How To Use Paint Samples To Choose Your Room's Paint Color

Even if you are fairly sure what color you want to paint a room, you should always run a test to make sure the end result will look the way you think it will. Buying a few paint samples is the absolute best way to do this.

Paint samples come in 1 pint cans. This should give you enough coverage to get a decent idea what the color will look like if you decide to paint the full room with it. It’s a good idea to narrow your choices down to 2-3 colors before taking on this step.

Choose a spot close to the trim of a door/window or a crown, so you can see how the colors will play off each other. If you don’t wish to paint on your walls, you can paint on a large, foam poster board instead. This will allow you the added benefit of being able to lay it against different walls to see how the light will effect the color in different parts of the room. Painting on a board will also remove some clean-up steps afterwards.

Be aware; paint samples are satin finish only. While you should still be able to get a good idea if the paint choice will work for your project, just remember the sheen may be different in the final paint when judging the overall look of the test patch.

You may need to apply a second coat to get a true impression of what the paint color will look like, as a single coat may still have some of the previous color showing through.

Consider leaving the paint on the wall for 24 – 48 hours. Not only will you be sure it is fully dried (the color CAN look different when wet), but you will be able to view the paint under different lighting conditions, such as the different qualities of daylight or in near dark. You may also want to try different bulbs in the room to see what the color looks like under different light temperatures. For more information on lighting temperatures, Click Here!

Hopefully with this test you have a definitive idea of the color you want to paint your room. For tips on painting a room once you've chosen a color, please Click Here!