{
 "name": "Color Swatch Lab open paint guidance dataset",
 "version": "1.0",
 "description": "Six small tables of original, brand-neutral paint guidance compiled by the Color Swatch Lab editorial team: common sheen by room, paint coverage rules of thumb, LRV bands by general shade category, lighting guidance for testing paint, a sample-testing checklist and a glossary. It contains no brand color names, hex values or brand LRVs.",
 "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
 "licenseName": "CC BY 4.0",
 "creator": "Color Swatch Lab Editorial Team",
 "publisher": "Color Swatch Lab",
 "url": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/",
 "datePublished": "2026-10-25",
 "dateModified": "2026-10-25",
 "howToCite": "Color Swatch Lab Editorial Team (2026). Color Swatch Lab open paint guidance dataset (version 1.0). Color Swatch Lab. https://colorswatchlab.com/data/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.",
 "notes": "Contains no brand color names, hex values or brand LRVs. Rows labeled \"Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance\" are our own guidance; rows with URLs were compiled from those cited sources, which are not themselves relicensed.",
 "tables": [
  {
   "id": "sheen-by-room",
   "title": "Common sheen by room or surface",
   "description": "Commonly recommended paint sheen for each room or surface type, with the reason. Guidance, not a rule: check each product’s washability claims.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/sheen-by-room.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Ceilings",
     "common_sheen": "Flat",
     "reason": "Hides flaws, no glare",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/painting-101/choosing-paint-finish"
    },
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Adult bedrooms, formal living or dining",
     "common_sheen": "Flat, matte or eggshell",
     "reason": "Soft look, low wear",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/paints/pick-the-perfect-paint-sheen-for-every-room-a7611073067/ https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen/"
    },
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Family rooms, hallways, kids’ rooms",
     "common_sheen": "Eggshell or satin",
     "reason": "Washable, handles scuffs",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen/ https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/painting-101/choosing-paint-finish"
    },
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Kitchens",
     "common_sheen": "Satin or semi-gloss",
     "reason": "Grease and frequent cleaning",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen/ https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/painting-101/choosing-paint-finish"
    },
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Bathrooms",
     "common_sheen": "Satin or semi-gloss",
     "reason": "Moisture resistance",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen/"
    },
    {
     "room_or_surface": "Trim, doors, cabinets",
     "common_sheen": "Semi-gloss (or satin / high-gloss)",
     "reason": "Durability, definition",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen/ https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/painting-101/choosing-paint-finish"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "coverage-rules",
   "title": "Paint coverage rules of thumb",
   "description": "Rules of thumb for estimating how much paint a room needs. Always use the coverage printed on your product’s can or technical data sheet.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/coverage-rules.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "rule": "Wall area",
     "value": "perimeter × wall height",
     "notes": "Example: a 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls is 384 sq ft",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/color/color-tools/paint-calculator https://www.thisoldhouse.com/painting/how-much-paint-do-i-need"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Door allowance",
     "value": "about 20 sq ft per door",
     "notes": "Subtract from wall area",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Window allowance",
     "value": "about 10–15 sq ft per window",
     "notes": "Subtract from wall area",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Number of coats",
     "value": "2 typical",
     "notes": "Multiply paintable area by coats",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Coverage per gallon, paint (smooth, primed surface)",
     "value": "about 350–400 sq ft",
     "notes": "Lower on textured, porous or unprimed surfaces",
     "source": "https://buyat.ppg.com/rep_pafpainttools_files/PPG%20Ultra-Hide/TDB/1600-0100.pdf https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/color/color-tools/paint-calculator"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Coverage per gallon, primer",
     "value": "about 200–300 sq ft",
     "notes": "Check the primer’s own data sheet",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Accent wall or door",
     "value": "about 1 quart (roughly 100 sq ft)",
     "notes": "Rough amount for small jobs; check the can",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Ceiling area",
     "value": "length × width ÷ coverage, per coat",
     "notes": "Ceilings are usually painted with flat white",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Worked example result",
     "value": "2 gallons",
     "notes": "(384 − 20 − 30) × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon ≈ 1.9",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "rule": "Homes built before 1978",
     "value": "read lead-paint guidance first",
     "notes": "Before sanding or scraping old paint",
     "source": "https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "lrv-bands",
   "title": "LRV bands by general shade category",
   "description": "Generic rule-of-thumb bands of light reflectance value (0 to 100) for broad shade categories. These are our editorial bands, not an industry standard, and contain no brand or color-specific values.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/lrv-bands.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "lrv_min": "70",
     "lrv_max": "100",
