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Local Services · Color
Paint color matching that actually matches.
A chip from the wall, a piece of broken trim, a fabric sample, a photo. Local paint counters match colors better than the big-box machines — and they'll mix you a quart if that's all you need.
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The honest read
Why color matching is harder than it looks
Color matching is part science, part eye. A spectrophotometer reads the color, but the operator picks how to interpret the reading — base color, undertone, finish (matte vs. eggshell vs. semi-gloss changes how the color reads). Same chip, different interpretation, different result.
Independent paint stores tend to do this better than big-box machines for a few reasons: their staff is trained on color theory, they tend to have higher-end colorant systems (more pigments = better matches), and they're not in a hurry to push you through the line.
If you're matching an existing wall, bring a piece of the actual paint if at all possible — peel a chip from behind a switch plate or out of a closet. A photo is the worst match source; an actual chip is the best.
What the counter matches
What you can bring in for a match
In order from easiest to hardest to match.
01
A real paint chip
Best possible source. Peel a small flake from behind an outlet plate, behind a picture frame, or out of a closet corner. The counter reads it on the spectro and mixes you a near-perfect match.
02
An old paint can label
Even from another brand. Most stores can cross-reference Sherwin-Williams numbers, Benjamin Moore numbers, Behr numbers, even old discontinued colors. Bring the can or take a photo of the label.
03
A fabric or object sample
Piece of curtain, throw pillow, a colored object you want to match. Solid-color flat surfaces match better than patterned or shiny ones. The counter will tell you what's matchable.
04
A photo (last resort)
Phone screens lie about color — cameras and screens both shift hue. A photo gets you in the ballpark, not the right answer. Use only when you have nothing else.
Before you go
Before you go
- A real paint chip if at all possible — even a small flake is better than a photo
- Tell the counter where the paint is going (kitchen, bedroom, exterior trim) — different sheens for different rooms
- Decide on sheen (flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss) before you walk in — changes the look more than people expect
- Buy a quart sample first if you're not sure — paint looks different at the can than dried on the wall in real light
- Bring the old paint brand name if you remember it — saves time for the color-matching software
Try local first · We'll wait
Find a paint store that color matches near you.
Independent paint and hardware stores in the NHG network do this better than the big-box machines. Enter your ZIP.
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The NHG promise
We support local hardware stores — we don't replace them.
This is one of the services that's better done in person. The store on the corner is built for it.
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