How to Match Paint for an Interior of a House

Use paint chips to help you match interior colors.

Here's the truth: Flat paint colors are easier to match than glossy paint colors. Glossy paint has a sheen that reflects light differently, disguising the true color, which makes it difficult to match. Using the actual paint name, brand and number of a glossy finish paint color will often result in a mismatch for spot covering. Glossy paint is usually a finish that's better painted over than matched. Flat or eggshell paint, however, can be matched with a little patience and the right lighting.

Things You'll Need

• Paint chips
• Paint samples
• Paint brush
• Mild detergent and water

Instructions

1. Clean the walls using a mild detergent and water, removing grime, grease, smoke and dirt to arrive at the true color of the paint.

2. Collect a variety of paint chips from a local paint store that appear to match the wall color.

3. Compare the paint chips to the existing interior paint color in indirect sunlight--not with a lamp, overhead lighting or direct sun. View the paint colors at varying times of the day for the best results.

4. Narrow down colors and refine your choices. Return to the paint store for better matches if necessary.

5. Purchase quart sizes of the final paint choices and paint each one on a small area of the wall to make the final color match. Choose an inconspicuous area on the wall but make sure that the colors can be viewed in indirect sunlight.

Tips & Warnings

• For colors in the right hue that need a slight adjustment up or down (darker or lighter), purchase a small can of plain white paint to make the hue adjustment. Start with a 1:1 ratio (1 tbsp. of white and 1 tbsp. of the color) and begin mixing and dabbing paint to get a better match.

References

• AsktheBuilder.com: Matching Paint Colors Perfectly