Helpful video reference. The video above is "How To Use A Color Sample - Ace Hardware" from Ace Hardware. It is a practical walk-through of the technique, worth watching for the hand movement rather than just reading about it.
Look at your light first
Note which way the room faces and how much daylight it gets. North-facing rooms are cooler and flatter, so warmer tones help. South-facing rooms can handle cooler colours. Artificial light changes things again, so look at the room in the evening too.
Narrow to a few candidates
Pick three or four colours, not ten. Consider what will stay in the room: flooring, curtains, furniture and woodwork. A colour that fights a fixed element will always look wrong.
Keep in mind that a colour looks stronger over a whole wall than on a small card.
Paint large samples, not small dabs
Use a sample pot to paint a patch of at least half a metre square on two different walls, or paint a large piece of lining paper or board and move it round. Apply two coats so the sample is a true colour. Leave a gap between samples so they do not blend.
Do not judge it wet. Many paints dry slightly different from how they go on.
Stick the board to the wall with a little tape and move it between spots. A colour behaves differently beside a window, in a corner and next to the door, and you want to see all of those before you buy a full tin.
Live with it for a few days
Look at the samples in the morning, at midday and in the evening, in sun and on dull days. Ask what you notice in each. The one that holds up throughout is the winner.
Choose the finish
Matt hides imperfections on walls and ceilings, but marks easily. A mid-sheen or wipeable finish copes better in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. Satin or gloss suits woodwork. A higher sheen shows every wall flaw, so only use it on well-prepared surfaces.
If you are unsure between two sheens, ask for a small tin of each and try a patch. The difference is easier to judge on the wall than on the label.
What this means in Herne Bay
Coastal light in Herne Bay is bright and often cool, with a lot of reflected glare from the sea on the seafront side, which can make some colours look colder than the card. Victorian terraces with tall windows get a lot of that light, while the 1930s semis further inland, such as around Eddington and Broomfield, can have darker hallways and back rooms where warmer shades suit better.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing from a tiny swatch and never testing a larger patch.
- Judging colour only in the shop or only under the room lamp.
- Ignoring the sheen and ending up with a glossy wall that shows every bump.
Quick answers
How big should a test patch be?
At least half a metre square, painted in two coats, and viewed at several times of day.
Does the colour on the tin match the wall?
Close, but not identical. The existing surface, the light and the number of coats all shift how it looks, which is why testing helps.
Prefer we do it?
Room painting from £325, standard trade paint and labour included. See our price guide, our interior decorating page or get a fixed quote.