Custom Paint Mixing & Color Matching Guide (2024)

Custom Paint Mixing & Color Matching [Guide](/guides/house-painters/painting-quotes-apartment-guide)

Custom paint mixing helps you select specific shades for your project. This [Guide](/guides/house-painters/painting-quotes-apartment-guide) walks through color selection and application considerations.

Understanding Paint Color Selection

Picking paint colors means working with retailers to find shades that fit your needs. You'll either choose from available options or bring your own reference materials.

Important Considerations for Color Selection

The finish affects the final appearance. Different sheens create different looks on your wall.

Test paint samples in your actual space. Observe how they appear under different lighting conditions throughout the day.

Reordering Paint

Keep information from your original purchase for consistency when reordering.

Here's the thing—color variations can occur between batches.

[Choosing](/guides/house-painters/white-paint-choosing-guide) Paint Retailers

Specialty paint stores may have staff familiar with paint products who can answer color questions.

Expertise varies between locations.

Working With Existing Wall Colors

Paint changes appearance over time.

When matching existing walls, obtain samples from hidden spots (behind switch plates, outlet covers) to see the original color.

Testing Color Samples

Apply samples to movable surfaces so you can view them in different rooms and lighting conditions.

Sample Preparation

When bringing samples to the store, use clean, smooth surfaces. Surface texture and dirt affect color reading.

Let samples dry completely before evaluation.

Paint Selection Options

Major retailers offer color matching services. Different brands use different formulations.

Color Evaluation Tools

Some stores have color evaluation tools available. Ask your retailer about their color assessment options.

⚠️ Common Mistake to Avoid

Two colors can match under store lighting but look different in your home's natural or LED lighting.

View samples in the actual room at different times of day: morning, noon, and evening.

What Most Guides Won't Tell You

Matching a faded wall can be challenging.

Obtain a sample of the original color from a protected area like a closet or behind a switch plate. This sample represents the color before aging and sun exposure.

⚠️ The 'Digital Match' Limitation

In-store color scanners have limitations. These devices may not fully account for how colors appear under your home's specific lighting or on your wall's texture.

Obtain a physical sample, paint it on the actual wall next to the original, let it dry, and view it in different lighting conditions before purchasing larger quantities.

Test on a Board, Not the Wall

Consider [painting](/guides/house-painters/painting-bad-work-guide) test samples on a large, white board instead of directly on your wall. This approach isolates the new color and allows you to move it around the room to test in different light.

⚠️ Common Mistake to Avoid

Color matching requires considering both color and sheen. The same color with the same sheen name may reflect light differently between new and aged paint or between product lines. For seamless results, you may need to repaint larger sections rather than spot-touch.

What Most Guides Won't Tell You

Consider using a paint fandeck (color sample booklet) to find matches. Take it home and compare colors in the room's specific lighting conditions.

⚠️ The Spectrophotometer's Limitations

Color-matching equipment can be affected by sheen, texture, and age of the sample.

Request a small painted sample on a card, let it fully dry, and compare it to your original sample under both store lighting and natural light before purchasing larger quantities.