How to Swatch Paint Color Selections
Here is a step-by-step process to assure that you truly see the colors you swatch and whether you like them in the room. Without a proper swatch, you might select a paint color you don’t like and have to repaint a room more than once.
1. Size of paint swatches: minimum size to truly see the color is 2’ x 2’, up to 4’ or 8’ wide depending on the location.
2. Location of paint swatches: generally you will want to swatch in multiple locations to see the color in different lights. You will want to see it at the ceiling line where it will be darkest as well as in the middle of the wall where it will be lightest. At the ceiling line, paint all the way to the ceiling—don’t leave a tiny strip of the existing color.
3. Wrap it around a corner: you also need to see the color reflecting on itself to see how it will look in a room. This will show you the color intensity once the paint color is throughout the room. For example, some colors have a high “glow factor”, bright pastels for example. A light blue, pink, purple, yellow, orange, or green, can really get intense once it’s reflecting on itself throughout the room. Some paint decks, such as Benjamin Moore, give a light reflection index number for each color to give you some idea of this.
4. Overlap the color swatches: if swatching multiple colors, put them next to each other and overlap the edges. Or, if you need to see each color by itself, then leave at least a foot a space between them.
5. Alternate options to painting on the wall: paint 2 large pieces of foamcore, cardboard, mat board, or wood panels, at least 2’ x 2’. Then you can put them together in a corner at various heights to see the color.
6. How to look at swatches: you want a large swatch so you can block out the surrounding colors when you look at it. It’s very important to look at the center of the swatch and avoid the edges. Colors change according to what other colors they’re next to, and sometimes the edges can look odd or have a colored edge. It can be helpful to look through your hands or through a square cut in a piece of paper or cardboard (preferably a gray or tan color) to block out the surrounding colors. Squinting can also be helpful to get a good sense of it. Remember to check the swatches at several times of day. If you will use a room primarily at night, be sure to check them then.
7. Other things to know about swatches: a swatch generally looks about a half shade darker than it will once an entire wall is painted. If you’re having trouble deciding between two colors, it might be a good idea to paint an entire wall, or half of a wall, in each color, going all the way to the edges.
8. If you’re using an intense color, remember that you will be seeing it with furniture and other things in the room. Don’t let the intensity of a wall full of color all by itself scare you!
9. If you’re under construction, and looking at swatches against primer or concrete sub-floor, remember that this makes it more difficult to really see a color as it will be. This is where a large swatch really helps. If you have a sample of your floor color and material, look against that, or place a painting drop cloth on the floor or even a piece of plywood. The grayness and texture of a concrete sub-floor can really pull the life out of a color, or make a very warm colors like golds, yellows, oranges and some browns, look just plain bad!
10. Circumstances and relationships in color are everything!
11. Printed or paper swatches are okay for initial selections, but make sure to use the actual paint for your color finalists for optimal accuracy and to see the color on your wall texture in your lighting.
Here’s to creating your vision!
These are only a few of the considerations to select a paint color you like. To avoid costly mistakes or to schedule a color consultation with Kathryn, contact me by commenting below or by email at contact@artbykd.com, or through my web site, http://www.artbykd.com.
Art Luminous: Living a Color-full Life 