farrow & ball’s new colours for 2025 prove that nostalgia is the order of the day

We didn’t have Farrow & Ball’s New Colours on our bingo cards for 2025, but here we are, basking in their gloriously grounded energy.

There’s been an undercurrent of excitement among interior designers and DIY enthusiasts alike as the decorating world caught wind that esteemed luxury paint brand Farrow & Ball is releasing a set of new colours steeped in nostalgia. Of the 12 new additions to their main range, nine are all-new shades ranging from aged yellow to cleansing light blue. The remaining trio have been brought in from the Farrow & Ball Archive.

Onlookers have already noticed a massive change in tone since their last release back in 2023, with the candy-glazed saturation of the Carte Blanche Collection. In contrast, the 2025 addition to their signature palette is all about muted contentment and earthy hues inspired by the everyday, and they will all be available from February 27^th.

9 new shades, plus a trio of old friends

Farrow & Ball is renowned for its 132-strong signature palette, boasting all of their most sought-after shades. From late February, when the new paint colours come out, 12 will be retired to the Archive in a familiar move that fans have learnt to expect – the last colour card update in 2022 did a similar switcharoo, confirming the British paint manufacturer’s pivotal role in signifying the direction decorating trends are moving towards.

While the wait has been long, it has most certainly been worth it. The new colours Farrow & Ball has brought to the table have a unique warmth and evocative sense of story behind them. This is because Farrow & Ball’s colour curator Joa Studholme and their creative director Charlotte Cosby have directed their attention to the magic of the mundane, drawing on the zeitgeist’s impetus towards nostalgia. It’s all about building up a familiar, lived-in and understated feel.

a closer look at farrow & ball’s new colours for 2025

After 3 years, the wait is finally over. We’re on the edge of our seats, I don’t know about you? So, let’s cut to the chase and get into the details. In this new configuration of Farrow & Ball’s principle collection, there’s something for everyone – especially, if you’re fond of biophilic hues.

scallop no.311 

Despite all of the discourse Dead Salmon has invoked, Farrow & Ball are set on making these mushroomy pink shades modern classics. Recently, this has involved the creation of Scallop No.311, an unmatchable ethereal salmon shade, which is as delicious on the eyes as the shellfish is on the tongue.

pairing suggestions

According to F&B’s colour consultants, the ideal contrasting hue is Cromarty No.285. They’re both very close to neutral in their softness, yet side by side, they set each other off just beautifully. Bring a bit of Wimborne White No.239 into the mix on the trim, and what you get is an expressive albeit hushed look.

Another option is to pair Scallop with its deeper sister hue Dead Salmon No.28 and really lean into its smokiness. You can lighten things up with the complimentary white Dimity No.2008, creating what Charlotte Crosby has termed “a sort of pearlescent feel”.

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Thanks to its nuanced undertones – neither too grey nor too pink – Scallop is suited to an abundance of spaces. We could imagine it colour-drenched throughout a bedroom, but you could also put it against a light shade like Joa’s White No.226 since it shares a red base and will allow you to pull each feature seamlessly together. In a dark hallway, this could work wonders to introduce a sense of toastiness without it feeling too sugary or twee.

dibber no.312 

Dibber No.312 is pastoral chic goals. A deep and earthy green with a muddy brown base, this paint is ideal if you want to create a biophilic retreat within your home. The reason it feels so enticing is that it evokes old memories of home, taking inspiration from the handy garden tool used to create holes for planting seeds in the garden – grounding in more ways than one!

pairing suggestions

While its complementary white is Satin Slipper No.2004, there are plenty of directions you can take to build Dibber into a comprehensive palette. For one, you could introduce cooler tones like Farrow & Ball’s luxurious Inchyra Blue No.289 and Off-Black No.57, which liven up the new paint colour’s sense of quietude.

Alternatively, it’s just as stylish to lean into the calm. We love the idea of painting your kitchen walls in Old White No.4 and then splashing the down-to-earth green across your pantry cupboards and kitchen units. It’s the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional.

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Thanks to its distinctive olivey green appearance, Dibber is a great choice for bedrooms and reading nooks, or any space that requires a grounding sense of restfulness. You can also achieve a really interesting effect in low-contrast spaces, combining the aforementioned calm and its nuanced undertones, which change under different light conditions.

reduced green no.313 

Some say it’s brown, others say it’s green. Whatever the case, Reduced Green No.313 blends both pigments to pull off an expressive woody shade that screams sophistication and warmth in equal measure. Darker than other brown-green shades in Farrow & Ball’s repertoire – think: Cardamom and Dibber – this entry, brings an organic yet historic impression into any interior, however big or small.

pairing suggestions

While a neutral, this new paint packs plenty of punch because of that cheeky dash of green pigment. Therefore, you can build up a wonderfully earthy feel along with green greys like Old White No.4 and French Gray No.18.

