Color Consultation & Free Paint Samples
Picking colors is the part of a paint project most homeowners worry about. A tiny chip looks completely different on a whole wall in San Diego light. PB Painting helps you narrow down options and provides up to 10 free Sherwin-Williams or Dunn-Edwards samples, so you can see real colors on your own walls before you decide.
See the Color Before You Commit
Color chips are printed, small and seen under store lighting. Your walls are large, textured and lit by changing daylight. That is why a color that looked perfect in the store can look too yellow, too dark or too cold at home. We apply larger samples in the actual rooms or on the exterior walls you are painting, so you can look at them in the morning, afternoon and evening before choosing.
Up to 10 Free Samples
With your project, we provide up to 10 free color samples from Sherwin-Williams or Dunn-Edwards. You can test several whites for trim, compare a few body colors for the exterior, or try accent colors for a front door. Color help is included with most projects, and you are never locked into a brand. We will paint with the line you prefer.
What Our Color Help Includes
Depending on your project, we help with:
- Narrowing down whites and neutrals
- Exterior body, trim and accent combinations
- Coordinating colors with roof, stone and hardscape
- Choosing sheens for each surface
- Matching existing colors for touch-ups
- Considering HOA color requirements
- Sample placement in different light
Living in an HOA community? We can work from your approved color palette. See our HOA painting page.
How to Judge a Sample
A few simple habits make color decisions easier:
- Look at samples at different times of day
- Compare samples next to trim, floors and countertops
- View exterior samples on the sunny and shady sides of the house
- Step back. Colors look lighter on a large wall
- Live with the samples for a few days if you can
We are happy to share what has worked well on similar homes in your neighborhood.
Colors That Work in San Diego
Strong sunlight washes out pale colors and makes saturated colors look brighter, so exterior colors often need to be a step deeper than you expect. Coastal homes tend to look best in soft whites, warm grays and muted blues and greens, while inland homes often suit warmer earth tones. Very dark colors absorb heat, which can matter for doors and wood trim in full sun.
Sheen Matters Too
The same color looks different in flat, eggshell, satin and semi-gloss. Flat hides imperfections on ceilings and stucco, eggshell and satin are easier to clean on walls, and semi-gloss gives trim and doors durability and contrast. We recommend sheens for each surface in your proposal. Learn about the products on our paints we use page.
Ready to Choose Your Colors?
Color help is a good fit if you are:
- Repainting an exterior and want a fresh look
- Unsure which white to use on trim or cabinets
- Updating dated interior colors
- Selling a home and want broad appeal
- Matching colors after repairs
Every project comes with our workmanship warranty, up to 7 years on exteriors.
How Your Project Works
1
Talk About Your Goals
During the free estimate we discuss the look you want, your fixed finishes and any HOA rules.
2
Shortlist Colors
We suggest a handful of colors that suit the home and the light.
3
Samples
Up to 10 free samples are applied on your walls, trim or doors.
4
Decide
You view the samples over a few days and choose your final colors.
5
Written Scope
Colors, sheens and products are written into your proposal.
6
Painting
Our crew paints exactly what you approved, and we review the result together.
Our Projects
Why Choose PB Painting?
PB Painting is a licensed and insured painting contractor based in Del Mar. Homeowners like our color process because of:
- Up to 10 free samples
- Honest advice without pressure
- Experience with San Diego light
- Your choice of brand, including Sherwin-Williams, Dunn-Edwards and Benjamin Moore
- Colors and sheens written into your scope
Book a free estimate and get color help.
Jennifer Fanelli
I just completed 2 painting projects using PB Painting as my contractor. The entire process from estimating the jobs to completion has been seamless. The team who painted led by Crescensio was super professional and did a fantastic job. Definitely consider this contractor for your next painting job – you can expect excellent service and quality!
Amanda Lee
The team at all levels provided excellent service and did a great job. I am very appreciative of their hard work and efforts that really went above and beyond. Many thanks!
Robyn Drake Swanland
I think my house looks fantastic! It’s an old house (early 1940s) and they were very attentive to removing the old paint and making sure all the cracks were filled. Everyone from PB Painting was so nice and so easy to work with and kept me updated on their progress daily. The project took longer than the initial quote but isn’t that normal? I would recommend PB Painting to everyone.
H Hewitt
I have used this company twice and will use them again in the future. They are very fairly priced, work fast and want to make sure the customer is completely satisfied before the job is fully finished.
Justin B Taller
We hired PB Painting to paint our San Diego office and they delivered outstanding results. The painters were careful around our equipment, worked quickly without sacrificing quality, and the paint job looks professional. They even made helpful color suggestions. Top-notch company!
Alex Best
PB Painting did an awesome job painting my house. It was very refreshing to see their professional painters do their work. The owner came by everyday doing quality control! Who does that? I highly recommend them for whenever you want a high quality paint job done…
Nicole Minner
I found PB painting on the internet. I read the reviews and decided to contact them. Communication went very smoothly with Cameron and his team. He quickly was out to my house to give me a quote. His quote was reasonable so I hired them that day. Luis and David did amazing job painting my house. They were there on time every morning and worked really hard. I was very pleased with all their work and would recommend them to my neighbors and friends.
Yuan Mei
We hired PB Painting to repaint the exterior of our house, and we had a very positive experience overall. I was impressed by how responsive and prompt they were throughout the process. Cameron came by every day to check on the progress and make sure things were going well, which we really appreciated. We also want to thank Jose and his team for all of their hard work. They were careful, responsive, and put a lot of effort into making our house look nice. We appreciated their attention to detail and the care they took with the project.
Bryce Goldman
PB Painting just completed a full exterior paint job on our house in La Jolla and we couldn’t be happier. They owner Cameron was great and the quality of work his team provided was fantastic. They were super friendly as well. Will use them again. 5 stars.
Sabine L
Phenomenal job done by PP Painting! Really love the end result! Highly recommend this awesome company!
PB Painting did another great job for us, this time interior.
Reasonable price, quality work and they did the entire house in three days. We were blown away.
Bambini Montessori Spanish Academy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent experience with PB Painting! Reliable, professional, and very efficient.
They completed the job in just two days over the weekend, and the quality was outstanding.
Highly recommend 100%! ✨
sandra gashnikova
Very professional. Very amazing. And very fair priced. I hired them to paint a few bedrooms in a couple bathrooms in my house and they finished all within about a day and a half leaving a spotless job. I would absolutely recommend anybody looking for any work done.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Join hundreds of San Diego homeowners who trust PB Painting with their homes
Service Areas
PB Painting provides color consultations with painting projects throughout San Diego and nearby communities, including:
- Poway
- Sorrento Valley
- Torrey Pines
- Solana Beach
- Del Mar Shores
- Fairbanks Ranch
- Carmel Valley
- La Jolla
- Rancho Bernardo
- Encinitas
- Greater San Diego
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Del Mar
Frequently Asked Questions
Is color consultation free?
Color help and up to 10 samples are included with most projects. On interiors with a very large number of colors, any extra cost is discussed up front.
Which paint brands can I choose from?
Our free samples come from Sherwin-Williams or Dunn-Edwards, and we can also paint with Benjamin Moore, Behr, Vista Paint or PPG on request.
How big are the samples?
We apply samples large enough to judge properly, usually painted directly on the wall or on sample boards you can move around.
Can you match an existing color?
Yes. We can match existing colors for touch-ups or partial repaints.
Do you work with HOA color palettes?
Yes. We can sample from your approved HOA palette and help you prepare a submission if needed.
Can I get color help without a full project?
Our color help is part of our painting projects. Contact us and we will talk through what you need.