How to Pick a Farrow & Ball Dupe (Without Getting It Wrong)

Accept this first, or the rest won’t work

Most people don’t fail at picking a Farrow & Ball dupe because the alternative paint is bad. They fail because they don’t understand why the original colour works in the first place.

Farrow & Ball colours aren’t special because of the name on the tin. They’re special because of how they behave — how they shift, mute, deepen, and soften depending on light, finish, and surroundings.

A good dupe doesn’t chase the name. It replicates the behaviour.

That’s the difference between “close enough” and “why does this feel wrong?”

Step 1: Stop hunting for names. Start looking for behaviour.

If your approach is:

• “What’s the Dulux version of this?”
• “What colour is basically the same?”
• “Which one do people say is identical?”

You’re already off track.

Farrow & Ball colours are defined by muted chroma, complex undertones, subtle shifts through the day, and depth in low light.

A good dupe behaves the same way at 9am, 3pm, and 9pm — not just in a showroom or on a phone screen.

This is exactly why Barrow & Fall doesn’t just list “similar colours”. Our matches are built around undertone direction and light behaviour, not surface-level similarity.

Step 2: Identify the dominant undertone (ignore the obvious one)

Most people misidentify undertones because they focus on what’s loud, not what’s in control.

• A “warm neutral” that’s actually green-led
• A “soft grey” that’s quietly pink
• A “beige” that turns yellow under warm bulbs

Farrow & Ball colours almost always have one dominant undertone (this controls the room) and one or two secondary undertones (these reveal themselves in certain light).

A strong dupe matches the dominant undertone first, even if that makes it look “slightly off” in isolation.

This is why some Barrow & Fall matches don’t look perfect on a white webpage — but behave correctly on a wall.

Step 3: Understand why Farrow & Ball colours feel different

Farrow & Ball colours feel different because they’re lower in saturation, softer in contrast, more complex in pigment mix, and less “clean” than modern mass-market colours.

That softness is what makes them calming instead of flat, rich instead of heavy, and subtle instead of bland.

A good dupe compensates by avoiding overly modern greys, slightly reducing chroma, and choosing colours that hold depth in shadow.

Barrow & Fall matches intentionally lean this way. If a colour feels a fraction “too perfect” on screen, it usually won’t behave like the original in real rooms.

Step 4: Ignore screens. Use them only to eliminate.

Screens are useful for one thing only: ruling colours out. They are terrible for final decisions because white balance distorts undertones, brightness flattens depth, and compression kills nuance.

This is why “Pinterest dupes” fail so often.

• Spot obvious undertone mismatches
• Avoid colours that skew too blue, too yellow, or too pink

Then stop. Barrow & Fall matches are designed to be tested properly, not chosen blindly.

Step 5: Choose the right brand before the right colour

Not all paint brands behave the same way — even when the colour looks similar. Some run warm across the range, push everything cleaner and brighter, lose depth at lower tint strengths, or dry significantly lighter than expected.

This is why a dupe that works beautifully in one brand can collapse in another.

Barrow & Fall matches are brand-specific for a reason. The same “match” adjusted for Dulux will not behave identically in Little Greene or Johnstone’s — and pretending otherwise is how people end up repainting.

Step 6: Ignore “exact match” claims

There is no such thing as a 100% Farrow & Ball match. Different brands use different pigments, different bases, different binders, and different finishes.

Anyone claiming “identical” is either overselling or doesn’t understand paint.

Barrow & Fall matches aim for visual equivalence, not lab fantasy. That’s the difference you notice when you live with the colour — not when you compare two swatches under strip lighting.

Step 7: Always compare in the same finish

This mistake alone accounts for most dupe disappointment.

• Matt vs eggshell
• Vinyl matt vs estate-style matt
• Durable matt vs chalky matt

Finish affects light absorption, perceived depth, and undertone visibility.

Step 8: Sample properly or don’t sample at all

Tiny tester patches lie. They’re influenced by white surroundings, sharp edges, and contrast illusion.

A good dupe will hold its undertone in shade, not flip unexpectedly at night, and feel consistent across walls. If a colour fails one of those tests, it’s not the right match — no matter how good it looked at noon.

Step 9: Test against real pairings, not empty walls

Farrow & Ball colours are designed to live in families — not isolation.

A dupe that looks fine alone can fall apart when paired with trim colours, flooring, cabinets, or adjacent rooms.

• Your chosen white
• Wood tones
• Fabrics already in the space

Barrow & Fall matches are chosen with common pairings in mind, but your home still has the final say.

Step 10: Accept that “close enough” depends on context

The same dupe can be spot-on in one house and completely wrong in another. Orientation, window size, ceiling height, artificial lighting, and surrounding colours all change the result. That’s not inconsistency — it’s physics.

Not the one that wins online arguments.

Step 11: Adjust expectations for price difference

Lower-cost paints often need more coats, dry lighter, have slightly less depth, and reflect light differently.

Barrow & Fall matches already factor this in. If you choose a cheaper paint expecting zero compromise, you’ll be disappointed. If you expect 90–95% of the look for significantly less cost, you’ll be happy.

Step 12: Know when not to use a dupe

Barrow & Fall exists for the second scenario — not to convince you that every colour should be replaced at all costs.

Step 13: The final reality check

If yes — it’s a good dupe. If not — keep looking.

What most people get wrong (bluntly)

People don’t regret using a Farrow & Ball dupe. They regret choosing one lazily.

Good dupes exist. Bad assumptions ruin them.

• Use behaviour, not branding.
• Test in real conditions, not online.
• Use well-researched matches — then let your space decide.

That’s how you get the look, avoid repainting, and spend your money where it actually matters.