Farrow & Ball Paint
Farrow & Ball paint is a popular choice among some of the UK's leading interior designers, DIYers and trade professionals. Expertly crafted with the finest ingredients, these eco-friendly formulations deliver rich, deep colours and exceptional depth.
As official Farrow & Ball stockists, The Paint Shed supplies a comprehensive range of best-selling products, such as:
Discover our premium selection of Farrow & Ball trade paint at The Paint Shed. Shop online or visit us in-store with Click & Collect and next-day delivery options available.
Farrow & Ball offers an iconic range of highly pigmented paints that’s popular among professional painters and decorators. Developed in 1946 from a passion for rich colours and chemistry, this Dorset-based brand is known for its chalky matt finish and nuanced colour palette.
Many of its iconic paint colours take their names from historic places, architectural features, landscapes and objects that inspired the shade. These distinctive monikers have become a recognisable part of the brand's identity.
Expert Decorator Insight
What distinguishes Farrow & Ball from other premium paint brands on the market?
For me, it's all about the depth of colour. A lot of the Farrow & Ball colours are metameric, which means they can look different under different lighting and at different times of the day. You can often pick up subtle undertones that look exquisite.
— Mike Cupit, professional decorator and founder of The Decorators Forum UK
Whether you’re refreshing a single room or taking on a large-scale commercial project, Farrow & Ball offers a wide variety of quick-drying finishes in signature shades to complement both traditional and modern spaces.
Water-Based, Eco-Friendly Paint
Farrow & Ball is a certified B Corp, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices, sustainability and environmental performance.
Most paints are produced with an eco-friendly water base with minimal VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making them low-odour and safe for indoor use. Farrow & Ball paints are made using responsibly sourced ingredients and packaged in recyclable tins to reduce their environmental impact.
Washable & Wipeable Interior Finishes
Many Farrow & Ball interior paints, including Flat Eggshell, Modern Emulsion, Modern Eggshell, and Full Gloss, are scuff-resistant and easy to clean, making them perfect for high-traffic areas. Note that Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion is wipeable but not washable.
Resilient Exterior Paints
Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell and Exterior Masonry paints are designed to withstand rain, UV exposure and changing weather conditions, making them suitable for outdoor wood, masonry and metal surfaces. Farrow & Ball Full Gloss offers up to 6 years of water-resistant protection.
Breathable Finishes
Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell and Exterior Masonry paints are formulated to be breathable, allowing moisture to escape and preventing mould build-up. This breathability helps reduce blistering, flaking and trapped moisture in older properties.
130+ Signature Designer Colours
Farrow & Ball paint is available in over 130 colours, ranging from soft neutrals to bold accent colours. We also stock Farrow & Ball sample pots so you can test how various colours perform in your space before choosing your final shade.
Take the guesswork out of finding your perfect Farrow & Ball colour using our Paint Colour Finder.
Expertly formulated to work across walls, woodwork and exterior surfaces, the Farrow & Ball range delivers a clean, professional result.
Finish | Sheen Level | Best For | Washable | Interior/ Exterior |
Estate Emulsion | 2% | Walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms | Wipeable | Interior |
Modern Emulsion | 7% | Kitchens, hallways, bathrooms | Yes | Interior |
Dead Flat | 2% | Trim, doors, skirting, radiators | Yes | Interior |
Flat Eggshell | 20% | Woodwork, walls and ceilings | Yes | Interior |
Modern Eggshell | 40% | Floors, stairs, and kitchen cabinets | Yes | Interior |
Full Gloss | 95% | Doors, trim, metalwork | Yes | Both |
Exterior Eggshell | 20% | Exterior wood and metal | Yes | Exterior |
Exterior Masonry | Matt | Brick, render and concrete | Yes | Exterior |
Here’s what you can expect from our range.
Farrow & Ball Dead Flat
Farrow & Ball Dead Flat is a highly versatile, multi-surface matt finish that delivers exceptional coverage and resilience. Its scrubbable, scuff-resistant formula provides a flat matt finish that works well in busy homes and commercial interiors.
Farrow & Ball Casein Distemper
Farrow & Ball Casein Distemper is a super flat, chalky paint formulated to produce a breathable, microporous finish. This permeable coating is well-suited to walls and ceilings in humidity-prone areas, where breathability helps manage moisture and prevent trapped dampness.
Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell
Replacing the former Estate Eggshell finish, Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell is a soft-matt interior paint with a durable, low-sheen finish. Its scuff-resistant, washable formula makes it a great option for walls, ceilings and woodwork. The product features a chalky look and feel that adds depth while maintaining a refined, classic appearance.
Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell
Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell is a highly versatile, mid-sheen paint suitable for interior woodwork, kitchen cabinets, floors, stairs and metal surfaces. This scrubbable, scuff-resistant paint features a 40% sheen, making it a slightly glossier alternative to the Estate Eggshell.
Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell
Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell features a breathable, long-lasting finish that’s suitable for outdoor woodwork and metal surfaces. Touch-dry in just two hours, this water- and mould-resistant paint is formulated to withstand the elements while providing additional protection against fungi and algae.
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion is a scrubbable, mould-resistant matt coating that’s perfect for mess-prone, high-traffic areas like kitchens, hallways and dining rooms. Its quick-drying, low-odour formulation is suitable for interior walls and ceilings.
Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion
Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion provides a chalky matt finish that adds stunning colour and depth to any room. Suitable for walls and ceilings in low-traffic areas, this paint helps minimise minor imperfections for a clean, refined look.
Farrow & Ball Full Gloss
Farrow & Ball Full Gloss is a highly resilient, high-sheen paint that’s suitable for interior and exterior use. This paint offers an incredibly durable finish for front doors, metal railings and trims. It won't fade, crack, peel or flake, delivering up to six years of long-lasting performance.
Farrow & Ball Exterior Masonry
Farrow & Ball Exterior Masonry is the ideal solution for exterior brick, render and concrete surfaces. Its breathable, water-resistant finish offers up to 15 years of protection against peeling, flaking or fading.
Farrow & Ball Primers & Undercoats
Primers and undercoats improve topcoat adhesion by providing a high-quality, stable foundation. Farrow & Ball offers a versatile collection of primers and undercoats, including:
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Wood Primer and Undercoat: A water-based primer that provides a stable, durable base and smooth adhesion for interior and exterior woodwork
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Wall and Ceiling Primer and Undercoat: A low-odour primer that provides an even base for interior walls and ceilings, while enhancing coverage for excellent opacity and depth
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Metal Primer and Undercoat: A durable, rust-resistant primer for preparing metal surfaces for high-gloss or eggshell finishes
Made with high-quality ingredients, these primers help you achieve superior coverage and a smooth finish.
We offer 100ml Farrow & Ball Sample Pots in the Estate Emulsion formula to make your colour choice easier. We recommend buying three or four colours to compare the shades at different points throughout the day before you opt for your larger tin.
Unsure which formula is best suited to your project? Check out our full guide to Farrow & Ball finishes or contact our friendly team.
FAQs
The key difference between Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion and Modern Emulsion is:
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Estate Emulsion provides a classic chalky matt finish that is wipeable but not washable
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Matt Modern Emulsion is washable, scuff- and stain-resistant with added protection against mould, making it the more durable choice
When paired with the appropriate primer and undercoat, most finishes only require two topcoats. Switching from a high-contrast colour might require an additional undercoat layer to achieve full coverage and ensure durability.
Yes, popular options like Exterior Masonry and Exterior Eggshell perform particularly well in traditional buildings. They provide a breathable, mould-resistant finish that helps maintain their durability and are available in many period-appropriate designer shades.
Both Farrow & Ball eggshell finishes are durable, washable and suitable for interior woodwork, but they are designed for slightly different applications and create different looks.
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Flat Eggshell (formerly Estate Eggshell) has a subtle 20% sheen, creating a softer, more understated finish for interior wood, metal, furniture, skirting boards and kitchen cupboards. Flat Eggshell is often chosen where a traditional, low-sheen style is preferred.
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Modern Eggshell has a higher 40% sheen, giving surfaces a more reflective appearance while offering enhanced durability. Modern Eggshell is specifically designed for floors, stairs and other high-traffic interior surfaces that require greater resistance to scuffs, scratches and wear.
If you're choosing between the two, Flat Eggshell is typically best for woodwork, furniture and cabinetry, while Modern Eggshell is the better option for floors and other heavily used areas.
Read our blog on the differences between these eggshell finishes for more information.
Farrow & Ball colours are highly sought after. With over 130 colours to choose from, choosing your perfect paint colour can be a challenge.
We have shortlisted our top 10 most popular Farrow & Ball colours:
Other popular colours include:
Natural light can significantly affect how Farrow & Ball colours appear. Thanks to their rich pigments, many shades reveal different depths and undertones as light changes throughout the day.
If you're decorating a space in the northern hemisphere, consider the room's orientation:
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North-facing rooms receive cooler light, which can emphasise blue, grey or green undertones. Warmer neutrals and richer shades can help create a balanced, inviting style.
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East-facing rooms enjoy bright morning sunlight before becoming cooler later in the day. Soft neutrals and calming colours often complement this changing light.
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West-facing rooms feel cooler in the morning and warmer in the afternoon and evening, so choose a colour that suits your preferred style at different times of day.
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South-facing rooms benefit from warm, consistent light throughout the day, making them suitable for both pale colours and deeper statement shades.
Whether you're painting walls, furniture or kitchen cupboards, it's always worth testing a Farrow & Ball sample in your space to see how the colour responds to natural and artificial light before making your final choice.
Find the perfect shade for your next project with the premium-quality Farrow & Ball Paint range from The Paint Shed. Get in touch with our experienced team to help you choose the right products for your needs.
Shop Farrow & Ball Paints at The Paint Shed
At The Paint Shed, we pride ourselves on being the UK’s most recommended independent paint retailer. Trusted by professionals and DIY decorators since 1992, we’re on a mission to make buying trade and designer paint easier, quicker, fairer and simpler for everyone.
As trusted Farrow & Ball suppliers, we’re proud to offer this iconic, design-led range at competitive prices. Whether you're refreshing your home or working on a large-scale project, we make it easy to get the perfect finish with:
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Free standard delivery on UK mainland orders over £50*
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Expert colour advice and personalised recommendations from our friendly team
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A wide selection of Farrow & Ball shades and finishes is in stock and ready to dispatch
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Quality paint tools and accessories
* Delivery fees and additional timescales apply for deliveries to the Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly and remote mainland areas.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore other premium brands we stock, including Little Greene, Benjamin Moore and Dulux Heritage.
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