Color of the weekCalke Green · Farrow & Ball No. 34

Preference Red

Farrow & Ball · No. 297

LRV7.54
Hex#6F4449
RGB111 · 68 · 73
WarmthWarm
UndertoneDeep red with purple and pink notes
FamilyReds
CollectionFarrow & Ball

In real rooms

Credited & tagged

Preference RedF&B No. 297
Design byStudio Keeta
Preference RedF&B No. 297
Design byStudio Keeta
Preference RedF&B No. 297
Design byOlivia Emery
Preference RedF&B No. 297
Design byOlivia Emery
Preference RedF&B No. 297
Design byOlivia Emery
THE COLOR DIGEST · FREE NEWSLETTER

All things color, in your inbox.

Paint colors worth knowing, the rooms they live in, and where color is going — in design, fashion, and beyond. Free, and only when we have something to say.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

How it reads

Preference Red No. 297 is a Baroque red that Farrow & Ball calls the deepest and richest of its reds. It is named after Preference Paints, the company's original trade name.

In the Olivia Emery kitchen on this page, photographed by Boz Gagovski, it covers the cabinetry, including glass-fronted wall cupboards, alongside a green marble splashback and brass pendant lights.

What Preference Red is

Preference Red No. 297 is a Baroque red from Farrow & Ball, which calls it the deepest and richest of its reds. The name nods to Preference Paints, the company's original trade name.

Sophie Chapman of The Vawdrey House, speaking to Livingetc, calls it "a stunning combination of red, purple, and pink all in one".

How it behaves in light

With an LRV around 7.5 (Samplize's figure), it absorbs most of the light that reaches it. Expect a wine or oxblood tone rather than a bright red.

We have not found designer commentary on how it shifts between north- and south-facing rooms, so sample it on the walls or doors you plan to paint.

Where to use it

In the Olivia Emery kitchen on this page, photographed by Boz Gagovski, it covers all the cabinetry, from the tall units to the glass-fronted wall cupboards. Emery told Homes & Gardens the clients "wanted to be really brave with color".

Homes & Gardens also lists it among the best reds for kitchen cabinetry, and Livingetc recommends it for adding depth to small rooms.

What it sits next to

Farrow & Ball suggests Joa's White No. 226 as a partner, and says it also pairs with Paean Black and Sulking Room Pink. In the kitchen here it sits with green marble and brass.

On this site, compare it with Brinjal, Dinner Party and Margaux. Cross-brand, compositepaint.com rates Benjamin Moore Ruby Dusk 1267 as a close match.

Compare

Settled, side by side

Room guidesKitchen paint colors, in real kitchens · Dining room paint colors, in real dining rooms

Questions

What colour is Preference Red?
A deep, rich red. Farrow & Ball calls it the deepest and richest of its reds, and Sophie Chapman of The Vawdrey House describes it to Livingetc as a mix of red, purple and pink.
What is the LRV of Preference Red?
Farrow & Ball does not publish one. Samplize lists 7.54, which makes it a very dark colour.
What colours go with Preference Red?
Farrow & Ball pairs it with Joa's White No. 226 and says it also works with Paean Black and Sulking Room Pink.
Is Preference Red good for kitchen cabinets?
Homes & Gardens recommends it for kitchen cabinetry, and the Olivia Emery kitchen on this page uses it on every cupboard.
Can I use Preference Red in a small room?
Yes. In Livingetc, Sophie Chapman of The Vawdrey House recommends it for adding depth to small rooms.
Why is it called Preference Red?
Farrow & Ball named it after Preference Paints, the company's original trade name.

Painted a room in Preference Red?

Add it to the reference library — credited to you, photographed in honest light.

Feature your project

More red

Reviewed by The Color Digest editors · @thecolordigest
↑ Back to all colors
THE COLOR DIGEST · FREE NEWSLETTER

All things color, in your inbox.

Paint colors worth knowing, the rooms they live in, and where color is going — in design, fashion, and beyond. Free, and only when we have something to say.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

FOLLOW ALONG

@thecolordigest

Every room we publish, the color it's painted, and who painted it — daily on Instagram.

Follow on Instagram →
Room painted in Coat of ArmsRoom painted in TundraRoom painted in Groundhog DayRoom painted in Aegean OliveRoom painted in Le CygneRoom painted in Faded Terracotta