Mixing paint colors

United States
October 17, 2007 2:03pm CST
I have been having a bit of trouble with deciding on a paint color for my bathroom. It is a rather small room so I think I'd like to go with a light to medium shade of blue-gray paint. I bought two quarts of latex semi-gloss paint, one is a light green-blue color and one is a dark grayish-blue. I'm not happy with either color as they are, as one is too bright and the other is too dark for my taste. Do you think it would be a good idea to experiment with mixing the two colors I have in small amounts to get a custom color? Both cans of paint are the same type (Latex indoor semi-gloss). I'd really prefer to use the paint I already have rather than go out and spend more money on another color. Any advice on this?
3 people like this
5 responses
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
18 Oct 07
Though I got beat to the solution, I'll second it. Go ahead and try mixing them. But get empty buckets that are expendable for you to mix different levels of each paint. Then experiment by painting on a spare item like wood, or a board from an arts and crafts shop. Personally I'd go with the dark grey blue and not mix anything. But also I like the light green-blue (even better if its a cyan, turquoise or aquamarine). Probably another dumb suggestion, but newlevel. Go download sketchup free. You can use it to make a draft of the room or just shapes to compare the colors. See I'm thinking you might be able to use them both with some other decoration schemes. Then again, I haven't seen the paints in question, so its only a guess.
3 people like this
• United States
19 Oct 07
Thanks for your response. I originally picked the dark gray blue because I liked the color. To me, it had a sophistocated look to it. Then once I got a sample of it on the wall I realized it's probably going to make my very small bathroom appear even smaller. I'm going to try to brighten it up a bit with the lighter color that my fiance picked out (the light green-blue). Thanks for suggesting sketchup. It looks like it could be a very helpful tool for home projects.
• United States
18 Oct 07
I say go for it. Most stores won't take back paint once it has been mixed to a color, so you might as well try it before buying more. I would get a couple scrap pieces of wood or drywall and experiment on those first, unless you have a small wall you don't mind painting and repainting if the color doesn't work out (make sure to prime the scrap with some paint similar to what's currently on the wall). I painted most of my house using "oops" paint (paint that was mixed at the hardware store but didn't meet the customers specifications). I would get a color close to what I wanted and then mix to suit. You have nothing to lose by trying except a little time.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Oct 07
Thanks for your response. I'm going to go ahead and try it. I have lots of time to experiment, so I think this will be a fun project for me.
@urbandekay (18278)
17 Oct 07
I have mixed paint on a number of occasions but result is not always what you might expect since even quite similar colours may be formulated in very different ways. Also, consider that you may need to repaint at a later time and obtaining the same colour may be impossible. Mixing the two paints again from different batches won't work. Better go to a trade paint shop and ask them to mix the shade you want. all the best urban
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
17 Oct 07
Semi-gloss is usually called egg-shell all the best urban
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Oct 07
Actually, egg-shell and semi-gloss are different, semi-gloss is glossier and egg shell is the step between flat and satin finish.
2 people like this
@urbandekay (18278)
18 Oct 07
Interesting, not hard the term before, here in UK egg shell is more gloss than satin. all the best urban
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
18 Oct 07
Go for it, but I would get a bigger can and mix both together all at once. Be prepared to not like it and then add white to lighten or a darker shade of blue to darken and then you have it. Of course the chances are you will never be able to re-create the exact color again. Could be fun trying though!!
• United States
19 Oct 07
Thanks for your response and suggestions.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
19 Oct 07
Do they coordinate? How about doing the bottom half in the darker to anchor the room and the lighter on the top ...or strip them. If you decide to mix them I would slowly add the darker to the lighter mixing it well inbetween until you come up with a color that's acceptable...and don't forget they dry a different shade.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Oct 07
Thanks for your response and suggestions. I'm thinking a single color would be best, since it's such a small room. It will be fun experimenting with mixing the colors.