How to Match Exterior Paint on a House

Locate a hidden part of the wall painted the color you'd like to match. Pick a location behind a hedge or at the bottom of a wall in the back of the house. Using a razor, scrape off a small patch of paint about the size of your thumbnail. Bring the sample to a paint store to match.

Visit your paint store of choice and obtain paint sample cards. Pick the cards that look closest to your exterior color. Hold up the samples to your home's exterior to find the best match. Test the colors in both sunny and shady spots.

Take a digital picture of your house's exterior walls. Snap several shots at an unshaded part of the wall that is not subject to direct sunlight. Print out the photos or bring the camera to the paint store and use the images to match the color.

Buy a small jar of sample paint. Pick a shade that closely resembles your exterior color or use the results from the chip, color card or camera test. Find a hidden spot on your exterior wall and, using a small paintbrush, paint a 1-inch by 1-inch square. Wait 30 minutes for the square to fully dry and compare the results with the existing paint color.