How to Achieve Color Consistency with Big Paint Jobs

Color Consistency

A big paint job is a difficult endeavor, but it can also be very satisfying to watch your house transform and finally have the décor that you want. 

However, a much less satisfying part of a big painting job is admiring your work, then noticing that the color is not consistent across all of your walls. It is hard to fix this once the paint dries and you realize your mistake, but luckily it is a lot easier to prevent color inconsistencies in the first place.

Here is how to achieve color consistency, even with big paint jobs.

Stay Consistent in Your Layers

The number one advice for maintaining color consistency, no matter how big or small your paint job, is to apply the same number of layers to each of your walls. It is tempting to skip a layer, especially if you’re nearing the end of your job and you’re getting tired, but having the same number of layers on each part of your project will go a long way toward ensuring color consistency.

Purchase and Distribute Your Paint Wisely

When you go to buy your paint for a project, it is better to overestimate and buy more paint than to buy less. Even if you assume that you can go back and buy more paint in the same shade and it will match thanks to the new computerized mixing processes in hardware stores, there will be subtle differences in the shades when you purchase a new round of paint. This could happen due to a miscalibration in the computer or simply a human error, but you still want to avoid it when possible.

Even when you purchase all your paint in one go, there could still be subtle differences in shade between each can. Although it may seem wasteful, use only one can per wall (unless you are sure that there is enough left in your can after one wall to complete a second one). Mixing cans of paint on the same part of your project will mean that there will be inconsistencies in color along the same wall.

Use the Right Techniques

Sometimes, color inconsistencies are not caused by errors in the paint mixing process but by errors in the painting process. Using the wrong tools and inconsistent painting techniques will lead to discolored patches.

When painting interiors, you usually need a mixing bucket, paint trays, and rollers for applying consistent paint across large surfaces, as well as paintbrushes for the detailing work.

When you get to painting, make sure that you pick a technique and stick to it. Always roll paint in the same direction, starting at the top and moving toward the bottom to catch any drips. When you roll or brush in different directions, the brushstrokes are very visible, causing color inconsistencies.

Also, be careful that you are using the same amount of pressure on each stroke, as heavier strokes mean more color saturation.

Achieving color consistency may need some practice, but it is doable.

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