Little Greene vs Farrow & Ball: Which Premium Paint Brand Should You Choose?

Little Greene vs Farrow & Ball: A Professional Painter's Honest Comparison

When our clients in Mayfair, Belgravia, and Kensington ask us to recommend a paint brand for their homes, two names dominate the conversation: Little Greene and Farrow & Ball. Both are quintessentially British, both produce exceptional paints, and both command a premium price. But they are not interchangeable, and choosing between them requires a nuanced understanding of what each brand does best.

Having used both brands extensively across hundreds of projects in Central London, we are well placed to offer a detailed, practical comparison. This is not a rehash of marketing copy. It is a working painter's assessment of two outstanding products.

A Brief History of Each Brand

Farrow & Ball

Founded in Dorset in 1946, Farrow & Ball began life supplying paint to the post-war building effort. The company's reputation was built on its use of high concentrations of pigment and its close association with the National Trust. By the early 2000s, Farrow & Ball had become synonymous with premium interior decoration in the UK, and its colour card is now a reference point for architects and designers worldwide.

Little Greene

Little Greene has an even longer pedigree, tracing its origins to 1773 in Manchester. The company operated as a trade paint manufacturer for much of its history before repositioning itself as a heritage-focused premium brand in the early 2000s. Little Greene has worked extensively with English Heritage (now Historic England) to develop historically accurate colour palettes, and its paints are manufactured in the UK using traditional methods alongside modern technology.

Price Comparison

This is often the first question our clients ask, and the difference is meaningful.

• Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion (2.5L): approximately £56-£62
• Little Greene Absolute Matt Emulsion (2.5L): approximately £50-£55
• Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion (2.5L): approximately £56-£62
• Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion (2.5L): approximately £55-£58

On a typical four-bedroom townhouse in Chelsea or Kensington, where we might use 30-40 litres of emulsion across the main living spaces, the saving with Little Greene could be £60-£120 on paint alone. This is not a trivial difference, though it is modest relative to the overall cost of a professional interior painting project.

Both brands also offer sample pots, which we always recommend before committing to a colour. Farrow & Ball charges around £5.50 for a small tester, while Little Greene offers slightly larger sample pots at a similar price point.

Value for Money Verdict

Little Greene offers marginally better value, particularly when you factor in coverage rates (discussed below). However, neither brand is cheap, and both represent a significant step up from mainstream paints.

Coverage and Application

This is where professional experience counts for a great deal. Coverage figures on a tin are theoretical; real-world coverage depends on substrate, preparation, colour, and application method.

Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion is a traditional chalky matt finish. It applies beautifully and has a depth of colour that is genuinely difficult to replicate with other brands. However, it is not the most forgiving paint to work with. It has a relatively short open time, which means it can show brush marks or roller stipple if not applied with care. Coverage is typically 10-12 square metres per litre on a well-prepared surface, though darker colours like Hague Blue or Railings may require three coats to achieve an even finish.

Modern Emulsion was introduced as a more durable alternative with a slight sheen. It is easier to apply and more resistant to marking, making it suitable for hallways and family rooms. Coverage is comparable to Estate Emulsion.

Little Greene

Little Greene's Absolute Matt Emulsion is the closest equivalent to Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion. It produces a beautifully flat, velvety finish. Coverage tends to be slightly better in practice, typically 12-14 square metres per litre, partly because the paint has a slightly higher solids content.

Intelligent Matt Emulsion is Little Greene's answer to Modern Emulsion. It is a remarkable product that manages to look almost completely matt while being genuinely washable. For busy London households, particularly those with children or dogs, Intelligent Matt Emulsion is arguably the best wall paint available in the UK. We use it extensively in our interior painting projects.

Application Verdict

Little Greene edges ahead on coverage, which partly offsets the already lower price. For pure depth of colour and that unmistakable chalky quality, Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion remains exceptional. For practical durability without sacrificing aesthetics, Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion is the standout product.

Colour Range and Palette

Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball offers 150 colours, each with an evocative name and a carefully considered position within the palette. The colours are grouped into families, and the brand is particularly strong on:

• Warm neutrals: Elephant's Breath, Skimming Stone, Ammonite
• Heritage greens: Card Room Green, Green Smoke, Bancha
• Sophisticated blues: Stiffkey Blue, Hague Blue, De Nimes
• Statement darks: Railings, Off-Black, Paean Black

The Farrow & Ball palette is cohesive and interrelated. Every colour works with several others in the range, which makes it relatively easy to create harmonious schemes across multiple rooms. The brand's colour consultancy service is also excellent.

Little Greene

Little Greene offers over 300 colours, making its palette significantly larger. The range is organised into several collections:

• Colour Scales: a series of tonal gradations that make it easy to find lighter or darker versions of a colour
• Historic Colours: developed in partnership with English Heritage, these are period-accurate colours based on paint analysis of historic properties
• Contemporary Colours: a modern palette that sits alongside the heritage range

Standout colours include:

• French Grey: a sophisticated, versatile neutral that works in almost any context
• Juniper Ash: a complex grey-green that is stunning in north-facing rooms
• Basalt: a rich, warm dark grey
• Gauze (various shades): a beautifully subtle series of pale tones
• Sage Green: a classic that never tires

The Colour Scales system is genuinely useful. If you find a colour you love but want it a shade lighter for the ceiling, the numbered scale makes this straightforward. It is a thoughtful, practical tool that we use regularly when planning schemes for our clients.

