My Comparison of Paint: Farrow & Ball versus Benjamin Moore Paint

Which paint is better, Farrow and Ball or Benjamin Moore? Here’s my comparison of the two paints. One of the most frequent discussions on Instagram is which paint to use, and why? After using both of these brands for 9 years, I’m going to pro/con the two brands and share my experiences. Before we go any further, I want to disclose both brands have gifted me paint to use however I’ve never had a paid sponsorship with either brand. Because both brands have gifted me paint, I’ve been able to try many finishes and different lines within the brands. I’m going to spill the tea, unfiltered and unsweetened.

I’ll also say: I’m really sensitive to color and finish. If I sound like I’m obsessing, I am. I have years working as a graphic designer, art director and creative director with Pantone and creating custom colors on printing presses, then my career as a photographer (always color correcting) and now as an interior designer. When I choose color for my home or design project, all that experience is filtered into my choices.

House of Brinson, Queen of May room, Farrow and Ball Inchyra Blue

Farrow & Ball Paint

This British brand started making waves in the US right around the time we purchased our house in 2013. I used this paint exclusively for the first few years we were renovating and have about 50% of my home painted with this brand.

Pros

The colors are hands down the best curation. The limited palette provides focus and visual story telling opportunities. Choosing color is one of the most difficult things you will do when designing your home and having a curated selection like this helps eliminate mistakes.
The pigments and the way the colors are blended are just beyond. I would never in a million years ask another paint brand to color match because it never lives up to the real F&B color pigments. The pigments are neutral and absorb light a certain way that creates an atmosphere. With my photography background, I’m really sensitive to how light plays off color and surfaces and F&B excels in this category.
Because of the pigments, F&B color have a certain neutral feel to them. It’s soft and romantic.
The estate emulsion is a 2% sheen and looks so damn sexy on the walls, there’s a little something in the finish but this sheen soaks in the light and bounces the color right back. I visited historic British museums and noted the paint on the gallery walls, this sheen is the same vibe.
The marketing and images are really inspiring. I can see this company puts a lot of value on the creative process from the team that creates the color, to the team who does marketing. Very strategic, speaking to the design community and design fluent consumers.

Cons

Lots of technical issues. I’ve been in tears because of this brand of paint in my house and I just can’t forgive and forget. I’ve had cans of paint not mix down. The pigment and the sheen separated in the can and in the tray while we were painting. We had to drill mix several times. I’ve used their high gloss on doors and when it’s mildly humid, the paint becomes sticky and dust sticks to it. My black doors look *awesome* with the smallest amount of dog hair floating around. (Please note that’s dripping with sarcasm, a coping mechanism.) It’s really upsetting, I have multiple doors that need deglossing and repainting. When we painted the Queen of May room, we had so many technical issues, I can’t list them all.
The primer is not good, skip it.
You will need three coats of paint for full coverage. This is important because it takes more time and product, especially if you hire out painting.
I would never use the ‘semi-gloss’ finish because of coverage issues. I used this on all our trim initially and wish I didn’t. The color is beautiful, love it.
It’s expensive.
Durability. You can’t wash or scrub this paint like you can others. I do and in some areas it has held up fine, in others it hasn’t. If you have kids or slobbery dogs, I’d think long and hard about your durability needs.
The high gloss paint doesn’t fully harden, I will never use again.
If you are not close to a store and need an extra gallon, you’re gonna have to have it shipped and wait.
Difficult to use. You MUST drill mix. Not for a first time painter, IMHO.
Doesn’t come in 5 gallon buckets, which if you’re working on an exterior or larger scale project, you have to order so many cans of paint.

Would I use it again? Yes, but with reservation. No, on trim or anything that needs a level of durability. If I really loved a color and was using it on walls, only with estate emulsion, I’d probably go for it. I don’t think you can dupe Hague Blue. Just sayin’.

