Guide
How to test paint colors
A small chip in a store tells you very little. This five-step method shows you how a color really behaves in your home, before you buy gallons.
Step 1
Shortlist three
Pick two or three close options using LRV and undertone, not just the name.
Step 2
Go big
Use samples at least 9 by 13 inches. Small swatches exaggerate or hide undertones.
Step 3
Two walls
Place samples on a wall facing the window and one beside it. Light changes the color.
Step 4
Full day
Check morning, midday and evening with your own bulbs on.
Step 5: compare against white
Hold a plain sheet of printer paper next to each sample. Against pure white, a color's undertone jumps out: a greige that looked neutral may suddenly read green, pink or yellow.
Peel-and-stick or painted samples?
Peel-and-stick samples are printed with real paint, can be moved around the room, and leave no patches to cover. Painting test squares directly on the wall is cheaper but harder to move and can show through your final coat. Either way, test on the actual walls you will paint.
Common mistakes
- Testing on the old wall color, which skews what you see. Put a white board behind the sample.
- Judging only at night under warm bulbs.
- Choosing from a phone or monitor. Screens cannot show paint accurately.