Hague Blue (30) is a deep, dark blue with green undertones from Farrow & Ball. Farrow & Ball describe it as a timeless, deep and dramatic blue that takes its name from the fantastically coloured woodwork much used by the Dutch, and say its green undertones mean it sits as happily outside as it does in small, dark rooms. It is one of the Farrow & Ball blues our customers order most often.
What makes it so useful is that balance. It is dark enough to feel serious and grown up, and the green undertone keeps it from feeling cold. Like every deep colour, it shifts with the light, so it will look different on a bright morning and on a winter evening. It suits period houses and modern ones equally well.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Hague Blue (30)
Where to use Hague Blue
- Small, dark rooms. Rather than fighting a lack of light, Hague Blue embraces it. Studies, snugs, cloakrooms and dining rooms become cocooning, particularly when the colour runs over walls, woodwork and ceiling.
- Skirtings and woodwork. Farrow & Ball suggest it to ground skirtings, a quietly confident way to bring the colour into a lighter room.
- An accent wall. Farrow & Ball pair it with Borrowed Light (235) for an accent wall, the pale blue keeping the rest of the room light.
- Kitchens and joinery. Cabinetry, an island or a run of built-in shelving in Hague Blue looks smart against brass, oak and marble.
- Outside. Front doors, window frames and garden walls. The green undertone sits comfortably with brick and planting.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Borrowed Light (235)
Which finish to choose
Hague Blue is available across Farrow & Ball's interior and exterior finishes. Because it is a dark colour, Farrow & Ball recommend their Dark Tones Primer & Undercoat underneath, and darker colours may need an extra topcoat for full depth.
- Walls and ceilings. Estate Emulsion gives the chalky 2% matt finish that shows Hague Blue at its richest. Modern Emulsion (7%) is the easy-to-clean choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
- A full drench. Dead Flat covers walls, woodwork and metal in one 2% matt finish. Farrow & Ball note that its matt finish makes dark colours even richer. Allow up to two weeks for darker colours to fully harden.
- Woodwork. Flat Eggshell (20% sheen) for skirtings and doors, or the tougher Modern Eggshell (40%) for kitchen cabinets and furniture.
- Outside. Exterior Eggshell (20%) for front doors, window frames and railings, and Exterior Masonry (2%) for brick, render and concrete.
Two coats is the starting point, over the correct primer. You can find them with our Farrow & Ball primers and undercoats.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Wevet (273)
Colours that pair with Hague Blue
Farrow & Ball choose Wevet (273), a clean, cool white with grey undertones, as its complementary white. For a fuller scheme, they suggest Hague Blue walls with Lulworth Blue (89) on the trim and Parma Gray (27) as an accent, or Borrowed Light (235) on the trim with Skylight (205) as the accent.
Hague Blue also sits well beside colours from the other brands we stock. These are our own suggestions:
- Little Greene Slaked Lime (105). A mineral off-white that softens the contrast on ceilings and woodwork.
- Little Greene White Lead (74). An aged, creamy white that warms Hague Blue and reads as a balanced white beside strong colour.
- Paint & Paper Library Stone I (201). A soft, warm neutral for an adjoining room or hallway, so the blue feels part of a calm whole.
- Paint & Paper Library Capuchin (289). A warm, ochre-leaning white that pairs well with oak and natural textures alongside a dark blue.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colour Used: Stone I (201)
A sampling tip
Dark blues are notoriously hard to judge from a screen or a small chip, and the green in Hague Blue shows more in some lights than others. Paint two coats onto a large sheet of lining paper and look at it on the darkest wall and the brightest, in daylight and again in the evening with the lamps on.
Sample it beside its neighbours too. Farrow & Ball suggest De Nimes (299) and Selvedge (306) as lighter alternatives, and Stiffkey Blue (281) and Inchyra Blue (289) as darker, moodier ones. Seeing two or three side by side on separate boards, rather than patched together on one wall, makes the decision much clearer. Our guide to choosing colours by room orientation explains how your light will shift it.
Questions we are often asked
Is Hague Blue navy?
Not quite. Farrow & Ball describe it as a deep, dark blue with green undertones, and that green is what sets it apart from a straightforward navy.
Will Hague Blue make a small room feel smaller?
It will make the room feel more enclosed, which is usually the point. Painting the ceiling and woodwork in the same colour blurs the edges of the room, so it feels intentional rather than cramped.
Can I use Hague Blue on a front door?
Yes. Farrow & Ball say it sits as happily outside as inside. Use Exterior Eggshell over the appropriate exterior primer.
