4 Tips for Testing Paint Colors for Your Home

One of the hardest parts of the process of repainting your home is finding the perfect color or shade of color to achieve a cohesive, welcoming space. You’ll need to keep the color of your furniture, décor, and existing art in mind as you choose. It’s also a good idea to use the four tips and tricks listed below as you’re testing paint colors so you don’t create more work for yourself and find the one that’s best-suited for your space.  

 Don’t Paint Directly on Your Wall

You may be tempted to paint directly over your current wall color, but that will ultimately create more work for you. Once you’ve decided on two or three shades that you want to sample, create a giant sample board and attach it to your wall. You can purchase a small piece of sample-sized drywall from your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, and that should work just fine. This will ensure that the paint will saturate the board nearly identically to your actual wall, revealing similar results as when you paint your room.

Check Your Paint Sample Throughout the Day

Different shades of colors have different undertones, for example, a gray can have undertones of purple or blue. You may not notice these undertones initially, which is why it’s important to sample your paints beforehand. You’ll need to go back to your paint sample throughout the day, when the natural lighting is hitting it at different angles, to see its full spectrum of undertones and color.

Take Advantage of Paint-Testing Apps & Programs       

Another great resource to help you determine what paint color is best for you are the countless smartphone apps and programs that you can find in the paint section of your local home improvement store. One great program that you can download on your phone is the ProjectColor app from Home Depot. It allows you to virtually “paint” your room the color you’re interested in, showing you a digital rendition of the results you’re hoping to achieve. This is a great way to narrow your paint color options down if you’re still debating between quite a few.

Consider Natural & Artificial Lighting

Along with furniture, décor, and fixtures that are going to stick around after you paint your home, you’ll also need to consider artificial and natural lighting sources. You’d be surprised just how differently a color can appear in various types of light. If you’re going to be replacing fixtures with new light bulbs, you might want to purchase a white and yellow light to compare how the paint will differ in each lighting. If you’re also remodeling your home and planning to add a new window or two, it may be a better idea to wait until your window is installed before sampling the paint so you can get a more accurate view of how it will look with the added natural lighting.

With so many factors to consider, the process of choosing a paint color can be exhausting. Fortunately, there’s always one more knowledgeable resource you can rely on if you get stuck in a rut, and that’s your professional painter. They’ve painted so many houses that they’ll be able to offer you sound advice and a trusted opinion, so long as you ask for it!

About Platinum Painting of Arlington

At Platinum Painting of Arlington, our helpful and friendly team of residential painting experts are more than happy to assist you in picking out paint. Our work comes with a satisfaction guarantee, and our team is completely bonded and insured for your peace-of-mind. We have ample experience with interior and exterior painting, kitchen cabinet painting and staining, and popcorn ceiling removal. For questions or to schedule your free estimate, visit our website or call 817-983-7280.