Paint Buying Checklist: What to Decide Before You Click Buy

Why buying paint without a plan costs more

People overspend on paint because they buy too early, choose the wrong finish, or skip testing. The result is repainting, over-ordering, and wasted time. This checklist forces the right decisions in the right order.

Use it before you buy anything, even a sample. It will save you money and produce a more coherent result.

Checklist step 1: Confirm your undertone direction

If you don’t know whether you’re going warm, cool, or green-led, everything else is guesswork. Use the undertone guide to decide this first.

Once you choose a family, use the neutral palettes guide to stay consistent.

Checklist step 2: Choose the finish before the brand

Finish affects how the colour reads more than brand. Decide on matt, eggshell, satin, or gloss before you compare prices.

Use the finish cheat sheet to choose the right sheen for each surface.

Checklist step 3: Shortlist two or three colours, not ten

Too many options leads to bad decisions. Shortlist 2–3 colours that sit in the same undertone family. Use the A–Z index and the best dupes list to narrow it down quickly.

Checklist step 4: Test properly before buying full tins

Testing is not optional. Use large boards, two coats, and check at different times of day. The sample testing guide covers the full process.

If you skip this step, you’re guessing. That’s how people repaint.

Checklist step 5: Decide on trim and ceiling strategy

Trim and ceiling choices affect how the wall colour looks. Decide whether you want low contrast or classic contrast, then pick a consistent white.

Use the trim pairing guide and the whites guide to avoid common mistakes.

Checklist step 6: Measure and calculate accurately

Over-ordering is the most common way people waste money. Measure wall height and width, subtract large openings, and check coverage rates. Always round up a little, but not by a whole tin.

If you’re using multiple finishes or colours, calculate separately. Paint quantities don’t transfer across finishes.

Checklist step 7: Decide where to spend and where to save

Use premium paint where it shows and budget paint where it doesn’t. The Farrow & Ball look guide breaks this down.

The goal is 90–95% of the look for a fraction of the cost, not perfection at any price.

Checklist step 8: Confirm prep requirements

If walls need sanding, stabilising, or priming, include that in the budget. Skipping prep is the fastest way to waste paint.

Use the prep guide to confirm the steps before you buy.

Checklist step 9: Confirm brand behaviour

Brands behave differently even when colours look similar. Some dry lighter, some skew warmer, some lose depth at lower tint strengths. If you switch brands, you’re switching behaviour.

Use the dupe guide to choose brands intentionally, not randomly.

Checklist step 10: Order in one batch

Mixing batches causes subtle colour differences. Once you commit to a colour, order all the tins you need in one go. This is especially important for large walls or open-plan areas.

Checklist step 11: Decide your application plan

Rollers, brushes, and cutting in methods affect the finish. If you’re doing it yourself, review the application guide before you start.

Checklist step 12: Plan the order and timing

Decide when you’ll paint, how long rooms will be out of action, and whether you need to stage the work. This reduces rushed decisions and last-minute purchases.

• Paint ceilings first, then walls, then trim.
• Allow time for drying and curing between coats.
• Start with the most important room to confirm behaviour.

A slow, planned approach beats a rushed repaint every time.

Checklist step 13: Keep records as you go

Write down the exact colour, brand, finish, and batch number. Keep the sample board and label it. This makes touch-ups easier and prevents mismatches if you repaint later.

It also helps if you need to reorder or compare colours in another room.

The reality check

Buying paint is easy. Buying paint well takes a plan. If you follow this checklist, you’ll spend less, repaint less, and get a far more cohesive result.

Checklist discipline beats last-minute guesswork.

Start with the best dupes list, test properly, and commit once you know the colour behaves in your space.