Farrow & Ball undercoat - I don't really need it do I?

[OttersPocket]

I'm just about to paint a small bedroom for use as a nursery when my first child is born in August. I've chosen Farrow & Ball's Pale Powder but all the blurb tells me I should use one of their undercoat paints (White and Light undertones). The walls currently have Dulux Timeless (a cream colour on them), do I really need to use it or can I just paint directly onto the walls sans undercoat? It won't make that much difference will it? Please give me permission not to spend more £££s than really needed!

[Millymollymama]

I would have thought you could get away with it but be prepared for 2 coats if the creamier shade shows through. I love your choice! One of my favourites.

[OttersPocket]

Thanks! It's a North facing bedroom so I hope that it look okay. I love the colour but I'm terrible visualising entire rooms in it!

[JennyWreny]

Quote from the assistant in the F&B show room the other day "You only need undercoat on the walls if you are making a significant colour change."

Pale powder is a lovely colour, have you noticed how it's sometimes definitely blue and sometimes definitely green, depending on what you put beside it! I would definitely recommend 2 coats though.

[JennyWreny]

From the F&B website -

FOR PRE-PAINTED, NON-POROUS WALLS & CEILINGS:

If making a significant colour change then apply one full coat of Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat in the correct colour tone for your topcoat.

[Waterandtea]

Pale powder is lovely :-) one of my favourite F&B colours, I have it in a north facing room and it works well. I've never used the undercoat but I always use two coats anyway as it gives a much better colour