Farrow & Ball Color Matching: A Complete Guide

Paint color dupes, color matches, & more…

Have you fallen in love with a Farrow and Ball paint color? It’s easy to do. Do you want to learn how to color-match it to your favorite brand, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered, literally AND figuratively, in paint. 

There are several reasons you might color-match a Farrow and Ball color to Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams paints (or another popular brand). However, here’s the most important one…

• Sherwin Williams has 4029 stores in the USA, 252 in Canada
• Benjamin Moore has 7509 stores in the USA, 607 in Canada
• Farrow & Ball has 63 showrooms across Canada, the USA, and the UK…total (along with 1500 or so third-party operators).

Shlong story short, Farrow and Ball paint and employee expertise are hard to come by. 

This said, some of their paint colors are beyond stunning. What they lack in options, they make up for in sheer color glory.

To get you your favorite Farrow & Ball paint colors (one way or another), we’re covering three main topics…

1. Can you perfectly color-match Farrow & Ball colors—100%?
2. HOW TO color-match Farrow and Ball colors.
3. COLOR DUPES for Farrow and Ball colors from Benjamin Moore &, Sherwin Williams, and a few other brands.

Starting with topic #1…

1. CAN YOU COLOR-MATCH FARROW & BALL PAINT COLORS INTO OTHER BRANDS?

Color MATCH? No. Color pretty darn close? You bet. Here are a few reasons why a 100% match isn’t possible. I’ll baby bird it to you…

• Paint brands use different bases to make their paints, including tints and colorants.
• Some paint brands use different ingredients, including amounts of resins vs. tints vs. other ingredients.
• Paint brand SHEENS are different, and the sheen of a color can affect how you see it. 

Whether they’re eyeballlin’ it or doing a computerized match, it all means you won’t get a 100% match… evah. If a paint store employee tells you they can make a perfect match, tell them to call Netflix, as even THEY can’t make a Perfect Match (I love Reality shows).

Seriously, though, if they say yes, they’re full of it. Can they get close enough? That’s up to you. 

Sometimes, when you fall in love with a paint color, close enough is, well, close enough.

If you want THE exact color, you must go to Farrow and Ball.

2. HOW TO COLOR MATCH A FARROW & BALL PAINT COLOR

Short of going to your nearest Farrow and Ball store to get a gallon, here’s one option..

1. Order your Farrow and Ball sample(s). Samplize uses two coats of each brand’s ACTUAL paint, so it’s bang-on. 
2. Take this to your local Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams – see who does the best color match. A computerized match is better than eyeballs. While they might manually tweak it after it’s been computer-matched, it’s the best way to start. 
3. To get the best sample of your color match, get a QUART of paint from the exact line/type and sheen of paint you’ll use for your project (sample pots or contractor-grade paints are janky and can skew the color). Yes, it’s more money than a sample pot, but painting is a big, expensive job. 

Oh, you don’t like dealing with wet paint splotches on your walls?

Well then, you’re here for some serious dupe action.

HOW TO GET A FARROW & BALL DUPE

1. Order your Farrow and Ball sample so you have it on hand for comparison.
2. Check out the paint colors below—they’re the closest matches (or dupes) to Farrow & Ball paint colors.
3. Samplize has all of the Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Farrow & Ball colors, so you can get your faves quickly, affordably, and easily (on your front door, tomorrow). The rest you’ll get directly from their respective stores. 

COLOR DUPES FOR FARROW & BALL PAINT COLORS

While you can fill yer boots with Behr (Or get a gasoline enema; I’m not sure which is better), Valspar, and other brands, I love Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. And that’s not to say ALL their paint is great, it’s not.

For example, Benjamin Moore’s contractor-grade paint is some of the worst I’ve ever used, short of the wee pads of paint that come in an elementary school watercolor set.

Quality paint in a mid-level line (or higher) is best for a quality job.

BTW, I get diddly-squat from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Instead, I pay myself in personal high-fives, bum pats, and vats of wine. I recommend them because I love them and they’re accessible to the average homeowner.

