Farrow & Ball brushes up its paints after hue and cry

FARROW & Ball has changed its paint formula after customers complained it was difficult to apply and designers and builders refused to use it.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the firm’s head of research disclosed that up to 20 per cent more pigment had been added to its paint pots over the past year to make them more opaque and easier to apply.

It comes after widespread criticism from interior designers and professional decorators over the paint’s finish and application. After finding it more difficult to apply than other paints, many decorators now charge extra to use Farrow & Ball paint, with some refusing to use it altogether.

Gareth Hayfield, Farrow & Ball’s head of research and technical developments, said: “We have added more pigment to our paints to improve coverage and opacity. This is anything from one to 20 per cent more pigment.”

He added: “We are constantly looking at what customers want and we take feedback from all different markets in which we operate.”

Consumers have also admitted they are avoiding buying big pots of Farrow & Ball paint, instead resorting to buying test pots and having them colourmatched by cheaper brands.

A five-litre pot of Farrow and Ball modern emulsion paint retails at £74.50. This compares with five litres of matt emulsion paint from the middle-of-the-road brand Dulux, which is available at Homebase for £26, less than half the price.