How to test paint colour with sample pots

Choosing the perfect paint colour can be tricky. From the seemingly endless array of whites to the daunting boldness of colour, we know that choosing colour is often overwhelming. What’s more, a colour might look great on a tiny swatch or screen but feel completely different once it’s on your wall. This is where sample pots come in. They’re your best friend when it comes to confidently picking a colour you’ll love long-term.

Here’s our complete guide on how to use sample pots the right way and make your dream home a reality.

Step 1: Narrow down your options

Before you grab a brush, start by shortlisting a few colours you’re drawn to. Visit your local Inspirations Paint store and spend some time exploring the colour wall and colour atlas or have a chat to the expert staff about your project. Alternatively, you could browse online to explore colour charts and inspiration galleries (Pinterest is always our go-to at the beginning of our colour journey). Think about the mood you want to create—calm and coastal, bold and dramatic, or warm and welcoming. Once you’ve got a few contenders, it’s time to test.

Step 2: Invest in sample pots

Sample pots are the best way to test colour in your home. We recommend grabbing between 2 and 4 sample pots for colour testing. More than this and you run the risk of becoming overwhelmed by choice. Another benefit of sample pots is that they’re small and affordable. This means that if your colour choices aren’t inspiring the joy you had hoped and you need to go back to square one, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Step 3: Brush out your colours

Brushing out your colours is the most important step in testing colour. This enables you to get a true sense of how the colour will look in your space. Always brush out your paint on at least an A4 size piece of paper or cardboard. This way, you can move your colour swatches around your home, testing them in different rooms and in different lighting (both natural and artificial). You might be tempted to apply the paint to the surface you plan to paint. However, this may not give you the best representation of the colour as the surface underneath will interact with your swatch. Movable colour swatches also allow you to test the colours against your soft and hard furnishings, helping you make an even more informed colour decision. 

Step 4: Test you colours

Now comes the testing. Take your colour swatches and move them around your home, noting how they interact with the light and furniture in your spaces. This is where your colour choices come to life. Take your time here and let the colours guide you. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s all about you and the colour you love.

Step 5: Compare and decide

You’ve done the hard work and now it’s decision time. Trust yourself and your colour choices. Lean into your own style and personality (it’s got you this far). Think about what colour speaks to you? What colour you think looks best in your space? If you’ve got a clear winner, great. However, if none of the colours are working as you had planned, that’s okay. That is why we test in the first place. Go back to your shortlist and try again (did we mention how affordable sample pots are??)

Need help choosing your sample pots or want expert advice on colour combinations? Drop into your local Inspirations Paint store and chat with our expert team.

If you’re looking to find the perfect white for your home, be sure to check out our guide to choosing the perfect white here or if you’re looking to embrace colour wholeheartedly with a colour drench, make sure you’re across our list of do’s and don’ts of colour drenching here.