Color-Matching Paint Tips For Any Local Home
Finding The Perfect Interior Or Exterior Paint
Color For Your Home In Greater Seattle
Amsberry’s Painting Has The Expert Tips You
Need For Standout Results On Any Home
Matching colors for interior or exterior painting in Seattle can be a lot of fun! But it can also take a major toll on your mental state.
I know for sure because I used to work at a paint store. Every day, I would see customers struggle to find just the right shade for their local home.
Want to avoid these kinds of struggles? At Amsberry’s Painting, experience tells us that by taking a few steps, you can make the process a lot less scary. You’ll also make it much easier to find a color that helps you show your home in its best light.
Matching THE Exterior Paint Color On Another Home
Have you ever driven by drive by a local Seattle house and absolutely loved the paint color? If so, you may want something exactly like it for your own home.
However, it can be very difficult to match that color, especially if you’re trying to do it from memory. The absolute easiest (for some, this may be the hardest) solution is to walk up to that house and knock on the front door. But conversing with strangers isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Is that true for you? You can still do a few things to get you close to the shade you saw.
First, while looking at the house, notice the undertone in the paint. This is the term for the subtle variation that comes from mixing paint colors together. It occurs in all paint that’s not black, white, or a primary color.
What do you see? Is the undertone green, red, gold, or purple? Knowing what to look for can greatly simplify the process of choosing a matching shade in a paint store.
Still not sure? Take a wide variety of samples from the store to compare. This is very important, even if you think you’ve got the right shade.
Why? Because what you may think is the right color could very well turn out not to be.
Matching Your Existing Exterior Or Interior Paint Color
Some homeowners want to match the exact same paint color they already have. This may be true for you if you’re repainting your entire house. You may also need to match colors for spot touch-ups.
Can’t find your original paint can or the color information from your personal records? There’s still hope for you!
In this case, the best way to get the desired color is to take a paint chip no smaller than a quarter in size to a paint store and have it matched. This will probably work unless the color you want is highly unusual.
When you’re matching paint samples in a store, it’s important to stay aware of a few things.
First, remember that people who work in paint stores are just like you and me. While computers play a big part in color matching, humans finish the process. Expecting a match to be done and absolutely perfect in 5 minutes isn’t realistic.
It can work like that sometimes. However, most of the time, about 30 minutes is needed for a really good match. If the store is busy, they may ask you to come back the next day.
Also, the paint store has different lighting than your house does. They can use light bulbs that provide similar lighting. Still, they’re working in a fluorescent environment.
This means that the colors you see may look a little different. Keep that in mind.
In addition, there are some colors that not all stores can match. This is most likely to happen with blues, yellows, and reds that have certain undertones.
Ask the store’s employees if matching your desired color is realistic. If it’s not, don’t be dismayed!
There are plenty of colors in the world. I am sure you can find one that you love!
Extra Tips For Exterior Color Matching
Looking for exterior paint colors for your Seattle-area home? Don’t try to match shades in an indoor setting. Instead, take them outside.
Why? Colors change a ton under different types of lights. Yellow can look green, blue can look purple, and gray can look like the whole rainbow all at once!
Extra Tips For Interior Color Matching
If you’re trying to find an interior color, take the sample of paint you have and move it around in the room you want painted.
This is a great way to see what the color looks like in different lighting. You’d be surprised how much a color can change from one spot to the next. It’s better to find out before the paint goes on your walls!
Sampling Potential Paint Colors
Paint samples are a great way to test whether the color you think you like is actually the color you want. A pint or a quart of your chosen paint typically only costs a few dollars. For this minor expense, you can get a much better idea of what works and what doesn’t.
Be aware that sample paints don’t have the additives that the advertised wall paints have. This means they’re not very durable for long-term use.
Also, the colors of sample cans can be a tiny bit off just due to the size of the sample. If you are very, very particular about the color, then it might be best to have the store match the color you like in a full gallon.
When you come home from the paint store and test your new color sample, use as little paint as possible. If the shade is totally off, you may be able to take the paint back to the store and get it rematched. Unfortunately, if you take a lot of paint out of the sample, the store may make you start over from scratch and pay for another sample.
Your Trusted Residential Painting Experts In Seattle
There are a ton of variables when matching paint. With help from these tips, you should find the process much more straightforward.
Ready to apply your chosen color to your great Seattle home’s exterior or interior? Call Amsberry’s Painting today at (425) 485-7381 for a free estimate. We’re always ready to support your plans and provide you with the best residential painting results available.