Whenever a painting project in our household deems the close examination of a new hue, marital bliss always gets tested. Finding agreement with my husband can be a monumental accomplishment since we both make our living in the visual arts.
To try and keep the creative peace, an excursion is made to the nearest big box home improvement store for 2 dozen paint chip samples. Word to the wise: never buy a can of paint based on what the paint chip looks like in the store!
Even if agreement is finally made on a color, we’ve gone the extra step toward firming up our decision by brushing a paint sample on the wall. Home Depot offers a small selection of “tester” containers at some of their physical stores. If your drive to the nearest location fails to give you the needed sample, a wider selection can be found at their website. Just be sure to have your paint chip in hand when ordering, since you’ll be viewing the colors within an RGB color space.
Nothing can match the reassurance you’ll feel when physically painting a large swatch of what you’ve selected (I recommend 8 inches X 8 inches, 2 coats, and patience—colors lighten after drying). It’s worth shelling out the few dollars to feel confident that the fire engine red looks great and is loved by all who cohabitate with you.
To try and keep the creative peace, an excursion is made to the nearest big box home improvement store for 2 dozen paint chip samples. Word to the wise: never buy a can of paint based on what the paint chip looks like in the store!
To circumvent any missteps and encourage a democratic approach, color chips are taped individually inside the room to be painted. We live with them for several days under different light conditions—insuring that the color won’t be hated after being permanently affixed. Many a curious visitor to our home has seen this technique, and often feels compelled to offer their take on the selections too (often tipping the balance for a vote to the opposing side).
Even if agreement is finally made on a color, we’ve gone the extra step toward firming up our decision by brushing a paint sample on the wall. Home Depot offers a small selection of “tester” containers at some of their physical stores. If your drive to the nearest location fails to give you the needed sample, a wider selection can be found at their website. Just be sure to have your paint chip in hand when ordering, since you’ll be viewing the colors within an RGB color space.
Nothing can match the reassurance you’ll feel when physically painting a large swatch of what you’ve selected (I recommend 8 inches X 8 inches, 2 coats, and patience—colors lighten after drying). It’s worth shelling out the few dollars to feel confident that the fire engine red looks great and is loved by all who cohabitate with you.