. Parma can feel playful and sophisticated at the same time it complements both cool tones and warm tones like vermillion and brass.'

FAQS

What's the most popular Farrow and Ball color?

The best Farrow & Ball color isn't necessarily the most popular shade since whites and neutrals tend to drive the most sales — as seen in the edit of the most popular Farrow & Ball neutral paint colors — but these kinds of insights can give us a bit of guidance when it comes to decorating.

'From an analytical sales perspective, we see a rise in the popularity of blues with Hague Blue, Railings, and Inchyra Blue all featuring in the top 15 best sellers,' says Joa. 'Consumers are broadly being bolder with their color choices with sales of Pointing and Studio Green being the fastest growing colors of the past year.'

More than specific paint shades themselves, Joa has also seen a change in the way people are using paint. 'Particularly the color drenching trend with people utilizing Dead Flat across woodwork, trim, and ceilings,' she says.

If you don’t already know about Pebble Bar, you will do soon. Even if you don’t live in the concrete jungle, it’s quite easy to feel envious of those who raise a glass in Rockefeller Plaza’s most fashionable new bar. However, while their cocktails are something to write home about, it’s Pebble Bar's paint choices that are causing excitement amongst the design world. And it's easy to see why. 

But what is causing such a stir, we hear you ask? The answer is Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster, a blushing pink hue that is designed to make you look good. But why does this shade – and many subtle pink hues – make you look so good? 

Here, the experts reveal all you need to know about the tone that will set color trends in the interiors (and beauty) worlds. 

Why does blushing pink make you look good?  

Of course, it is easy to want to bag a reservation at Pebble Bar for its face-accentuating qualities – but you don’t need to drink in the Empire State to enjoy the hue’s benefits. 

‘The pink tone brings out the red pigment in our skin, so it gives us added blusher, let’s say,’ explains Natasha Bradley, Lick’s Head Colour Specialist. The expert explains that various tones of this pink hue can benefit people in different ways, but ultimately, this color looks good on everyone.

The color expert isn’t alone in her admiration for this blushing hue. Helen Shaw, the Director Of Marketing at Benjamin Moore UK, adds that this tone will ‘ flatter any space’ whilst offering the chance to bring a playful hue into a contemporary space. 

‘Sophisticated yet playful, neutral pinks add more personality than a grey or beige but can be just as subtle. Unobtrusive but offering a subtle glow to the room, neutral pinks are flattering and complement all rooms,’ Helen says. This color looks good in a room, and on your complexion, what’s not to love?

This paint color will uplift your complexion and dominate interior design trends in the process. PS, we’re sneaking a reservation at Pebble bar pronto. 

Pebble Bar, 67 W 49th St, New York, NY 10112, United States

Farrow & Ball made 'Pigeon' cool way before Sarah Jessica Parker was seen holding a handbag shaped like the bird while filming the latest season of Sex in the City. The blue-green-gray paint color may divide as to the best way to describe it, but most will agree it's a truly versatile and reliable shade for almost any space in your home; a perennial favorite when it comes to interior decorating.

With green, blue and gray undertones, Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon' often beguiles, changing colors depending on the specific room orientation and even time of the day. But that's all part of its charm. North-facing rooms will bring out its gray tones, while a sun-drenched space will enhance the underlying green.

Regardless, it's become one of the best Farrow & Ball paint colors since it first launched back in 1991 (as one of the brand's original 57 shades), finding itself right at home in modern, maximalist and even cozy cottage-style interiors alike. Still not convinced? In this article, I've deep-dived on the shade, speaking with the experts to uncover its true color, the best places to use it in, the shades that complement it, and I've even pulled inspiration straight out of interior designer's portfolios. I've found the best finishes to use depending on your project, and even spoke with a Livingetc editor who selected the shade in her own home. For everything you need (and want) to know about Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon', scroll on.

Overview: Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon'

Description: This "cozy and nostalgic" blue-gray paint color was named after the bird often seen on the streets of London.

Undertones: A green/gray/blue hybrid.

Best For: Mudrooms, Kitchens, Darker Spaces

Finish Options: Dead flat, Modern Eggshell, Full Gloss, Exterior, etc

Surfaces: Walls, ceilings, wood, metal

"'Pigeon' is a crowd-pleaser that injects personality into smaller spaces like home offices, bathrooms, cloakrooms, utility rooms and porches, while making larger spaces feel cozy," says interior styling consultant Jane Lee. "Put it with natural wood, white linen, sheepskin and leave for an ultra-relaxing Scandi-style bedroom or living room."