And because of my self-payment sitch (and a few other reasons), you’re also getting some great Farrow & Ball color matches in the following brands:

• Benjamin Moore
• Sherwin Williams
• Behr
• Valspar
• Dunn Edwards

DO I EVER STOP TALKING? No, I talk this much in real life, too, as I’m down with ADHD, OCD, and a little OPP – ya, you know me! That last one is a rap reference from the 90s; you don’t have to get it. 

1. FARROW & BALL HAGUE BLUE No. 30 COLOR MATCHES

HAGUE BLUE’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: Blues tend to swing blue-purple or blue-green. Hague Blue is a gorgeous, dark shade of navy blue with a gorgeous green undertone. Unlike me, the green isn’t even remotely bossy. 

I also love Hague Blue’s commitment to color. While it’s color-forward, it’s not punchy, as it has a more modest gray backdrop. This makes Hague Blue popular for kitchen cabinets and islands, and even front doors. 

And because Farrow & Ball revels in not providing LRVs for its colors, the most accurate info says Hague Blue’s LRV is between 5 and 7 (most likely 7). This means it’s in the DARK range but has a reasonable degree of color (chroma). 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Hague Blue…

Farrow & Ball’s Best Blue Paint Colors

PAINT COLOR MATCHES FOR HAGUE BLUE

Here are the best alternatives to Hague Blue…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Navy Masterpiece is Benjamin Moore’s closest match, which isn’t saying a lot (but it’s a stunner in its own right). 
• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Gale Force – similar but a bit more blue and saturated (LRV of 6). This leads me to think that Hague Blue’s LRV is more likely 7 than 5. 
• BEHR: Undersea is a bit smokier and seems to have a wink less green in it. Midnight Blue has a similar approach but is a bit less green
• VALSPAR: Night View is the closest, but it’s more blue and lacks enough green to hit my happy place. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Nightfall is a great color to compare with a sample of Hague Blue as a ‘reasonable’ color match. 

The Best Dark Blue-Gray Paint Colors

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE FOR HAGUE BLUE? Oooo, that would have to be Behr Undersea and Dunn Edwards Nightfall. This said, I LIKE Benjamin Moore’s Navy Masterpiece the most as a tweaked alternative to Hague Blue. 

2. FARROW & BALL PIGEON No. 25 

They say that if you get pooped on by a bird, it’s good luck. If I get pooped on by this particular Pigeon, I might just consider myself blessed—it’s dang gorgeous. 

PIGEON’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: Pigeon No. 25 is a dusky, dusty green-gray. Is it more green or more gray? That’s open to perception. Ask my hubby, and he’ll squint his eyes and say, ‘I don’t know, gray?’ (which is exactly what he said). If you ask me, it’s green with a considerably strong gray backdrop. 

If you’re looking for Pigeon’s LRV, don’t talk to Farrow and Ball – they’ve got balls n’ chains wrapped around those details (for no reason I can possibly guess). Trust me—I’ve sent emails. 

 

Right, LRV—Pigeon’s LRV is approx. 34-35. This makes it a gorgeous color for painted kitchen cabinets, or even entire rooms, for a calming, restful, slightly organic look. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Pigeon…

PAINT COLOR MATCHES FOR PIGEON

Here are the best alternatives to Pigeon…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Oil Cloth is an awesome color match of Pigeon (without being perfect)—again, the only way to get perfect is to get Oil Cloth from Farrow and Ball. Oil Cloth comes up just a touch greener (barely).

The 20 Best Green-Gray Paint Colors

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: While Sherwin Williams has some of my favorite green-grays, none are the same as Pigeon. Evergreen Fog is amazeballs, but a greener. Cornwall Slate is one of my favorites, but it has a touch more depth and mood. 

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog Paint Color Review

• BEHR: Hunter’s Hollow is worth sampling and comparing with a few others. Behr Strong Winds is another GREAT contender for a ‘close as you’ll get’ color match of Pigeon. 
• VALSPAR: Grey Expose is along similar gray-green lines to Pigeon, as is Secret Moss.
• DUNN EDWARDS: Smoke and Ash is their best shot at it, but it’s too far off for this color cowgirl. 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE FAVORITE DUPE FOR PIGEON: Benjamin Moore Oil Cloth is wickedly pretty and a great alternative, along with Behr Strong Winds. 

