Have you ever seen a color, perhaps in nature or online, and wanted to immediately add it into your home? That’s the power of color inspiration. An eye-catching color can not only transform your walls, but also the entire aesthetic of your home. You may favor a color, yet once you’re in an actual paint store, you may have difficulty matching the color you envisioned in your head. It’s a frazzling phenomenon, but it happens. However, we’re here to make sure you are getting the exact match of your dream color that inspired you in the first place. Here’s a few tips and tricks.
By Eye or By Precision?
Ever heard the phrase “the eye can be deceiving?” There’s never been more true words spoken when it comes to matching paint colors. In fact, it’s can be a trickier process than what meets the eye if you’re trying to find a true match for your color swatch idea. This is because paint sheen is sometimes left out of the equation—but is such a big deal to the paint matching process.
Paint sheen is an important quality within your paint, with glosses ranging from flat (no sheen) to high gloss. The typical rule of thumb is the higher the amount of sheen in your paint mixture, the more durable the paint will be on your walls, but that’s not all to consider. Sheen can also affect the overall finished color. Lower sheen paints, like flat paint, will have more color pigments giving a more vibrant color while higher sheen paints, like semi-gloss, will have less color pigments changing the color slightly.
By no means does this mean that you should only use flat paint to achieve a true color—we actually recommend using paint with at least an eggshell gloss and up. However, it’s something to be aware of when you’re wanting a true-to-match tone. So, what are your options? You can keep guesstimating until you’re frustrated (we’ve all been there) or just talk to one of our paint experts! Our paint matching team considers sheen and other paint mixture factors to make sure you are getting the truest match possible. Here’s an example of the color match process.
The Customized Color Match Process
- Bring in any color swatch. This can be an actual paint swatch or an object containing your target color. Make sure your swatch is bigger than one square inch.
- Our color match computer analyzes the swatch to determine which mixture of color pigments create your target color.
- After achieving a color match, our experts carefully prepare your customized color.
With a good coat of primer and two or more applications of your customized paint color, you will be able to achieve the color you’ve dreamed of—no frazzling guesstimating required!
Matching Paint Across Brands
If you’re in the market for a lavish paint color, you may be shopping around not just for the right hue, but the right brand as well. We don’t blame you (actually it’s a wise idea) for wanting to find quality paint—after all, painting your walls is not just a chic idea, it’s an investment too!
So while you’re deciding between this brand and that brand, here’s the case for James T. Davis paint.
We Stay on Top of the Latest Color Trends
Color palettes always change throughout the years. One day it’s Avocado Green, the next it’s Millennial Pink. Regardless, we’re here as your designer insider for new innovations in color trends, and make sure our design gallery is stocked with the same fashion forward colors as you would find in any larger paint or hardware stores.
We’re Dedicated to High Quality
Since we’ve been “Painting the Town Since 1936”, we know a thing or two about what a high quality paint mixture should include. For starters, high quality paint will contain more pigments and resins and less solvents which helps with overall paint coverage. Also, a high quality paint may also include special additives that will help the paint be more durable. In our Weatherhide exterior paint and our Perfection interior paint collections, you’ll find a preventative called Microban® which fights off mold and mildew for 5 years.
Get a Color Swatch From a Different Store, We’ll Match it
Our color book is full of hundreds of swatches of all different shades and hues. This way you can find the exact color you were looking for—even if the swatch is from another store. All you need to do is bring in the swatch of your choice and our design experts will help pair the similar James T. Davis color.
Matching Paint for Your Design Aesthetic
Matching paint doesn’t just include finding a gorgeous color, but also making sure the paint is a match for your already established home aesthetic. This can be easier said than done as some colors may not work with the overall cohesion of your space, depending on your decor scheme. Here are a few tips to help ensure you’re bringing the right color home.
Survey the Colors Already In Your Home
We all naturally gravitate toward different colors or tones. Some prefer a warm color scheme with rich reds, oranges and golds, some will choose a cooler color scheme like blues, purple and silver. Take in the vibe around your home, which colors are you typically picking for your home decor pieces?
Use a Color Wheel For Color Inspiration
Once you have the overall color scheme pinned down, you can get paint color ideas by using a color wheel. A color wheel is used by artists and designers as a reference guide to for picking colors as well as seeing if certain colors will blend together. Interior designers like to use color wheels, as well as color theory, to set the overall color scheme of a room. Possible color combinations include:
- Monochromatic: focusing on one color only
- Monotone: Choosing one color, but also including different shades, tints and tones to add more depth
- Analogous: Colors next to each other on the wheel
- Complementary: Colors opposite of each other on the wheel
Try using the colors already in your home and then choose one of the above color schemes. For example, if you notice you only include one color, try either a lighter or darker tone of the color on your wall or maybe even a complementary color to mix things up.
When in Doubt, Choose a Neutral
Sometimes a neutral is all you need to balance out your home, we get that! In fact, there’s nothing wrong with adding a neutral throughout to give your home a clean, fresh and classic look. If you plan on introducing a neutral into your space, try choosing a color based on whether you have warmer or cooler tones in your home. This way your color will match and tie the whole room together!
Get Paint Matching Advice From Our Design Experts
It’s never a bad idea to bounce design ideas off another. That’s why we’re here! Our interior designers at the Design Gallery will work with you to translate any design ideas you’ve envisioned during a design consultation. From paint, to wallpaper to decor accents, they can help you assemble it all to make sure you are getting the space you dreamed of!
