How to Use Paint Tester Pots Properly

Paint tester pots are brilliant for narrowing down colour choices – but only if you use them the right way.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is slapping tester paint straight onto the wall. It might seem convenient, but it can actually make choosing a colour harder.

Let’s look at how to use paint tester pots properly for the best possible results.

Little Greene tester pots, as featured in our video

Don’t Paint Directly Onto the Wall

Instead of painting straight onto your wall, pick up a roll of lining paper. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and perfect for creating large, moveable colour samples. Cut the lining paper into generous-sized pieces so you can really see how the colour behaves.

Prepare and Apply the Paint Correctly

Open your tester pots and give them a good stir – paint that hasn’t been mixed properly won’t show its true colour. Apply a generous coat to each piece of lining paper and let it dry fully.

Top tip: Write the colour name on each piece of paper. When you’re comparing several similar shades (especially those endlessly popular greiges), this simple step will save a lot of confusion later.

Use the Right Tools

A paintbrush works perfectly well, but a basic household sponge is often even better. Sponges are cheaper, faster to use, and easy to clean. They also help you apply paint evenly without worrying too much about brush marks.

Move Your Swatches Around the Room

One of the biggest advantages of this method is flexibility. Once your samples are dry, you can move them around the room:

• Place them near windows to see how natural light affects the colour.
• Check them under artificial lighting in the evening.
• Hold them next to existing furniture, flooring, or soft furnishings.
• Hold your swatches by doorways to see how the new colour will work with the existing colours in the next room.

Colours can look completely different depending on their surroundings.

Check at Different Times of Day

Morning light, afternoon sun, and evening lighting all change how a colour appears. A shade that looks perfect at lunchtime might feel too dark or too cool at night.

Live with your colour swatches for a few days. The light will vary depending on the weather, and this can affect how your colour looks. It’s also important to check your swatches under the lights you usually have on in that room. Think about whether you normally use the big light or smaller table lamps, and check the colours under those lights before you commit.

Why Colour Testing Is Important

Premium paints such as Mylands, Earthborn, Little Greene and Farrow & Ball use natural pigments. These offer more colour variation, depth of colour and luminosity than artificial colour pigments, but it is important to look at these in different lights. You will see the multi-tonal colour changes and get an idea of how they make the room feel at different times of day.

How Many Colours Should I Test?

Up to six colours is a good guide.

The Smart Way to Choose Paint Colours

Using tester pots this way makes choosing the right colour far easier. You’ll avoid unnecessary repainting, protect your walls, and feel confident that the colour you choose will work in all lighting conditions. And remember to take your time – this should be an enjoyable process!

Time to Order Your Sample Pots?

Tester pot sizes from leading paint brands:

• Little Greene Absolute Matt Emulsion – 60 ml
• Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion – 100 ml
• Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt Paint – 125 ml
• Earthborn Claypaint – 100 ml
• Mylands Marble Matt Emulsion – 100 ml
• Crown Walls and Ceilings Matt Emulsion Paint – 40 ml
• Dulux Walls and Ceilings Matt Paint – 30 ml

Note: Sample pots are often available in only one finish per brand. Use these to test colours before ordering full-size tins in your preferred finish.