Colour Verdict

If you want a curated, focused palette where every colour has been considered in relation to every other, Farrow & Ball is hard to beat. If you want breadth, historical accuracy, and the flexibility of tonal scales, Little Greene offers more. Neither palette will disappoint.

Environmental Credentials

Both brands have invested significantly in sustainability, but their approaches differ.

Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball reformulated its entire range to be water-based in 2010, including its exterior and woodwork paints. All paints are now low-VOC, and the brand has committed to sustainable sourcing of raw materials. The company manufactures entirely in Dorset, reducing transport emissions for UK customers.

Little Greene

Little Greene holds BS EN ISO 14001 environmental management certification and has been manufacturing water-based paints since the 1990s. The company's paints are classified as minimal VOC (under 1g per litre for emulsions), which is among the lowest in the industry. Little Greene also uses a heat recovery system in its factory and has invested in waste reduction programmes. The brand has been endorsed by the Ethical Company Organisation.

Additionally, Little Greene offers a lime-based paint range, Wall Primer Sealer, which is breathable and suitable for historic buildings where moisture management is critical. This is particularly relevant for heritage painting projects on listed properties.

Environmental Verdict

Both brands perform well, but Little Greene has a slight edge in terms of formal environmental certifications and its ultra-low VOC levels. For clients who prioritise sustainability, Little Greene is the stronger choice.

Finish Quality and Durability

Farrow & Ball

The hallmark of Farrow & Ball paint is its depth. The brand uses a high ratio of pigment to binder, which produces colours that seem to change character with the light. A room painted in Farrow & Ball's Elephant's Breath will look different at dawn, midday, and under lamplight. This quality is real, not marketing, and it is one of the main reasons designers specify Farrow & Ball.

The trade-off is durability. Estate Emulsion marks relatively easily and is not washable in any meaningful sense. It is best suited to living rooms, bedrooms, and spaces that are not subject to heavy wear. Modern Emulsion addresses this with improved scuff resistance, though it has a slight sheen that not everyone prefers.

For woodwork, Estate Eggshell (water-based) has improved significantly in recent years but still does not match the hardness and flow of a traditional oil-based eggshell. Many professional painters, ourselves included, still prefer oil-based alternatives for woodwork in high-traffic areas.

Little Greene

Little Greene paints are marginally more robust than their Farrow & Ball equivalents. Intelligent Matt Emulsion can be wiped clean without burnishing, which is a genuine achievement for a matt paint. The brand's Intelligent Eggshell for woodwork is also excellent: it levels well, dries to a consistent sheen, and is tough enough for door frames, skirting boards, and kitchen cabinetry.

The colour depth is very good, though in a direct side-by-side comparison, some painters feel that Farrow & Ball has a fractionally richer quality in certain colours. The difference is subtle and may be invisible to anyone other than a professional decorator.

Finish Verdict

For visual depth and character, Farrow & Ball retains a slight advantage. For practical durability and ease of maintenance, Little Greene is the stronger performer. In practice, we recommend both brands regularly and choose based on the specific requirements of each project.

Other Brands Worth Considering

While this comparison focuses on Little Greene and Farrow & Ball, two other British brands deserve mention:

Mylands is a London-based paint company with a heritage dating to 1884. Its Marble Matt Emulsion is superb, and the colour palette, inspired by London's architectural history, is distinctive. Mylands paints are particularly well-suited to period properties in areas like Marylebone and Fitzrovia.

Edward Bulmer produces genuinely natural paints made from earth and mineral pigments. For clients with chemical sensitivities or those who want the most environmentally responsible option available, Edward Bulmer is unmatched. The colour palette is warm and earthy, drawing on historical pigments.

Which Should You Choose?

Our recommendation depends on the project:

• For a period property in a conservation area where historical accuracy matters, choose Little Greene for its English Heritage palette and lime paint options. Our heritage painting team has extensive experience with both.
• For a contemporary interior where visual drama and colour depth are paramount, Farrow & Ball remains exceptional.
• For a busy family home where durability matters, Little Greene Intelligent range offers the best combination of aesthetics and practicality.
• For woodwork and doors, we lean towards Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell for its excellent levelling and durability.
• For a full house redecoration, both brands work beautifully, and many of our most successful projects combine colours from both palettes.

Final Thoughts

The honest answer is that both Little Greene and Farrow & Ball produce outstanding paints. You will not be disappointed by either. The differences between them are real but relatively subtle, and the best choice depends on your priorities: colour depth, durability, environmental credentials, historical accuracy, or budget.

What matters far more than the brand name on the tin is the quality of surface preparation and the skill of application. A well-prepared surface painted with either brand will look magnificent. A poorly prepared surface will look poor regardless of how much you spend on paint.

If you are planning a decorating project in London and would like advice on paint selection, colour schemes, or any aspect of interior or exterior painting, our team is always happy to help. We work with all the premium paint brands and can recommend the best product for your specific property and requirements.