Examine Your Choices with House Paint Samples

The application of paint samples prior to actually purchasing any paint will allow you to evaluate your choice of colors and sheen before the paint is applied.

With the purchase of a quart or two you will be able to know exactly how a particular paint color will look and stop any color choice mistakes before the gallons of house paint are purchased.

This idea works equally well for interior or exterior painting of your home.

Almost every job I do involves applying paint samples. For Crowder Painting this becomes many quarts of wrong colors at the end of the year but having the customer receive the exact color they want is worth it.

Interior Paint Samples

You have a couple of ways to view interior paint color samples, applied on the wall or to a sample board. Applying the samples to the wall, and trim if need be, will allow the best viewing. But using a sample board will allow you to take the samples when looking for accessories, such as drapes or choosing carpet.

Using paint color sample boards can provide a careful comparison to the furnishings and accessories to be used in the room’s decor. To make sample boards, purchase poster board from your local crafts supplier. Any material will work such as a piece of sheet rock, stiff cardboard, or plywood. Apply two coats of house paint, more if necessary, and allow the paint to fully dry.

If more than a single color will be used in the room, apply both colors to the sample board. Use a larger board if necessary. Each paint color sample should be at least 12 inches wide and the length if the board. Adjust these recommended sizes for multiple colors, but the larger the sample the better.

Lean these paint samples against the walls that will be painted and take a good long look. If you have more than one sample board, look at one at a time to establish which paint color is perfect for your project. Compare all samples to any furniture and fabrics used in the room’s décor.

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Now it’s time to apply some house paint to the walls, an area 2ft x 2ft will work nicely. Apply these large spots on different walls, near the ceiling and any trim.

Try to use the available natural light to have a better idea of the real appearance of the paint color.

Also consider the color in the evening hours. The available light will always change the appearance of all colors in the room.

Exterior Paint Samples

Exterior paint color samples have the same benefits, and even more money can be saved with choosing the combination of perfect paint colors. Sample boards will work well to narrow down your choices.

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Most exteriors have 3 or more colors; the body (main color), trim and accessories like doors and shutters. Comparing these colors to each other is very important and can save you hundreds of dollars.

An average house will use $500 or more of paint when finished. If you hire a painting contractor the additional labor to apply the new paint color will increase the cost.

Imagine repainting because you don't like one of the colors.

A paint color sample board for exterior colors is similar to the interior sample board. The colors need to be compared to each other with a similar ratio as when used on the house. The largest square, or rectangle, will be the main body color bordered with the trim color. The color for the accessories can be put next to the main house and trim colors.

After the paint colors have been narrowed down you still need to apply samples to the siding and trim of your home before a final choice can be made. These paint samples need to be applied to all sides and adjacent to any accessories, such as decks and brick. The size of the siding paint samples should be at least 2ft x 2ft with the corresponding trim painted.

Considerations

When house paint is newly applied it usually has a lighter color than is expected. This is normal and happens to most types of paint. The true final color isn’t achieved until it has dried for 24 or more hours. The same is true for the sheen of the paint. Allow the paint samples to fully dry before judging the color or sheen.

The key to using paint samples is view then in all situations and light. All colors will look different during various times of the day and evening hours.