12/08/2026
Why I Am Officially Parting Ways
with Farrow & Ball
After 25 years of graft in this trade, building a 5-star reputation, and ensuring my customers get absolute perfection, I have made a definitive business decision.
From today, I will no longer accept any commissioned work that involves Farrow & Ball paints or wallpapers. I am completely disassociating my business and my expertise from this brand.
Here is exactly why I am refusing to use it:
1. The Pricing vs. Performance Gap
In my professional opinion, the cost has become completely unjustifiable for the quality provided. We are currently looking at over £110.00 for a 5-litre tin of Modern Emulsion. On top of that, we are now told we must use their specific wall undercoat for another £78.00 just to get it to perform. That is £188.00 just to prep and lay down 5 litres of colour. In my experience, this mandatory undercoat system is simply a workaround for the paint’s lack of inherent coverage and opacity.
2. Bad Consultant Advice & Quantities
I am constantly seeing clients who have paid for an in-home color consultant, only to be supplied with wildly incorrect quantities and a pallet of the wrong products. Because the consultants don't understand the practical application process, the customer is left out of pocket, and the decorator is left to fix the logistics.
3. Outdated, Fragile Wallpaper Practices
In 2026, selling "paste-the-paper" wallpaper is completely outdated and creates unnecessary stress on-site. The brand enforces strict, impractical guidelines—like cross-lining walls and exact water-to-paste ratios—solely to void financial liability if the product fails. Even with the sharpest £50 Japanese blades, the wet, soggy paper is prone to tearing. In the fluctuating UK summer heat, the risk of shrinkage and visible seam lines is incredibly high.
The Bottom Line
When a finish goes wrong, the customer looks at the decorator, not the tin. I refuse to let an underperforming product line make my 25 years of flawless expertise look bad. If a trade professional is praising this stuff, they are either sponsored or haven't used superior modern trade bases that actually cover, scrub, and last.
I will be contacting Farrow & Ball to ensure they never recommend my services, and I will be sticking strictly to brands that respect both my time and my clients' money.
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Disclaimer & Legal Notice:
The views expressed in this post represent my honest professional opinion as a decorator with 25 years of trade experience. This is a statement of personal business policy regarding the products I choose to work with to maintain my specific business standards. It is not intended to defame or cause malicious falsehood, but rather to outline the technical and commercial reasons behind my independent business decisions.
