Most likely when you think of paint, Farrow & Ball will be one of the first brands – if not the first – that springs to mind. Despite its impressively extensive but also perfectly curated library of 132 shades, one of the things that doesn’t happen often is a new paint shade launch from the paint brand. For reference the last new launch was back to 2022. But on Thursday (27th March) we’re getting lucky because Farrow & Ball is launching not one but 12 new paint colours.
If you couldn’t tell already, I’m truly excited because not only do these shades further confirm some of the hottest paint trends of 2025 like the fact that earthy shades are certainly here to stay, but with this release, Farrow & Ball is doing something it never usually does. You see, only nine of the paint shades are brand new, while the other three are archival shades that are being re-released. And it’s perhaps these three shades – Etruscan Red, Broccoli Brown and Sap Green – that I’m personally most excited about.
‘I love delving into our archive, there are some real treasures tucked away in there and I’m thrilled these three are getting another turn in the spotlight,’ says Charlotte Cosby, Farrow & Ball’s creative director.
But without further ado, let’s meet the new shades joining the Farrow & Ball ranks – including the ones I think will take over as some of the most popular go-to paint ideas.
The new Farrow & Ball paint shades
Etruscan Red
Not to play favourites, but if I was pushed to select my top pick from the new line-up then it would be the dark and earthy Etruscan Red. Featuring a brown base, this grounded shade is named and inspired by the Etruscan ancient civilisation that occupied today’s Italy and is known for its use of a similar deep red hue.
Farrow & Ball notes that it’s less intense than its Preference Red shade – so if you love red but find it too overwhelming to decorate with, this could be the perfect shade for you. And I’m pretty sure we’re about to see a lot of this colour popping up everywhere very soon.
Farrow & Ball Preference Red Matt Emulsion Paint, 2.5L
In comparison to Etruscan Red, Farrow & Ball’s Preference Red is a Baroque-inspired shade and currently the darkest red in the collection. But not for long.
Broccoli Brown
Ever since Pantone’s revealed its colour of the year for 2025 to be Mocha Mousse, a soft brown shade, various shades of brown have been popping up in homes and interiors a lot more. So I’m not surprised even Farrow & Ball has opted to relaunch one of its archival brown shades, Broccoli Brown.
This shade is certainly on the darker side but it’s sure to create a cocooning, warming feel in any space you apply it too with a strong connection to nature and the Earth.
Sap Green
Sap Green is the last archival shade of this launch. And while it’s not the only green in this collection, it’s certainly the most vibrant.
Due to the popularity of biophilic design ideas, green has been a go-to colour choice for many homes ever since the pandemic. Last summer, four green shades defined the season, including olive green – which is exactly how Farrow & Ball describes Sap Green, ‘an enticing olive shade’.
Marmelo
Marmelo is perhaps the most unique of the new launches. So it’s not entirely surprising that it’s also the brand’s creative director, Charlotte’s favourite. ‘Marmelo, named after the quince that inspired marmalade, is one of my favourite new colours. Who could fail to be comforted by that familiar orange reminiscent of warm, buttered toast and conversations around the breakfast table,’ she says.
The greens – Douter, Dibber and Reduced Green
The new launch includes three new shades of green: Douter, Dibber and Reduced Green. ‘I have a real soft spot for Douter,’ Charlotte at Farrow & Ball says. ‘It sits somewhere between Inchyra Blue and Green Smoke. It was inspired by traditional brass candle snuffers and I always think candlelight brings a magical quality, whether it’s a dinner party or just a cosy evening in.’
Aside from the smoky grey green Douter, there’s also Reduced Green – an extremely dark shade with an intense brown pigment that makes it appear as just brown to some – and Dibber, named after the gardening tool you’d use to poke holes in the ground to plant seeds. And while Dibber is also a muddied take on green referencing the natural world, it’s lighter and brighter than the dark Reduced Green.
Farrow & Ball Green Smoke Matt Emulsion Paint, 2.5L
Similarly smoky as the new Douter, the Green Smoke is a bit lighter in comparison and it’s missing the high level of grey undertone.
Farrow & Ball Inchyra Blue Matt Emulsion Paint, 2.5L
Inspired by the dramatic Scottish skies, the Inchyra Blue is the blue equivalent to the more green Douter – it’s smoky, dark and has that grey undertone.
The pastels – Scallop, Sizing and Kakelugn
Alongside the dark and earthy shades in this new release, some light and serene colours are on hand to balance it.
Soft pinks and light blues are among the most popular living room colour schemes at the moment. So these new Farrow & Ball colours will fit in with the current mood perfectly.
Starting with Scallop, a soft take on a salmon pink, it is a lighter reinterpretation of Farrow & Ball’s existing Dead Salmon shade.
Meanwhile, both Sizing and Kakelugn are light shades of baby blue. The former is the softer of the two, providing just a whisper of blue colour in its undertone and bearing a crisp, almost neutral quality. But if you’re after a bit more colour than that, Kakelugn is the one for you, named after Swedish folkloric fires that usually bear this very shade.
The brand also calls this ‘the cleaner interpretation’ of its Light Blue a shade that has been highly requested.
Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon Matt Emulsion Paint, 2.5L
Soft salmon pink – inspired by the flesh of the namesake fish – like this one and the upcoming Scallop works perfectly in living rooms and bedrooms alike.
Farrow & Ball Light Blue Matt Emulsion Paint, 2.5L
Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue paint shade is a more of a ‘silvery’ blue with a slight green undertone than a true baby or sky blue one might expect. That’s why the iminently dropping Kakelugn is going to be such a welcome addition – and an instant hit I predict.
Duster
Who would have thought that bright yellows would be a home decor trend come 2025? The first hint was Dulux’s colour of the year, True Joy. But now, even Farrow & Ball is adding to it with its new Duster shade. Described as a deep ochre, this shade has a rather humble inspiration behind it as you may have guessed from its name – and that’s the bright yellow cloth we use to wipe and dust all surfaces at home.
Naperon
Is it just me that’s absolutely obsessed with terracotta shades? Every room, storefront or building covered in a terracotta colour is one I start lusting over and want to recreate at home. Naperson is Farrow & Ball’s answer to this trend, a vibrant clay shade. (We don’t have a picture we can share of this colour just yet, but will add it in as soon as the range launches officially on Thursday).
The full new range will launch on Thursday and we can’t wait to see how these shades are interpreted and used throughout the home. Which is your favourite new paint colour?
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