What color is Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon'?

Is Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon' green or blue? It's one of the most commonly asked (and searched for) question. In truth, it's a bit of both. "'Pigeon' is such an interesting shade, the perfect blue-green-gray mix that looks completely different depending on light and context," says Livingetc's global brand director, who selected the shade for her own home. "I used it on a small, ground-floor room in a mews house — color drenching (so over the walls, skirting and ceiling) — and it created an inviting space which changed atmosphere depending on the time of day."

"Whether it has more of a tinge of blue, gray or green is the subject of heated debate," adds interior stylist Jane Lee. "It really depends on the amount of natural light that's bouncing around the space. I think of it as a strong blue-gray with a touch of green about it."

To settle the debate, we asked Patrick O'Donnell, a color consultant and ambassador for Farrow & Ball. He says: "Definitely green but not in the classic sense. It’s a deep mid-to-dark drab green/gray, but the color shifts depending on how light falls on it."

So it shall henceforth be agreed that 'Pigeon' is one of the best green paints, not blue or gray.

What are the undertones of 'Pigeon' by Farrow & Ball?

As previously explained, 'Pigeon' has a unique mix of blue, gray and green undertones. "It's a green-gray hybrid," says Patrick. "Not too sharp and not your traditional verdant kind of green."

But perhaps more noteworthy is it's LRV, or Light Reflective Value. Patrick explains this as "the difference between colors" and notes how knowing this about the paint colors you use can help define boundaries within a room and create contrast.

It also helps inform how to incorporate lighting into a space. "The LRV for 'Pigeon' is 31.89," says Patrick. "With a low LRV, you may want to consider that the space will require adequate lighting to accommodate this."

How to use Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' in your home

1. Create a "wraparound" effect in bedrooms

When it comes to painting awkwardly-shaped rooms, color drenching can help make the space feel more cohesive. 'Pigeon' is the perfect modern neutral to use, as it's a restful shade that won't overwhelm the space. Case in point: this small bedroom by HÁM Interiors.

"We like to paint the ceiling, walls and skirting in the same hue as it stops awkward visual breaks and enhances architectural details in an understated way," says Tom Cox, the family-run studio's co-founder. "We like to look at the pigment and depth of color in a paint. Too often a shade will have too much gray or brown as an undertone, which can be challenging when layering a scheme and adding furniture. For us, Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon' has just the right mineral balance, it gives a space a calm and muted quality."

2. Emphasize your wainscoting details

Looking for Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' bathroom ideas? Look no further than the bathroom from interior designer and Studio McGee's chief creative officer, Shea McGee's own home. She specified the blue-green shade in a matte finish on the beadboard wainscoting because of how versatile it is, and has shared that she was drawn to it for this space because of how its cool tones contrast with the warm wood and woven textures in the space.

3. Subtly enhance your trims

Painted staircases in unexpected colors are a clever way to make a more functional thing in your home feel more architectural and fitting for the space. "'Pigeon' is a great color to introduce on your woodwork, such as skirting, stairs and door frames, when you use a neutral on all your surrounding walls," says Charlotte Cosby, creative director at Farrow & Ball. "This technique highlights accents within the room without being too overpowering and provides a step into color-blocking for anyone venturing into using color for the first time."

4. Use as an alternative to 'safe' kitchen colors

'Pigeon' is also an ideal kitchen color idea as it brings a feeling of tranquility to what can be a busy space, without sticking to a 'safe' color like white or gray. "'Pigeon' provides people with a sense of calm and optimism, and when you have a busy lifestyle, your home is your sanctuary," says Charlotte Cosby. "This color is associated with nature — using this shade is the perfect way to introduce a slice of the outside, inside, whilst creating a relaxing environment. A great alternative to gray for kitchen walls — working with an array of surfaces and textures — creating something that feels cosseting and timeless."

For an even more seamless and unified look, consider painting the walls and cabinetry all in the same color. Not only will this emphasize a sense of cohesion, but it can also trick the eye into thinking the space it bigger than it actually is.

