DIY Paint: Color Visualizers
One of the most difficult things for clients to do is visualize what a change in decor will look like. This is especially true with color. Especially when I come up with something outside the norm – which is fairly often. I love color and like to use it in unusual ways. I’m proud to say that I haven’t a had single client reject the end result. In fact, it’s typically quite the opposite.
This is largely due to two reasons. First, I’m a design genius (at least in my imagination, so please don’t burst my bubble or it’s the paddy wagon for me). Second, I know how difficult it is for many people to imagine what something will look like without some visual help. A little paint chip often isn’t enough.
I’m not the only one to understand this. Paint companies figured it out long before I did. And most have come up with paint visualizers to help you out. They all work the same way. You choose a room from one of their samples and paint the walls, trim and ceiling using their colors. You can save the result and print it out.
It’s a nice tool to help you get started. Here is a list of links to several sites that offer this service.
Be aware that the color on a computer screen will not look the same in real life. You may need to tweak your selection. And I’m a big fan of testing a color first. Regarding the visualizers, I wish they offered a larger choice of rooms to paint. Really, how difficult can that be? Also, don’t waste your ten dollars on Bennie Moore’s program that allows you to upload your own photos. It’s a pain to use and they should be giving it away. But they make a good paint.
Have any of you had experience with these? What’s your opinion of them? I’m also wondering how many of us have weekend DIY projects planned for this weekend. I’m making over the gravel pit.
11 Responses to “DIY Paint: Color Visualizers”
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Posted by Nikki on July 6th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I used Valspar’s a while back with my daughter (age 9) who wanted to pick out the color for her bedroom herself. We ended up with a Pumpkin Butter orange. It was slightly more obnoxious when I put it on the wall, but it’s growing on me. In the end, if she’s happy with it, that’s what counts.
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Posted by Mary-Kate on July 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I really like the Benjamin Moore Color Viewer. I’ve used it several times.
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Posted by Jeff on February 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I used Sherwin-Williams color visualizer and selected a shade of green “Willow Tree”. Two of my computer screens display the color as a sort of mild gray/green which looked good to me. Once painted on the wall though, the actual color looks very much more green (like a very ripe avacado). Anyway, there’s no hint at all of the gray in the real color. I could understand one computer screen being different than the other, but both displays look identical to me and both are set for 32-bit color. So, either the Sherwin guy didn’t mix the color properly (I’ll find out tomorrow), or this tool is very inaccurate.
Check for yourself. Load up the visualizer and search for “Willow Tree” and ask yourself if that looks like a ripe avacado.
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Posted by Jeff on February 23rd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Hi, I just posted the comment about the Sherwin-Williams color visualizer. I thought what I’d do is compare a painted swatch that I made of the actual paint sample “Willow Tree” to other colors in the visualizer to see what was closest in the visualizer. I searched for “green” so that it would pull up all of the variations of green. The closest color to what I have painted on this swatch is a shade called “Haven” (which is very green). I then pulled up one of the dining room scenes and put Haven on one wall and Willow Tree (the painted swatch) on the adjacent wall. The wall with the Haven green color looks like what my living room wall looks like where I tested the “Willow Tree” color. I wish I could do a print screen and paste it here for all to see. Mind you; this paint is not Sherwin’s sample paint; it’s the real thing. These two colors are so completely different that Willow Tree looks like it’s in a blue family more than green.
Well, I hope the Sherwin guy screwed up the mix because otherwise, this tool is completely useless. Btw; I like Sherwin’s paints. I just finished my exterior about six months ago and it came out gorgeous.
– Jeff
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Posted by Jennifer on February 24th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Colors on the computer vary widely. When I designed the masthead for this blog I checked the reds on a variety of computers. It was amazing how different they looked – especially the grays.
As for the visualizers, this is a tool to help you get started – to be inspired. It is not a substitute for a real test, which I always advise.
Paints will look different depending on the time of day, the climate (because the light is different), and what other colors are next to it. If you paint a yellow-green on a blue wall it won’t look the same as it would against white or a blue-green.
Always test the color on a foam core board first. Move it around the room. Look at it in the AM and the PM. And leave some white around the edge of the board.
Let me know how mixed color looks compared to the chip from the store.
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Posted by TruHue Paint Color Solutions on December 14th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I agree that visualizers are simply a guide to help users narrow down their color family interests. Blues or reds? Greens or oranges? etc?
Once narrowed down, it’s time to sample some colors on test boards NOT directly on the walls. We always recommend using our Tru-Hue Color Test Boards over foam core boards.
Foam core boards have a glossy surface to begin with which does not mimic any walls that we are familiar with. Secondly, once painted, they tend to excessively curl making it hard to mount them flush on the wall. If they are not flush on the wall, shadows will be created next to the curled edges making it harder to accurately visualize the color you are sampling.
Save yourself some time and money and try Tru-Hue boards on your next project.
Also visit http://www.roomvues.com They will paint any digital photo any paint color that will save you some aggravation trying to do it on your own!
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Posted by Jennifer on December 15th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Good advice on the foam core. I know paint stores sell large sort of poster board that are matte as well.
One word of caution about testing paint online is that the color won’t look the same in real life. But they can definitely help get you started on whether, for example, you want a pink or green room.
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Posted by Julie Virga on April 22nd, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I need help with paint color for a small bathroom with original tile colors of pale peach with royal blue trim.Obnoxioius colors for today but now we are trying to sell the house and I need to cute up the bathroom as much as possible. I can match peach tile.Any suggestions?
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Posted by Jennifer on April 23rd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Grosse Pointe is loaded with odd tile combinations – like raspberry and an ugly sort of orange-brown. There must have been a great deal of left-overs in the 1930s. I recommend going to shade lighter or darker with the peach. It’s the least obtrusive. You can also tell the realtor to point out that peach is a great color in the bathroom because it brings out the warm tones of your face making it a good place to apply make-up.
Now you’ll tell me it’s the kid’s bath, right? One more tip: declutter as much as possible. You’ll be moving soon, so you’ve got a good reason to clean things up.
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Posted by Jannette on April 22nd, 2011 at 2:14 pm
i checked the willow tree thing and it does look like a very ripe avacado which makes me sick cause i hate avacado
Love the colors, but I am a huge fan of testing colors after painting my office three separate times.