C2 Paint and Farrow & Ball are both premium paint brands available at Randall’s, but they approach colour and product selection differently. C2 emphasizes artisan pigments, a broad colour palette, and products developed for different interior and exterior applications. Farrow & Ball combines a curated colour palette with distinctive finishes designed for different surfaces and levels of durability.
That means the better choice is not simply a question of which brand is "best." It depends on the colour you prefer, the surface you are painting, the finish you want, and how much everyday wear the room receives.
Randall’s carries both C2 Paint and Farrow & Ball, allowing homeowners to compare the two brands according to the needs of a particular project.
What Is C2 Paint?
C2 is a premium paint brand carried by Randall’s with products for a variety of interior and exterior projects.
The Randall’s C2 range includes products such as:
- C2 Luxe Interior Paint
- C2 Studio Interior Paint
- C2 Cabinet and Trim Paint
- C2 Ceiling Paint
- Exterior C2 products
- C2 primers and related products
Randall’s describes C2 Luxe as its staff's top pick for wall paint and highlights characteristics including hiding, adhesion, washability, artisan pigments, and luminous colour.
You can explore C2 Luxe Interior Paint if you are comparing premium interior wall options.
What Is Farrow & Ball Paint?
Farrow & Ball is a premium paint and wallpaper brand known for its curated colour palette and range of named finishes.
Rather than choosing only a colour and a conventional sheen, Farrow & Ball offers specific finishes intended for different interior surfaces and performance requirements.
The range includes finishes such as:
- Dead Flat
- Modern Emulsion
- Estate Emulsion
- Modern Eggshell
- Full Gloss
The correct finish depends on whether you are painting walls, ceilings, trim, woodwork, cabinetry, or another appropriate surface.
What Is the Main Difference Between C2 and Farrow & Ball?
One important difference is how each brand organizes its paint offering.
C2 gives homeowners a broad colour system and several separate paint products for different applications and performance levels.
Farrow & Ball combines its colour palette with a distinctive range of named finishes.
In practice, this means a C2 customer may begin by choosing between products such as C2 Luxe and C2 Studio, while a Farrow & Ball customer may spend more time deciding whether a finish such as Dead Flat or Modern Emulsion best suits the room.
Both systems offer flexibility, but they approach the decision differently.
Which Brand Offers More Colour Choices?
C2 offers the larger palette.
Randall’s presents more than 500 C2 colour options through its C2 paint colours.
Farrow & Ball uses a more curated palette.
A larger palette can be useful when you need a very specific shade or undertone. A smaller curated palette can make the decision process easier if too many similar choices become overwhelming.
Neither approach is automatically better.
What Is C2 Luxe?
C2 Luxe is a premium interior paint carried by Randall’s.
Randall’s highlights:
- Exceptional hiding
- Adhesion
- Washability
- Artisan pigments
- Luminous colour
- Multiple sheen options
This makes it a useful C2 option when performance and colour are both important.
What Is Farrow & Ball Dead Flat?
Farrow & Ball Dead Flat is an ultra-matte finish with approximately 2% sheen.
Randall’s describes it as:
- Multi-surface
- Washable
- Scuff resistant
- Water based
- Low odour
- Suitable for walls, woodwork, and metal
Its very low sheen gives it a particularly soft, matte appearance.
What Is Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion?
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion is a durable interior finish with approximately 7% sheen.
Randall’s describes it as:
- Matt
- Scuff resistant
- Stain resistant
- Mould protected
- Washable
- Wipeable
This makes it better suited to demanding rooms where regular cleaning is important.
Which Is Better for Living Rooms?
Either brand can work well.
C2 Luxe is a strong option if you want a premium interior paint with a broad choice of colours and sheens.
Farrow & Ball gives you the choice between finishes such as Dead Flat and Modern Emulsion depending on whether you prioritize an ultra-matte appearance or stronger everyday durability.
A quieter formal living room may allow you to prioritize appearance.
A busy family room may place more emphasis on washability and scuff resistance.
Which Is Better for Bedrooms?
Both brands offer suitable options for bedrooms.
Bedrooms usually experience less wall contact than hallways, kitchens, or family rooms, so you have more freedom to prioritize colour and finish.
