How to Spot an Undertone in Your Paint

One question lands in my inbox more than any other: “Tash, how do I spot an undertone in paint?” And honestly, it’s a brilliant question because getting this right is the game-changer when it comes to choosing colours you’ll love for years to come

I know picking the perfect wall colour can feel tricky. You want it to work with your furniture, flooring, and fabrics, but it often ends up feeling like a puzzle you can’t quite solve. That’s exactly why today I’m breaking down the mystery of undertones, to help you feel confident and excited about your colour choices.

Once you understand undertones, it’s like unlocking a secret door to a world of possibilities. Suddenly, colours go from “meh” to magical and you realise your perfect room is totally within reach. This, to me, is the true secret sauce where everything starts to click in your home.

So grab a cuppa, and let’s get into why undertones matter and how spotting them can change everything.

So, what exactly is an undertone?

Think of an undertone as a gentle whisper of colour hiding just beneath the surface of the shade you first notice.

For example, a paint might look like a straightforward blue at first glance, but place it next to a crisp white sheet of paper and suddenly you will see it leaning towards something softer, maybe a touch of grey, a hint of purple, or even a whisper of green. It is these subtle shifts that completely change how a colour feels in your space.

When I was dreaming up the Lick colour palette, obsessing over undertones was everything. I spent hours tweaking tiny drops of red, yellow, or blue pigment until each shade felt perfectly balanced, not too much, not too little, just the kind of harmony your home deserves.

Why do undertones matter so much?

Undertones are honestly the secret glue that holds your whole interior scheme together. They decide how your wall colour shifts and dances in different light throughout the day, and how it plays with everything else in your room, from your furniture and floors to the fabrics you love.

Here is how I explain it to my clients in the simplest way. If your room faces north, it tends to have cooler, bluer light. So going for warmer undertones, like gentle yellows or soft reds, helps bring in that cosy warmth the room needs.

If your room gets lots of sunshine, like south-facing rooms do, the light is naturally warm, so cooler undertones such as greys, blues, or greens can help keep everything feeling fresh and stop things from looking too yellow or heavy.

East-facing rooms catch beautiful morning light but cool down as the day goes on. Undertones with a little pink or green help balance those shifts, giving your colour a lovely steady feeling all day.

West-facing rooms bask in afternoon sun that is golden and intense, so here cooler undertones are your best friends. They keep your colours feeling calm and prevent them from looking too hot or overwhelming.

When you start to see undertones, shopping for colours becomes a whole lot more fun and personal. The question shifts from “can I have this colour?” to “which undertone makes this colour absolutely perfect for me?”

And one last nugget. Matching undertones throughout your room is key. If you have a warm-toned floor, pairing it with a warm wall colour brings harmony and flow. Everything just clicks together without feeling jarring or out of place.

My simple tricks for spotting undertones

I totally get how confusing undertones can feel, so here are a couple of tricks I use with all my clients to make things a bit easier. First, grab four A4 sheets of plain white paper and pin them to the wall in a big square. Then take your paint sample and place it in the centre one at a time. Watch carefully to see which tones start to pop against the different backgrounds.

Here’s another fun way to train your eyes. Find one colour that feels obviously warm and one that’s clearly cool. Keep those in mind and start to compare other colours to them—that’s how you’ll begin to notice the subtle differences in undertones.

And if you’re using Lick colours, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you. The undertone is written right on the back of every sample and on the website, so you can play a little game with yourself whenever you’re browsing. Trust me, it’s a surprisingly fun way to train your eyes and build confidence in colour picking.

Why sampling is absolutely essential

Here’s the truth: you can’t always spot the real undertone just by looking at the tin or scrolling online. Sampling is absolutely non-negotiable. I’m a big fan of peel-and-stick samples or painting small pots onto lining paper or even the back of old wallpaper. Then, and this is the important bit, test those samples in the room you’re actually going to paint. Take a good look at them in the morning, at midday, and in the evening. Hold them up next to your flooring, sofa, or woodwork—you’ll be amazed at how the undertones start to reveal themselves.

It’s all about getting hands-on with your colours, moving them around your space, seeing how they mix with your favourite things, and really getting to know their personality and undertone. This playful, tactile approach is the secret to falling head over heels for the right shade and feeling confident in your choices every single time. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

I’ve worked with so many clients who have gone ahead, painted entire walls, and then stood back surprised, wondering, “Why does this look so different from what I expected?” Honestly, it’s because paint can be sneaky. Two people can look at the same tiny swatch and see totally different colours. The light in your room and everything around you plays a huge role too. And one more big tip: never trust what your screen is showing you when it comes to colour. It’s not you; it’s just the magic and sometimes the trickery of colour.

My best advice? Take your time with samples. Put them up on your walls, watch how they change throughout the day, and see how they work with the things you love. That little bit of patience will save you so much heartache down the line.

See Undertones in Action

Now for the fun part. Let us dive into some real-life examples using Lick colours. Because I carefully curated this palette myself, I know every shade inside and out, including the subtle undertones that make each one special.

I am excited to show you how colours that might look similar at first glance can feel totally different depending on their undertones. Seeing these side by side will give you a clear, confident eye for what undertones really do in a space and help you spot your perfect match. Let us get started!

Here’s my golden rule for you: don’t fight the undertone, work with it. When you lean into those subtle hints beneath the surface, your colour schemes suddenly feel seamless, personal, and just perfectly you. It’s that magic where everything begins to fall beautifully into place, and your home finally feels like the dream space you’ve been hoping for.

Remember, this journey with colour should be joyful and exciting, not stressful. So take your time, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to play and experiment a little. And if at any point you’d like a second pair of eyes, some friendly advice, or a bit of colour cheerleading, you absolutely know where to find me. I’m always here to help you make sure your space feels exactly like home.

Tash x

All photos from Lick