Choosing colours and finishes properly
A colour on a card is not a colour on a wall. Light direction, adjacent surfaces and sheen level all shift how a shade reads once it covers a whole plane.

01Test big, test in place
Small dabs on a busy wall tell you almost nothing. Large sample boards moved around the room at different times of day give a far more reliable read.
02Light direction matters
North-facing rooms pull colours cooler and greyer; south-facing rooms warm them up. The same white can look crisp in one room and yellow in the next.
03Sheen changes the colour
The same shade in matt and in eggshell will read differently because of how each reflects light. Specify sheen and colour together, not separately.
04Commercial palettes and brand colours
Brand colours are matched to reference and recorded so future maintenance matches exactly. We also flag where a brand shade will need extra coats for opacity.
Common questions
Can you match an existing colour?
Yes, we colour-match and record the reference for future touch-ups.
Why does my sample look different on the wall?
Scale, light direction and the surrounding surfaces all shift how a colour reads.
Do strong colours need more coats?
Often yes, particularly deep reds, yellows and some greens.
Can you match brand colours?
Yes, to reference or to a supplied sample.
Related services
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Next step
Ask for sample boards before the job starts rather than deciding from a card.
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