Wall Paint Touch-Ups: Perfectly Matching Your Wall Color

Matching up wall paint for touch-ups can be a challenging task, and even professionals can struggle to get it right. Paint starts to fade as soon as it is applied to walls, and the finish, quality, and grade can all affect how well touch-ups blend in. Flat or matte finishes tend to be easier to touch up, whereas glossier finishes are more challenging. To achieve the best results, it is recommended to use high-quality paint and to feather or stipple the paint to create a seamless blend.

Match the paint colour

Matching paint colour for touch-ups can be challenging, and even professionals struggle with this. Paint on a wall tends to fade over time, and the lighting conditions in a room can also affect the appearance of the paint colour. The applicator used to apply the paint can also impact the uniformity of the paint colour.

Matching the Paint Colour

• Try to find the closest colour match by visiting a paint store or retailer with colour-matching technology and taking a chipped-off piece of the wall or a sample of the plaster for reference.
• If you are renting, contact your landlord or the complex office to inquire about the wall colour. They may have records or may be able to provide information on where they sourced their paint.
• If you have leftover paint from the original can, use it for touch-ups.
• If you don't have leftover paint, try to find a close but lighter sample and gradually darken it until you achieve a match.

Other Considerations

• Match the sheen or finish of the paint. Flat or matte finishes tend to be easier to touch up than glossier finishes.
• Use the same application tool as the one used for the original paint job, such as a paintbrush or roller.
• Dilute the paint slightly to slow down the wicking rate and influence the final touch-up result.
• Prime the area you intend to paint using a high-quality latex primer.
• Feather or stipple the paint to create a smooth transition between the touched-up area and the rest of the wall.
• Start with a small amount of paint and apply multiple coats as needed, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.

Account for sheen

Matching the sheen of your wall paint is crucial when touching up. The flatter the finish, the easier it is to touch up, while the glossier the finish, the more challenging. Dark and highly saturated colours with flat finishes are especially difficult to touch up, and even slight variations in sheen can be noticeable.

The application method can also impact the sheen. For example, rolling and brushing the same colour and sheen of paint can produce different sheens. Therefore, it is recommended to use the same application method as the original coat when touching up to maintain a consistent sheen. If the original coat was rolled, then roll on the touch-ups; if it was brushed, then brush on the touch-ups; and if it was sprayed, then spray on the touch-ups.

UV exposure from sunlight can degrade sheen over time, causing new touch-ups to stand out. Dirt, fade, and sun damage can also affect the wall's appearance, preventing a simple touch-up. Touch-ups may also flash or show a discrepancy, which can be more noticeable at certain angles. To address this, you can try diluting the paint with water to slow down the wicking rate and reduce the sheen. However, it is challenging to chemically degloss a wall without making the situation worse.

If touch-ups are not successful, you may need to repaint the entire wall. High-quality self-priming paint can make this process easier. Alternatively, you can try blending and feathering techniques to smooth out the transitions between the original paint and the touch-ups.

Prepare the surface

Before you start painting, it's important to prepare the surface to ensure the touch-up blends seamlessly with the surrounding wall. Here are the steps you can follow:

Firstly, try to clean the wall with a damp, soapy sponge or cloth. You can also use a mild detergent or a mixture of baking soda and water to gently rub away any marks or scuffs. If the wall is particularly dirty, you may want to use a product like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to clean it before resorting to paint touch-ups.

If there are any small cracks, large holes, or other imperfections, fix them before painting. For drywall, use a utility knife to cut a small, oval-shaped section around the imperfection, then peel away the paper from the wall. Take this sample to a paint store for colour matching. Alternatively, you can cut out a small section of plaster, but this will be messier.

Once the wall is clean and any imperfections are repaired, it's a good idea to prime the area you intend to paint. Use a high-quality latex primer and make sure not to go beyond the area you're touching up. Priming will help the paint adhere better and create a smoother finish.

If you're touching up a large area, consider using a roller for a more uniform finish. A small, handheld roller can be used for touch-ups, especially if the original wall was painted with a roller. Make sure to maintain the same surface texture by using the same application method as the original paint job.

Before you begin painting, open some windows to ventilate the area. This will help prevent any fumes from building up and ensure a safe working environment.

Use the right application tool

Using the right application tool is crucial when touching up a wall to ensure a seamless finish. The type of tool you use can impact the uniformity of the paint and the final aesthetic.

Firstly, it is recommended to use the same application tool as was used for the original paint job. This could be a paintbrush or roller. Using a different tool can affect the final look, even if the paint colour is an exact match.

If you are touching up a small area, use a paintbrush. Start by applying a very small amount of paint to the centre of the touch-up area and work outwards, gradually overlapping into the surrounding painted area. This technique is called 'daubing' and will help to minimise irregularities in the paint surface.

For larger areas, a roller is preferable. First, apply paint to the area with a brush, right up to the edges of the touch-up area. Then, use a dry mini-roller to roll briskly over the area, adding texture to the new paint. This technique is called 'stippling' and will help to achieve uniformity.

If you are using a roller for touch-ups, ensure it is a small, handheld roller. A larger roller will make it difficult to control the amount of paint applied and may result in an uneven finish.

It is important to note that the finish of the paint can also impact the final result. Flat or matte finishes tend to touch up better than glossier finishes, which can be more challenging to match.

Dilute the paint

Diluting your paint can help it blend into the wall and slow down the wicking rate, which will increase the time needed for the paint to set up. This is especially useful if you are touching up a small area.

To dilute your paint, you can add water or a thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer. The general rule is to dilute the paint by 5 to 10% with water for latex-based paint or mineral spirits for oil-based paint. However, some sources suggest diluting the paint by about 10 to 15% for a thinner consistency. It is important to refer to the specific thinning instructions provided by the manufacturer of the paint you are using. Thinning the paint will lighten the colour slightly, so be sure to test a small area for colour matching before proceeding.

You can manually mix the paint with a mixing stick or use a power drill mixer attached to a power drill. Stored paints can lose moisture over time, which can make it more difficult to touch up the paint and match the original coat. However, improved colour-matching technology means that matching older paint colours is now easier and more precise.

Before you begin painting, ensure that the wall is free of dirt, holes, and other blemishes that can prevent the paint from adhering properly. You can fill in any small holes, gashes, or gouges with a spackling compound. Then, clean the area with a damp sponge and dry it with a clean rag. Continue cleaning until there is no trace of dirt, grease, or grime.

Once the wall is prepared, you can start painting. Use a paintbrush or roller, ideally the same application tool that was used for the original paint job. Start with as little paint as possible, applying a very small amount at a time. Slowly roll or brush over the imperfection, making sure to start in the middle and apply the lightest amount of paint to the outer edges. You can also try "feathering" the paint, which involves using a paintbrush to start at the centre of the touch-up area and slowly move outward, lightly extending beyond the area you are touching up to seamlessly blend the touched-up area with the original paint.

Frequently asked questions