Paint a sample for each new color you mix.
Paint looks different on walls than it does on a small paint chip. The color that you thought would be perfect for your room may be the wrong shade after all. One option is to throw your paint out and start the painting process all over again with a new color. A thriftier choice is to remix the old paint yourself to create a custom color that suits your needs.
Instructions
1. Put down a drop cloth to protect the floor. Pour all of the remaining original paint color in a large bucket.
2. Pour white paint gradually into the bucket to lighten a color that is too dark. Stir the paint thoroughly and frequently as you are adding the white. Test the new color by painting a sample directly on the wall. Make sure that the sample is at least 1 foot square to get an accurate idea of how it will look.
3. Add a similarly tinted paint to make the original color more pronounced if you want to darken the wall color. Add some black or brown paint to make the original color more neutral. Use other tints to change the color of your paint entirely, in a similar fashion to the way you mix food coloring when cooking. Stir the paint in the bucket very well to disperse the tints after each addition.
4. Test the colors on the wall. Allow them to dry completely to reveal how the newly mixed paint will look.
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