Whether it's a feature wall, a ceiling or a worn out furniture piece, discover how to paint your home like a pro with our Farrow and Ball painting tips and tricks.
Here at PB HQ, we love Farrow & Ball. And when it comes to painting, we wouldn't dare use anything else. In fact, we even use No.275 Purbeck Stone and No.5 Hardwick White on the walls of our showroom in Tewkesbury.
The beauty of Farrow & Ball is found not only in their extensive palette of colours but in their responsiveness to all kinds of light. The paint is carefully blended with a complex balance of hues and rich pigments, meaning that different undertones will be highlighted depending on the time of day. Every colour will hint more prominently to one shade in the morning than it will in the evening, while always remaining true to itself.
How to Paint Your Home Like A Pro
Before You Begin...
Once you have chosen the look that you’re going for, it’s time to think about how you might make your vision become a reality! There are a number of things to to consider when deciding how to paint a house interior. How much paint will you need? What will the colours look like once they’re painted on the wall? How will natural and artificial light impact your overall look?
Natural Light vs. Artificial Light
How Light Affects Paint Colour
Hand-blended from a complex palette of rich pigments, F&B paints respond beautifully to light, offering a slight variation in undertones throughout the different hours of the day. For this reason, it’s important that you test your desired paint with a sample pot before you decorate to avoid disappointment. North, south, east and west-facing rooms all bring different light, resulting in variations in paint colour throughout the day.
North vs. South
How to Brighten a North Facing Room
The natural light from the north is both cooler and harsher and so brings out the cooler tones in a paint. For this reason, it’s best to decide on one of two ways to go with a north-facing interior: intimate or warm. Choosing darker shades embraces the cooler light, creating a dramatic and cosy look. Meanwhile, softer yellow-based tones bring brightness to a space, bouncing light around the room.
Best Paint Colours for South Facing Rooms
South-facing rooms are one of the easiest rooms to paint. On sunny days, they are filled with warm light, meaning that any shade you choose will look great no matter the time of day. To maximise the feeling of light and space, choose soft, pale tones. However, any one of Farrow & Ball’s paint colours will go down a treat!
East vs. West
Best Paint Colours for East Facing Rooms
To make the most out of natural light, consider here whether you’ll use an east-facing interior in the morning or the afternoon. East-facing rooms see bright light in the morning, followed by cooler light in the afternoon. Use light blue or green paints to retain some warmth, making for a soft and calming effect during the evening.
Best Paint Colours for West Facing Rooms
West-facing interiors are the opposite; cool in the morning, followed by bright light in the afternoon. Carefully consider the colours you choose for your walls in west-facing rooms in order to maximise on atmospheric ambience. Warm paint colours such as light pink tones embrace the warmth of afternoon light. Meanwhile, the coolness of off-white shades neutralise the warmer light later in the day.
How Much Paint Do I Need to Paint a Room?
How to Calculate How Much Paint You Need
There’s nothing worse than not quite having enough paint... other than having too much left-over paint! Be eco-conscious and ensure that you aren't overspending by estimating the amount of paint you will need using Farrow & Ball's Paint Calculator below:
Farrow & Ball Paint Finishes Explained
A Breakdown of F&B's Most Popular Finishes: From Estate Emulsion to Modern Eggshell
By this point, you should be starting to get an idea on how to paint your home like a pro. Importantly, the next thing to choose is how you would like your completed interior to look. Whether you’re seeking a glorious gloss or a more muted matt, Farrow and Ball offer a range of paint finishes to suit any look you desire.
For Interior Walls & Ceilings
Estate Emulsion: An All-Rounder
Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion gives a matt, chalky finish with a mere 2% sheen – ideal for that no-fuss, blend-in look. It's F&B's signature finish for interior walls. It is wipeable but not washable.
Modern Emulsion: Perfect for Bathrooms & Kitchens
For slightly more impact, try Modern Emulsion. This 7% sheen, matt finish is both washable and mould resistant which makes it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
For Interior Wood & Metal
Estate Eggshell: Low Shine Satin Finish
To highlight the fun features and charming character of your home, wood and metal require something a little more statement. Farrow and Ball Estate Eggshell gives a low-shine, silky satin finish with a 20% sheen. It is durable, wipeable and easy to clean.
Modern Eggshell: Mid Shine Satin Finish
For a mid-shine finish, choose Modern Eggshell. This is Farrow and Ball's toughest satin finish for interior wood and metal - so much so that it can be used on floors and concrete too. The 40% mid-sheen is washable and wipeable, making staircases, kitchen cabinets, skirting and radiators pop.
Full Gloss: High Shine Satin Finish
Exactly as it sounds, Full Gloss is Farrow and Ball's highest-shine finish. It gives a 95% sheen that brings a touch of glamour to your home. Washable and wipeable, it is resistant to water, flaking and peeling, making it suitable for exterior wood and metal as well as interior.
For Exteriors
Exterior Eggshell: For Outdoor Wood & Metal
Suitable for use outdoors, F&B's Exterior Eggshell is a low-shine, satin finish with a 20% sheen. It is water-resistant, breathable and contains added preservatives to help prevent the growth of algae and fungi. For a high-shine finish, use Full Gloss instead.
Exterior Masonry: For Outdoor Brick, Render & Concrete Walls
Resistant to fading, flaking and peeling for up to 15 years, Farrow and Ball Exterior Masonry gives a 2% sheen, super-matt finish for outdoor walls. It is long-lasting and water-resistant, while offering protection from fungi and algae.
Specialist Finishes
For older properties with historic features, F&B provide a range of specialist finishes. These are for surfaces such as plaster and stone. They are specially blended to ensure that surfaces are treated with care, while drawing attention to beautiful features of your home.
Dead Flat: For Interior Woodwork, Plaster & Metal
Farrow and Ball's Dead Flat finish is designed to draw interest to particular features of your home. This delicate coating has a very flat matt finish with a mere 2% sheen. To give a true character, Dead Flat is blended with a resin that recreates the look of an 18th century paint finish.
Limewash: For Stone Walls
Limewash is a very flat matt finish with a 2% sheen suitable for solid stone exterior walls, interior walls and ceilings. It is particularly suited to outdoor use as it bonds to the building, protecting your home from the elements. F&B recommend professional application for Limewash.
Casein Distemper: For Plaster
Like Dead Flat, Farrow and Ball Casein Distemper gives a very flat matt finish with a 2% sheen. However, it is more breathable making it perfect for plaster walls and ceilings.
Soft Distemper: For Detailed Plasterwork
Soft Distemper is designed for delicate interior plasterwork. It gives a soft and powdery finish that is very matt with a 2% sheen. It is easy to remove thanks to its blend of natural resin and minerals, allowing intricate detail to be preserved on mouldings.
How to Prep Walls for Painting
Carefully Prepare Your Painting Surface to Achieve a Perfect Finish
Before you begin painting, it's important to prepare you surface correctly. And while you are likely eager to get started, it's important not to skip the preparation step! Taking the time to prepare your surface is essential for a quality and long-lasting finish. From interior walls to exterior metalwork - different materials require different types of preparation. Follow the links below to read F&B's helpful guidelines for preparing your painting surface correctly:
Interior Painting Exterior Painting
Use an Undercoat/Primer
As part of your painting prep, it is recommended to use a primer or undercoat. These create an even surface for painting to give a perfect finish. Better still, using a primer can sometimes reduce the number of coats needed for sufficient coverage! But which undercoat do you need? Fortunately, the answer is easy. Simply read the description of your desired paint colour to find out the recommended primer. Head over to our undercoats and primers page and select the type of surface you are painting. Then simply add the recommended tone in the tin size that you need to your basket.
What is the Best Type of Paint Brush to Use?
Should I Use a Paint Brush or a Roller?
Farrow & Ball’s brushes and rollers are made to work seamlessly alongside their paints. That's why we suggest always purchasing an appropriate F&B brush to apply your paint with. These wall painting tools make applying paint quick and easy.
Paint Brushes
F&B brushes are made from 100% synthetic bristles that give a smooth, seamless paint finish. Straight, standard brushes are great for interior walls and ceilings, while angled brushes are ideal for cutting in paint around window frames, trims and doors. For F&B's Exterior Masonry finish, they provide a chunkier, heavy-duty brush that is more suited to the varying textures of exterior stone and brickwork.
Paint Rollers
To ensure a smooth finish, we'd recommend the F&B roller as one of the best. It is made using a woven medium pile that enables fast coverage with reduced splattering and stippling. Use the roller with Estate and Modern Emulsion interior finishes for quick and easy coverage.
Prep & Planning Complete...
You're Ready to Paint
With all the necessary instruments, tools and paint tins, you are now ready to begin your interior renovation! Having done your research, thoroughly prepared and appropriately primed your surface, you can now begin decorating with the confidence that you know how to paint your home like a pro.