 5. Incorporate as a wallpaper

For a bit more pizzazz in your space, you could even incorporate Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon' shade through the brand's various wallpaper designs. "We print all of our wallpapers using our water-based paint, and 'Pigeon' is a popular ground color for many of our designs," says Charlotte.

The 'Feather Grass' style is a particularly versatile wallpaper idea, working in a number of spaces around the home, but particularly in more open spaces like living and dining rooms, where the pattern borders your seating and makes you feel like you're immersed in nature all year round.

6.  Make it the backdrop for art

One of the biggest draws of 'Pigeon' is its versatility. It works across various rooms in the home as well as aesthetic styles — from modern and minimalist to more eclectic and colorful. While it has a strong presence in its own right, it is also subtle enough to let other elements in the room take center stage.

The gray undertones in particular mean it is the ideal wall paint color to support bursts of color and a softer alternative to shades of white, which can have a harsher contrast. "'Pigeon' is an ideal backdrop to artwork," says Charlotte, as seen in the eclectic living room above (designed by HÁM Interiors) where the subtle shade helps make the gallery wall of artwork sing.

7. Color-block with other greens

Adding depth into a design increases the visual interest, and a clever way to do this is by color-blocking walls in darker or lighter shades of similar hues. In this living room, 'Pigeon' has been paired with Farrow & Ball's 'Mizzle' — a soft gray-green.

"What I love about this color is how versatile it is," says interior designer Enass Mahmoud, the founder of Studio Enass. "You are able to layer this color with soft blues and pastel colors but also add some warmth by including dark rich tones such as moss or teal green."

8. Use it on your exterior

But 'Pigeon' doesn't just work for your interiors. It's soothing shade works well on surfaces outside. "It makes for a great exterior woodwork color, and feels a little more contemporary than the classic sage green often seen," says Patrick O'Donnell.

On the house shown above, the front door and window trims have been painted in 'Pigeon', making the architectural features pop against the white facade, without being too bold or colorful.

9. Create a cocooning reading nook

It is often a temptation to paint smaller spaces in brighter and lighter shades of white to make them appear larger, but leaning into the proportions and giving them an enveloping feel can actually provide more impact. In this nook, designed by HÁM Interiors, 'Pigeon' walls help to create a warm and contemplative corner, while a pop of unexpected red in the raspberry patterned cushion energizes the space.

"'Pigeon' is one of our go-to greens from the Farrow & Ball palette," says Angela Simpson, a co-founder of interior design studio Simpson & Voyle. "Its warm tone and period pigmentation works for any space and more importantly, any scale of room. Soothing on the eye, it has tremendous character, bringing both a sense of nature and elegance. Pigeon is like the trusty, loyal friend everyone needs in their life!"

10. Complement it with wood tones

If you have wooden features throughout your home, 'Pigeon' is the perfect color choice to enhance them and inject a more contemporary feel to your space. This is one of the reasons its the first pick for US-based studio Park and Oak Interior Design, founded by Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto.

"The ideal blend of not-quite-green and not-quite gray, we often turn to Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' as a nearly-neutral for those still wanting a little pop of color," they say. "Its saturation level is the perfect complement for the wood tones we love, and also plays nicely with other shades we choose frequently, like navy blue and rust. Try is for cabinetry or as a backdrop with neutral furnishings. We love its versatility in almost any room, for any application."

Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' Color Match

It's hard to find a direct color match for Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon' because the color itself is difficult to pinpoint. In different lights and different settings it will appear similar to different shades. Farrow & Ball's 'Card Room Green' shade comes quite close, though it's a much more gray-green, with less of the blue undertones.

In terms of other paint brands, Behr's 'Hunter's Hollow' seems to be the best color match to 'Pigeon', though the most accurate way of determining this would be to use paint samples in your space. To help, I've added some side-by-side comparisons below.

Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' Complementary Colors

As a nearly-neutral, there are a range of colors that complement Farrow & Ball's 'Pigeon', says interior stylist Jane Lee. "Team with the lighter 'Slipper Satin' by Farrow & Ball, or if you're embracing the trend for brown color palettes, you can pair 'Pigeon' with 'Old White' and 'Salon Drab'," she adds.

Farrow & Ball's own Patrick O'Donnell says 'Pigeon' has "its own tonal family of 'Cromarty', 'Mizzle' and 'Blue Gray' but works beautifully with the 'Timeless Neutral family too, including 'School House White', 'Shadow White', 'Shaded White' and 'Drop Cloth'."

For something a bit different, Patrick says, "It also looks rather smart when teamed with the steel blue-gray of 'Inchyra Blue' on your trim, and pairs rather well with our archived 'Broccoli Brown'."

On their website, Farrow & Ball also suggest a few complementary color schemes for 'Pigeon' which include using 'Picture Gallery Red' as an accent color, with 'Dimpse' on your trims.

The Best Farrow & Ball 'Pigeon' Finishes

Farrow & Ball conveniently offer their 'Pigeon' shade in a range of different paint finishes, meaning you can find the perfect sheen to suit your specific project. Below, I've included a quick guide, but remember, there are no rules here, so mix and match as you please.

Walls, woodwork & metal: dead flat
Kitchen walls & ceilings: modern emulsion
Ceilings: estate emulsion
Bathroom walls & ceilings: modern emulsion
Interior woodwork: modern eggshell
Interior flooring: modern eggshell
Front door & woodwork: full gloss
Exterior metals: exterior eggshell
Exterior walls: exterior masonry
Traditional plasterwork: casein distemper
Intricate moldings: soft distemper

So there you have 'Pigeon' by Farrow & Ball, in all its green and gray and blue glory. It's easy to see why this muted yet complex color is one of the brand's most popular shades, working its way into any style and onto any surface.

Hopefully you now feel like you have a solid grasp on the color, and know how to pick the perfect finish, how to complement it, and use it creatively in your space. So, the next step is to get yourself a sample pot and start swatching.

Joa Studholme is color genius. I've interviewed her many times over the years, and on each occasion I've come away with a new perspective on palettes. She has the ability to suggest exactly how to use pairings you might never have thought of, in a way you might never have dared, but that thanks to her you feel confident will be perfect for the space.

As the mastermind behind so many of Farrow and Ball's iconic colors, Joa has been setting the color agenda for years. It was she who created classic tones like Stiffkey Blue, Sulking Room Pink, and of course Joa's White. They all became color trends in their own right, immediately influencing how we wanted to decorate our homes. Here I caught up with her to find out just how to to choose color now. 

how to use color at home for 2022

Pip Rich: Hi Joa, it’s been six months since you came to my house, bravely walked through all the builders’ dust, and advised me on color schemes. You gave me vision when I was lost in the mess of it all. Do people normally react with such excitement?

Joa Studholme: You certainly had a lot going on! But I was pleased to see you taking on a big project, I think everyone is being braver now, particularly in colors. Requests don’t tend to be about creating sanctuaries anymore, but instead style is about fun.I was thrilled to spot checks highlighted in Livingetc as a key interior design trend because I love them - use them on the floor, then take them all the way up the side of a bath. Be bold!

How to choose color for painted floors

PR: While you managed to convince my husband easily of your color ideas for our house, I tried to suggest a checkerboard floor for our wooden boards and he won’t go for it. What should I say to sway him?

JS: Painted floors are such a cheap solution, I’ve lived with them all my married life. They’re playful, they make you relax, a home that has them never seems formal. If that’s not enough, tell him they’re easy to do, and just need a little preparation. If doing a check, start with the lighter colour first.

How to choose color for a living room

PR: Much as I agree people want their homes to feel fun now, the vibe I’m seeing a lot is sophisticated cocktail lounge when it comes to living room ideas. What shades would you do for that?

JS: More than color, it’s finish. Go for gloss, always. It makes everything feel glamorous. Choose a bold shade like Stone Blue and gloss it over the walls and ceiling. 

How to choose color for a ceiling

PR: Speaking of ceilings, I was surprised you recommended Slipper Satin for most of mine, different from what you suggested on the walls. I was convinced you’d go up and over. Why did you do that?

JS: It was about the height. If you have low rooms, you should always use the same colour on the walls and ceiling so your eye can’t tell where the wall ends. You’re lucky enough to have tall spaces, so we could highlight them a bit more. 

PR: Well, I’m obsessed with the Jitney you suggested when we were discussing my dining room ideas. It’s smart but reminds me of a picnic blanket we had as a kid. There’s a comforting retro vibe to it.

JS: I always say the best colors are memories! It can be so overwhelming to look at colour charts, so pick shades that spark off a reminder of a happy time in your life.

