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Undertones

The Colour Behind The Colour

Expect lightning but just get a shock?

You picked the right colour (and now lighting)… so why does it feel off?

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Chances are, it's not the paint - it's the undertone. The subtle colour hidden beneath the surface that can change how a shade looks in your space, under your light, and next to your furniture.

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Did You Know?

You've probably heard of undertones before - but have you heard of mass tones?

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A mass tone is the colour you see at first glance - the obvious stuff.

Grass is green, snow is white, and oranges are, well...orange.

It's what dominates a colour - like a lightning bolt in a dark sky.

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The undertone is the static in the air before it strikes - hidden, but powerful enough to shift the whole mood of the storm.

The wrong undertone can take you from "modern greige" to "dusty disappointment" - or "clean, crisp white" to "old beige rental unit."

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At Rolling Thunder Painting Company, we help spot these subtle shifts before they hit your walls - because the difference between lightning and a shock is all in the details.

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Undertone-Spotting Tips: Seeing Beneath The Surface

Undertones are quiet and sneaky - they don't always show up until after the paint dries. But with the right eye and a few tricks, you can catch them before they sneak through.

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Here's some tips to help you spot them:

1. Compare Against True White

Place your colour sample against a sheet of bright white paper or trim. Any hidden undertones - like pink, yellow, green - will reveal themselves pretty quickly.

2. Use a fan deck

Don't just use a single swatch. Looking at your colour next to it's neighbours can help show whether it leans warmer, cooler, or has a hidden hue underneath.

3. Lighting Test

Look at your paint sample in natural daylight and your rooms actual lighting (morning vs. evening, lamps, etc.). Undertones love to shift when the light changes.

4. Consider The Surroundings

Undertones can be drawn out by your floors, counters, cabinets, even your furniture. That soft gray might suddenly look a lot cooler next to your blue couch.

Bonus Tip

Warm undertones: pink, peach, yellow, red

Cool undertones: blue, violet, green, gray

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Neutrals are rarely just neutral - they often have an undertone hidden below the surface.

Now that undertones are understood -

visit our How Your Space Affects Your Colour page to see how your space might draw them out

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