Farrow and Ball - Hype? BS? Worth It?

[Anonymous]

Our neighbor raved about the quality of the paint. I see that anthropologie carries it which made me even more suspicious of the inflated cost.

We have been happy with ben moore aura paint for years. Please put your best arguements for Farrow and Ball forward - why is it so great? Or just marketing BS that drives up the price?

[Anonymous]

I think it’s nice paint but not THAT nice

[Anonymous]

If you want, do a blind test. Buy sample cans and have someone else paint them.

I can’t tell.

[Anonymous]

It is a very aspirational paint. Certainly not for everyone. But it has a rich British pedigree that bespeaks understated quality and craftsmanship.

It sounds like it may not be for you, and that’s ok. You might feel more at home in Lowes or Home Depot.

[Anonymous]

We used Farrow and Ball and Benjamin Moore, also Sherwood Williams. Honestly I cannot tell any difference. And after few years, you will repaint your place anyway, because you want to redecorate. I stick to Benjamin Moore or Sherwood Williams.

[Anonymous]

Benjamin Moore lover here.

[Anonymous]

I used it on my shutters. I love the color and only needed one can, so I think it was worth it. I probably wouldn’t do my whole house with it, but for a single room or single item in a color I loved, I’d do it.

[Anonymous]

https://vimeo.com/458066350

[Anonymous]

I bought the paint deck and select kah-looors (!!) from it. The palette has served me well over the years.

We use Sherwin Williams usually out of preference - they’ll match it. But we’ve also just bought Home Depot paint in a pinch. I’m sure there’s some differentiation in color saturation between Home Depot and sherwin Williams and by extension Farrow and Ball… but an extra coat on the wall plus primer if needed and it gets you 95% of the way there. Not worth the extra cost.

[Anonymous]

F&B colors can be closely matched by Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. Some people like the F&B palette of colors which is a personal preference thing.

The F&B paint itself is not better than SW or Benjamin Moore paint. It does not last longer. It is not easier to cleanup. It is not bad paint, but it also is not better paint.

[Anonymous]

I did my entire house with their paints. No regrets. It really looks luxe and all of our guests compliment the color and how the light plays off walls.

[Anonymous]

Unique colors, depth of color. Matches by BM, SW, etc. usually are not great. If you don’t “need” a specific shade then feel free to find similar in a cheaper brand. With F&B they have a specific undercoat that affects the appearance

[Anonymous]

I liked the colors and as for the expense, I’m not painting my house every year so I didn’t mind.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! This is very helpful. It’s important to know when it’s worth paying for quality. There are a few voices here that suggest that, but not enough to tip me toward it. The comment about Home Depot and Lowe’s says more about the poster than the subject.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s more about the depth and complexity of colors. In the same way wine has “notes,” colors can be straightforward or have more undertones. I believe F&B as a rule has more many undertones than Sherwin Williams (BM is in between). This can make the paint look more interesting, especially if you are someone who “sees” undertones. But it also makes the color less predictable — different times of day, different seasons, different colors in the room, can bring out different things in F&B. By contrast, sherwin williams, with fewer undertones, will usually stay that color.

I personally love colors with lots undertones, (it makes the right color sing) but the greater nuance does it harder to just pick a color and be done. (This is the kind of things designers get super into and are helpful with, but for those of us who are doing it on our own, it can get overwhelming fast)