Samplize Paint Samples Review: Honest Pros and Cons

This Samplize paint samples review is a paid partnership with Samplize. They provided the samples, and I earn a very small commission if you purchase through my link. All opinions are my own.

Samplize paint samples are large, removable peel-and-stick sheets painted with two coats of real manufacturer paint. You stick one on your wall, move it around as the light changes, and peel it off when you’re done. Samples start at $6.95 each and ship overnight, so you can test a color before buying a gallon.

Here is my honest Samplize review after testing five colors in my bedroom, including what I loved, what I didn’t, and what it costs.

I really regretted doing that.

Let me back up. When we got our first home 32 years ago, I went to the paint store and chose a color for my bedroom that I thought I loved off a little 2″ swatch. I was absolutely sure it would change my life. I didn’t take the swatch home, I just “knew” it was perfect. I bought a gallon and the supplies, cleared the weekend, and painted the whole room. Then I woke up Monday morning and hated it. I tried to love it. But I just couldn’t.

I’m guessing a lot of us have fallen in love with a color off of a 2″ swatch only to be disappointed when we saw it on the walls.

Here’s how it usually goes: You grab the paint chip that looks perfect in the store, then a few more “just in case.” You get them home and realize the color looks nothing like it did under that bright box store lighting, so you’re happy you picked up 10 swatches. You hold them up to your wall and can’t decide between 3 or 4 of them, so you go back and buy actual paint samples in those colors, paint patches of the colors all over your wall, and still can’t decide. And now you’re stuck with all these little paint cans of paint that you don’t like and your walls look like you tried an art installation of polka dots.

It’s not your fault. Paint color is affected by the colors in your room, the time of day, and even the grass and trees outside. You can pick “the one,” paint the whole room, and end up with a color that shifts with the light that you only like for a couple of hours during the day. One wall looks gray, another looks beige, and it’s all the same paint.

This is where Samplize comes to the rescue.

What Are Samplize Paint Samples?

I’ve found an easier solution, and you don’t even have to leave the house if you don’t want to!

Samplize makes peel-and-stick paint samples, so there’s no mess, no brushes, no leftover paint cans to store or throw away, and no extra trips to the store. They carry samples from some of the major players: Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Farrow & Ball, and BEHR and you can get samples from any of them.

Think of each paint sample as a big sticky note. Stick one on the wall in the morning and move it around as the sun travels through your room during the day. It makes sampling paint so easy and I wish I had these decades ago when I started painting and decorating. Gone are the days of painting various pieces of cardboard or posterboard and moving them around the room, or having painted blobs all over the walls trying to see how it will look.

The samples come in two sizes, 9″x15″ and and you can upgrade to an XL 15″x18″ sample for just $3 more.

How I Tested Samplize Paint Samples in My Bedroom

My next project is my primary bedroom and I have to get this one right. It’s the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see at night, so I can’t afford another Monday morning regret. Plus, you can see it from the kitchen so it is a room everyone will see when visiting my home.

You can order as many samples as you want from Samplize, in any color those 4 manufacturers offer, and they can be at your door the next day. If you order 10 or more, the overnight shipping is free! I picked out some colors and ordered from the Samplize website on a Thursday at 6pm. I was notified that they were packed by 8pm, and they were delivered to my door the next day. I was so pleasantly surprised!

I want my room to feel cozy, but not dark. The rest of my home is white, so I want it to be a little different but not dramatically different. A warm neutral is what I am going for. Since I am adding wood beams to the ceiling soon, I ordered 5 different neutrals that I thought I would like.

The colors I ordered were Revere Pewter (BM), Alabaster (SW), Strand of Pearls (BM), Grecian Ivory (SW), and Accessible Beige (SW). The one I thought I was going to like the most was Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. So I put it to the test. And I was very wrong. It actually looked so gray in my room!

At the bottom of each sheet are also a couple of the same paint samples in smaller removable stickers in case you need them.

Want to see this bedroom dressed up for the holidays? Here is My Holiday Bedroom and What it has Taught me.

How Many Times Can You Move Samplize Paint Samples?

You just peel back the paint sample and remove it from the backing, and then stick it on the wall. I moved mine several times throughout the day, and even to other rooms in my home to see what they looked like in other spaces and with other light. I was able to move the paint samples over and over again, from one wall to another and even wrapped them around corners, and they never failed to stick to the wall.

What Sheen Are Samplize Paint Samples?

Samplize paint samples come in different sheens per the manufacturer. Their Benjamin Moore and Behr samples come in eggshell, their Sherwin-Williams samples come in satin, and their Farrow and Ball samples come in estate emulsion.

Are Samplize Paint Samples Accurate?

In my opinion they are! The colors on the paint swatches/paint chips you get from the paint store are printed as close as possible to the paint color. Samplize samples are painted with two coats of real manufacturer paint, not printed or dyed to look like it, so they’re much closer than a paper chip.

How Much Do Samplize Paint Samples Cost?

