How to Mix Brown With Red Paint

Mixing paint colors isn't difficult, but achieving an exact hue takes a bit of patience.

Mixing paint colors to achieve just the right hue is not difficult, but it takes a bit of patience and perseverance to achieve the color you want. If you have a color that isn't quite right, try mixing in a small amount of a second color before dumping in a bunch of paint. Adding darker colors will make the hue duller, whereas adding lighter colors will brighten the shade. The darker the color or the lighter the color, the less you need to add to make a difference. Mixing brown with red paint will mute the color and darken it.

Things You'll Need

• Disposable plastic spoon
• Small cup
• Paint stirrer
• Disposable plastic measuring container
• Large sealable mixing container

Instructions

Test Batch

1. 

   Using a spoon to measure the paint will help you achieve an exact ratio.

   Pour a few spoonfuls of red paint, using the disposable plastic spoon, into a small cup.

2. 

   Slowly mix colors together until the desired hue is achieved.

   Mix the brown paint into the red paint a half spoonful at a time, mixing with the paint stirrer, until you reach the desired color.

3. Pay attention to the ratio of brown to red. You will need that ratio on a larger scale for mixing the entire batch. If you mixed 2 teaspoons of brown with 5 teaspoons of red, for instance, your ratio is 2 parts to 5 parts, which can be transferred to cups or gallons, depending on how much paint you plan to mix in all.

4. 

   Use a disposable container for measuring the paint.

   Fill your disposable plastic measuring container with red paint and pour it into the large sealable mixing container.

5. Repeat until you have poured the correct amount of red paint into the large sealable mixing container, based on your test ratio.

6. Fill the disposable plastic measuring container with brown paint and pour it into the red paint in the large sealable mixing container.

7. Repeat until you have poured the correct amount of brown paint into the red, based on your test ratio.

8. 

   Mix thoroughly with the painter stirrer.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix enough paint to finish your project, as trying to reproduce the exact color later may be difficult.

• Mix the paint each time you use it. Colors can separate.

• Dispose of the paint containers responsibly based on your municipality's guidelines.