How to Match Ceiling Paint with Existing One – Home Hack and 2 Easy Methods

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Your beautiful ceiling can be exposed to damage as a result of cracks, stains, water leaks, and more.

A cover-up spray is an easy hack to get your ceiling stain-free. It will match most ceiling colors and dries flat white. Just apply it directly to the ceiling where it will deliver a smooth, even blast of ceiling paint and primer. The low-odor, non-yellowing formula is a quick cure for stains, dingy spots, and water stains.

You might need to repaint the ceiling and it is hard to find the exact same color to touch-up on certain areas.

Read on to find out how to match ceiling paint that will help you match the new paint color with the original one.

how to match ceiling paint

You will want to buy the exact same paint for your ceiling whenever possible. That means using the same ceiling color and paint formula.

If that isn’t possible, you can find a comparable match paint.

How to Match Ceiling Paint

You can use a cover-up spray as a quick cure for stains, dingy spots, and water stains on your ceiling. The formula dries a flat white that blends flawlessly to match most ceiling paint.

You can also get your ceiling paint matched if you live by a hardware store like Home Depot. Using a scraper, peel off a layer of the paint that is at least 2 inches by 2 inches. Bring this sample of your ceiling to get it matched in the store. Keep in mind that not all hardware or paint stores have this available, so you should call ahead.

From my experience, the paint match at Home Depot has been fairly accurate. However, you might have to try again to get the right match. There are other methods that will help you match your ceiling color.

Once you’ve found the right color, use wall spackle to patch up the sample area that was removed. Wait for it to dry, sand it smooth if you need to, and paint over it.

Step 1: Examine the ceiling

Before buying the paint, you will need to examine your ceiling. Painters use different types of finishes for painting.

They can be flat finish, glossy finish, or eggshell finish. When you buy the paint, make sure the finish matches your existing one.

You will find that ceilings are usually using a flat finish.

Step 2: Collect a few paint samples

As mentioned earlier, you can bring a sample of your ceiling to the hardware store for an exact match.

Alternatively, there is a reverse step. You can go to a paint supply or hardware store. There are different bundles of cards from each color palette.

Choose the one that best matches your ceiling. Most ceilings are white. So, take home the color swatches which include various shades of white color.

Step 3: Find the color by holding it against the ceiling

Now, it is time to find the right tone from the sample cards. For this, you will need a ladder.

Turn on the lights and make sure that the room is getting enough brightness. Climb up the ladder and hold the colors from the sample cards one by one.

First, go through the regular ceiling colors and then move to the custom ones.

You will most likely find the right color from the regular ones as people usually don’t use custom colors for their ceilings.

Step 4: Mark the possible colors that match the ceiling

You might find more than one color that seems closest to the ceiling. Mark those so that you can compare them later.

Step 5: Examine by painting little sections on the ceiling

Bring a few samples from the hardware store. You can usually get small paint samples for each color for about $5, although not all stores will sell paint samples.

Also, bring a few paintbrushes.

Paint a sample spot from each of these samples.

You should use different paintbrushes so that you don’t mix the colors. For ease, prepare with 3 brushes if you have 3 colors.

Step 6: Find the right color

After you are done painting the sample spots of the ceiling, wait for it to dry. Paint can dry into a different shade.

Once it’s dry, you can take a look at which one is the best match.

You can make it an activity by taking suggestions from friends and family to come with the right decision.

Once you’ve found the best match, you can finally grab the right paint can and paint the parts that need repainting!

Following this process, you can match paint for a simple ceiling touch up.

In case of not finding the right color, the next best solution is to paint the whole ceiling.

How to Match Ceiling Paint for Textured Ceiling

What if you do not have a flat ceiling, and instead have a textured ceiling or what’s also known as a “popcorn” ceiling?

Use a texture touch up sprayer for small repairs of damaged textured ceilings and walls.

Touching up is easy because the texture is forgiving in any shades and bumps. It is easy to blend with the surrounding texture.

Why It’s Hard to Match Ceiling Paint

Why is it so hard to match ceiling paint? Unfortunately, even with the same color and formula, you may not be able to match your touchups to match the ceiling paint exactly.

The reason for this is that the same paint can be used and stored differently. The water evaporates from the paint and this changes the consistency of the paint.

The texture of the painting tool also matters. A roller will usually match better on a flat ceiling. A brush will give you the ability to blend around the edges for small touch ups.

How to Touch Up Ceiling Paint

If something has made spot damage on your ceiling, you might need to do a touch-up.

Touching up with new paint on an older ceiling is more challenging than painting the whole ceiling because it leaves a more obvious finish.

Your best bet will be to use the original paint color and formula, if possible. By using the original color, you will get the best finish.

If you do not have the original paint color, take a 2″x2″ sample of your ceiling with a scraper.

Take this sample to your hardware store to get a paint match with their paint scanner. Keep in mind that not all hardware or paint stores have this available, so you should call ahead.

What Color Should I Paint My Ceiling?

The color that you should use to paint your ceiling depends on the size of the room.

If you have a small room, it is better to go for light colors. Bright colors like the popular, bright white for ceilings, will make your room look bigger and higher.

On the other hand, if you have a big room, you can go for either light or dark colors.

Painting the ceiling and the wall with the same dark color will make the interior and furniture look more focused.

Should I Paint My Ceiling White?

Most people prefer to use white as their ceiling color.

White paint is preferred because it makes your room look bigger and gives a clean slate for you to decorate in many different styles.

Also, if your room doesn’t have windows and doesn’t get much natural light, a white ceiling will help make your room look bright as it is good at bouncing artificial light.

These are the tips regarding painting the ceiling and matching the correct color.

Related:
How Much Does A Covered Patio Cost – 6 Types and DIY Cost
How to Remove Paint from Ceiling

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