Thanks to new technology, it's easier than ever to find a paint match
When you need to match wall paint colors, you can’t just wing it. Like the actual process of painting, there’s an art to knowing how to match a paint color already on your wall.
Patching a wall can be a terrific solution to many household problems. It can fill the hole where an old family photo used to live, fix a spot where your handyperson cut into the wall to repair some old wiring, or mend other similar blemishes on your wall. After patching, however, you’ll likely have a mark that doesn’t match the original paint color you chose for your house.
Here are several surefire methods to turn a patch from unsightly to imperceptible with a near-perfect paint match.
Paint color matching is the process of finding a match (or getting really, really close) between the color on your wall or on a piece of furniture and a new can of paint. This allows you to paint more walls that color, patch up blemishes on your existing wall, or match a table to another object of the same color.
There are a lot of methods you can use to color match, but the reality is, if you don’t know the brand of paint and the exact color, the match may not be 100% spot-on. Different brands often use completely different formulations for a similar color, so what looks like it might be a perfect match on paper might be a completely different story when it goes up on the wall.
But with advanced tools, such as spectrophotometers (say that five times fast) and special paint color matching apps, you can get really, really close. If really, really close isn’t your goal, you might consider repainting the whole room a new color for a fresh look.
There are a few details to note before you follow any of our tips for matching paint color. These factors can change the way color appears, both to the naked eye and to a tool:
Lighting can change the way a color looks to our eyes for two main reasons:
Some colors, like black, absorb light, while others (white) do not. To make things even more complicated, blue absorbs red. This is why it’s incredibly difficult to get a good paint match by eyeballing it, but if you’re an expert at color theory, you may stand a better chance.
Natural light is not the same in any room for the entirety of the day; you’ll likely have the most natural light at noon, with less in the morning and in the early evening. Sunlight will alter how the color looks on your wall, as will the addition of artificial lighting.
When you’re trying to color-match, look at the wall or object when there’s bright, natural light in the room. This is as close as you can get to seeing the color’s “true” shade.
Note what paint sheen level your wall has: flat/matte, satin, eggshell, semi-gloss, or high-gloss. Your paint mixer will need to know this, as well, as matte finishes absorb more light and keep the paint color looking more uniform, while glossier finishes reflect light.
If the original paint can is unopened, you’re in luck. Without exposure to air, most latex and water-based paints can last up to 10 years. Alkyd and oil-based varieties can even last 15 years. If you’re in the safe window, open the paint and test it to be sure it hasn’t spoiled. If, after stirring, it feels lumpy or grainy, it may be time to dispose of the old paint and buy more.
Even if your paint has spoiled, you can still use the can as a reference to create a match at your local hardware store.
If you threw out that old paint can in last year’s spring cleaning, try these methods to find a paint color match that you and your walls can agree on.
If you don’t have your old paint can, you can cut a small piece of drywall from a low-visibility area (behind the couch, next to an outlet, in a closet, etc.) using a utility blade. After cutting the area, apply a joint drywall compound over the bare section, and sand it down once it’s dry.
Bring the paint chip you cut into your local paint or hardware store to let a pro match the existing paint color on your wall. Most paint shops and hardware stores need at least a 1-inch square to work with. Your paint professional will use a spectrophotometer (a color-matching scanner) to analyze your sample. Then, all that’s left to do is buy your color match and touch up your wall.
Note: If you have lath-and-plaster walls, this process is a bit more complicated. Plaster tends to crumble, so try cutting to the lath with a jab saw and then scraping the plaster behind the paint. Put down a tarp below your work area to save yourself lots of cleaning time; this is a messy process!
Best for: touch-ups that require finding the most accurate match to your current wall color
Another way to match the color is to remove an outlet cover or vent that’s painted the same shade as the wall and bring that into a paint store. Make sure to keep any hardware, like nails and screws, in a safe place so you can easily reapply them later.