House of Brinson, Living Room, Farrow & Ball Light Blue

House of Brinson, Primary Bathroom, Benjamin Moore Duxbury Grey (love, love this color)

Benjamin Moore Paint

An American paint brand dating back to 1883, they focus not only on color but on the science behind the paint. I’ve been using Benjamin Moore since I had my first apartment because the brand is sold at independent retails all over NYC, it was very easy to find. About 50% of our house will be painted in Benjamin Moore after we finish the third floor.

Pros

The technical performance of this paint wow’s me every time. There are so many products that address issues – it’s amazing. Walls, cabinets, special primers, you name it, Benjamin Moore has it. This has saved me countless times from pure disaster.
Easy to buy. I can find a shop that sells Benjamin Moore 20 minutes in several directions from our house. If we need an extra can of paint,we just run out and pick it up.
Lots of colors. There’s so many choices – but keep up with me because I’m going to repeat this item below.
If you want to look of F&B use the Aura Bath and Spa – it’s a matte paint meant for bathrooms. I don’t know what they used in the formulation of this product but I’ll spill the T: it looks very similar to the 2% estate emulsion from F&B. And… are you ready… I used it in our bathroom and scrub tooth paste off it all the time. This paint is rock solid. It’s really durable. So durable I used it in the hallway. And I keep using it. I have to note that I use it outside of the bathroom because it is more expensive but it’s SO durable and looks so good, I think it’s worth it. I think this is a rockstar product from BM and I don’t see it talked about with the attention it deserves. Spread the love.
The Grand Entrance High Gloss Door paint is just beyond amazing. I painted an interior door (after my F&B flop) and this paint is my new go-to. It looks *just* like old fashioned oil paint. In a historic house, a must have. I’m going to use this when I repaint all the doors. The finish is so hard and durable, plus it doesn’t take long to dry. I used this in Bracken Cream – looks so good.
Lots of primers depending on your needs. We’ve used them all and all the primers work really well.
Excels with colors that have a green undertone. Some of the colors that have a greenish undertone look really great. That green pigment is a keeper.
Very easy to apply and use overall. If you’re a newbie to DIY, start with this brand.
Beautiful finish in two coats. Saves time and product.
Price. Even BMs most expensive lines are better priced than F&B. Plus, you need less product because the coverage is better.
Can customize very easily. You can use a percentage of a color because these are mixed at places close to home. I’d like to get into this aspect of the paint more.
Available in 5 gallon buckets. We use two primers and have a 5 gallon bucket of each on hand. When we start painting the second floor hallway, I’ll get this color in a 5 gallon bucket. I find it easier to keep track of when managing renovation supplies.

Cons

Remember when I said lots of colors in the pro section? It can be hard to find what you like and the room for error is large. I’ve spent more money than I care to mention sampling colors. I recommend starting with the Historic Color palette or the Williamsburg Color palette to start if you want that old world deeply saturated but soft look. Recently, samples are available via Samplalize and through the BM website.
The red pigment sits funny with me. It vibrates too much and comes through when it shouldn’t. Depending on the color, this could be a big deal, especially with neutrals and soft pinks. Because of this, I sample alot making sure I have it right.
So many colors are ‘brighter and vibrate more’ if you want that soft, desaturated look, you’re going to need to sample a lot. This get expensive. I recommend erring on the side of more desaturated than you think you’ll like.
Marketing. Benjamin Moore serves so many areas of the paint industry from contractors to interior designers, it can be hard to find the vibe you’re looking for. F&B has a clear customer in mind with marketing, so it’s easy to say ‘I want that look!’, where as Benjamin Moore is so diverse with the corners of the industry they serve, as a consumer you’ll most likely search elsewhere to find your ‘look’. I spent over a decade in advertising and this is a massive area of growth and need for this brand.

Would I use it again? Absolutely, this is where I start when planning a paint project. The only thing that can lure me away is a specific color I don’t think can be replicated.