Another option is to contrast the old-school colour with pinkish hues. Preference Red No.297 and Templeton Pink No.303 do the job exceptionally, but if you’re after something more subtle Reduced Green would factor in brilliantly to a Setting Plaster colour scheme.

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We recommend making the most of the sunning mornings and muted evening light characteristic of east-facing rooms. This way, earlier on in the day you can enjoy a spirited and uplifting feel, while in the evenings you get an exquisitely soft appeal. It’s also worth noting that green or grey-based tones should be avoided in north-facing rooms due to the cooler light quality; it’ll look washed out otherwise.

sizing no.314 

Reminiscent of clear spring skies, this icy blue has a crisp quality shared by the starch of the same name. Wonderfully airy without losing its sense of refinement, Sizing No.314 is as timeless as it gets.

pairing suggestions

It’s fair to say that there’s some colour fatigue when it comes to brown-based neutrals and whites; luckily, pale blues are the antidote. Just as versatile, and fascinating to watch shift under different lighting, you can both pair them with darker shades like Wine Dark No.308 or place them beside other softer tones like Tailor Tack No.302. On the flipside, if you want to introduce yet another layer of sharpness, your best bet is to pair the pale blue with a potent white á la All White No.2005.

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According to the experts, the best way to maximise the feeling of freshness is to paint crisp shades like Sizing in south-facing spaces. With the warm light filtering in from dawn to dusk, a relaxed, bright appearance is easy to come by.

naperon no.315 

Sitting alongside Farrow & Ball’s other clay shades like Faded Terracotta No.CC8 but pinker in tone, is this inviting peach is easy on the eyes. Behind its esoteric namesake is a story of domesticity; Naperon No.315 comes from the etymology of the word apron, making us think of cosy home cooking.

pairing suggestions

Best paired with neutrals with a hint of brown or grey to them – Stirabout No.300 and Joa’s White No.226 come to mind – this light terracotta brings out the best in colours also taken from the natural world. This means that soft-spoken greens like Dibber No.312 and Lichen No.19 are on the cards.

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Terracottas are great if warming up your interiors is on the agenda. With one of these faded reds, you can easily lure in a Tuscan feel and trick your guests into thinking they’ve escaped into warmer climates.

marmelo no.316 

Drawing inspiration from the tart marmelo quince, from which the term marmalade is derived, this deep orange colour is just as comforting as the condiment. Marmelo No.316 is the ultimate feel-good paint, bringing a new dimension of maturity to the tangy tones of F&B’s orange paints.

pairing suggestions

Joa’s White No.226, Stirabout No.300 and Jitney No.293 instantly jump to mind when meandering on to the topic of colour combinations – not only do they all possess admirably sunny undertones, but they’re refined too. To create more of a Mediterranean vibe Etruscan Red No.56 and Mahogany No.36 are both safe bets.

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Oranges always make beautiful Farrow & Ball bedroom schemes thanks to their inherent mellowness, but have you ever thought about bringing the zestiness into spaces like the dining room? Paired with a blue, you could pull off a zany, kitsch look.

kakelugn no.317 

Bringing slightly more vibrance than the previous blue in our list, Kakelugn No.317 is another versatile light blue; one we’re anticipating becoming a new fan favourite. We’re not just pulling this straight out of thin air either – this new Farrow & Ball colour was intentionally developed as a cleaner version of Light Blue No.22 as requested by many of their following.

pairing suggestions

Like Sizing, this colour is well-placed alongside a stark white like Strong White No.2001. But fancy something more striking? Bring Hague Blue No.30 and Bamboozle No.304 into the picture. Together, this trio make a strong impression that tows the line between playful and demure.

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Light blues are a crowd-pleaser in bathrooms, and of the limitless interpretations of the best F&B bathroom schemes, they come out on top. Not only do you make dark rooms feel bigger and brighter, but you also benefit from a real depth of pigmentation under different types of lighting.

douter no.318 

Don’t let the unusual name put you off! Douter No.318 harnesses the best qualities of two of Farrow & Ball’s most loved shades Inchyra Blue and Green Smoke, sitting comfortably between the grey-greens. Inspired by the soot-covered brass candle stuffers of former times, the genius of this colour lies in its ability to translate history into something decidedly contemporary, without losing that perennial charm.

pairing suggestions

Neutrals that complement this vintage hue include Shaded White No.201 and Shadow White No.282 among many others. With your contrasting colours, you could go in two opposing directions. A) warm things up with a pink-adjacent mushroom like Scallop, or B) Keep the look a little more grounded with a delicate brown along the lines of Mouse’s Back No.40.

