It’s an inevitability of home ownership that your walls and furniture will see normal wear and tear that require paint touch-ups at some point. But if you don’t havetheoriginal can of paint or color codes forthat object or surface, thetask can feel exponentially harder. Luckily, modern advancements in paint-matching technology have made it easier for homeowners and DIYers alike to recreate pretty much any paint color they may need by grabbing a small sample and heading to the local paint store. Here we’ll outline three simple methods to get those samples and match any paint color without a code. We'll alsointroduce you to some handy paint-matching apps.
Watch the video above to learn how to match paint colors without a code.
How to match paint without a code
- If cabinets are part of your touch-up project, unscrew a cabinet door. Take the entire door to the paint store to be color matched. Reattach the door to the cabinet when done.
- If drawers are part of your project, find a drawer that can be removed and take it to the paint store to be color matched. Carefully slide back into place when done.
- If your project involves a wall with drywall, locate an inconspicuous spot on the wall and take a small one-inch square sample from it. To easily conceal the sample spot with minimal effort after you're done, one of the best places to take a sample from is behind an outlet cover plate. To do this:
- Trace around the outlet cover with a pencil before you take it off so you know how much room you have to take your sample.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the light switch cover.
- Cut a one-inch square from the area within the traced parameters using a box cutter.
- Gently peel your paint sample off of the wall, using your box cutter for extra help detaching if needed.
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How to match paint color already on wall with an app
If obtaining a sample to color-matchat your local paint store isn’t an option, you can utilize the latest in color-matching apps to match your paint as closely as possible.
- Use a color-matching tool like the Nix Mini 2 or Datacolor ColorReader EZ. Both use a small portable sensor in tandem with an app to identify the closest known paint color match for pretty much any object or surface in your home.
- Many paint companies and home improvement stores offer mobile apps to help match paint. Simply download the app to your phone, take a photo of the painted object or surface you want to match, upload it, and the app will provide the closest color match the brand has a.
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