Paint Color Matching

Paint color matching has become much easier these days, since most paint stores now have computerized color matching systems. All you need is a sample of what you want matched - the old paint, a piece of fabric or wallpaper, even a competitor's paint swatch.

What if you want to touch-up paint an existing wall but don't know the paint color?

The good news: it is possible to get extremely close. The bad news: it is probably going to be impossible to match the paint color closely enough to do touch-ups. If you do not know the brand or product, there are differences in sheen. Even with flat paints, that will be apparent.

However, all is not lost! You may have to paint the entire wall (hopefully it's not a really huge high wall) but as long as you get close enough, only you will know it's not a perfect match.

If you have no old paint or a sample to bring to the paint store, pick out as many "close enough" color swatches as possible. Hold them up to the wall and pick the closest. If you are careful with "cutting in" the new wall, minor color and tone difference should not matter.

Tip: Err on the side of a little darker. Why? I have had better luck getting a really close match this way. Also, if the color really is too dark, it's easy to lighten it up by adding a little pure white. If the color is too light it's unlikely you'll be able to darken it up unless you have a range of colorants on hand.

Matching trim paint color.

Unless you're sure the paint is pure white (hold a piece of white paper up to it to get an idea) it's often easier to take an actual sample in to the paint store.

For interior trim, try removing a painted heat register, a piece of baseboard from inside a closet, even a piece of door or window hardware if it's been slopped over with paint.

Matching exterior paint colors.

This is usually easy - there is almost always something you can pull off your house to take to the paint store for color matching. A gutter endcap, phone wiring cover, a shutter, fence board...

Matching stain color.

Both interior and exterior stains can be matched as well. These can be trickier because new wood will take the stain differently than the old. The paint store will need a piece of the new wood you are planning on staining as well, to get the best possible match.

-Carina MacDonald

Carina MacDonald has been a painting contractor since
1979 and has tackled everything from large commercial buildings and Victorian homes to faux painting a child s room and wallpapering a bathroom. If it stands still long enough, she can figure out a way to paint it correctly!