How to Use Your Paint Sample Pots

Why bother with a tester pot when you've spent so much time collecting paint charts and browsing our colour collections online?

Shades on a digital screen almost never look the same as they do on a wall, and our paint charts are printed versions of the colour presented against a white background, which will alter your perception of the colour. So, the tester pot is the only way to go. To enable you to test at various times of day and against your existing décor, furnishings, or exterior elements.

What happens after you've narrowed it down to a few colours and purchased your tester pots? We've broken down our recommended application techniques for both our interior and exterior testers

The first step is true for both surfaces! To begin, shake – or stir – your pot before using it. The paint inside will have settled during transit, and you'll want to make sure that all of the pigments are properly mixed, or you won't see the intended colour.

How to sample paint colours on your walls

1) Decide on your application method for the Colour It Interior paint tester.

You have two options here. You can either paint directly onto the walls, or paint onto a large sheet of thick lining paper which you can then tape to the wall. Painting directly is usually the easiest option, but you may want to consider lining paper if your walls currently feature a printed wallpaper or very bold paint shade. (Colours "talk" to one another, so your impression of the new test colour(s) may be impacted by the surrounding existing colour. By painting onto white lining paper and leaving a white border, you can avoid this issue).

·        If painting directly onto the walls, test more than one location, applying two coats and over as large an area as you can.

·        If painting on lining paper, either paint multiple samples or move around your swatch during different times of the day

3) Paint (or stick) sample tests eye level

4) Don’t line up your sample swatches right next to each other (this will affect the way each reads).

5) Apply two coats of paint – you’re likely to do this on your final wall, so you’ll get a truer reflection of the colour.

6) Write the names of the colours on the back of the lining paper (or stick a not on top of the painted swatch), so that you can identify the colours later - there’s nothing worse than finally deciding on a colour and then not being able to remember if it was Denim N429 or Mulberry H484!

7) Once dry, study the colour(s) in different lighting conditions over a period of a day or two (so you can view in both natural and artificial light).

8) Check out how these shades look paired with your flooring, furniture, lampshades, and other interior items.

9) Once you've made your decision, use our paint calculator to determine how much paint you'll need.

10) Head over to our Paint Picker Tool to help decide on the best paint for your project. Answer 5 simple questions. and we'll do the rest!

How to sample paint colours on exterior wood

1) Paint your Colour It Exterior sample pot directly onto the wood, applying two coats and over as large an area as you can.

2) Paint testing areas at eye level, where possible.

3) If you're choosing between a few colours, don’t line up your sample swatches right next to each other (this can affect the way each reads).

4) Once dry, study the colour(s) in different lighting conditions. From daytime light to dusk and evening, depending on what light sources you have feeding into your garden.

Tikkurila Tinting Promise

Thanks to Tikkurila’s unique colour map manufacturing technology, our “Colour It” sample pots offer 100% colour accuracy, so you know exactly what to expect before tackling your painting project. Thanks to Tikkurila’s unique colour map manufacturing technology, our “Colour It” sample pots are all tinted to order in the same way as our full-size tins.