Ways to Test Paint Colors Before Deciding the Paint for an Entire Home

Painting an entire home can transform its appearance. Each color has a distinctive character that affects the interior appeal. Furniture, paintings, decorations, home appliances, and other household items blend in or stand out differently depending on the color scheme. This makes testing a paint color before committing to it crucial to the home decorating process.

Use poster boards

To see how a particular paint color blends with the interior, buy large poster boards. Paint them with different colors and tape them to the wall. Then, move the poster boards around the house to see how each paint color fits. Be sure to apply two coats on poster boards, though. This will give you the closest idea of how the paint color will look on the walls.

Consider the lighting

Daylight has a significant impact on paint color. The same color may have different tones in the morning and the evening. Therefore, observe how the color on the poster boards behaves throughout the day.

The light coming from the interior lighting brings out or dampens color. If you like a particular paint color in the daylight, but not once the lights are switched on in the evening, try changing the lightbulbs. The effort is relatively small compared to finding a paint that fits both with daylight and interior lights.

Apply the paint directly on a wall

If the poster boards aren’t helpful, apply a few strokes of different paint colors on the wall. This is the best way to see how a paint color will actually look. The appearance of a paint color depends on the existing wall color as well.

Analyze and compare color textures and tones. Light colors appear darker when painted over dark colors, even with two or more coats. Conversely, dark colors won’t be as dark as they are on the paint swatch once applied to a light surface.

When testing paint color samples, don’t forget to apply two coats and wait for the paint to dry. As with the poster boards, inspect the color at different times of the day.

After comparing the color samples, remove them with sandpaper and paint the walls with your paint choice.

Clean the walls

Sometimes the problem doesn’t lie in the paint, but the walls instead. Even the tiniest layer of dust can affect the color tone. Ensure that the walls are clean before applying paint to get the most out of any paint color.

Give it time

Never make a decision on the spot. Painting an entire home is a time-consuming endeavor, so be sure to consider all the options.

Hire a professional paint company

Finding the right paint color is not easy. Interior design, surface texture, and current paint color all play a crucial role. Fortunately, there are experts who will help determine the best paint color for the home. Hire a professional paint company that will breathe a new life into your home.