Abigail Ahern shares the Farrow & Ball shade you should bring into your garden right now

Garden party season is so close; we can almost smell the sweet combination of our favorite summer flowers and homemade cocktails. However, as our exteriors play host to our friends and family once again, it is even more important than ever to make sure they mirror the style of our modern homes. But fear not, because the queen of maximalism and renowned interior expert Abigail Ahern has shared her favorite hue that we’re rushing to bring into our gardens faster than we can say Aperol Spritz. 

Speaking in a video to her thousands of Instagram followers, the London-based designer revealed the exact color we should bring into our gardens is Farrow & Ball’s Railings. The shade is a softer alternative to black, thanks to its subtle blue undertones. Abigail purchased the color in the ‘Eggshell’ finish, which offers a more relaxed finish to the original formula. 

But what makes this shade so sought-after, and why is it particularly suitable for our gardens? In her aptly named ‘Gardening Club’ video, Abigail reveals all. 

(Image credit: Railings No.31 Estate Eggshell is £28 for 750ml. Available from www.farrow-ball.com)

The designer begins the video by suggesting we should ‘go dark’ when painting our exterior structures, including fences, cabins, and sheds. She demonstrates her argument on a dark-painted cabin, whose dark paint gives the structure an almost camouflage effect. Abigail suggests that because the cabin has ‘gone away,’ the green ‘planting is the grandest thing in the garden’.

‘If you go white or light, you’re de-accenting all your planting. If you go darker, the planting is the king,’ Abigail argues.

‘The eye can’t have two things pulling it and giving it the same attention. So, we want to recede with all our structures – whether that’s cabins or fences or even pots. You want them to go away. Then the planting in the garden looks even more magical than it really is,’ she adds. 

(Image credit: Rockett St George)

Abigail then offers her paint suggestion, saying: ‘I’ve painted this in an exterior eggshell by Farrow and Ball called Railings, but lots of companies do exterior colors. If you go dark, I think your planting will be elevated.’ 

We’re willing to trust any advice from the figure at the very top of the industry, especially when our garden’s reputation hangs in the balance. We thank you, Abigail.