How to pick the perfect white paint

PR: You once gave me great advice for interpreting the overwhelming whites on the Farrow and Ball color card when it comes to choosing the best white paint for interior walls. Simply put, you suggested blueish whites for cool, urban spaces, reddish whites for warmer urban spaces, green whites for cool country homes and yellow white for trad country vibes. Does that still stand?

JS: Yes it does! But since then, I’ve created a new collection of whites that are a very safe pair of hand for people to navigate, and should feel familiar and wonderful in any space. School House White, Shaded White, Shadow White and Dropcloth all have a stony base to them, and you just can’t use them wrongly.

The best color for the home in 2022

PR: And I have to ask, do you have a favourite color right now? Anything cropping up a lot in your kitchen color schemes, say?

JS: I can’t stop adding hits of color. Red doors, say, or covering radiators or window reveals in Harissa, a fiery orange from our archive. These details help to truly express a bit of personality, they’re so far from the greys we were all collectively into ten years ago. And I love them. I’ve said it before - be bold!

It's no secret that green paint has had its moment this year. Verdant hues have licked the most fashionable of schemes over recent seasons, but according to Farrow & Ball, its allure shows no signs of wavering. 

Their curator Joa Studholme has listed Farrow & Ball's Breakfast Room Green amongst the five significant shades predicted to top color trends for 2022. 

As the 'most cheerful' of the label's greens, Breakfast Room Green holds a fitting place alongside the folkloric shades that are designed to spark 'warmth and harmony' throughout your future interiors. 

But what makes Breakfast Room Green so exciting? Here is everything you need to know about the shade you're about to see everywhere. 

Aptly named in celebration of east-facing rooms designed for eating breakfast, this tone accentuates morning light to create an ambient dining space that (almost) makes it easier to get out of bed. 'When used alone on both walls and woodwork, it becomes incredibly striking,' the manufacturers suggest. 

However, perhaps Breakfast Room Green's biggest asset – aesthetics aside – is its versatility. This green can stand as an exclusive statement but is also designed to work alongside other shades, which Joa recommends. 

'Using one color on both walls and woodwork, such as lively Breakfast Room Green, can make a room look bigger by disguising the limits of the space. The bold use of this one color also creates an exceptional background for art, or for furniture which can be upcycled with a lick of Modern Eggshell.' 

With its size-enhancing qualities, Breakfast Room Green has reshaped our small living room ideas. But its glory doesn't stop there. Joa equally urges us to pair the color alongside the other four shades from the trends forecast. 

'The combination here of Breakfast Room Green and Stone Blue (above) feels both arresting and familiar,' explains Joa. 'While the chalky matt finish of our signature Estate Emulsion on the walls shows these colors at their very best as the light changes through the day.'

Similarly, Joa pairs its organic tones against School House White (below) to create a nostalgic space that feels both quintessential and retro. When Victorian allure meets 70's chic, it's an unexpected match made in color heaven. 

'There is something inherently human in the colors that we are attracted to for 2022,' Joa adds in her discussion of these futuristic painted wall ideas. 

Emerging from a turbulent era, she predicts our future schemes will draw from 'the modest character of the world of folk and craft' that allows us to inject mythical majesty into the everyday. We can think of no more stylish place to start than with this ever-popular hue. 

How do we like our eggs in the morning? With a side of Breakfast Room Green, of course. 

Nobody knows color quite like the undisputed queen of paint, Joa Studholme. As Farrow & Ball's top color curator Joa not only observes trends but creates them. So, when she sat down with Livingetc, we were naturally keen to discuss the future of the most aesthetic palette of them all – and discover the new neutral.  

Yes, while nobody knows color like Joa, nothing says chic like a stylish neutral hue that balances our schemes and forms our painted wall ideas. The shade in question was (at least until now) gray – whose subtle tones have blessed the trendiest of interiors – but the day of gray's reign may be numbered. 

Here, Joa reveals the color we need to keep at the forefront of our radar for the rest of 2021, and beyond.

'When it comes to new neutrals, I think that we will be looking at softer tones than the ubiquitous gray so popular over the last decade,' Joa declares. Instead, she suggests we look to a warmer, almost brown tone, such as Farrow & Ball's Jitney, to bless our walls for the rest of the season. 

'Jitney with its warm (but slightly gray!) base was created specifically to herald the renaissance of earthier tones in the home, and the rise in popularity of the stony tones of Shadow White shows that we want both softer woodwork and warmer walls,' she adds. 

