Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Estate Emulsion tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 in a room setting

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 paint in an open tin

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Dead Flat tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.281

FamilyBlue

PrimerDark Tones

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.281

FamilyBlue

PrimerDark Tones

SKU: 5029496012125

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Paint

Name: Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Paint
Brand: Farrow & Ball
SKU: 5029496012125
Price: 34.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

£34.00 Inc VAT

£28.33 Exc VAT

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 is an inky navy named after a Norfolk beach. Traditional in feel, it gives dramatic rooms a more contemporary finish and looks bluer in well lit spaces. Read More

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Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.281

FamilyBlue

PrimerDark Tones

Product Description

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 is an inky navy, named after the Norfolk beach whose mud and cockles share the same deep blue hue. Traditional in feel, it is often chosen in place of Down Pipe to give a richly dramatic room a more contemporary finish.

Farrow & Ball pair Stiffkey Blue with Ammonite as its complementary white, and list it as an accent colour for their Relaxed Neutrals. Their suggested schemes combine it with Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, Mole's Breath and Off-Black, or Wevet and Ammonite.

What colours go well with Stiffkey Blue?

Farrow & Ball suggest Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, Mole's Breath and Off-Black, or Wevet and Ammonite. They note it works particularly well contrasted with Ammonite, its complementary white.

Where to use Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281

Farrow & Ball say Stiffkey Blue is often used to create a richly dramatic space. In well lit areas of the home it will look much bluer, and it works well when contrasted with Ammonite.

Choose Estate Emulsion or Modern Emulsion for walls and ceilings, Dead Flat for a completely flat look across walls and woodwork, and Flat Eggshell, Modern Eggshell or Full Gloss for woodwork and cabinets. For exteriors, choose Exterior Masonry or Exterior Eggshell for breathable, weather-resistant performance. Casein Distemper is also available in this colour.

Colours that go with Stiffkey Blue

Ammonite is the complementary white Farrow & Ball pair with Stiffkey Blue for ceilings and trim. Their suggested colour schemes combine it with:

Suggested scheme

Stiffkey Blue No.281 Cornforth White No.228Accent colour

Purbeck Stone No.275Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Stiffkey Blue No.281 Wevet No.273Accent colour

Ammonite No.274Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Stiffkey Blue No.281 Mole's Breath No.276Accent colour

Off-Black No.57Trim colour

Buy Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 from Rabart

Rabart is an authorised Farrow & Ball stockist, with decorating centres across Wales and the South West of England. All our stores have Farrow & Ball paint mixing machines, so you can usually have Stiffkey Blue mixed in your chosen finish and ready to take home the same day, subject to availability of your chosen finish. Alternatively, order online in a range of finishes and sizes from 750ml to 5L, or try a Farrow & Ball sample pot first.

Specifications by finish

Coverage and recoat times vary by finish. The figures below are from Farrow & Ball's product data sheets for normal conditions; cooler or more humid environments may extend drying times, and darker shades may need an additional coat.

Finish	Best for	Sheen	Coverage per litre	Touch dry	Recoat	Application
Interior Performance Finishes
Dead Flat	Walls & ceilings, woodwork & metal	2%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Modern Emulsion	Walls & ceilings	7%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Flat Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	20%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Modern Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	40%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
Exterior Performance Finishes
Exterior Masonry	Brick, render, concrete, terracotta	2%	Up to 8 m²	2 hours	5 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Exterior Eggshell	Exterior wood and metal, front doors, cladding, fences	20%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
The Estate Range
Estate Emulsion	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas	2%	Up to 14 m²	2 hours	2 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Casein Distemper	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas, historic homes, surfaces that need to breathe	2%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush (not suitable for spraying; roller not recommended on large areas)

Dead Flat

Key Information

CoverageUp to 12 m² per litre
Touch dry2 hours
Recoat4 hours
Application methodBrush, roller or airless spray
Clean-upWarm soapy water
Finish2% sheen (dead flat matt)

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281

Colour story

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 in real homes

See how Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No.281 looks across interior walls, woodwork, exterior facades and more. Click any image to view full size.

Choosing the right Farrow & Ball finish

Every Farrow & Ball colour is available in a range of finishes. The right choice depends on the surface you're painting and how much wear it'll see.

Estate Emulsion

2% sheen

The classic chalky, very matt finish for walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Modern Emulsion

7% sheen

Washable and mould-resistant, ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and family rooms.

Dead Flat

2% sheen

Same matt depth as Estate Emulsion but scrubbable and scuff-resistant. Suitable for walls, woodwork and metal.

Flat Eggshell

20% sheen

F&B's tough new low-sheen finish for interior wood, metal and concrete, including kitchen cabinets, skirtings and floors.

Modern Eggshell

40% sheen

A harder-wearing mid-sheen for woodwork, cabinetry and floors.

Full Gloss

95% sheen

A high-shine finish for interior and exterior wood and metal, including front doors.

Exterior Eggshell

20% sheen

Protects exterior wood and metal with added algae and fungal protection.

Exterior Masonry

2% sheen

A highly breathable matt finish for brick, render and concrete.

Casein Distemper

2% sheen

A breathable, traditional distemper for heritage interiors. Ideal for lime plaster walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Soft Distemper

2% sheen

A soft, powdery traditional finish. Particularly suited to detailed interior plasterwork and period mouldings.

Limewash

2% sheen

A traditional breathable finish for solid lime render exterior walls, and interior walls and ceilings.

Not sure which to choose? Order a sample pot first to test the colour in your own space and light.

Shop Sample Pots

Product Specifications

Brand	Farrow & Ball
Type	Designer Paint
Suitable for	Brush or roller for most finishes. Full Gloss and Casein Distemper are not recommended by roller on large areas
Base	Water-based
Key features	Low odour, low VOC, A+ indoor air quality rating, toy-safe (EN 71-3), 100% water-based
Thinning	Ready to use. On new or bare plaster, Farrow & Ball recommend a 25% diluted coat of the emulsion or Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat first
Number of coats	2 coats recommended. Darker colours may need more
SKU
GTIN / Barcode

Frequently asked questions

What colour goes with Stiffkey Blue?

Farrow & Ball suggest pairing Stiffkey Blue with Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, Mole's Breath and Off-Black, or Wevet and Ammonite. Its complementary white is Ammonite.

What colour is Stiffkey Blue?

Stiffkey Blue is an inky navy. Farrow & Ball describe it as traditional in feel, and it is often used instead of Down Pipe for a dramatic room with a more contemporary finish.

Does Stiffkey Blue look different in different light?

Farrow & Ball say that in well lit areas of the home Stiffkey Blue will appear much bluer.

Where does the name Stiffkey Blue come from?

It is named after the Norfolk beach where the mud and cockles share a particular deep navy hue.

Which primer should I use with Stiffkey Blue No.281?

Farrow & Ball recommend their Dark Tones Primer & Undercoat for Stiffkey Blue. Choose the Wall & Ceiling, Wood or Metal version to suit the surface.