Paint too dark - advice please

Woodyrocks

I bought 15 litres of Oyster Cove 4 (Dulux range) for my walls but have patch tested and now thinking it might be just a tad too dark. It is a custom blend colour so I am unable to return.

Will it be possible to mix with white and if so does anyone have any ratio to work with. As an aside the decorator has informed me that I need an additional 10 litres - do I buy more of the same and mix with white or get a lighter variant of Oyster Cove

It is times like this that I wish I were more considered and less impulsive a personality :rolleyes:

Incisor

Woodyrocks wrote: »

I bought 15 litres of Oyster Cove 4 (Dulux range) for my walls but have patch tested and now thinking it might be just a tad too dark. It is a custom blend colour so I am unable to return.

Will it be possible to mix with white and if so does anyone have any ratio to work with. As an aside the decorator has informed me that I need an additional 10 litres - do I buy more of the same and mix with white or get a lighter variant of Oyster Cove

If you were planning on 2 coats and you know the intended colour is not too different, then use the wrong paint for a first coat and the right colour for a second. Mixing white is fraught - you may find it hard to mix 25l in 1 batch and even harder to mix it consistently as 2 batches

bagpuss_fan

I've always mixed paint myself to make it lighter/darker. Never had any problems.

Tip some of the original colour into a spare pot to make room for the white, and keep it. Then just pour in the white and stir til it's not streaky anymore!

Note: not sure why, but standard paints generally dry a lighter colour, i've found that paints i've changed dry a darker colour!

I actually bought a 25l pot of paint that was too dark (I had it mixed too, think it's those little shade cards which mislead you!) By the time i'd made it lighter, I managed 2 coats on three different bedrooms!! Think I even might have some left in the shed!

If you run out, blob some of the original mix on a plate, then mix some more, blob it next to it until you get the same colour - always check in daylight!

Be patient and you'll get there in the end!

blue-kat

I'd consider painting it on a wall by wall basis, so you don't need to match perfectly. How about using slightly lighter colour ( either bought or mixed) on the wallest that gets least daylight?

it's best to judge the shade on a large area, you might be happy with the oyster colour yet.
don't forget - get a small test pot made up of the lighter colour

keep a record how your proptions when mixing your own colours.

good luck !

Woodyrocks

Kat, I have to agree that after painting patches on various walls in the house last night prior to starting the thread I have woken up to find that there are indeed colour differences which I can only attribute to the amount of light in each area.

My DD insists that I have painted the walls with different colours ranging from purple to white! So do I need to only paint the purple & lilac looking walls a lighter colour?

Apologies for being so clueless all suggestions are greatly appreciated!

p.s I am 'this' close to uploading pictorial evidence!!