What if you could accurately test paint colors before you invest your time, energy and hard cold cash on a new paint job? We can help you test your paint colors to avoid expensive mistakes.
1. Use a painted poster board to evaluate paint colors instead of a paint swatch.
Undertones are much easier to see when you use a poster board instead of a tiny paint swatch. The poster board should be at least 8.5 x 11, and bigger is better. Make sure that the poster board has 2 coats of paint.Small paint swatches don’t have enough surface area to see enough of the undertones, and since they are printed, they look different than the paint board. Compare all your options to find your favorite.
In the photo below, the color swatch looks MUCH darker than the painted color board behind it. Both colors are Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154.
Color swatch is darker than painted color board
2. Test paint colors in the day with natural light.
Natural light is critical to test the undertones of your paint colors. If it works in natural light, it will look great with artificial light. If the room does not have windows, test after lighting in the room has been finalized. An LED will look different than an incandescent light.
3. Make sure that the surfaces in the room are clean before you test paint colors.
Sometimes a color looks dingy because its dirty, not because its the wrong color for the room. I recommended a wall color once for a bathroom. When the client moved in, they steam cleaned the floor tile, and it changed from pink beige to bright white, and we had to repaint. In another project, we tried to match an exterior white. Once we cleaned it, we chose a much different color.
4. Surround the paint swatch with white and orient the poster the same way it will exist in the room.
When you contrast a test board with white, it removes distraction from the current color. If you are testing a wall, look at the poster vertically. Test the paint colors at different times of day.
6. Move the poster board around the room for interiors, and around the house for exteriors.
View the color next to hard finishes, furniture and art. Make sure that it looks right on every wall.
7. Give yourself at least one day to make your decision.
Test the paint colors at different times of day. Morning, noon and evening light varies and can make the color look different.
8. Test your final color choice on the wall.
The easiest way to see your colors is to isolate it in a large section, next to the hard or existing finishes you need to match. Also consider painting white around the edges so that you can isolate the color more effectively.
For an exterior, consider painting a trim color and wall color around a window that is near existing brick or stone. The following would be a good area to test, even if you can only reach the bottom area.
For an interior, consider painting around a window, from the base molding to the corner.
A color test can be easy and accurate if you follow these steps!
If you are not sure about perfect paint color for your home or office, Hire Us for E-Color Online Color Consulting Packages, or In-Person Color Consulting in the Denver Metro Area.
