Introduction:
Selecting the perfect paint color for your house can be a thrilling but daunting experience. Paint samples are a godsend, but testing them is as crucial as choosing the color itself. Colors may appear entirely different on a tiny swatch or in the store than when they’re painted on your walls. Lighting, room size, and the existing color all impact how your chosen shade will look in your space.
Testing correctly ensures you find the perfect shade without regrets. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to test paint samples on your wall and make an informed decision that transforms your home into the space you’ve always dreamed of.
Main Content:
1. Paint the Samples on the Wall (Not on Boards)
Although it’s simple to make a mistake and paint samples straight onto a whiteboard, this isn’t an exact method to see how the color will look on the walls.
The appearance of the paint is greatly influenced by the texture of your wall, and painting on a board does not imitate this. The freshly painted shade will also look different depending on the level of light or dark the wall is now. This means that even deeper colors will appear lighter against a white wall, while brighter colors may appear faded out against a dark wall. You can also test directly on the wall to observe how the color affects other components of the space, like your floors, artwork, and furniture.
Pro Tip
Don’t guess at how the color will appear—test it on the wall so you can see the color in its light. A 1-foot square area will provide you with a true sense of how it will look in the room. The real magic of the color happens on the wall, so don’t jeopardize your investment—test it on the wall today!
2. Test on Multiple Walls
One of the most difficult things to deal with when testing paint samples is lighting. Colors can look completely different based on where they are in the room. A color that is perfect on one wall might not be suitable for another, particularly if that wall gets more or less light. You must think about how the paint will look in both bright, natural light and the softer light of the evening.
Testing paint samples on several walls is most important in determining how the color will respond to varying lighting conditions. Test two walls, one that receives good natural light and one that receives less or is affected by artificial light. Spend time looking at the color throughout the day to notice how the varying light impacts the paint.
Pro Tip
Test on several walls for peace of mind. Picture yourself enjoying your color at sunrise and sunset—see the whole picture and understand how it will look in different light conditions. Testing across different light conditions means you can ensure your selected color is just right, regardless of the time of day. Don’t just try one wall—test across several to make the best choice that will get your room sparkling.
3. Always Apply 2 Coats of Paint
It’s easy to put on only one coat of paint samples when testing, but that isn’t sufficient to get the real color. Two coats are necessary for a better representation. The initial coat can appear lighter or mottled, and the real color won’t be fully apparent until you add a second coat. A single coat also doesn’t indicate the ultimate finish—how the paint will look once it settles and completely dries.
When you’re painting with a new color, particularly if it’s significantly different from the last one, two coats of paint guarantee that the color looks rich, even, and uniform. This is also important if you’re transitioning from a very light color to a darker color. The second coat indicates how the color will look once it’s properly saturated, and you get an accurate representation of what the result will be.
Pro Tip
Don’t make your color choice based on half the picture. Use two coats to achieve the full effect! The second coat reveals the depth of the color, allowing you to see its true texture and depth. Two-coat testing guarantees you’re selecting a color you’ll adore once the entire room is complete. Test with two coats today for the best color every time.
4. For Bright or Saturated Colors, Prime
Priming is essential when working with bright or vibrant colors. Reds, oranges, and navy blue are a few bright colors that must be primed to display their full brightness. If you are painting on a dark color without priming, these hues will appear uneven, mottled, or dull.
The primers provide a uniform, smooth surface for painting, ensuring that the paint will stick properly and show as desired. Furthermore, priming ensures that the paint samples will appear bright and rich rather than dimmed by the walls’ older color.
Pro Tip
Want your bold, deep colors to pop? Primer is your secret weapon. It allows your bright or dark hues to appear as vividly as you imagine. Don’t let uneven coverage or a lack of vibrancy stop you from achieving the bold look you love. Test with a primer to ensure your color stands out in all its glory!
5. Choose Your Floor or Carpet Color First
Selecting the color of your carpet or floor is an essential phase before painting color samples. Since the floor serves as the room’s foundation, the color of your walls needs to coordinate with it rather than clash with it. Some of you could be restricting the options and making it more challenging to find the perfect color combination for both if you choose the color of your walls before the color of your floor.
Having your floor already installed gives you the ability to try out how the paint samples play with it. It also means your colors will flow together nicely and create a smooth environment. A wall color can appear different based on the undertones of your floor, so having both in front of you provides a better sense of how they will complement each other.
Pro Tip
Don’t risk getting the color combination wrong. Begin with your flooring and allow it to influence your paint sample selection. A harmonious room begins with a knowledge of how your walls and floors work well together. Ensure your room feels harmonious by selecting your floor color first and allowing that to inform your walls.
Bonus Tip: Test Your Lighting First
Before you even start testing paint samples, take a moment to think about your lighting. Lighting can alter the way your paint appears, so it will look different at different times of day.Natural light, artificial light, and even the direction of the light can influence the way the color is viewed. To prevent surprises, it’s important to test your paint samples in the lighting where you’ll be spending most of your time.
Pro Tip
Want your color to be just right? Try it out in your light first! Light makes all the difference—it shows off the whole depth of your color and makes it feel welcome in your space. Whether it’s the sun streaming in through your windows or the warm glows of your lamps at night, ensure that your color will look wonderful in any situation.
Alternative (Easier Way to Get) Paint Samples:
If you’re in search of a mess-free and hassle-free means of trying paint, turn to peel-and-stick paint samples such as those offered by Samplize. These paint samples are composed of actual paint, and it’s easy to transfer them from wall to wall, trying them out in various sections of your room. They’re also less expensive than other paint samples and don’t call for any brushes, trays, or cleanup.
Pro Tip
Samplize simplifies paint testing like never before! No brushes, no mess, and no additional expense. With peel-and-stick samples, you have a true, precise color preview. Order your Samplize samples today, and simplify and optimize paint testing!
Conclusion:
Selecting the perfect paint samples is more than selecting a color—it’s about testing, confirming, and finalizing your vision for your space.
By doing these crucial things—painting on the wall, testing several walls, applying two coats, primer for light colors, primer for bright colors, and choosing your floor first—you’ll be able to choose a color that’s gonna be just right. Take time to test, and you’ll avoid the frustration and disappointment of choosing the wrong shade. Let’s get started on your home makeover. Test your color samples correctly, and bring your ideal room to life.
