Choosing the perfect paint color can be tricky. Fortunately, the rise of house paint apps has made color selection and home visualization way easier.
These digital tools allow you to virtually paint your walls, match colors from photos, and quickly explore a wide range of colors—all from your smartphone or tablet. This article will explore the top house paint apps, their features, and how to use them effectively for your next painting project.
Top Paint Color Selection Apps
Several paint color apps stand out for their comprehensive features and user-friendly interfaces. Here are three of the most popular ones:
ColorSmart by Behr
Behr’s ColorSmart app is a versatile tool for selecting paint colors. The app allows users to search for shades by name, number, or color family, making it easy to find specific colors. One standout feature is its color-match function, which enables you to take a picture or select an existing one from your library, and the app will match that color with an existing Behr color.
The preview function in ColorSmart allows you to virtually paint a selection of rooms. The app also includes the ability to save projects, colors, paint calculations, and palettes for future reference.
Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio
Benjamin Moore’s Color Portfolio app can match colors from any photo and provide the four closest shades in the Benjamin Moore palette. This feature is particularly useful when you’re trying to recreate a color you’ve seen in nature or in a design inspiration photo.
Color Portfolio also allows users to save, email, and share colors on social media platforms like Facebook and Pinterest. However, like many digital color representations, the colors may appear differently on screen compared to their physical counterparts due to variations in screen brightness and resolution.
Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap
The ColorSnap app by Sherwin-Williams offers a suite of color selection tools similar to those from Benjamin Moore and Behr. Its color-match feature identifies colors in a photo and creates a palette with those colors, along with complementary shades. This tool is particularly useful for creating cohesive color schemes based on existing elements in your space. It also provides room visualization features, allowing you to see how colors might look in different settings.
Valspar Color Connect
Valspar’s Color Connect app offers a unique feature that sets it apart from many other paint apps: live consultation with color experts. Users can upload photos of their space and receive advice from a color consultant via live video, audio, or email. This personalized guidance can help you find the best colors for your home.
The app also includes a paint calculator to help estimate the amount of paint needed for your project, as well as how-to videos to assist with various painting tasks. However, some users have noted that the app lacks a search function, making navigation challenging. The app also doesn’t allow for saving paint colors within the app.
Color Matching Technology in Paint Apps
Color matching is a key feature in many paint apps, allowing users to find paint colors that match objects or images.
How Color Matching Works
Color matching in paint apps typically uses image recognition technology to analyze the colors in a photo. The app then compares these colors to its database of paint colors and suggests the closest matches. Some apps, like Benjamin Moore’s Color Portfolio, will provide multiple close matches, allowing users to choose the shade that best fits their needs.
Accuracy and Limitations
While color matching technology has advanced greatly, it’s important to understand its limitations. Factors such as lighting conditions, camera quality, and screen resolution can all affect the accuracy of color matching. Additionally, the physical properties of paint, such as sheen and texture, can’t be fully represented digitally. For these reasons, we recommend viewing physical paint samples in your space before making a final decision.
Features To Look for in Paint Apps
When choosing a paint app, several key features can enhance your color selection experience:
Virtual Room Painting
The ability to virtually paint your own rooms is a valuable feature that allows you to visualize colors in your specific space. Look for apps that allow you to upload photos of your rooms and easily apply different paint colors to walls and other surfaces.
Color Matching Capabilities
A robust color-matching feature can help you find paint colors that coordinate with existing elements in your home, such as furniture or artwork. Apps that provide multiple close matches give you more flexibility in your color choices.
Paint Calculator Tools
Paint calculator tools help estimate the amount of paint needed for your project based on room dimensions. This feature can save time and reduce waste by ensuring you purchase the right amount of paint.
Tips for Using Paint Apps Effectively
To get the most out of paint apps, consider the following tips.
Look at Your Lighting
Remember that lighting can significantly affect how colors appear. When using paint apps, try to take photos of your space at different times of day to see how colors look under various lighting conditions. Morning light, for example, is often cooler and bluer, while afternoon light is warmer and more golden. By considering how a paint color looks in various lighting conditions, you’ll be better equipped to choose a shade that truly works in your space.
Calibrate Your Screen
The accuracy of color representation on your device’s screen can impact your perception of paint colors. Consider calibrating your screen or viewing colors on multiple devices to get a more accurate representation.
Screen calibration ensures that the colors you see on your device are as true to life as possible. Most devices offer some form of calibration under settings or display options, and there are also apps available specifically for this purpose. By viewing colors on multiple devices, you can account for differences in screen technology and gain a more comprehensive understanding of how a color will appear.
Consider Real-Life Shopping, As Well
You can use paint apps to narrow down your color choices before visiting a store. This pre-shopping research can save time and help you focus on the most promising options when viewing physical samples. With a shortlist of colors in hand, you’ll be better prepared to ask for specific samples, compare swatches more efficiently, and discuss your options with store associates.
Our Conclusion
House paint apps are convenient for visualizing and choosing paint colors. While these apps provide valuable assistance, they’re best used as part of the color selection process and not as a substitute for viewing physical samples in your space.
We recommend combining the digital convenience of paint apps with traditional color selection methods. This way, you can get a good idea of what you want and how it will match your existing space before heading into a store.