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We can imagine Douter looking incredible in a living room, and in so many ways. For one, it would make an iconic fireplace feature wall, but equally, the moody grey-green has just the right amount of character to work in a colour blocked or colour drenched scheme.

duster no.319 

Nostalgia strikes again with this shade. Duster No.319 is a timeless ochre, mimicking the aged yellow cleaning cloth we know all too well. Far from clinical, this comforting colour brings a smile the face and warmth to the heart.

pairing suggestions

Yellow paint colours are very special in the sense that they can translate into both cutting-edge modernism and antique charm. In both instances, you’d want a yellow-based neutral such as Lime White No.1, but the contrasting shade could go either light or dark. Think: Mizzle No.266 or Reduced Green No.313. Both are very different, but create an all-encompassing theme.

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Bringing sunshine and cheer into interiors is Duster’s speciality. Whether you’re aiming to make guests cosy or keep them or their toes with sharp contrasts, it’s a fun way to inject that wow-factor.

reinstating familiar shades

So, those were the nine new colours Farrow & Ball are introducing to their signature colour card, but what about the archived shades they’re bringing back into the fore? Allow us to get you up to speed.

etruscan red no.56

Etruscan Red, oh how we’ve missed you! This traditional terracotta is packed with plenty of rich brown pigment for a bit of bite, but it’s not too intense either. Think of it as Preference Red’s subtler sibling shade.

pairing suggestions

Lime White No.1, the creamy pale yellow is often overlooked as a neutral, but in combination with this earthy red, it can’t be ignored. Then bring muted yellows and greens (Duster No.319 & Reduced Green No.313, we’re looking at you!) into play for a rustic architectural feel.

Another lovely palette featuring Etruscan Red, involves keeping things modern and clean with Oxford Stone No.264 and Dimity No.2008. Try painting it in Dead Flat for the ultimate magazine-sleek appearance.

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If you’re hoping to counter the cooler light of a north facing room, this versatile add-on to F&B’s earth tones is a practical choice. With its mature warmth, you’ll make bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms feel much more welcoming.

broccoli brown no.198

Want to bring the subtlest hint of nature to a space? Try Broccoli Brown No.198. This stoney colour is well-loved even among the colour-shy. We’d describe it as a hushed, organic brown that straddles the liminal space between cosy and reserved. Yep, it’s the best of both worlds.

pairing suggestions

Stirabout No.300 is the obvious choice when it comes to whites, but what about contrasting shades? Well, one option is to go light and refined with Scallop No.311 and Card Room Green No.73. Another is to opt for added richness and drama with Beverly No.310 and Studio Green No.93.

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Since this colour is so laid-back, it works really well as a clean backdrop to a busy room, but browns are also versatile enough to use on your furniture as a clever form of visual layering.

sap green no.199

Brighter than Farrow & Ball’s other new colour additions for 2025, this energising green really understood the assignment when their team of designers decided to pick shades from the world around us. Without being too garish, Sap Green No.199 succeeds at bringing the playful energy we associate with verdant plants dancing in the breeze.

pairing suggestions

There are so many colour compositions that make green paints sing, and this is true of Sap Green. As a baseline, it’s important to know that crisp whites like Strong White No.2001 promote a sense of health, vigour and elegance. Drop Sizing No.314 and Wevet No.273 into the mix and you’ll find the space take on a new elegant depth and intensity.

Another scheme we can’t gloss over is green and pink – it’s a classic, after all. Joa Studholme’s iconic bathroom, bathed in Sap Green and Pink Cup No.9801 just speaks for itself.

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Bright greens like this are a great addition to farmhouse or country house style properties in need of a serious injection of upbeat energy.

waving farewell to older shades

Out with the old, in with the new… The following dozen colours are being archived, but before you panic, don’t let this worry you – it only means the colours become order on demand, so it’s still possible to sample the Archive online.

Among these colour retirees are a handful of natural, stoney hues, including Bone No.15, London Stone No.6, London Clay No.244,  Manor House Gray No.256 and Pelt No.254.

Then there’s a trio of red-toned paints – Middleton Pink No.245, Rectory Red No.217 and Rangwali No.296 – followed by some powdery, muted colours, namely Blue Ground No.210, Green Ground No.206, Citron No.74 and Ball Green No.75.

got that farrow & ball itch?

If you’d like to get a head start on designing your new interior scheme around one of Farrow & Ball’s new (or old?) colours, discover our full range of shades. They ready and waiting to introduce a sense of nostalgia to your home.

Still need some inspiration? From Farrow & Ball kitchen schemes to bathroom concepts, there’s plenty more to explore on the rest of our blog.