Samples
How to order paint samples
A sample on your wall, in your light, is the only reliable way to judge a paint color. Here's how to do it quickly and cheaply.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Why test at all?
Screens, phone cameras and printed chips all distort color. Your monitor's brightness and color settings, the light in your room, and the size of the swatch all change what you perceive. A 2-inch chip also reads lighter and less saturated than a whole wall of the same color, because color intensity seems to grow with area. A full-size sample on your wall, in your light, is the only reliable test.
Your options
- Peel-and-stick samples are sheets painted with real paint that you stick to the wall and move around. No brushes, no primer, no patches of old color under your new paint, and you can view them on every wall of the room.
- Sample pots (small cans) let you paint a large board or wall patch. More work, and they leave marks if you paint directly on the wall.
- Paper chips from the store are free and good for narrowing down, but too small for a final decision.
Ordering peel-and-stick samples
- Narrow your shortlist to 3–5 colors. Include one slightly lighter and one slightly darker than your favorite; most people end up choosing a neighbor.
- Write down the brand and the color code, not just the name. Names repeat across brands; codes don't.
- Order from a sample service such as Samplize, which ships peel-and-stick sheets made with real paint from major brands.
- When they arrive, follow our testing guide.
Peel-and-stick samples are made with real paint and move from wall to wall without brushes or patches.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
How many?
For one room, 3–5 colors is usually enough. For a whole-house neutral, order the same shortlist once and test it in your darkest and brightest rooms, since a color can look very different between them (see north vs south facing rooms).