Railings (31) is a deep charcoal with a strong blue base, and one of the best-loved dark colours on the Farrow & Ball card. Depending on the light it reads as a soft, inky blue or as something much closer to black, and that changeability is exactly why it works so well: it gives a room the weight and definition of black without its hardness.
It is a colour that anchors a scheme. On kitchen cabinets, panelling, a front door or the walls of a small room, it gives everything around it a crisp edge, and it sits as happily beside soft greys and pale blues as it does beside sunny yellows.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Railings (31)
What colour is Railings?
Farrow & Ball describe Railings as a blue-based shade of black, appearing more blue or more discernibly black depending on the light. In bright daylight the blue comes through; by lamplight, or in a north-facing room, it deepens towards charcoal-black.
It is a dark colour by any measure. Farrow & Ball give it a light reflectance value (LRV) of 6.7, so it absorbs most of the light that falls on it. That is what gives a Railings room its cocooning, velvety quality.
Where the name comes from
The name is a clue. Farrow & Ball describe Railings as a softer alternative to black on ironwork, hence its name, and it looks just as right on railings, gates and front doors today. Indoors, that same softness is what makes it easier to live with than a true black.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colours Used: Railings (31), Green Smoke (47)
Where to use Railings
- Kitchen cabinets. Farrow & Ball note it is a great favourite for kitchen cabinets, where it brings a very modern feel. It looks particularly good with brass handles, marble and pale timber.
- Small rooms. On the walls of a study, snug, cloakroom or dining room it makes a bold, sophisticated statement and blurs the corners so the space feels enveloping rather than small.
- Panelling and woodwork. Railings on panelling, skirtings and window frames gives a lighter wall colour a smart, graphic outline.
- Front doors and ironwork. Where its name comes from. Use Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell or Full Gloss outside.
As a dark colour, Railings is best applied over Farrow & Ball primer and undercoat in the Dark Tones shade, which helps it reach full depth. Our primers page lists the options.
Colours that go with Railings
- Cool greys. Pavilion Gray (242) and Manor House Gray (265) make a calm, tonal scheme. Farrow & Ball suggest Manor House Gray as the lighter partner in a scheme of dramatic darker tones with Railings.
- Soft blues. Light Blue (22) and Kittiwake (307) pick up its blue base for a fresher look.
- Pale neutrals. Blackened (2011), its complementary white, and Dimpse (277) give a crisp, contemporary contrast.
- Yellow. Farrow & Ball suggest bright Babouche (223) walls with Railings on furniture or woodwork for a modern twist, and it is equally striking with deep India Yellow (66).
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Railings (31)
Choosing a finish
- Estate Emulsion. A 2% sheen chalky matt that gives Railings its softest, most velvety look on walls.
- Modern Emulsion. A washable 7% sheen matt for kitchens, hallways and busy family rooms.
- Flat Eggshell. A 20% sheen for cabinets, panelling and woodwork.
Be patient with it: Farrow & Ball advise that some darker colours take up to 14 days to reach full hardness, so treat freshly painted cabinets gently for the first fortnight.
Questions we are often asked
Is Railings black or blue?
Both, depending on the light. It is a blue-based black, so it reads bluer in daylight and blacker in the evening.
Railings or Off-Black?
Off-Black (57) is a softer alternative to a true black without the blue undertone. Railings is cooler and more noticeably blue. Sample both side by side.
Will Railings make my room look smaller?
Rarely. In a small room, dark walls blur the edges of the space and make it feel cosy rather than cramped.
