Could weep, why is paint never the same colour as the swatch card :(

[Bladders73]

Deluxe perfectly taupe.

And this is what other pictures of it looked like and I loved it.

Yet it's so bloomin dark on my walls....gutted. Not the look I was going far at all...

Which undercoat did you use?

Could it still be drying? We've had it in the past and it looked like the second two pictures.

It's not dry though surely?

It always looks darker when wet. Leave it to dry and hopefully it will lighten.

The paint colour is never the same on swatch cars, colour cards or the front of the can. It's not just dulux guilty of this, it's every paint retailer. The sample squares on the paint displays are painted on using the product so will be more accurate

The valspar swatch cards however ( B&Q) are accurate.

Your room doesn't look like it's got the same light as the example picture. And what you are painting over and on matters too

Yes, it also takes up to a week for paint to fully 'cure'

Erm is it the top or the bottom? If its the bottom it looks unusually dark even if it is still drying! What was under it and is the room very dark?

I have a similar colour in my bedroom ('Egyptian cotton' since you ask) and it looked so much darker that I really panicked. However when it was completely dry it really lightened up.

Is it still wet (as others have said it looks it)

Did you try a sample on your walls first?

The bottom, yes, it's still drying. It was painted over white emulsion. Same as the top

Honestly I despair. I was going to do the whole room above and below the dado is in but it's far too oppressive. Am thinking of dumping half a can of white paint in and mixing it up to lighten it up a bit.

Let it dry first.

Leave it and let it dry. Honestly. The colour on my wall took most of the day to dry.

The patchy bits where it's drying do look a lot like the colour in the other pictures, so I agree that sitting it out and seeing how it looks in a few days is sensible.

Paint usually dries darker tho. I wouldn't add white paint. It won't do much as its white colourant that lightens it, not the paint which is mainly glue/water. Plus you'll never get that exact shade again and might not have enough

I'd suggest dulux natural calico. 2 for £24 at B&Q and I think wilkinsons are doing it at 2 for £22 ( but be aware dulux do a full refund if you aren't happy with the colour so ring the number on the side of the can and tell them!)

Paint usually dries darker tho.
Except that is doesn't as can be seen from the op's picture.

Yes! That's why I said 'usually'

Op... Is it just the one coat you've put on so far?

Yes, one coat so far. It may be the poor lighting in the bedroom that is contributing to the dark look but to be honest it's nothing like all the examples I've seen of dulux perfectly taupe at all!

Hey, I'm confused by your whole post. IME paint doesn't dry darker and adding white will lighten the shade.

But please don't add white.
If you need more than one tin you'll never match the shade.

Wait until it drys and you see it in daylight before doing anything.

White paint is a different formula to a standard coloured emulsion. Its got an extra ingredient and isn't designed to be mixed in. It's not a white dye/colourant

To make pink paint I'd take a paint base and add Pantone or British standard colourant of red and white. I'd still add white to the white base. Because it's true colou. Adding white standard emulsion will make it milkier but you are adding in more paint ( from a different base) so they could react or blister, peel or discolour. And you risk not having enough to finish the job.

After a week of curing, paint will usually look darker than when first applied

It looks patchy in your pic with it having just one coat. It looks like the white underneath is coming through ( grey undercoat is best for darker/stronger colours)Try the second and then leave to dry. If you really don't like the finished look contact dulux and they will exchange/refund.

I've mixed white emulsion with a darker colour and it just might a lighter version. Looked fine.

Just made

Ive sent hubby off for a tin of Dulux Just Walnut.

The walls still look a cold, stone grey looking colour in the daylight. Not the warm browny grey I wanted at all. Its way too dark too.

Crossed fingers Just Walnut will be okay, i'm losing the will to live and its only the first room.....

Im also looking for a neutral paint for all of the downstairs rooms - its magnolia at the moment. Any recommendations? I'm liking Dulux Ivory Lace.... knowing my luck it'll come out bright pink or something.

I came on to recommend Valspar but I see someone has beaten me to it, I dont know if they still do it but when i had paint mixed there they put some on the swatch and it was bang on, lovely range of colours too.