In discussing neutral tones, Joa also discussed the organic palette surrounding Farrow & Ball's factory amid the rugged Dorset landscape. Secrets behind this beautiful headquarters will air across the UK tonight, July 8th, in Farrow and Ball: Inside the Posh Paint Factory. We already know we'll taking notes for our future modern living room ideas throughout. 

'Colours have been inspired by many places, including beautiful India and mysterious Morocco, but we always hold a great affection for the wonderful countryside surrounding our base in Dorset,' Joa says, before noting more neutral shades to remember. 

'Purbeck Stone was inspired by the wonderful Jurassic coast, as was Ammonite, while Wevet and Dimpse are both West Country dialects – the former for a spider's web and the latter for a twilight sky – both of which conjure up the colors perfectly,' she adds. 

Are these shades the future for our modern homes? If Joa says so, we simply have to agree. More about Farrow and Ball: Inside the Posh Paint Factory is available to watch here. 

Farrow & Ball paints have long been loved by both interior designers and home decor enthusiasts the world over. And while we may sarcastically question their... whimsical choice in paint names (Brocolli Brown, Dead Salmon, Elephant's Breath, need we go on?) there is no denying the quality, richness and complexity of the colors are hard to beat. 

And that, perhaps, is why certain shades earn almost a cult following. Appearing in every room on Instagram, gaining its own impressive hashtag and having writers dedicate whole articles to using this one popular hue. Down Pipe is one such shade.

As Kate Watson-Smyth, a.k.a writer and creator of Mad About The House, perfectly puts it, 'Downpipe has achieved cult status - like Madonna and Kylie you need only say its name for everyone to know instantly that you are talking about a particular shade of dark grey paint made by Farrow & Ball. No other description is necessary.'

• Feeling inspired already? Find more grey living room ideas in our gallery.

1. Use Down Pipe as backdrop for brighter colors

Dark greys like Down Pipe were made to mix with bright shades and they are the ideal backdrop for bold artwork, brightly colored furniture, or as can be seen here a way to make the walls in adjoining rooms pop. Even the more muted colors of the vintage artwork hung in this hallway seem more vivid against the deep lead grey of the walls. 

'Downpipe loves every other color on the spectrum and works beautifully in both natural and electric light, something you must always consider when choosing any color by the way.' advises Kate Watson-Smyth.

'It has a warm green undertone and loves to be paired with all the pinks, soft silvery greens and even neon. Slather it over your walls and watch your artwork pop out in a way it will never do against white.'

2. Soften it with beige hues

And if you prefer a softer, more subtle look you can easily tone down the drama of Down Pipe by pairing it with a warm beige tone. When sat next to straight-up white, it can look very dark and stark, but with a softer, creamier neutral shade like Stony Ground, it transforms into this warm, rich, rustic shade that feels much more liveable and works perfectly on kitchen cabinetry as can be seen here. 

3. Warm up Down Pipe with brown tones

If you plan on painting a room that doesn't get a ton of natural light with Down Pipe, then go for it, stronger greys work really well in darker space creating a more intimate, cozy feel. 

'The old adage is that you use a dark color in a light room 'because it can take it'. But why make a light room darker? We think dark colors actually work really well in darker spaces, like a north-facing room or a W/C. Instead of hiding a potentially negative feature you actually turn it into a positive and can add a real sense of coziness.' says Adele Lonergan Co-Founder & Creative Director of Covet & Noir.

However, you will want to consider how you will warm up the room as the blue undertones of Down Pipe do risk making a room, especially one that lacks natural light, feel cold. 

The solution is simple, add in some rich warms tones like terracotta or even browns. Furniture is an obvious way to do this, brown leather pieces or light orange-toned woods really tone down the cool tones of the paint, as you can see in this dining room. Those rich hues in the rug add extra warmth too, and Down Pipe just gives this quite traditional space a modern edge. 

4. Go all over for a dramatic look 

How gorgeous is this dark living room? Sometimes the best way to go with a dark grey, especially in smaller spaces is all over the, ceiling too if you want a really cocooning look. We know it's a truth universally acknowledge that lighter colors expand rooms but darker colors can do much the same as they blur the boundaries of the room and trick the eye into thinking the room goes on and on. 

