Attention All Paint Testers! Before & After Photos

For those of you who are not testing your paint colors the correct way, you are just making an already stressful project into an even more difficult decision. I know it is easier, I get that. But, when you test the new color samples by painting right over the existing painted walls:You are not seeing the new color in it’s true hue. This is exactly what happened recently to a client who wanted to paint her beautiful, large, open concept new home:She knew exactly what look she was going for, but could not find THE color and was going crazy. She stated that she did not like the peach walls from the previous owner and had tested a few favorite paint samples she thought might work:So she hired me to help her find a perfect color. I gave her a couple suggestions of paint colors but I also told her, “Maybe one reason you are having a hard time selecting a color is how you tested the color. When you paint samples right on wall, the existing color of wall affects the color and will not be the same. The best way to sample is too paint a poster board, two coats like you will for walls, and move all around day and night to different spots. You should use a white plain piece of paper between sample and existing wall color so all you see is the actual sample color. More work I know, but pretty accurate. Be sure to put white paper between new color sample and existing wall color. That peach will really throw you off!After a few days she wrote:

Hi,

After you suggested the paint card it changed everything Lol

I went with Repose gray. I'm glad I did that!:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

What a beautiful transformation! The magic of paint! I know I repeat myself over and over about testing the correct way, but it is that important. Please take the extra time and extra steps and you will be a color expert also! Let me know if you have any questions about correctly testing paint samples in your home.I also wanted to share a new eDesign mood board I am working on in Photo Shop: Hard to learn but I am having so much fun with it. Have a great weekend everyone!Kelly xoxo