3. FARROW & BALL BORROWED LIGHT No. 235

Let there be light! Just not when I’m hungover. Borrowed Light is a subtle, light, sky-blue inspired color. Well, sky blue if there’s a light fog rolling in. That’s right, Borrowed Light is a gorgeous, feather-light shade of blue with a light dusting of gray to take away its colorful edge—not everyone loves baby blue. 

As for depth, its LRV is between 69 and 72, according to my sources (which is QUITE a gap in the LRV world). Borrowed Light’s depth and approach to blue make it a popular paint color for bedrooms.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Borrowed Light…

PAINT COLOR MATCHES FOR BORROWED LIGHT

Here are the best alternatives to Borrowed Light…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Glass Slipper is great as far as color matches go, but not 100%. You’ll find it a bit more ‘colorful’, but it’s dang close. If someone tells you Glacier Lake is close, ignore them. 
• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Sherwin Williams Lullaby is similar, for sure, just a wink more blue. Here’s my Lullaby Paint Color Review
• BEHR: Behr Urban Mist could be worth exploring—I just don’t have a sample on hand to compare it (whereas I have all the others). 
• VALSPAR: Azure Snow is a great color match (#notperfectbutperfectlygood) for Borrowed Light—I’d be happy with it. Rising Tide is along similar lines, but more committed to blue and misses that wink of green that makes Borrowed Light so pretty. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Cold Water is grayer and less green—it’s a bit meh. Summer Shade is better without being bang-on—it’s a great color to sample and compare. 

The Best Light Blue Paint Colors

Again, the only way to get the EXACT color is to get Farrow & Ball paint. Then, short of getting SW or BM to color-match a sample of it with their machine, Benjamin Moore Glass Slipper seems to be the closest. 

4. FARROW & BALL GREEN SMOKE No. 47 

I’m a huge fan of Green Smoke (I am from Vancouver Island, the pot capital of Canada…JUST JOKING, MOM!). 

 

GREEN SMOKE’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: Green Smoke is a gorgeous shade of green, with a more timeless quality than many colors, thanks to its moderate approach to color (chroma) and depth.

Greens tend to be warm (green-yellow) or cool (green-blue). While you won’t SEE the blue in Green Smoke, it leans a weeee wink cool. 

As for its depth, again, the most accurate LRV info says that Green Smoke sits at 19. This makes it a medium-dark color, but on the higher/lighter end of the range. 

If you want to know where to use it, Green Smoke is great on kitchen cabinets and islands, but is equally as pretty as an accent wall or an entire room.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Green Smoke…

PAINT COLOR MATCHES FOR GREEN SMOKE

Here are the best alternatives to Green Smoke…

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Sherwin has big fat nothin’. Green Smoke’s best color match sits somewhere between Retreat and Dried Thyme (Retreat’s Review | Dried Thyme’s Review). 

Sherwin Williams Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Benjamin Moore Cushing Green is an interestingly imperfect color match, coming in with a bit more color (chroma). Benjamin Moore Lush is also worth exploring for a touch more color/warmth. 

The Best Benjamin Moore Darker Green Paint Colors

• BEHR: Boreal is your best color match, although it’s a touch cooler/greener. lf you’re open to something a touch smokier, Village Green is beautiful. 
• VALSPAR: Lush Sage seems just a touch more organic/warmer, but is pretty amazeballs all the same. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Boxwood is awesome. It’s a bit darker, but you could try it 25% lighter and see how it settles for you. Stone Craft is a bit duskier (not as green). 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE COLOR DUPE OF GREEN SMOKE: Oh, Boxwood is reasonably close, but Cushing Green is my favorite alternative. 

5. FARROW & BALL DOWN PIPE No. 26

DOWNPIPE’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: Down Pipe’s is a badass and beautiful shade of dark gray. This dark, stormy shade of gray adds a moody vibe, making it popular for accent walls, kitchen islands, dark gray or black-inspired front doors, and more. 

