Interior designers swear by this simple paint technique to craft a truly personalized room.

Choosing the perfect paint color can be exciting, yet overwhelming. Many factors influence your choice—your personal style, the natural light in the room, the overall aesthetic of the home, and the design theme all play a role in determining which hue will work best. But what do you do when, after much time spent browsing and testing samples, you still can't find the color that perfectly matches your vision?

The solution is to create your own custom paint shade, which can be done at most paint stores. Whether you choose a slightly lighter, darker, or more intense version, the possibilities are virtually limitless. But before you start mixing, here’s what you should know.

How the Trick Works

Interior designer Amanda Leigh of House of Rolison explains, 'When adjusting colors, we often find that stores don't carry the exact hues we're looking for.' To achieve the perfect shade, ask the store to make the color 1% to 100% lighter or darker. For a subtle darkening, try 25%, but beware—100% will make it very dark.

This technique is perfect for those who love the undertones of a color but aren't happy with the shades available on the color card. Or, when they test the color on the wall and find that what they thought was ideal is just a bit too dark (or light).

Keep in mind, though, that this method may require some experimentation. 'We typically narrow down to one or two shades, then request a percentage change to find the right balance of color depth and brightness. Depending on the lighting (we usually use warm light) and the amount of natural light in the room, the paint color can shift considerably. We test several variations before finalizing our choice,' says Leigh.

Don't hesitate to ask for a few samples, but remember, if it's your first time selecting paint or if you're unsure about your design decisions, this technique might not be the best choice for you.

Elevate Your Space

Leigh also advises that if you're planning to darken your paint, it's best to choose tinted primers that match the lightness of the paint you're using. She explains, 'The darker your color, the darker the primer should be. Tinted primers help create an even finish and ensure the paint's consistency across the surface.'

You could also apply multiple layers of paint, but this primer method is quicker and more cost-effective since primer is generally cheaper than paint. Smart choice!

Other Options to Consider

Explore Pre-Made Alternatives

If you're thinking of lightening or darkening your paint to maintain a consistent color palette across different rooms, or if you're intrigued by this technique but unsure about the percentage to use, consider Little Greene's Color Scales collection. 'Our Color Scales collection features our most popular hues in graduated tones, created with the same pigments but in varying intensities,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene. Essentially, they've done the lightening and darkening for you.

This option offers all the benefits without the guesswork. 'When selecting three colors within the same tonal family, it's best to choose shades of varying strength. Typically, pick one light, one medium, and one dark—this creates immediate contrast. Start with your hero color, the one that will serve as the base of your scheme, then select two complementary tones,' she advises.

Explore This Cool Application

Interior designer Kate Dawson suggests that customizing paint colors is an excellent way to achieve an ombré effect, particularly in a nursery or kids' room. She recommends custom gradients 'if you're painting a mural and want the colors to seamlessly fade from lighter to darker tones of the same color. You'll know you've achieved the right effect if there’s no visible line separating one shade from the next.'