Paint Store Color Matching Errors: What to Do When Your Color Comes Out Wrong

When you've taken the time to pick out the perfect color, test it in your space, and get a sample mixed at the store, it can feel frustrating to begin painting your walls and realize the result isn't anything like you expected.

You're probably wondering… What happened? Did the paint store make a mistake? Did you choose the wrong paint brand? Is paint color matching even accurate?

Let’s find out what went wrong in your color matching process and how you can fix it.

Color Matching Isn't Always Exact

Unfortunately, color matching isn't always an exact science... Per Sherwin-Williams, color matching is around 90% accurate, if the paint store uses specialized light technology to measure color. But even in the best-case scenario, there are a lot of reasons why a paint company can't match a color to 100% accuracy.

Paint Formula Differences Between Brands

Say you take a Benjamin Moore paint chip to a Sherwin-Williams paint store. They should be able to get a pretty accurate color match, right? Not always.

Different companies use their own specialized formulas with proprietary colorants and resins to get the exact shade and finish their paint brand is known for. For example, Benjamin Moore's Color Stories (CSP) collection is notoriously difficult for another paint company to color match because they utilize a complex, full-spectrum pigment system as opposed to standard colorants. Whereas other paint brands use two or three colorants, CSP uses intricate recipes with six or seven. They also avoid gray and black colorants, giving their paints their signature vibrancy and depth. When a competitor tries to mimic CSP with their own ingredients, the result can come close, but not always 100% accurate.

Common Reasons Paint Store Color Matching Goes Wrong

There are many common explanations for a color match gone wrong. For instance:

Different Paint Bases

As we briefly explained earlier, paint companies are usually not equipped to match a different brand's paint colors. This is because paint companies use different paint bases. The lighter the base, the lighter the color... But these paint bases are not made from the same ingredients from brand to brand. Even if a paint store tells you they can get you a perfect match of a different paint brand, be wary... They can probably get you one that's close! But if you want a brand's exact color on your walls, you're going to have to get a color match from that paint company.

Tinting Machine Calibration Issues

Machines and computers are great, but even the best technology can make a mistake from time to time. It’s possible that the paint mixing machine is off, and the store just made an honest mistake while color matching. Paint companies update the formulas of their base paints every so often, and if that information isn't updated in the computer, the end result won't match. It might be worth testing out a small droplet of paint while you're still at the store in order to ensure you get the result you want.

Human Error During Mixing

Machines are prone to mistakes, and unsurprisingly, so are people! The issue with your paint color match could be as simple as a communication error. This sounds basic, but it's actually a very common problem.

Paint names are not brand-specific, meaning no single company has exclusivity over names like "Alabaster" or "Pure White." But "Pure White" can be a completely different paint color from two different brands! Be sure to specify which brand you're looking for when getting your paint color matched. 

Color Matching From Photos or Screens

If you're attempting a paint match by showing a paint store technician a photo on your iPhone screen, you're unknowingly making the paint color matching process much more difficult. Phone cameras are great for a lot of things, but they bring in too many variables to the color matching process. The lighting conditions, white balance, saturation, and your screen's brightness will all affect how the color appears in your digital photo. So, when bringing in samples for a paint store to match, try to avoid using photos, if possible.

Age of Paint Sample

If you're trying to touch up a paint job after a few years, maybe you have some leftover cans of paint lying around. Resist the temptation! Even when a brand's formula or base recipe has remained unchanged, paint looks different over time. If you're looking to make touch-ups, your best bet is to get as close to a color match as possible and be prepared to repaint the entire wall to get that bright, clean, freshly-painted look.

What To Do When Paint Color Turns Out Wrong

If you went to the paint store for a match and the color turns out wrong, don't worry... There's a lot that can be done to fix the problem.

Verify the Paint Formula on the Can

Double-check the paint formula on the can before you head to the store to get a new color match. If the paint is new and the recipes of the brand's formulas haven't changed, you still may have made an honest mistake. For example, if you've chosen Benjamin Moore as your brand of paint, you'll still find color differences between their Aura and Regal lines. This is because the foundations or bases are different for each line, and the resulting color will be different.

Ask the Store to Recheck or Remix the Color

Don't be afraid to do a little online research into your brand and see if they've updated their formulas recently. The color technicians at the paint store want to help, so it doesn't hurt to double-check with them to determine where the color discrepancy is coming from. 

Pinpoint the Problem

If you don’t like the way your paint looks in your space, you first need to ask yourself why. Is there a lot of natural lighting in the room washing out the color? Would it help to choose a shade with different undertones? Think about what it is specifically that you don’t like about the color so you can make an educated choice going forward.

Re-Sampling with Samplize

The next step is to choose a few new colors that you think would solve the issue, and once it’s done - it’s time to re-sample in your space. With Samplize, this process is easy and mess-free. Samplize’s peel-and-stick samples are made with two coats of real paint directly from the manufacturer, so the color match is as close as a sample can possibly get. You can also apply and re-apply them throughout your space and under different lighting conditions, so you have a more realistic idea of what the paint color will look like in your space.

When you’re painting or re-painting your space, struggles with color matching can happen all the time… It’s not just you! But once you know what to expect during the testing and sampling process, it’s much easier to pinpoint and achieve the result you want. For more tips on paint sampling or finding the perfect color for your space, check out the Samplize blog.