If you were to order 5 Samplize paint samples like I did, at $6.95 each, it will cost you $34.75. For comparison, samples from a paint store can cost $10 or more per sample and you have to buy a whole quart of paint. At a big box store, the paint samples are about $6. You will spend between $30-$50 just for samples. Then you need paint brushes to test the paint with or you use one brush and have to clean it and wait for it to dry between tests. Then you have to figure out how to get rid of or store the leftover paint. Go ahead. Ask me how I know 🙂

 

Option	Cost per sample	What else you need
Samplize peel-and-stick sample	$6.95	Nothing else. Peel, stick, and move it.
Paint store sample	$10 or more	A whole quart of paint, plus a brush, and leftover paint to store
Big box store sample	About $6	A brush, cleanup between tests, and leftover paint to store or throw away

Does Samplize Have a Discount Code or Free Shipping?

Samplize offers 10% off your first order when you join their mailing list. If you order 10 or more Samplize paint samples, they ship overnight to you for free! Shop Samplize here to start testing your own colors.

Will Samplize Paint Samples Damage My Walls?

The samples did NOT ruin or hurt my walls at all. They were very easy to apply and remove.

Here are some tips from Samplize to prevent surface damage when you use Samplize paint samples on your walls:

1. Apply to walls painted at least 30 days ago.
2. Apply to smooth, painted walls.
3. Choose undamaged wall areas to sample on.
4. Wipe the wall clean with a damp cloth before applying.
5. For best results, remove sample within 14 days of application.
6. When in doubt, use one of the provided mini samples on the sheet to test your wall.

If your walls aren’t smooth, here is how I get smooth walls the easy way.

Samplize Pros and Cons

Here is how Samplize paint samples stacked up for me.

What I loved

• Fast delivery. I ordered Thursday evening and my samples arrived the next day, so I could start deciding right away.
• Real paint, real color. Each sample is made with two coats of real manufacturer paint, so it looks richer and truer than a printed paper swatch.
• Peel, stick, and move. No brushes, no pots, and no mess. I moved mine around the room and into other rooms, and they stayed stuck.
• A good size. The samples are large enough to picture the whole room, which made choosing so much easier than a 2″ chip.
• Top brands in one order. You can order Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Farrow & Ball, and BEHR together instead of making trips to different stores.
• No leftover paint. There’s nothing to store or throw away, which I wish I’d known about years ago.
• It saved me from a mistake. Alabaster was my favorite on paper, but it looked just like my existing walls. I would have spent money on paint and been disappointed again.

What I didn’t love

• You can’t put them back on the backing easily. Once I peeled one off, it was difficult to save for a future project. I wish I could build a collection to reuse, especially since the stickiness didn’t wear out!
• No returns or exchanges. Samples are final sale, so choose your colors carefully before you order.
• The costs can add up. At $6.95 each, ordering a lot of colors gets pricey, though still less than buying paint and supplies for sampling.
• The sheen varies by brand. Samples come in eggshell, satin, or estate emulsion depending on the brand, so it may not match the finish you plan to use.
• Wall prep is required. Samplize recommends smooth walls painted at least 30 days ago and removing samples within 14 days, so you can’t wait a long period of time to make a decision.
• To sample on cabinets: I tried one of the samples on my kitchen cabinets and I had to pull pretty hard to get the sample off so it stretched it out as I pulled it. Next time I would tape it on instead.

Is Samplize Worth It? My Honest Verdict

I am SO happy with Samplize paint samples. This is how I will test paint from now on. Especially because the delivery was SO fast. When I make a decision to get going on a paint project, the choosing of the paint is the hardest part for me. So this helps speed the process along. Plus, being that the samples are 2 coats of the actual paint and in such a nice sized sample, it makes envisioning the room painted so much easier. I also don’t have to spend money on paint brushes and actual paint samples.

My verdict: The pros far outweigh the cons for me. For under $35, I tested five colors in my own light and found out which ones wouldn’t work before spending a dime on a gallon, which can be pricey. And I can still move them around the home to see how those same colors look in other spaces. I even able to place them on my kitchen cabinets to see what they would look like painted.

My rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Ready to test your own colors? Shop Samplize here. Planning more than paint? Here is my top tip for decorating a room.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Samplize samples?

Samplize paint samples start at $6.95 each. You can upgrade to an XL sample for $3 more, and bundles are available. At that price, 5 samples would cost $34.75.

How long does it take to get samples from Samplize?

Samplize paint samples ship overnight, so they can arrive the next day. I ordered on a Thursday at 6pm, was notified they were packed by 8pm, and they were at my door the next day. Overnight shipping is free when you order 10 or more samples.

Are Samplize paint samples accurate?

Yes, in my experience Samplize paint samples are accurate. Each sample is painted with two coats of real manufacturer paint, not printed or dyed to look like it, so it is much closer than a paper chip. Your screen, your lighting, and the wall color around the sample can still change how a color looks, so test in your own room.

Can you reuse Samplize samples?

Yes, you can reuse Samplize paint samples. I moved mine from wall to wall, to other rooms, and even around corners, and they never failed to stick. Once a sample is off the backing kind of tedious to put it back, so you can’t save it for later, and Samplize recommends removing samples from your walls within 14 days.

Where does Samplize ship from?

Samplize orders ship from Olive Branch, Mississippi, and they do ship internationally to Canada. Samples are not returnable and they do not offer exchanges.

I was overall impressed with Samplize and am so happy to have finally had the chance to try them out. I hope you consider ordering them before your next paint project.