A Colourful Mystery Revealed: Does Paint Dry Darker Or Lighter?

Factors That Affect The Appearance of Paint After They Dry

The type of paint, finishes, environmental conditions and surrounding decor can all affect the final look of your paint. The interplay of these components can lead to colour shifts, changes in texture and alterations in sheen. To achieve your desired outcome, take careful consideration of the following options when choosing your paint.

Types of Paint

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is a water-soluble paint that adheres to the wall surface and dries rapidly upon application. As a result, the colour usually remains consistent with the paint swatch after drying with minimal colour shifts.

Latex paint

Latex paint is also a type of water-based paint, but it tends to dry darker than acrylic paint. This is due to the emulsion in the composition, which separates the paint components (such as pigments and solvents) over time. This leads to a deeper and darker shade of the latex paint colour appearing when it is dry.

Oil-based paint

Oil-based paint contains high pigment content, hence it takes a longer time to dry. As the pigment settles, the paint colour also becomes denser and more opaque on the surface. In addition, oil-based paint may discolour over time due to lighting and moisture levels in the room, affecting its eventual colour

Types of Finishes

The type of finish your paint has can also impact its appearance upon drying. Light interacts with different types of painted surface in varying ways, which influences our perception of colour.

This means a gloss finish can make a colour look richer as it reflects more light than a matte finish. On the contrary, paints with a matte or flat finish absorb more light, hence they may look lighter after drying. As for paints with satin finish, they may dry darker after they are fully cured.

Colour of Your Primer

The colour of your primer can also influence the hue and vibrancy of the paint applied over it. Using a dark primer under a light paint can make the final appearance of the paint look darker, vice versa. When painting with light hues, it’s best to opt for a white or lightly-tinted primer. Conversely, for darker shades, a primer with a grey base is more suitable

Environment

Humidity

The environment surrounding the painted wall can have a substantial impact on how the paint appears after drying. Paint takes a longer time to dry in spaces with high humidity, as solvents require more time to evaporate. The slow drying process can lead to issues like uneven drying, streaks and surface leaching, leading to paint discolouration.

Lighting

Lighting conditions can alter the way colours are perceived. Daylight may make a colour appear lighter, so if your room receives plenty of natural light, your paint colours may appear brighter and warmer.

Incandescent lighting casts warm, yellowish hues. As a result, warmer tones like red, yellow or orange can be amplified. In contrast, fluorescent lighting can cast cooler tones, which can make certain colours look cooler than they actually are.

Temperature

Temperature can play a major role in how the paint appears when it’s dry. When painting at a lower temperature, paint takes longer to dry, hence causing it to saturate and look darker. On the other hand, painting in a warmer space results in the top layer drying faster than the lower layers. This eventually causes the paint to warp, crack or develop blisters.

Underlying Surface

The texture of the wall surface being painted on can also influence the final look. Uneven, porous surfaces like wood or brick may absorb or scatter the paint, diluting the colour into a lighter shade. Such surfaces may require multiple coats of paint to achieve colour uniformity.

Practical Tips to Achieve Your Desired Paint Colour

With various factors affecting the paint colour upon drying, here are some useful tips to achieve your desired wall colour:

Do a Sample Test

Paint a small area of the wall and let it dry before painting the entire wall surface. This gives you a better idea of how the paint will look after drying and whether there’s any colour shifts. Ensure the test is done in the same or similar settings as the room you intend to paint.

Mix the Paint Thoroughly

Mix the paint thoroughly before application to ensure an even distribution of pigments and minimise any potential colour inconsistencies.

Select Paint Colours Under Natural Lighting

Paint may appear differently under artificial lighting conditions. Hence, you should select and match paint colours under natural light for a more accurate assessment of their final look upon application.

Use High-Quality Interior Paints and Painting Tools

For longer-lasting paint jobs, make sure to select high-quality interior paints suitable for your room environment and conditions. They are more durable and can retain colour for a longer period with minimal changes in hue. The right painting tools will also make your painting process more efficient.

Wait for the Paint to Dry

Dried paint may appear differently compared to when it was wet. Hence it’s best to wait until the paint has fully dried before you make a judgement.

In general, water-based paints (acrylic and latex) are quicker to dry than oil-based paints. A thin layer of acrylic paint can dry between 20 and 60 minutes, with additional layers taking more time. Latex paint usually takes around 1 to 2 hours to dry and thick oil-based paints will need at least 8 hours to dry. The drying times may vary between brands so be sure to check the label to see how long you should wait before assessing the colour.

In addition, the surrounding environmental factors, such as temperature, lighting and airflow, can impact the drying time for the paint. For instance, a space with a higher temperature, ample natural light and good ventilation can speed up the paint-drying process.

Will Paint Colour Change Over Time?

While you can take steps to keep your beautiful walls looking good, It’s natural for paint colour to change over time. This is especially so under severe environmental conditions like excessive sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause pigments in paint to fade as they are gradually broken down by UV radiation, leading to changes in hue and paint chalking.

Other external conditions like high humidity, extreme temperature fluctuations and surface contamination can also expedite the ageing process of paint. Paints undergo chemical reactions due to contact with pollutants, cleaning agents or other chemicals. These reactions can alter the paint’s colour and appearance.

Inherent characteristics of the paint may influence colour stability and increase the likelihood of colour shifts as well. Oil-based paints, in particular, may oxidise, resulting in gradual yellowing of the paint. Dark-coloured paints also absorb more UV radiation, exacerbating paint degradation.

In addition, inconsistent paint application causes uneven coverage and poor adhesion in certain areas. When some areas receive a thinner coat of paint, they are susceptible to quicker deterioration of the paint film. Areas with uneven paint coverage also allow moisture to seep underneath the paint film, leading to paint blistering or bubbling.