Written by: Barry Affleck
One of the most common mistakes when choosing paint or decorative plaster is relying on colours shown on a phone, tablet, or computer screen. Digital displays rarely show colours accurately. Mobile phone images can differ significantly from the actual colour, sometimes by as much as 50%.
Lighting also affects how colours appear. The same finish may look different under:
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Natural daylight
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LED lighting
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Halogen lighting
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Incandescent or tungsten lighting
Screen brightness, monitor settings, and camera quality add even more variation.
Always Make a Sample
Before making a final decision, create a physical sample and view it in the actual space where you plan to install it. For decorative plasters and textured finishes, small brochure samples often fail to represent the final appearance accurately. A larger sample board provides a much better indication of colour, texture, sheen, and depth.
Understanding Decorative Plaster
Applicators build decorative plaster in layers, with each coat adding depth and character to the finish. Polishing or burnishing the surface enriches the colour and makes it more transparent. Pressure and heat created during burnishing increase reflectivity, revealing the finish’s natural depth and luminosity. Because of these characteristics, a computer screen cannot represent decorative plaster accurately.
Why Photographs Can Be Misleading
Textured finishes absorb light, making them difficult to photograph accurately. Highly polished finishes can also appear distorted in photographs because reflections change depending on the camera angle and lighting conditions. While videos can help demonstrate movement and sheen, they still cannot fully reproduce the appearance of a finished surface in person.
How Colour Affects a Space
Colour has a major impact on the atmosphere of a room:
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Black absorbs light and often requires additional lighting.
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White reflects light but may pick up surrounding colours from floors, furniture, and decor.
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Glossy finishes increase brightness and reflection.
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Matte finishes create a softer, more relaxed appearance.
Feature Walls
Feature walls offer an excellent way to introduce bold colours or decorative finishes. They create a focal point within a room while allowing surrounding walls to remain neutral. Decorative plasters work especially well on feature walls because they add texture, depth, movement, and visual interest.
Professional Tip
Always evaluate samples in the actual room under both daytime and evening lighting conditions. The surrounding environment heavily influences colour. Skipping this step can result in disappointment and costly changes after installation.
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