LRV: The Secret Tool For Choosing Your Shade
What is LRV and why you need to know about it.
Your eyes can be deceiving, when trying to determine whether one color is lighter than another it can be trickier than you think. Most local Houston painting companies are not going to go this extensive with you in understanding color but when taking the interior and exterior painting to the next level this information is essential.
Light Reflective Value
LRV is measure of visible light that reflects from a surface when exposed to a source of light. The higher the LRV the brighter the color, the lower the LRV the darker the color will appear. In other words it is the percentage of light that reflects off of that color. Knowing your LRV is the key to understanding how lighting is going to affect your color and your painting needs.
LRV Explained
The darkest black colors will have a LRV from 0-10 while the brightest whites will have an LRV value in the 90's.
When trying to narrow down a color often times people are surprised when they choose a swatch they really like only to find when they paint their room that the color doesn’t look the same. This is because the color changes depending on how much (and what kind) of light is shining on that surface. Knowing the light reflective value of the color allows you to not just use your eyes to determine how the color will look but will give you an exact value allowing you to predict how that color will look based off how much light is in the room and how that color looks next to another color.
How do I find a color’s LRV?
You can find the LRV of a color by going to the color's website (Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, etc.) or you can find the LRV on the back of the color swatch.
Tip: It's almost impossible to determine what a color on your phone screen will look like because the natural LRV of a color can't be properly recognized when your phone screen is itself light without reflection.
There are a ton of whites and blacks and all kind of paint colors to choose from when deciding on a paint color. Once you have two or three colors you like one way to narrow things down is to ask yourself how much light does this interior or exterior of your house get and how much is the LRV. If you have three off white colors with a warm undertone that you really like but your house does not get a lot of light an LRV of 70 is going to show the warm undertone (making it look yellow) much more than an LRV of 90.
Whites are trickier
Choosing a color with a high LRV is a challenge because it will reflect all the other colors around it. Do you have cool colored floors? That will make your white look cooler when the light shines on it.
Knowing your LRV is not the only factor when determine colors for your home, however it is a very useful tool especially when trying to narrow things down. When trying to decide on a color don’t make that decision alone! At The Proud Paintbrush we provide color consultations to help you find the perfect color so that you can have a home you are proud to show off! Call The Proud Paintbrush for a free estimate so that your paint job comes out perfect and you are completely satisfied.
