Colour guidance
Statement of Colour Accuracy
Colour appearance varies between screens, printed charts, lighting, surfaces, batches and paint finishes. Please use the guidance below before ordering or applying paint.
Screens and digital colours
Colours displayed online are guides only. Screen type, brightness, colour settings and ambient light can change how a colour appears, so a screen image cannot provide an exact colour match.
Printed charts and samples
Printed colour cards can vary between print runs and can fade with age. Small samples also appear different from a complete wall because the surrounding colours, surface and lighting affect perception.
Finish, surface and lighting
The same named colour can look different in matt, eggshell, satin, gloss or exterior finishes. Surface texture, porosity, preparation, previous coatings, the number of coats and natural or artificial light can all affect the result. Wood stains and translucent coatings are especially influenced by the substrate.
Tester pots
Where available, use a tester on the actual prepared surface and view it at different times of day. Testers are colour indicators and may use a different product or finish from the final paint; they are not intended for touching in an existing coating.
Mixed paint, batches and colour matching
Mixing machines, bases, batch numbers and manufacturing tolerances can produce small variations, even where the colour name or code is the same. Ready-mixed paint may not be identical to paint mixed to order. For one project, order enough paint at the same time where possible and combine tins of the same colour before application if the manufacturer recommends it.
If a product description offers a visual match to a colour from another range, the result is an approximation made in the selected manufacturer’s product and is not the original brand’s formulation. If an exact match to an existing coating is important, contact us before ordering.
Check before full application
Before applying to a large area, check the colour, product, finish and sheen against your order and test a small area. Check every tin and keep labels, lids and batch information. If something appears wrong, stop and contact us before continuing; applying more product can make investigation and remedial work harder.
Returns of mixed colours
Paint mixed or tinted to your chosen colour is made to your specification and cannot normally be returned because you change your mind. This does not affect your rights if the product is faulty, misdescribed or mixed to a different specification from the order.
If you believe there is a fault
Contact us with your order details, photographs, batch numbers, preparation and application information. Keep the remaining paint, tins and labels. We or the manufacturer may need a sample or the containers for inspection and analysis. We will give safe return or collection instructions where required.
Your legal rights
Manufacturer analysis can help establish whether there is a product or mixing fault, but it does not remove your statutory rights. Nothing on this page excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. Any remedy will depend on the circumstances, the evidence and the rights available under applicable law.
Need colour advice?
If colour accuracy is critical, email shop@paintndecorate.co.uk or call 01262 609946 before ordering.
Last updated: 6 August 2026.