Farrow & Ball's Wood Primer & Undercoat is for use on bare or previously painted interior and exterior wood, including floorboards and knots. It creates a smooth, protective base for their Eggshells, Full Gloss or Dead Flat®. Available in four shades to complement your topcoat for a durable, colour-rich finish.

We recommend using Farrow & Ball Primer & Undercoat wherever you’re using a Farrow & Ball topcoat. Not only is it specially formulated to bring out the very best in their paint, but keeping to the same brand for your priming and painting products will help to avoid any incompatibility issues.

The Farrow & Ball System

Farrow & Ball paint colours are renowned for their depth, complexity, and ability to respond extraordinarily to light.

For an even, long-lasting finish, we recommend following the Farrow & Ball system:

• One coat of their Primer & Undercoat in the recommended tone
• Two coats of your chosen topcoat

Richer Colour

Farrow & Ball Primers & Undercoats are available in four tones:

• White & Light Tones - From classic whites to gentle blues and even sunshine yellows, the White & Light Tones Primer & Undercoat creates a wonderful base for Farrow & Ball's softest shades. Covering imperfections on your surface and adding extra depth of colour, this primer is based on their simplest colour, All White.
• Mid Tones - Based on the colour Bone, using the Mid Tones Primer & Undercoat adds the richest depth of colour to some of Farrow & Ball's best-selling shades. Whether you’re painting your walls in Whirlybird, front door in French Gray or skirting boards in Sulking Room Pink, primer is the all-important first step of your transformation.
• Red & Warm Tones - The Red & Warm Tones Primer & Undercoat is the perfect first step towards truly cosy colour schemes. Based on the shade Porphyry Pink, it makes topcoats look even richer, so you can enjoy the fullest expression of your chosen hue. When paired with shades like Red Earth, Rangwali or Brinjal, the finished look simply radiates a warm welcome.
• Dark Tones - When it comes to using dark colours, the deeper the better. So, for an irresistibly inviting finished look, pair darker shades with the Dark Tones Primer & Undercoat. Based on the colour of Down Pipe, combining this primer with your topcoat creates an unrivalled richness and makes quite the statement.

Each one is made with a careful balance of pigments, and between them they bring out the best in our entire palette of colours, adding richness and depth for that signature Farrow & Ball look.

Find the Farrow & Ball recommended primer tone at the webpage for your chosen paint colour.

Exceptional Coverage

Because they begin with the same rich pigments and water base as our paints, our Primers & Undercoats help your chosen colour to adhere effortlessly to the surface you’re painting, giving you a smooth, even finish and unrivalled coverage. 750ml covers 95 sq. ft. / 1 Gallon covers 480 sq. ft. 

Paint That Cannot Be Matched

Asking ‘can you match Farrow & Ball colours?’ misses everything else that goes into the tin to make their industry defining finishes. They pack their paint with quality minerals, coverage-enhancing pigments and resin (using a much higher proportion than many other brands), ensuring an exceptional base to add colour to.

Key Properties

100% water based - Farrow & Ball's completely water based paint range doesn’t discolour over time like solvent based paints can. So your spaces stay beautiful for longer.

Toy safe - Independently tested and certified toy-safe in accordance with Safety of Toys Part 3: Migration of certain elements (EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021).

Low VOC - All of Farrow & Ball's finishes, including their tough trim and floor paints, are made with a low-odour, low-VOC water base that scores A+ for indoor air quality. 

Ethically Made in Dorset, England

Every single tin of Farrow & Ball paint is handcrafted by their team in Dorset, England. As it has been since they started back in 1946. Each tin of Farrow & Ball is 75 years in the making, with a story and personal touch you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Responsibly Sourced

Farrow & Ball have long-standing relationships with suppliers who share their ethos, and they work with them to ensure that every single one of their ingredients, including their range of pigments, is responsibly sourced and not created or sourced as a result of exploitation.

Learn how to achieve the perfect preparation and application here.