Little Greene is at its best when you want colour with proper depth and history behind it. The brand's strongest hand is greens — 48 of them in our library — backed by 44 neutrals, 28 blues and 22 whites. That's a palette built for period homes, panelling, hallways and rooms where you want a colour to feel considered rather than off-the-shelf.
Where it really earns its keep is the blues and greens. Air Force Blue is a cracking example — a muted, slightly dusty mid-blue that reads as confident without going navy-dark, brilliant on a study or a bedroom feature wall. For something softer and more playful, Hollyhock brings a warm, dusky pink-mauve that flatters north and south light alike, and Mister David is a gentle off-neutral that works as a whole-room backdrop or trim partner. The LRV range across the brand runs from 0.4 right up to 98, so you've got everything from near-black drama to bright whites.
The finish is genuinely good. The Intelligent Matt is washable and tough enough for hallways and kids' rooms, and the Intelligent Eggshell on woodwork is hard-wearing. It's water-based, low-odour, and lays off cleanly — easier to live with than oil-based trim paint.
The "but what about Farrow & Ball" question is the obvious one. Honestly, Little Greene is the smarter buy for most people. You get comparable pigment depth and a heritage story (they work with the National Trust), but at a slightly kinder price, and the washable finishes are more practical than F&B's Estate Emulsion for busy rooms.
Practical advice: order sample pots and paint A2 boards, then move them round the room across the day — Little Greene's greens and blues shift noticeably between morning and evening light. And always use two full coats over a tinted primer for the deep shades, or you'll fight patchiness.