The Best Neutral Accent Wall Paint Colors

As for undertones, Down Pipe caters to a soft, cool green hue. For depth, Down Pipe’s approximate LRV is 13, making it a medium-dark color and a super striking, dark approach to charcoal grey. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Down Pipe…

COLOR MATCHES FOR DOWN PIPE

Here are the best alternatives to Down Pipe…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Kitty Gray is about as close as Benjamin Moore gets to a color match of Down Pipe. Pretty, with similar intentions, for sure. 

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Roycroft Pewter is a great, although imperfect, color match for Down Pipe. 

Sherwin Williams Roycroft Pewter’s Paint Color Review

• BEHR: Binary Star is as close as Behr gets, but it does have a bit more blue undertone. 
• VALSPAR: Weathervane is worth comparing, but again, nothing will be an exact match. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Nothing great, Equinox is really too blue to compare, although it’s gorgeous. 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE OF DOWN PIPE: Kitty Gray is hands down my favorite alternative, but I could make an argument for Roycroft Pewter, too.

6. FARROW & BALL WIMBORNE WHITE

WIMBORNE WHITE’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: If you love creamy shades of white, Wimborne White should hit your happy place. 

With its LRV of approx. 89, Wimborne White is a reasonably bright white paint color, but not nearly a true white, thanks to its slightly lower LRV (compared to a white with an LRV of 94) and its creamy yellow undertone. Because of its yellow hue, be careful when partnering Wimborne White with finishes that are whiter than it (e.g., white subway tile). 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Wimborne White…

COLOR MATCHES FOR WIMBORNE WHITE

Here are the best alternatives to Wimborne White…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Benjamin Moore’s best color match for Wimborne White sits somewhere between the fractionally more muted Cloud White and the slightly more yellow Mountain Peak White. 

Benjamin Moore Cloud White Paint Color Review

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Sherwin Williams Whitetail is a reasonably similar color to Wimborne White – watch those yellow undertones! 
• BEHR: Nothing worth looking at. 
• VALSPAR: Pale Bloom isn’t quite as cheerful/bright as Wimborne White, but it’s worth looking at. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Whisper is a good color match (not 100% perfect) to Wimborne White. 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE OF WIMBORNE WHITE: Probably Dunn Edwards Whisper, but overall, I’m a big fan of Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White. 

7. FARROW & BALL RAILINGS No. 31 

You’d better hold onto the railing for this bad boy, as Railings isn’t ANY old paint color – this badass beauty is BLACK! 

 

QUICK COLOR REVIEW OF RAILINGS: Just as there are 5 types of white paint colors, there are several types of black, with Railings being a soft, muted shade of black, with an LRV of approx 6-7.

As for undertones, Railings leans into a blue hue. Is it ridiculously subtle? Heck yeah, but if you’re looking for a moody, interesting, atypical take on black, Railings could do the trick. Its subtlety makes it especially popular on painted kitchen islands, front doors, and, ironically enough, railings! 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Railings…

PAINT COLOR DUPES OF RAILINGS

Here are the best alternatives to Railings…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Raccoon Fur is a fantastic color match (again, nothing will be 100% the same) to Railings—amazeballs. Black Horizon is also interesting, but a bit MORE different.

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Your best, closest match will be Sherwin Williams Cyberspace. 

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace Paint Color Review

• BEHR: Night Club is pretty, but a bit more saturated—it doesn’t have the same smoky black approach. 
• VALSPAR: Muskeg Grey doesn’t have the same blue backdrop, but it’s pretty. Chimney Smoke is interesting as well. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Cover of Night is your closest color match to Railings, but it’s a bit blacker in its approach. 

The 8 Best Black Paint Colors

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE OF RAILINGS: Oh, no question – Raccoon Fur (also known as Trash Panda Fur). 

8. FARROW & BALL PARMA GRAY No. 27

PARMA GRAY’S QUICK COLOR REVIEW: Parma Gray is what Italians call their Parmesan cheese when it goes mouldy. However, in real life, it’s a stunning, smoky shade of blue-gray.

With an LRV of approx. 50-51, it sits in the medium-depth world, but on the lighter, softer, stormier side. 

