How to test colours with sample pots
Finding your perfect palette is both the joy and the challenge of every decorating project. Luckily, sample pots are here to help.
With sample pots for Farrow & Ball signature shades, you can try every Farrow & Ball colour to find your favourite. They’re all 100% true to colour so you can see exactly how a shade will come to life in your space.
Here are our top tips for making the most of your samples.
1. Paint your sample pot onto paper
Apply two coats of your sample onto thick paper or card — the bigger the better — and let it dry. Ideally you want to do this at least twice, so you have multiple pieces to play with
Sample colour: Preference Red No. 297
2. Position Your Samples
Carefully place the sheets around the space you’re decorating. You want to spread them out in different areas so you can see how the colour looks in different surroundings.
If you’re trying to choose between a few different colours, don’t put them directly next to each other like a patchwork quilt. This makes it difficult to see how a shade will truly look when used by itself in the space
Swatches (Left to Right) Preference Red No. 297 ; Red Earth No. 64 & Sulking Room Pink No. 295
3. Allow time to ponder
This isn’t a snap decision. Check your samples over the course of a day or two to see how the colour looks in different lights.
If you’re decorating a dining room, snug or another space you plan to use in the evening, try closing the curtains, turning on a lamp and perhaps even lighting a candle to see the colours in low light.
Swatches (Left to Right): Red Earth No. 64 ; Preference Red No. 297 & Sulking Room Pink No. 295
4. Look at the big picture
Don’t forget to consider your room as a whole. If you’re painting a wall, how does the colour work with your ceiling and trim? And how does it look alongside your furniture, artwork and soft furnishings?
Swatches (Left to Right): Preference Red No.297 ; Sulking Room Pink No.295 & Red Earth No.64
5. The significance of sightlines
Sightlines are key because every room in a home works together to tell a collective story. So, look at the rooms that connect to your space and what colours they feature. Then decide do you want to create a sense of flow with similar shades throughout or would you like this space to feel distinctly different? It’s entirely up to you.
Walls: Sap Green No. 199
We believe that every home should be unique, an individual and a true reflection of you.
Be inspired! start your next project by choosing colours or your paint finish below