'If you want to make it look really modern though you shouldn't pair Down Pipe with white which will be too high contrast.' recommends Kate Watson-Smyth. 'Paint the woodwork to match - this will make your walls look taller and your ceilings higher and use a soft barely-there pink on the ceiling. In the same way you don't wear a white top with everything in your wardrobe, don't default to white woodwork when you have spent so much time and money searching for the right color for your walls.'

5. Paint the floor with Down Pipe

And if all four walls and the ceiling is going to be too much, bring Down Pipe onto the floor. It is of course a practical choice for flooring and will hide any wear and tear but it also adds depth to a room without totally overwhelming the space or becoming the sole focal point. 

In this light-filled home office, it has been paired with Dimpse, the palest of greys on the walls, and All White on the skirting. The overall feel is fresh and bright, proving Down Pipe doesn't always have to bring the drama it's known for. 

6. Bring it onto one wall in the bedroom

Dark bedrooms always look so sophisticated and moody, and we love the enveloping feeling they can have, but if you're not ready to commit to going all over with a daringly deep hue, try a feature wall. We know they aren't the trend du jour they used to be, but there's still a place for feature walls, and for us, that's with bold deep shades. 

Down Pipe is used on the main wall in this bedroom, and yet the room feels in no way dark. It's light and open thanks to all those crisp whites and creams that seem to take the darkness of the shade.

As Charlotte Cosby, Farrow & Ball Head of Creative, explains, 'a deeper grey such as this is perfect for a room only used at night, it creates a space that feels both chic and tranquil and sits harmoniously with much lighter tones such as Blackened or Strong White.'

7. Embrace a dark space

Down Pipe is the perfect color for hallways, in fact, we see it in hallways more than any other room, because it works so well in small, light-starved rooms. In this space painting all the woodwork, as well as the walls, creates that optical allusion of the room being much larger and longer than it actually is. 

'When using a dark color like Downpipe it's important to commit! If you're using the color on your walls we always think it looks more premium to continue it onto the woodwork as well. Not only does this achieve a really impactful look, but it actually gives the illusion of a higher ceiling height, as you're not cutting the height of the all off with a white skirting board.' explains Adele Lonergan.

Anna Burles, Creative Director of Run For The Hills agrees; 'It’s a misnomer that dark colors make a room feel gloomy and smaller. They can do the complete opposite, making a room feel ultra-cozy, soft and expansive, by creating light and shade with the natural light coming into the space and the textures and tones of the furniture you pair with the wall, floor or ceiling color.  Moody paint shades shouldn’t just be for the bold and the brave, give them a try!'

8. Go for a clean contemporary feel

If you want a very clean and obvious contrast, pairing Down Pipe with a true white gives a very crisp look that works well with all styles in all sizes of room. Plus this simple scheme provides the ideal backdrop for adding more colors in the form of artwork and decor.

In this open-plan dining space, the reams of natural light turns Down Pipe almost into a blue Mid-grey rather than the inky charcoal seen in the other rooms, perfect for adding a touch of drama to a  room that sees a lot of use.

9. Layer up similar tones

For a really moody look layer up lots of smokey grey tones, using Down Pipe as a base and bring in lighter greys that have similar undertones. Here to adjoining rooms, one painted in Down Pipe and the other in a smokey green-grey, create a very atmospheric space.

10. Test out Down Pipe in your own space

Now before you go and start painting every wall in your home with Down Pipe, word of warning; what makes Farrow & Ball paints so beautiful and unique is that they shift. Because the paints are blended with rich pigments and light-reflecting titanium dioxide they change in different light and can also change depending on what colors you fill the room with too. 

So swatches are a must. Test out Down Pipe in your space and see how it changes throughout the day. How does it look in natural light? And in the evening when the artificial lights go on how does it change? Make sure you are happy with both before committing to painting any walls. 

'Before decorating a space, I always start by considering the natural light. In this case, it is really important to figure out whether the room is south-facing or north-facing. South-facing rooms tend to get a warmer light, which means some colors can show up a bit on the yellow side.' advises Kelly Wearstler  'To counteract this, I recommend using a dark colour with a cool base. Meanwhile, north-facing rooms are a lot darker. But, this doesn’t mean you can’t use a dark color for decorating! Dark colors are a great way to create a cozy space, just use a dark colour with a red base to add some warmth to the room.'

