5 Tips For Testing Paint Colors

It’s really important to test paint colors before committing to a wall color. Most paint stores sell “testers”, which are small size cans of paint samples that come in a variety of finishes that help you see which one you like best. Here’s a few tips that will help you when testing paint colors.

1) PAINT THE SAMPLES ON THE WALL (Not on boards)

Some people (or their painters) will test colors on white boards. This is not the best way to test colors because the paint looks different on the boards than it does on the walls. The main reason for this is that the texture is different…so the paint reads differently. And, it doesn’t seem to saturate the boards in the same way. Always test your paint on the walls.

2) TEST PAINT AT LEAST A 1’ x 1’ AREA

A good size space is needed in order to see your new potential color accurately. Also, the existing color of the wall will impact how the samples appear. Colors will appear darker when they are against lighter walls and, they will appear lighter when they are against dark walls. It also helps if you paint your samples closer together and if you paint a larger area. Sometimes it is helpful to use a white piece of paper to separate the samples (the white is meant to simulate the color of the baseboard molding).

3) TEST ON MULTIPLE WALLS

Yes, the shades of paint will look different on different walls, depending on the lighting. We advise customers to test on at least 2 walls – one that is well lit and the another wall that gets less light. Also, look at the samples at different times of the day, especially the time of day where to you tend to spend the most time in that room. It’s super important to make sure you test out the paint shades on your own walls in your own lighting.

4) ALWAYS APPLY 2 COATS OF SAMPLE PAINT

When you change the wall color, you need 2 coats of paint (and do not be mislead by some of the cheaper paints at the big box stores which claim that you only need 1 coat of paint). You will need 2 coats…and you may in fact need 3 coats for those paints to be equivalent to 2 coats of Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore.

5) FOR SATURATED OR BRIGHT COLORS TEST WITH A PRIMER COAT

For some saturated or super bright colors, you may need a primer before the 2 coats of paint (e.g. red, burgundy, navy, bright orange, etc.). Be sure to test your paint samples in the same way.

We hope these tips help you find the optimal paint shade for your home. We’d be happy to help you choose your next paint color just call Cobb Brothers at 508-655-7910 or email info@cobbbrothersco.com