How to Deal with Old Paint Not Matching New Paint

Perhaps you dinged a wall while moving furniture, or time has caught up to your paint. Regardless, a touch-up is necessary. In an ideal world, old and new paint would match perfectly. Alas, the world is imperfect, and matching new paint with old isn’t always easy. If you find yourself in this predicament, we have a few ways you can remedy the problem.

Before we get into how to deal with this issue, let’s talk about why it happens so you can avoid it in the future. Three culprits can create a paint-matching crisis:

• The most common problem is old paint. Paint loses water over time, so using some leftovers from a prior project will result in uneven color because it will dry faster than fresh paint.
• Next up is sunlight. As much as we love the sun, it can cause your paint colors and even your furniture and décor to fade. Years of faded paint and dirt will cause a change you don’t notice until you put fresh, clean paint on top.
• The method you use to apply the paint—a sprayer, roller, or brush—also has a minor effect on the final appearance. Use the same application style as you did for the initial painting, if possible.

As New York’s color authority, we can match any color seamlessly. Use a utility knife to cut a paint sample from the wall and bring it to us; we’ll take it from there. Once you’re ready to paint, don’t neglect the prep work. Even a small area needs thorough cleaning to ensure the paint sticks to the wall. If you’re using a brush, feather the edges of the fresh paint into the old for a smooth transition.

If you’re unsure where to start, visit us at one of our many paint stores across NYC. One of our paint experts will work with you to find the right solution for your project. We also partner with professional painters and commercial painters, so we can likely point you in the right direction if you need additional help with your paint project.

If you’re considering changing the color of a room, mismatched paint may be the sign you need to move forward. If you’re apprehensive about trying an adventurous color, we say, “Go for it!” Remember that paint is not permanent; it takes time and effort, and if you don’t love your first color choice, you can easily paint over it with another.

We can help you bring brilliant color to your apartment. Janovic is the city’s premier Benjamin Moore paint and Hunter Douglas window treatments dealer. Our industry-leading designers and paint professionals will assist you with creating a perfect palette for any space.

Visit one of our paint stores across New York City, including Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Long Island City, Soho, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Uptown West, Yorkville, and The Bronx, or book a consultation online today.