Mixing paint yourself?

pinkie_pie

I've very kindly been given just under 5l of a dulux paint for my daughters bedroom, which is 'lilac love' but is pretty much a faint lilac white! I think it would preferably be a touch darker, is there any way I can do it myself? My thoroughly amateur idea was to buy a tester pot or two of the darkest purple I could find and stir it in! Is that sensible?!

tori.k

I've done it years ago it will be fine but mix mix and mix again or it will streak also make up a bit more than you need for future touch ups as you will never get the same colour twice even if you think you've added the same amout of paint...Trust me on that one

laurel7172

I'd give it a go. I have given it a go successfully on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, it was my attempt at a purple shade (made from her brother's leftover blue and a red matchpot) that was rejected by my daughter. But at least it was free undercoat and we only needed one coat of the expensive stuff on top!

Just be sure you've made enough...you'll never match the shade again.

ormus

as above. mix thoroughly. and mix enough!
also add the dark stuff slowly. a bit at a time and mix.
you can always darken it more, its much harder to lighten it back again.

you might want to test it on the wall first and let it dry.
behind the bed is a good place.

pinkie_pie

Awesome Was already wondering about how to do it (it's two 2.5l tins and one has a little taken out...) but will endeavour to give it a go.

Thanks for your replies everyone! Should I go for a mediumish shade I like or a dark dark shade?

ormus

a lightmediumdark shade is nice.

laurel7172

Based purely on my experience with DD's bedroom, purply shades came up darker than I expected. Much to the delight of DD, as it happens. So I'd err a little on the light side. My daughter wouldn't!

sassypie

On this topic, I did this years ago at my last flat (and no, I didn't mix enough for touch ups :doh:). The biggest problem I found was trying to store it in between painting sessions - anyone got any ideas? I was mixing 2.5l white and 2.5l magnolia to get a dirt cheap warm white, which worked fine, but I really needed one huge tin to mix and store it. Never found one.

Any thoughts would be great.

Also, anyone mixed satin or eggshell successfully?

pimento

If you're doing two different cans of paint, either make sure you don't mix them up on the walls, or make one a few tones darker and use for two of the walls, either adjacent or the two facing walls. This will give a bit of depth to the colour.

ormus

you can find old 10 ltr plastic tubs almost anywhere.
trade paints often comes in 10 ltr tubs.

ormus

most water based paints will mix ok.
if in any doubt do a test mix in a small jar.

same applies to oil based paints.