How to Select a Color for Your Next Paint Project

By
Real Estate Agent with LoKation Real Estate

Is it time for all or part of your house to get a fresh coat of paint?  Not sure what colors you want to use or how they'll look when painted on a wall?  Here is a helpful tip that lets you get an idea of what the color will look like before you invest in a do-it-yourself project or hire a professional. 

Sherwin Williams has the ColorSnap® Visualizer that allows you to use existing scenes or upload your own photos.  You can then choose paint colors for different substrates and then get a nice visual of what the colors will look like. 

For color options, you can explore their colors or match a color from a photo.  If you've ever seen a photo that captured the perfect color you're looking for, you can match it with this feature.  Under the Explore Color option  click on Match a Photo, then choose a photo to upload from your device.  Once uploaded and you accept their terms of use, the site will highlight specific points (seen as small circles on your picture) in your photo with color matches.  You can also move the circles to any point on your photo for additional color matches.  You can then click on the + sign for each color to select it for your color palette.  From there you can see those colors in various interior and exterior settings that they provide or use photos of your own home. 

If you want to see colors offered by different brands, you can check out their official websites for similar color previewing programs.  For example, Benjamin Moore has their Personal Color Viewer and Behr® has their ColorSmart program.  Each of these sites provide a user-friendly interface that allows you to see how colors will look in various room styles as well as exteriors. 

When you are satisfied with the look you want, you can stop by your local paint store and pick up a sample quart to test it out first.  What if you like a color from Sherwin Williams but want to use Behr Paint or vice versa?  Simple, bring a color swatch or color number from your local Sherwin Williams to the store where you are buying Behr paint and they can do a color match.  Many professional paint stores and home supply stores will already have the formula on file for most paint brands.


About the author: Sean Gilliam is a real estate agent with LoKation Real Estate in Northern Colorado.  Sean can be reached at sgilliam@mylokation.com or by phone at 970-313-6706.  For additional content see Sean’s Youtube channel or to search for properties see his web page.

Comments (3)

Charles Ross - eXp Realty LLC
eXp Realty LLC Salina Group - Salina, KS
Love To Help People

Excellent information, Sean.Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day and a blessed week.

Feb 02, 2023 01:42 PM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for sharing the information. Wishing you continued success.  Have a wonderful day and sell a house.  Bill

Feb 02, 2023 01:44 PM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Great advice and it really is super important to buy a sample of paint, paint a couple swatches on the surface you are going to paint and look at it a different times of the day.  The amount of light and the other items in the room can really affect how the paint looks on the wall.

Feb 02, 2023 06:09 PM