How to Match Interior Wall Paint Color

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The bad news: You cannot get a perfect match on paint color if you are trying to touch up wall paint with new paint. The good news: You can get very close and there's tricks to make it look great. Computerized paint color matching has made it much easier for paint stores to match almost any shade of paint.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Paint roller
Paint brush
Tray
Tape
Drop cloths

Step1

Whether you are painting over repair or just "touching up" over grimy or worn areas, the best solution is to get the paint color as close as you can, then paint the entire wall from corner to corner.

Step2

If there is something you can take off the wall to have the color matched at the paint store, this is the best solution. A heat register or painted switch plate cover, perhaps.

Step3

If there's nothing you can take off the wall, get as many paint swatches as possible and hold them up to get the closest match. Do this in natural light, if possible.

Step4

Say the wall you're trying to touch up is really high and it's not practical to paint the entire thing. Use a roller instead of a brush to apply the paint, it will blend in better. Realize it will be impossible to do a perfectly seamless match, but if you get close enough most people won't notice.

Tips & Warnings

Remember you are matching the sheen as well as the color!
When trying to decide between 2 colors, err on the side of a little darker than a little lighter than the existing shade. The final match will be closer that way.