When you paint, always save a little the original paint. Touch-ups are inevitable, and you’ll be delighted to have the original paint. But with the original, you’ll need to do a bit extra to ensure the paint matches exactly.
Fill, Sand and Prime
If you’re fixing a nick or gouge that requires filling with spackling compound, you’ll find it easier to mix the repair if you prime the stitch using wall cushion. Since the primer seals the stitch, the topcoat doesn’t soak in, and the sheen is the same as the rest of the paint. Sand any filler flat with 120-grit sandpaper before priming to ensure a seamless touch-up.
Dilute the Touch-Up Paint
If you do not have some of the original wall colour, you can get a faithful match at any paint shop, and a few shops provide paint in small, touch-up-size jars. The colour of the paint you use, however, will most likely be slightly different from the paint on the wall if you don’t dilute it by 5 to 10 percent of water, states paint engineer Tony Sharotta. Diluting the paint slows evaporation and gives it more time to wick up shade from the wall so that the colours match closely. Apply the touch-up paint with a small, synthetic-bristle paintbrush.