How do I match paint colour to my existing walls when doing a partial repaint?

Colour matching in Vancouver homes can be tricky, especially because our diffused natural light changes how colours appear compared to sunnier climates. Even with the original paint code, walls that have been up for a few years will have faded or yellowed, so a fresh coat of the "same" colour often looks noticeably different beside the old paint.

The most reliable approach is to cut a small chip — about the size of a loonie — from an inconspicuous spot like behind a door or inside a closet. Your painter can bring this to a paint supplier with a spectrophotometer for colour matching. Most Vancouver paint stores offer this service for free or a nominal $5-$10 fee. Digital colour-matching apps on your phone are not accurate enough for a seamless result.

Even with a perfect match, you need to paint full walls corner to corner, not just patch sections. Our coastal light — which shifts dramatically between our grey winter skies and bright summer sun — will expose any mid-wall colour breaks. If you're only touching up a hallway, paint from the nearest natural break point like a doorway or corner.

For homes with flat or matte finishes, matching is more forgiving. Eggshell and satin sheens are harder because they reflect light differently when new versus aged. If the original paint is more than five years old, it's usually worth repainting the entire room rather than chasing a match.

Ask your painter to do a test patch and let it dry fully for 24 hours before committing to the full job.

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