You might choose C2 because a particular colour or sheen suits the room, or Farrow & Ball because you prefer one of its specific colour and finish combinations.
Which Is Better for High-Traffic Rooms?
The specific product matters more than the brand.
Within the C2 range, C2 Luxe is designed with washability and durability in mind.
Within Farrow & Ball, Modern Emulsion is specifically described by Randall’s as scuff resistant, stain resistant, washable, and wipeable.
For hallways, family rooms, kitchens, or other busy areas, compare the actual product characteristics rather than choosing based only on brand reputation.
Which Is Better for Kitchens?
For kitchen walls, durability and cleanability should be important parts of the decision.
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion is designed for demanding interior walls and is washable, wipeable, stain resistant, and mould protected.
C2 also offers interior products and several sheens, allowing the coating to be selected according to the surface and room requirements.
For cabinets and trim, a specialized product is more appropriate than assuming wall paint should be used everywhere.
Randall’s carries C2 Cabinet and Trim Paint for those harder-wearing surfaces.
Which Is Better for Trim and Woodwork?
Both brands have options intended for trim and woodwork.
C2 offers a dedicated Cabinet and Trim Paint.
Farrow & Ball offers Modern Eggshell for harder-wearing interior surfaces such as woodwork.
The decision can depend on:
- Desired colour
- Desired sheen
- Surface type
- Level of use
- Whether walls and trim should coordinate
Which Brand Is Better for Very Matte Walls?
Farrow & Ball Dead Flat is particularly strong when an ultra-matte appearance is the main goal.
Randall’s lists Dead Flat at approximately 2% sheen.
C2 Luxe is also available in Matte, but the visual result is not identical because the products use different formulations and sheen systems.
If an extremely low-reflection appearance matters, compare actual samples rather than relying only on terms such as "flat" or "matte."
Which Brand Is Better for Washable Walls?
Both brands offer washable products.
Randall’s specifically highlights washability for C2 Luxe.
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion is also described as washable and wipeable, along with being stain and scuff resistant.
The right choice therefore depends on the room, finish, colour, and other performance requirements rather than assuming one entire brand is more washable than the other.
Can You Use C2 and Farrow & Ball in the Same Home?
Yes.
There is no requirement to use one paint brand throughout an entire home.
You may prefer one Farrow & Ball colour in a bedroom or dining room while using C2 in another part of the house.
The important consideration is whether the colours and finishes work together across connected spaces.
How Should You Compare the Colours?
Compare the actual colours in the room where they will be used.
Look at them:
- In daylight
- In evening light
- Beside flooring
- Beside furniture
- Against trim
- Near cabinetry
- Beside adjoining rooms
Paint colours can appear different as lighting and surrounding materials change.
Randall’s guide to testing paint colours before committing provides additional guidance on evaluating samples at home.
What Else Should You Know About C2?
If you want a broader introduction to the brand before comparing individual products, Randall’s article What Is C2 Paint? explains the range and colour system in more detail.
This is useful if you are deciding between C2 products rather than simply comparing C2 with another brand.
What Else Should You Know About Farrow & Ball?
Randall’s also has a dedicated guide to Farrow & Ball Paint in Ottawa covering the brand's positioning, colours, and finishes in more detail.
That article is useful if you want to understand the broader Farrow & Ball range before deciding between individual finishes.
How Do You Choose Between C2 and Farrow & Ball?
Start with the actual project.
Ask:
- Which colour do I prefer?
- What surface am I painting?
- How much cleaning will the room require?
- What sheen do I want?
- Do I want an ultra-matte finish?
- How much colour choice do I want?
- Am I painting walls, trim, cabinetry, or several surfaces?
- Which product best matches the performance requirements?
Once those questions are answered, the better option often becomes much clearer.
Final Thoughts
C2 and Farrow & Ball are both premium paint options available at Randall’s, but they offer different ways to approach colour and finish.
C2 provides a broad colour palette and multiple paint products for different applications. Farrow & Ball combines a curated colour palette with a distinctive range of finishes such as Dead Flat, Modern Emulsion, and Modern Eggshell.
Rather than deciding that one brand is universally better, compare the exact colour, surface, sheen, durability, and appearance needed for your project.
Plan your paint project with Randall’s: