Studio Green (93) is the darkest green in the Farrow & Ball palette: a deep, rich forest green with so much depth that indoors it can look almost black. It is a superb colour for feature walls, panelling, kitchen units and painted furniture, anywhere you want the drama of a near-black with the warmth and life of green.
It also has one of the nicest stories in the Farrow & Ball archive, and a way of changing character with the light that makes it far more interesting than a plain dark colour. Below we look at what the colour really is, where it works best, how to use it on furniture and joinery, and the colours that suit it.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Studio Green (93)
What colour is Studio Green?
Studio Green is a very deep green with a good deal of black in it. Farrow & Ball note that indoors it can appear almost black, while outdoors it takes on a much greener hue. In a room, the green shows most where daylight falls across it and recedes into near-black in the corners and at night.
Farrow & Ball give it a light reflectance value (LRV) of 6.9, placing it among their darkest shades. It is a colour that absorbs light rather than reflecting it, which is what gives a Studio Green room its enveloping, velvety feel.
Where the name comes from
According to Farrow & Ball, the colour is taken from the studio in which the company's original palette of colours was mixed. It is a fitting origin for a shade that has become one of their classics.
If you like the idea but want a little less depth, Carriage Green (94) is an Archive colour with slightly less black pigment, and Chine Green (35) is another intensely deep green that Farrow & Ball say rivals Studio Green.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Studio Green (93)
Studio Green for feature walls
A single wall in Studio Green behind a sofa, bed or dining table gives a room an immediate focal point. It is especially good as a backdrop for artwork in gilt frames, open shelves of books and plants, whose greens come alive against it.
For a more immersive look, take it across all the walls of a smaller room such as a study, snug or dining room, and consider the woodwork and ceiling too. Dark colours often look better used generously than in small amounts. Painting the skirtings and door frames in the same colour, in a tougher finish, keeps the room calm and lets the depth of the green do the work. Farrow & Ball recommend their primer and undercoat in the Dark Tones shade underneath; see our primers page.
Studio Green on furniture and joinery
Studio Green is a natural choice for kitchen cabinets, bookcases, built-in wardrobes and freestanding furniture. It looks rich beside brass, aged bronze and warm timber.
- Finish. Use Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell, a 20% sheen finish for wood and metal.
- Preparation. Clean, sand lightly and prime with the appropriate Farrow & Ball primer and undercoat for the surface.
- Patience. Farrow & Ball advise that some darker colours take up to 14 days to achieve full hardness, so treat new cabinet doors gently for the first fortnight.
If your furniture is laminate or melamine, our guide to painting IKEA furniture explains the options for those trickier surfaces.
Colours to pair with Studio Green
- Soft, traditional whites. Off-White (3) is its complementary white. Old White (4) and Light Gray (17) give a gentler, more period feel.
- A warm contrast. Bone (15) with a touch of Radicchio (96) makes a confident, slightly unexpected scheme.
- Layered darks. Card Room Green (79) and Railings (31) build a rich, tonal palette for those who love depth.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Chine Green (35)
Questions we are often asked
Is Studio Green too dark for a small room?
Not if you commit to it. Used across the whole room, it makes small spaces feel enveloping and intentional.
Can I use Studio Green outside?
Yes. Farrow & Ball note it looks much greener outdoors. Use Exterior Eggshell on doors and joinery.
Which finish for walls?
Estate Emulsion for the deepest, chalkiest look, or Modern Emulsion where you need something washable.