What colors go with Farrow & Ball Down Pipe?

Down Pipe is a really versatile deep grey and can pretty much handle any shade you throw at it. The white shade that's recommended by Farrow & Ball color specialist is Dimpse, which is very very very light grey, when paired with Down Pipe those grey tones do come out though. This can create a very cool space, which is totally fine if you are decorating a south-facing room, but for a room that lacks natural light, you may want to go with something warmer with a creamier undertone. 

'There are plenty of colors that work beautifully with deep greys; but it all comes down to the base behind the grey. For example, a deep grey with a red base pairs really well against warm shades such as the pink-hued Faded Terracotta paint in my California Collection with Farrow & Ball.' says Kelly Wearstler. 'Meanwhile, Down Pipe has a blue base, and so is nicely complimented by cooler shades, such as greens and blues. And of course, grey and yellow. This duo is a timeless reliable combination, with the brightness of the yellow bringing life to muted greys, whilst the grey quietens the potentially garishness in the yellow.'

Farrow & Ball has just launched nine new paint shades – the first new colours from the Dorsetbrand since 2016.

Unveiled during theLondon Design Festival, the 2018 shades includean exotic hot pink inspired by the Indian festival of colours, a denim blue, a sandy neutral, a soft off-white, an olive green, the richest red yet,anda green-grey that's sure to become a Farrow & Ball classic.

The nine new paints werecarefully chosen to rebalance the Farrow & Ball colour card – the new additions will replace nine existing shades to preserve the curated palette of 132 paint colours that’s become so synonymous with the brand.

The nine shades — either trend-led or updates on existing hits —are inspired by culture, history and heritage andadd depth and global influence to the English company's range.

There'sPreference Red (No. 297), a moody Baroque crimson that'sthe company's richest red yet andnamedafter Farrow & Ball’s original trade name, Preference Paints.

Then there'sPaean Black (No. 294) which isaGeorgian-inspired red-based black with hints of purple. The hue nodsto the colour of old leather hymnals which so oftenincluded a song of praise or paean,hence being named after a song of praise.

Inspired by the cloth of everyday workwear made in the French City of Nimes, the stately light blue De Nimes (No. 299) is a warm slate blue like the now ubiquitous workwear from the French city (from Nîmes = de Nîmes = denim). It's a wonderfully down to earth blue that's inspired by the cloth of everyday workwear.

A muted rose pink,Sulking Room Pink (No. 295) has asoft, powdery feel and evokes the colours often used in boudoirs, a room named after the French word bouder (to sulk).The shade is rich, complex, and borderline brooding, an A/W18 update on Millennial Pink.It makes a beautiful backdrop for living rooms.

A darker version of the archived colour Olive, Bancha (No. 298)takes its name from Japanese tea leaves andchannels a mid-century modern vibe. The hue is also meant to provide a feeling of security.

Named after the bright powder thrown during the Holi festival of colors in India, Rangwali (No. 296) is anexotic pink that'sequally saturated and joyful, and hasan absorbing depth of colour achieved by adding a small dose of black pigment.

The lightest in the Farrow & Ball group is the newly addedSchool House White (No.291) which is a warm andsoft off-white shade reminiscent of the colour used in old school houses.

Treron (No. 292) isa dark green version of Farrow & Ball’s classic Pigeon. Traditional in feel, it complements modern residences that make use of natural materials.

Finally,Jitney (No. 293) is arelaxed and sandy neutral that evokeslazy days by the sea. It's named after the bus that whisks New Yorkers to the similarly hued sandy beaches of the Hamptons.

The new paints will replace nine existing Farrow & Ball shades to retain the brand's signature 132-colour palette.

The shades being retired from the colour chart are: Clunch, Archive, Smoked Trout, Book Room Red, Yellow Cake, Ringwold Ground, Tunsgate Green, Drawing Room Blue and Black Blue. But ardent fans don't despair they'll still be available to buy from the archive collection.

The richly-pigmented colours are designed to sit well alone or as part of a carefully considered complementary colour scheme. They also respond brilliantly to varying light conditions, making them a longstanding favourite of interior designers.

Like the existing shades, the new collection will be low-odor, eco-friendly, and available in a range of high-performance finishes.

Paintbrushes at the ready...

On sale in shops and online from today, £45 for 2.5 litres of paint.