It can be frustrating trying to determine the exact color to match your wall paint. Matching the paint colors gives your home a consistent look. If you’re not the one who painted the walls (or maybe you did it many years ago), here are some practical ways on how to match your wall paint.
1. Find the leftover paint container
If you didn’t finish the last of that paint bucket, then you may have stored it in a garage or kept the container somewhere. Use the details on the container or a labeled lid to help narrow down the previous color used on the walls. From there, use common sense to buy the exact color from either professional painters or your local hardware store.
2. Use paint matching apps
Most of the color matching apps are free and compatible with various devices. Some apps will even let you upload a photo so that you can consult other experts through emails or video chats to ensure you get the exact match. Other apps have a search button which you can use to find your color based on its name, color family or number.
Depending on your device, you can use the app store to download paint color matching apps. Then, purchase the paint from the brand distributor.
Some paint matching apps include:
ColorSnap® Visualizer from Sherwin-Williams (Free)
Paint My Place (Free, but has ads)
ColorSmart by Behr (Free)
3. Peel off a paint chip
Use a sharp razor or box cutter to peel off a chip of paint from the wall. Store the sample in a clean bag and take it to paint experts who will use modern equipment to analyze and pinpoint the exact brand and color.
When you have the chip, you and a painting expert will identify the finish to make sure it matches the color in that particular room. The most common types of finishes are eggshell, satin, gloss, flat, and semi-gloss.
4. Match against a spool or fabric
When in doubt, grab some fabric or a spool of thread that may look identical to your wall. If you have worked meticulously to make your room come together, chances are that some of the fabrics in the room match the walls. Bring the fabric in to a paint specialist and they can identify the color for you quickly.
5. DIY matching
If all fails, you can buy a few small paint samples from your local store and try to test against the wall color to see if it matches.
Note: Be aware that your paint may have slightly different colors than what is displayed or what a specialist recommends to you. This is due to the environment and/or the drying of the paint. Give any wet paint some time to dry before you leap to a brand new match of paint.
If you still can’t figure out paint colors, contact the professional painters at AHC Painting and Remodeling. They can work with you to find the paint that suits you best, along with paint that might be even better.
