How do I perfectly match the paint on my wall?
Asked by
DrewJ (
436
)
February 13th, 2012
I moved into a new apartment. The walls are painted this light green color. I like it but there are a lot of places that have some paint peeling off and spots that needs Spackle – etc.
The walls were painted this color like ten years ago and my landlord doesn’t have the paint or can even tell me what was used. I know Lowes will color match but what do they usually require? Should I peel off a little paint flake and bring it in? Is color matching perfectly even possible?
How can I paint over the peeling spots on my wall without having to do the whole wall? Any ideas?
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12 Answers
You could take some paint along to a specialist paint store and see if they can match it? I think if you can get even a small piece of paint, they may be able to do this.
I would ring up Lowes (I don’t know this store) and ask them how much paint they would need.
Or get a few that are close and paint a tiny bit of each on your wall at home to see which one will look exactly the same when dry.
either take in a paint chip (recommended) or take a picture of it with your camera. Lowe’s has matched 100 year old paint for me using a picture of it.
I’d go with a paint chip. If you are going to take a photograph, use a dslr and a grey card to get the lighting correct. The white balance will be super important so that it wont sway “cool” or “hot” .
Yes, Lowe’s can match the color from a chip. Call them and ask what size they would like.
I agree with the chip method but want to add that if the paint is that old, even an “exact” match might look off due to fading, surface film and general age. When applying be sure to blot or rag the edges to feather them out as actual lines might look obvious when dried. I have been known to feather out 18” to get repairs to blend. Also lightly ragging over the entire wall can blend all sorts of issues if the color is uneven.
Hopefully you will not have any issues but on the first go be sure to feather just in case. It is much harder to cover if the lines are dry.
Like @Dog said it will probably hard to match up to the old paint.
You may have to get as close a match as you can and give everything a coat of new paint. One coat would probably do it if the match was close.
I think you can easily take a paint chip to the store and have it matched.
They need a sample about an inch square, so be sure to get a big enough piece of the peeling paint.
I agree with @wilma . If the paint is old, it has changed color slightly, and even texture. You will never be able to get an exact match. One brand of paint may have a slightly glossier semi-gloss than another, just to make it more difficult. The paint store can get a pretty close match of the color from a sample piece, but matching up the gloss is another thing. I would get the closest color match possible and paint the whole wall.
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