Parma Gray’s approach to color is interesting for painted kitchen cabinets, but could be a touch too colorful for the average homeowner (but if you’re inclined, it can be ridiculously gorgeous). It’s definitely popular for all of the walls in a room, as long as you have good natural lighting. 

North, South, East, West: Which Color is Best for Your Room’s Exposure?

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Parma Gray…

COLOR MATCHES FOR PARMA GRAY…

Here are the best alternatives to Parma Gray…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Blue Heather (also known as Athabasca) is Benjamin Moore’s closest color match. But that ain’t sayin’ much as it’s more blue-purple compared to Parma Gray, which comes up blue-green in comparison. 
• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Niebla Azul is pretty (I like it more than Parma Gray), but a bit smokier.

The Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors

• BEHR: Ozone is worth sampling and comparing with Parma Gray.
• VALSPAR: Grey Brook is smokier, and your best Valspar color match of Parma Gray. Shark Loop pops up, too, but can read a bit more blue-purple. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Like a few of the other potential color matches, Bay of Hope is grayer and a bit more blue-purple in its approach. I like its touch more gray, but you have to watch those blue-purples sometimes. 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE OF PARMA GRAY: Interestingly, many don’t capture the same blue-gray, balanced look of Parma Gray. I’d say my favorite is Valspar Grey Brook. 

9. FARROW & BALL ALL WHITE No. 2005 

ALL WHITE’S QUICK PAINT COLOR REVIEW: As the great Matthew McConnaughey once said, ‘All white, all white, all white. ‘ And everything really IS All White when it comes to this popular white paint color from Farrow & Ball.

As for LRV, it’s somewhere between 92 and 94, depending on the source. This makes All White a reasonably BRIGHT shade of white, and Farrow and Ball’s most genuine approach. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of All White…

COLOR MATCHES FOR ALL WHITE

When it comes to alternatives to All White…

• BENJAMIN MOORE: While Chantilly Lace is the closest, it doesn’t have the same softness as All White. 

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace Paint Color Review | The Best White Quartz Countertops

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Sherwin Williams White Snow is as close a color match as you’ll get in Sherwin Williams. 

Sherwin Williams White Snow Paint Color Review (with Farrow & Ball Railings on the island).

• BEHR: Bit of Sugar is kiiiind of similar, but a bit dull in comparison. Polar Bear is warmer, but quite pretty. In other words, All White kind of sits between the two. 
• VALSPAR: Santa’s Beard is the only one remotely in the running to color match All White. Don’t get your hopes up. 
• DUNN EDWARDS: Igloo is worth looking at…maybe, but again, questionable. 

KYLIE M’S FAVORITE DUPE OF ALL WHITE: Oh, I’d have to go for White Snow. 

In general, white paint colors are ESPECIALLY hard for other paint brands to match up to. 

10. FARROW & BALL DE NIMES COLOR DUPES

DE NIMES QUICK PAINT COLOR REVIEW: De Nimes is personally one of my favorite Farrow and Ball paint colors. And yes, I do play favorites, with my paint colors AND my husbands (just joking, I can only handle one). 

With a beautiful blend of blue, green, and gray, De Nimes is color-centric without being too colorful or overwhelming. This gives it a stormy, earth-toned look. 

As for LRV, it sits around 21. This puts it in the ample, deep bosom between the medium-depths and medium-dark depths. Between its depth and color-forward approach, De Nimes is popular for accent walls, front doors, kitchen islands, and more. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of De Nimes…

COLOR MATCHES FOR DE NIMES

Here are the best alternatives to De Nimes..

• BENJAMIN MOORE: Steep Cliff Gray certainly has similar intentions, but you’ll notice a bit less gray and more color when comparing it to De Nimes. Apollo Blue is a bit softer and less blue. While neither color MATCHES  De Nimes (nothing will), they’re worth sampling and comparing. 

Benjamin Moore Gibraltar Cliffs – definitely different, but still gorgeous (kind of like me – wink wink)! 

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Has a whole lotta nothin’. If I had to pick something that at least winked at De Nimes, it would be Foggy Day, but it’s certainly not close to a color match. 

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