
- BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES HOW TO
- BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES PATCH
- BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES PROFESSIONAL
Give it a minute, and you’ll get an analysis of the color’s makeup for an accurate paint match. By isolating the color, it blocks all sources of external, ambient lighting (which varies throughout the day) and uses its own consistent internal light to get a precise read. These small gadgets, which work in tandem with an app, are quick and easy to use: Press the sensor against the item whose hue you want to replicate-be that painted wall, a swatch of fabric, even a natural object, like a leaf-and the sensor does the rest. Once only within the budgets and skillsets of scientists, handheld color analyzers-including the Nix Mini 2, which sells for under $100-are now widely accessible and within most DIYers’ budgets. It also saves the color profiles for future reference.
BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES PROFESSIONAL
Take fabric or thread in for professional paint color matching.īest For: Finding a virtually true color paint match for essentially any home paint project, including touch ups.Īdvantage: Provides fast and accurate color matches from any object (even stationary ones) and finds paint matches from top paint brands. Use spackle to fill in any depressions or gouges, smooth it with a scraper or dull blade, and let it dry completely before painting the wall.Ģ.
BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES PATCH
Before applying the new paint, remember to patch the spot where you took the sample.Be aware, however, that because most of the big-name paint brands do their best to avoid reproducing a trademarked color, they might not be able to create an exact match, although you should be able to get close enough to fool the untrained eye. At the paint store, staff will use their spectrophotometer to analyze the chip and match it to their brand’s closest color.For best results, you’ll need a chip that’s at least 1 inch square. Using a sharp utility blade, score and remove a small square on a section of painted drywall that’s not too conspicuous.
BEST PLACE TO COLOR MATCH PAINT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES HOW TO
This is how to match wall paint using paint chips from the wall you wish to match: Thankfully, for wall paint, the sheen is usually flat, matte, or eggshell, which offer a closer match than glossier paints. Paint color is different from sheen, and an overly glossy sample can affect how the color is determined, though an analyst will get fairly close using a spectrophotometer, a device that breaks down color into its various wavelengths, and then analyzes them to determine the exact combination of paint pigments needed to recreate the desired color. When all else fails and you need a perfect match for a wall that’s already painted, collect a sample to take to the paint store. If you’re just doing some touch-ups, though, your landlord may provide exact paint matches with paint they already have on hand.īest for: Wall touch ups and painting projects that require a color match that is as true to the source as possible.Īdvantage: The spectrophotometer reads from an actual paint sample instead of a swatch, generating an objective color match. While the landlord may make an exception, be sure to get it in writing to avoid any complications if and when you eventually move out. Your rental agreement may prevent you from personalizing the space with your preferred hues. If you’re renting your home, check in with your landlord to make sure you have permission to paint the property. Matte finishes absorb more light and keeps the color looking relatively consistent, whereas glossier sheens reflect light. The type of paint you use also affects how the paint interacts with light. Light determines how the paint color appears, and light-whether from a window or from a fixture-changes throughout the day, which can affect color matching. There are a few things to know or try before you head to the paint store. RELATED: This Is the Worst Paint Color for Perfectionists Before You Begin

While a 100-percent match is not always possible, these tricks should get you so close to the intended shade that no one will notice any discrepancy (except maybe you). Whatever your situation, there are several ways you can match paint to your desired color. The same process also aids homeowners who are restoring an older home to its original glory, replicating a hue seen on Pinterest, or framing an entire room’s color scheme around a color in a painting or a throw pillow. Of course, that’s not the only time that knowing how to match paint can come in handy.

No matter-you can find success by obtaining a match of your old color. Not sure where that old can of paint went? Or, maybe you found it, but the original paint is too old to use. That’s when you get out the spackling compound, putty knife, and touch-up paint. Over time, your home’s walls accumulate dings, nail holes, even random spots where some not-so-temporary tape pulled away a chunk of paint.
