All paint color questions

Process

How do I test paint colors before committing?

Buy peel-and-stick samples or paint a 2'x2' poster board (not the wall directly) and view it on every wall, in morning, afternoon and evening light, for at least 48 hours.

The single biggest mistake: painting a small swatch directly on one wall and deciding from it. The surrounding wall color contaminates your perception, and you can't move it to compare against different light.

Better method: paint two coats on a large piece of foam board or poster board with the same finish you'll use on the wall. Move it around the room throughout the day — corners, near windows, far from windows, and at night under your actual lamps.

Peel-and-stick samples from Samplize or directly from Benjamin Moore are excellent and faster than wet samples — just confirm the print accuracy if the color is a critical match.

Still not sure which color to pick?

Our Ottawa painters bring physical sample boards on every free on-site quote.

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