Farrow and Ball Colour Trends for 2026

Farrow and Ball Colour Trends for 2026

Farrow and Ball remains the benchmark reference in the premium end of the London decorating market. Its palette of around 150 colours defines the visual language of a particular kind of refined British interior -- one that is aware of history without being enslaved to it -- and the shifts in which colours are most requested tell us a great deal about how taste in London homes is evolving.

This piece draws on our experience specifying and applying Farrow and Ball across a wide range of London properties throughout 2025 and into 2026.

The Direction of Travel: Away from White and Grey

The dominant trend of the past decade in London interiors -- a relentless march towards white walls and grey woodwork, punctuated by the odd statement navy or forest green -- is showing clear signs of reversal. The appetite for colour is back. Not bold for the sake of bold, but considered, deeply pigmented colours applied with confidence across large areas.

The shift began in earnest around 2023 and has been accelerating. Where we were previously asked to apply five different shades of off-white across a house, we are now more frequently given briefs that involve genuine colour: deep earthy tones in reception rooms, warm terracotta or ochre in kitchens, and the occasional bold green in a snug or study.

Warm Neutrals Replacing Cold Whites

Within the Farrow and Ball range, the warm neutrals have seen resurgent interest in 2025 and 2026 after years of the colder off-whites dominating. Colours in the Stone, Dead Salmon, and String family -- those with warmth from underlying yellow and red pigments rather than the blue-leaning whites -- are being specified with increasing frequency.

String (No. 8) has re-emerged as a hallway and staircase colour of choice, particularly in Victorian and Edwardian properties in south and west London. Its warmth works well on plaster walls with original cornicing, and it handles the typically limited natural light of a London corridor without feeling oppressive.

Elephant's Breath (No. 229) continues its long run as a living room workhorse, but increasingly paired with richer colours in adjacent rooms rather than used throughout a property as a single neutral scheme.

Joa's White (No. 226) has become a favourite for open-plan kitchen-dining spaces where a bright but not clinical white is needed. It has just enough warmth to prevent the space from feeling cold under the north or east-facing aspect common in London terrace rear extensions.

Deep Tones: The Colours Designers Are Specifying

The bolder end of the Farrow and Ball range is seeing its strongest period of interest in years.

Inchyra Blue (No. 289) has become the most frequently specified colour in our experience for studies, home offices, and library-style rooms in period London properties. It is a deep, greyed-down teal that reads differently depending on the light -- cooler and almost smoky in the evening, greener by day in a south-facing room.

Preference Red (No. 297) has had a notable moment in dining rooms and entrance halls in the more architecturally confident parts of west London. It is demanding to live with and not suitable for every property or client, but when it works -- in a room with high ceilings, good natural light, and strong architectural detailing -- it is exceptional.

Green Smoke (No. 47) remains the most requested green across all our projects, maintaining a position it has held for several years. Its grey-green character makes it versatile enough to work in both period and contemporary properties and in both urban light conditions and the brighter light of properties with unobstructed gardens.

Mole's Breath (No. 276) has become the definitive London bedroom colour for clients who want something other than off-white but are not ready for strong colour. It is a greyed-down mid-taupe with a slightly cool bias that photographs well and, more importantly, creates a genuinely calming atmosphere in a sleeping room.

Woodwork Trends: Beyond Wimborne White

Wimborne White remains the most specified woodwork colour in the Farrow and Ball range and is unlikely to be displaced. Its warmth and slight creaminess work with the majority of wall colours and complement the natural grain colour of painted timber joinery.

However, we are increasingly asked to use Pointing (No. 2003) as an alternative woodwork colour in rooms with warmer wall tones. It is slightly softer and less bright than Wimborne White and works particularly well in rooms painted in earthy or terracotta-adjacent colours.

The trend for dark woodwork -- Off-Black, Railings, and similar deep shades on doors, skirtings, and architraves -- continues in certain property types, particularly contemporary new-builds and heavily renovated properties where a strong graphic contrast is part of the design language. It requires confidence in execution and good quality eggshell to achieve the right depth of finish.

Application: What You Need to Know

Farrow and Ball paints behave differently from standard trade emulsions. They are more heavily pigmented and have a different open time and working quality. Applied too thickly, they can be prone to lap marks and uneven sheen. Applied correctly with the right roller specification and in suitable conditions, they produce a finish that is simply not achievable with commodity emulsions.

The preparation requirements are the same or higher than for standard emulsions: surface quality is more visible under a full-pigment finish than under a pale trade colour. It is not the paint for an under-prepared surface.

We have applied Farrow and Ball finishes across hundreds of London properties and are happy to advise on colour selection, specification, and what to expect from these products in your particular space.