Dead Flat® Paint Finish

Walls & Skirting: Red Earth No. 64, painted in Dead Flat®

Dead Flat® is our multi-surface, ultra matt finish for walls, woodwork and metal, with added toughness.

Dead Flat® was developed by Farrow & Ball over 70 years ago to recreate the 18th century ‘flatted lead’ paint effect. This traditional method originally involved teams of artisans painstakingly layering coats of paint to build a deep, rich and pigmented matt look, which was often reserved for the formal reception rooms of a house due to the work involved.

A chance discovery of a tin of Dead Flat® in the early 90s by Tom Helme was a pivotal moment in creating the Farrow & Ball of today; impressed by the simplicity, quality and depth of colour, he sought out the manufacturing company and together they bought it, setting the brand on a renewed path to the future.

Now the research and technology experts have reinterpreted Dead Flat® again, with a breakthrough in chemistry delivering the celebrated historic richness of colour combined with an incredibly durable paint. This new, effortlessly easy-to-use formulation can be painted onto walls, woodwork and metal, making it the ultimate choice for modern homes.