Farrow & Ball is a high-end paint company beloved by designers around the world. Its products contain less binding agents, less water, and more pigments, which results in an impressive depth of color.
But in most countries, Farrow & Ball costs two to three times more than an alternative product, and not all of us can afford the splurge and/or wrap our head around spending that much money for paint.
If you are one of them, rejoice: I created the ultimate color matching reference guide with the closest matches I could find from Benjamin Moore, a brand that is widely available around the world and typically more affordable, too.
That’s 132 gorgeous F&B colors*, with my top two comparable BM shades for each one of them.
You might see variations when comparing swatches because paint manufacturers use different pigments and bases, so it is practically impossible to get color matches that are 100% accurate. But I assure you that it takes quite an expert eye to spot the real McCoy on a wall. Some will say you won’t get the same depth as with Farrow & Ball, but you will still get a beautiful look nonetheless.
And why suggest two options, you ask? Because as you’ve learned in the “All About Whites” article series, there are many things that impact how your eyes perceive colors: Natural lighting, artificial lighting, positioning of the room (north, east, west, south), light reflectance value, sheen, your overall color palette and what is already in the room, etc.
So pick your favorite F&B shade, buy sample pots or peel-and-stick paint samples, and see how the color turns out in the space at various moments throughout the day. Try to live with the samples for a few days, too, so you can make a well-considered decision.
Remember: Actual color may vary from on-screen representation. Please view a physical color swatch or material sample to confirm your color choice prior to purchase.
Also: Some recommended Benjamin Moore paint colors are from older collections, meaning paint swatches might not be available at all BM stores. However, all colors can be created in sample pots, or you can also order peel-and-stick paint samples.
*Update 06/16/22: The guide doesn’t include the colors from the California Collection or the Natural History Museum Collection.
First photo: Anne Sage