Farrow and Ball paint

[Seventygood]

£50 a tub when you can get similar colours Dulux and shops own brands for a fraction of the price. What's the big deal? Really struggling to justify it

It depends on whether you want the colours or the finish? If you just like their colours then go to a Johnstones and they’ll mix a F&B colour in their own emulsion for about a third of the price. If you want the chalky finish of F&B then yes, it’s worth it.

I used to think people who used farrow and ball were middle class wankers

But now I wouldn't use anything else 🙈

For me there is just something about the depth of colour and texture
I love it and am a proud f&b wanker

I would like to use other paints, but I just went through 8 different testers for a pink for my daughter’s room and the F&B was definitely the winner.

I love the colours. I just get it copied.

It's not just about the colour it's the finish that's different. Would use copies in spare rooms,studies etc but the main rooms I think it's worth paying

Most b&qs will have the colours stored in their own range

I'm afraid their colours just are a little bit more thoughtful than a lot of the regular brands. Alternatives are Craig and Rose, Little Green and Colour Courage (this one was actually amazing - covered a black wall with light green in one coat. Unheard of.

Higher/better quality of pigment.

A colour match F&B won't be the same colour, it will be similar but it won't have the depth.

We have an old property and I wouldn't use Dulux on the walls as it doesn't suit.

I never use anything else. It's streets ahead of other paint. The coverage and colour is amazing. I have never had to use more than two coats on any surface so it usually ends up much cheaper than other brands which need 2 or 4 coats.
I've learnt my lesson with paint. Go for the best if you want great results.
I only use the modern emulsion though as the other types are more for professional decorators. Modern emulsion is washable too.
I used the gloss on some nasty dark brown 80s woodwork and after just two coats it looks amazing when other paints just slough off.

In the context of what a house and furniture costs, even the most expensive paint seems a very small part of the budget.

We have mostly F&B and it’s because it seems to have a more lively quality to it than most dulux paint. It changes Depending on the light. My husband does all the decorating and he doesn’t want to buy anything else now.

If you have a period property I'd go for breathable paints like Earthborn, F&B or Little Greene. These paints are clay based and will allow the lime plaster and mortar in period houses to breathe.

Most paints such as Dulux, Valspar etc are plastic based paints that will stop the walls of old houses from 'breathing'.

Condensation and rain can get trapped in houses if the incorrect materials are used e.g. Cement mortar, gypsum plaster and plastic paints.

If your house is a newer build then it's less of an issue but for any house pre 1960s I'd definitely invest in the clay based paints - it's not always just about the colour.

It doesn't discolour over time in the way cheaper paints do.

However, the water based gloss is completely crap and I am never using it again.

It’s the chalky finish. I don’t use anything else.

I once had it ‘mixed’ in a paint shop to create a F&B colour for DC’s room. The colour was nothing like the original and there was no depth to it. The mixed paint looked so flat.

F&B is not hard wearing though which means frequent touch ups are needed.

If you are employing a decorator just check that they will work with F&B, some hate it 🤷‍♀️

2 for £70 @ Homebase this weekend!

The finish is easy to replicate and the depth of colour. You need to go for matt washable, go to a Dulux mixing centre, and have the colour made up, it’s identical and a fraction of the price.

I wasn’t trying to replicate it, but had some of the matt washable made up and both by decorators said unprompted it was identical to F&b they’d never seen anything so close in finish and how it goes on. I’ve also used f&b and can also say I agreed with them. It is the creamy chalky finish, colour matching to the colour you want has the depth, and Dulux matt washable bizarrely is identical.

Never use anything else. Nothing matches the depth of colour or most importantly how the colour changes as the light does. Our whole house is F&B. I love it.

But it doesn't suit everyone.....

One of my father in law’s favourite expressions was ‘buy cheap, buy twice’!

That applies to paint in this instance

I regret the one room we didn't use F&B for. We even used it for the whole hall/landing/stairs, having sworn we wouldn't, to save money.

dog shit - just a brand

Disclaimer: I love it and totally think it's worth it. But this is hilarious!

@Orangesarenottheonlyfruit we have been laughing at that for ages. We even call it "primeur" now too

@francienolan yes! We shriek "don't touch the wall" at the kids. It's brilliant isn't it?

Loved that clip! Thank you all. Still not convinced re the paint though. I'll maybe try a small room first then report back!