Color Scheme Tools For Designers

How to Use the Sherwin-Williams Online Color Tools

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Sherwin-Williams is the largest paint company in the United States, and it also happens to be one of the oldest. Its humble beginnings date all the way back 1866. But a lot has changed since the late 19th century, including the way you choose paint colors for your home. Today, Sherwin-Williams offers multiple online color tools to help you pick your paint from your computer or mobile device. Long gone are the days of standing around the store comparing paper paint samples, thanks to ColorSnap technology.

1. About ColorSnap

Most of Sherwin-Williams's color tools use the ColorSnap system to help you choose exactly the color you need to make your space perfect. Thanks to the technology's ability to precisely match any brand of paint color, accessories or an old paint color you want to touch up, you'll never arrive home with a can of paint that doesn't match your expectations. Designed by scientists and specialists, the ColorSnap technology uses formulas to ensure accurate results. Because Sherwin-Williams manufactures all of its own products, the company has total control over this promised level of accuracy. After you work with any of the online tools, you can pick your paint color up at one of the over 4,000 Sherwin-Williams stores after it goes through its final tinting.

2. ColorSnap Visualizer for the Web

If you want to use the ColorSnap technology from your home or office desktop or laptop, you'll probably opt to try the ColorSnap Visualizer for the Web. To use it, simply visit Sherwin-williams.com and look for the Color Tools section. Once you find it, click on the ColorSnap Visualizer for the Web option, and you can get started choosing your paint colors right there from the website. You can upload a photo of your home, room or project, or you can use some sample photos provided by Sherwin-Williams. From there, play around with different paint colors to see what looks best on walls, home exteriors, trim and other parts of your home.

3. ColorSnap Visualizer for Android and iPhone

If you prefer to work from your mobile device, try the ColorSnap Visualizer for Android and iPhone. Again, you can find it by going to the Sherwin-Williams website, selecting the Color Tools section and clicking on the ColorSnap Visualizer for Android and iPhone option. From there, the site gives you the option of downloading an app from the App Store or Google Play. Once you have the app on your mobile device, you can take a picture of your painting project and add it to the tool. You can also have Sherwin-Williams match colors in photos you've taken, compare like colors with the Kaleidoscope tool, easily find paint samples in store with the map, scan color numbers, explore your colors in different lighting settings and share your paint projects on social media.

4. Color to Go

If you can't quite visualize your colors via your computer or mobile device, Sherwin-Williams offers a Color to Go program that allows to do it in real life for a small fee. When you use it, you'll receive a small canister of any of the company's over 1,500 colors to take home and experiment with on your walls, accessories and other projects. The paint will cover up to 75 square feet of space. This gives you the opportunity to see what the paint looks like up close and personal. You can see how it matches up with your furniture and accessories, as well as how it looks with various types of lighting throughout the day. Get started with Color to Go on the Sherwin-Williams website or in one of the company's stores.

5. Paint Calculator

Last but not least is the Sherwin-Williams paint calculator, which you can also access via the company's website under the Color Tools section. This is the easy way to make sure you don't leave the store with more paint than you need or not enough to cover your project. Do a "quick calculation" by adding the height and width of your room to the calculator, along with the number of doors and windows. A "custom calculation" gives you a bit more to work with. You can add wall height and width and information about textures, crown molding and baseboards. There's even a deck calculator for those outdoor deck projects. Here you can add the size of the floor and rails.