Best for: touch-ups that require finding the most accurate match to your current wall color
Many of the major paint companies offer apps that will help you match the right color for your wall. It’s much easier than going back and forth to the store to pick up and return paint chip samples, but note that the color might appear different in person, depending on your screen’s resolution, brightness, and other factors. For the best results, take the photo for the app using natural lighting only.
Best for: painting an entire wall or other object based on a color-match of an object, image, wall, or swatch
There are many sensors on the market these days, and most use Bluetooth® and your smartphone to match a photo you upload with paint colors from several brands. Since the sensors “read” the color with their own light source, they can be more reliable than using a photo taken with your phone, and many sell for as little as $50.
Many color sensors conveniently have their own apps associated with them. Once you’ve scanned your paint sample and the sensor has read the color, it will then provide you with tons of potential matches based on its readings. Some sensors use different categories or star ratings to indicate how close the sensor believes each color is to the original color you scanned, allowing you to make the final decision on which color you want to purchase.
Best for: finding the most accurate match using any object; designers who want to invest in a tool for multiple projects
If none of the options above are available, look for a favorite t-shirt, sweater, towel, or something else in the house that’s the same shade as the wall. You can bring this into the store for a pro to match using the spectrophotometer. Not having any luck with clothes? You can also use thread or almost anything else that has the magical matching color you want.
Best for: coordinating colors with furniture or accents; finding a paint color to match an item you love
Store-bought paint chips can help you sample multiple colors at one time to find the closest match. You can also leave the color chips up throughout the day to check how well they match under different levels and kinds of light. The right color should look closest to your wall’s color under bright, natural light.
Once you’ve narrowed the pool to the closest matches, you can buy sample pots to paint a small section of your wall and find the perfect fit.
Best for: when you know the brand of paint you already have
Many smartphones now have very high-quality HD cameras that can pick up on subtle color differences. Take a photo of your wall when natural light is illuminating it, and see if the paint store can use the spectrophotometer to find a match. The match won’t be perfect, but it’s possible you can come close. This is one step better than using the “eyeballing” method we’ll cover next (though it likely doesn’t need any explanation).
Best for: approximate matching for painting an entire wall or object
Though this isn’t the best way to match paint, if you’re good with “close enough” for the final match, it’s fine to eyeball the color and try and find the best match after flipping through paint swatches. This is a simple, straightforward way to find a color you saw once on an interior decorator’s Instagram account or one your sibling used in their new bathroom.
Many paint stores get vague, open-ended requests for colors, so it’s fine to ask them to give you something akin to “a stormy night at sea” and see what samples they come up with; if you have a photo of the hue you’re after, that’s even better.
Best for: approximate matching for painting an entire wall or object
As you try some of the methods listed above, make sure to also follow these tips to ensure you have the best match possible:
Before buying gallons and rolling out the tarp, test the new paint on a small piece of wood and hold it up to the wall to see how it looks.
Always get your paint matched in natural, bright light.
If you started with a premium brand, stick with a premium brand; cheaper paint can have less depth and richness.
You can usually get free, or very inexpensive, help from a local paint store to match a color, and once you do, you can choose to complete the paint job yourself or hire a professional. One thing to note: Some local painting companies may prefer to work with one specific brand or a small handful of brands, so be sure to ask what their preference is before buying a ton of paint.
The cost to paint the interior of your house with professional help is $2.75 per square foot, on average. This can be a worthwhile investment if you’re not physically able to paint your space or need it done quicker than you would be able to do it.
Paint stores typically need a 1-inch square of paint to be able to match it to a new paint (so make sure to grab a sample in an inconspicuous spot, like behind the sofa or television). The store will use its spectrophotometer to match the paint and mix your new paint.
It can come close, and it’s known to be about 90% accurate if you have the original color (via a paint chip) and a spectrophotometer, which has between 16 and 31 color filters, depending on the model. That said, many brands are developing proprietary color blends, making matching increasingly more difficult.
Usually, it will cost money to get paint samples, which is a good reason to go into the paint store with an idea of what you want. Typically, you will pay $5 or less for a paint sample. Occasionally, a company will allow a certain number of samples for free before charging you for additional ones, but check with your local store to see what their policies are.
