Introduction

Cans of paint are different from new cars: You can't take one for a test-drive, then return it. Until recently, if you wanted to get a true sense of how a color would look on your walls, you either had to buy an entire can or grab a handful of small paint chips and stretch your imagination -- which is why some paint companies have introduced sample programs.

Consisting of small pouches or jars of paint and, occasionally, the rollers and trays to apply it, the samples provide a perfect way to see how a color will look in a room and with those adjoining it. Is it too vibrant? Too peaceful? Too dramatic? Too dark? If you can't decide -- or want to build a palette for a room -- you can apply a string of swatches to get a true sense of the effect.

Paint samples let you try your ideas on a small patch of wall right in the room. For a more flexible option, try applying sample paint on a piece of white posterboard or foam core board. Using this portable sample will help you get a better feel for the color and offer the benefit of being able to set the boards anywhere in the room. You'll also be able to take the board with you when you shop for flooring, fabrics, or furniture.

See below for some of the current paint sampling options.

 

Benjamin Moore offers 260 Color Samples, 2-ounce jars of paint that cover a 2-x-2-foot area with two coats for $4.99 each (www.benjaminmoore.com).

 

True Value's Color Auditions, 4-ounce jars that cover a 4-x-4-foot area, are available at the company's stores for $3.99 each.

 

Ralph Lauren has 500 different 2-ounce Color Tester packets available for $3.99 each (www.rlhome.polo.com).

 

Valspar Lifetime samples come in thousands of color choices. The 2-ounce pouches sell for $3.49 each (www.valspar.com).

 

Laura Ashley offers its entire Home Colour collection in 2-ounce pouches. The samples sell for $3.79 at participating paint retailers (www.valspar.com).

 

Pratt & Lambert's Never Compromise Color Sample Selector has 288 color shades to choose from. Samples come in 2-ounce containers with wide lids that accommodate a 2-inch brush and can be identified by a paint chip on each lid. The samples sell for $3.99 each (www.prattandlambert.com).

 

Lowe's Auditions, sold at select stores, are available in 3-ounce bottles and can be tinted in thousands of different colors. They are priced at $2.98 each (www.lowes.com/valspar).

 

Sherwin-Williams' Color To Go offers quart mini Twist-n-Pour quart containers that cover more than 8 x 8 feet of wall space or a chair, cabinet, or other small painting project. The samples sell for $4.99 each.

 

Behr offers six Designer Combinations kits, each containing four theme-based 8-ounce samples, four trays, four rollers, and one handle. Or if you want to create your own theme, you can choose up to four samples from 1,600 available colors. The kits sell for $29.95 each (www.behr.com).