     "shade_category": "Whites and off-whites",
     "typical_use": "Ceilings, trim, dim rooms",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "lrv_min": "50",
     "lrv_max": "70",
     "shade_category": "Light to mid neutrals",
     "typical_use": "Whole-house walls",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "lrv_min": "30",
     "lrv_max": "50",
     "shade_category": "Mid-tones",
     "typical_use": "Bright rooms, accent walls, cabinetry",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "lrv_min": "10",
     "lrv_max": "30",
     "shade_category": "Dark",
     "typical_use": "Moody rooms, doors, exteriors",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "lrv_min": "0",
     "lrv_max": "10",
     "shade_category": "Near black",
     "typical_use": "Doors, dramatic accents",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "lrv_min": "30",
     "lrv_max": "30",
     "shade_category": "Accessibility contrast (difference, not a band)",
     "typical_use": "BS 8300:2018 treats contrast as adequate when two surfaces’ LRVs differ by at least 30 points",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_reflectance_value"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "lighting-guidance",
   "title": "Lighting guidance for testing paint",
   "description": "Light-bulb color temperature (kelvin) and CRI guidance for judging paint samples.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/lighting-guidance.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "topic": "Warm white bulbs",
     "guidance": "Yellowish, “warm white” light",
     "value": "about 2700–3000 K",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Cooler bulbs",
     "guidance": "Whiter, bluer light; the same paint reads cooler",
     "value": "4000 K and above",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature https://www.energystar.gov/products/light_bulbs/learn-about-led-lighting"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Color rendering index (CRI)",
     "guidance": "Maximum score is 100; higher shows paint closer to how it looks in good daylight",
     "value": "90+ is a common target for testing",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Consistency",
     "guidance": "Use the same bulb color temperature throughout a space",
     "value": "one temperature per space",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Test at night",
     "guidance": "Check samples under your own lamps as well as in daylight",
     "value": "day and night",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Window direction (Northern Hemisphere)",
     "guidance": "North light is cooler and even; south light is warmer and stronger",
     "value": "swap in the Southern Hemisphere",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "topic": "Metamerism",
     "guidance": "Two colors can match under one light and differ under another",
     "value": "test under actual bulbs",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamerism_(color)"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "sample-testing-checklist",
   "title": "Sample-testing checklist",
   "description": "An ordered checklist for testing paint samples before buying gallons.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/sample-testing-checklist.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "step": "1",
     "action": "Go big: use samples about paper-sized or larger",
     "why": "Tiny swatches are hard to judge",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "step": "2",
     "action": "Isolate from the old color (white board or peel-and-stick)",
     "why": "Surrounding colors change what you see",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_adaptation"
    },
    {
     "step": "3",
     "action": "Test on several walls: window wall, side wall, shadowed corner",
     "why": "Light differs by wall",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "step": "4",
     "action": "Check at three times of day, including night under your lamps",
     "why": "Light changes through the day",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature"
    },
    {
     "step": "5",
     "action": "Keep fixed elements in view: floors, counters, trim, fabric",
     "why": "Colors are judged in context",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "step": "6",
     "action": "Compare side by side, then alone",
     "why": "Side by side reveals undertone; alone shows mood",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "step": "7",
     "action": "Wait two to three days",
     "why": "First impressions shift",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "step": "8",
     "action": "Record the winner: brand, name, code and sheen",
     "why": "So the match can be repeated",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "glossary",
   "title": "Glossary of paint terms",
   "description": "Plain-language definitions written by the Color Swatch Lab editorial team.",
   "csv": "https://colorswatchlab.com/data/glossary.csv",
   "rows": [
    {
     "term": "LRV (light reflectance value)",
     "definition": "The share of visible light a surface reflects, on a scale from 0 (absorbs all) to 100 (reflects all). Real paints never reach the ends.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_reflectance_value"
    },
    {
     "term": "Undertone",
     "definition": "The subtle hue that shows through a color, especially a neutral, and makes it lean warm or cool.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel"
    },
    {
     "term": "Warm and cool colors",
     "definition": "Warm colors lean yellow, red or orange; cool colors lean blue, green or violet.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel"
    },
    {
     "term": "Sheen (finish)",
     "definition": "How much light a dried paint reflects directly, from flat to high-gloss. More sheen is easier to wash and shows more flaws.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloss_(optics) https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Flat",
     "definition": "The lowest sheen. Diffuses light, hides flaws, least washable.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Matte",
     "definition": "Slightly more sheen than flat, with a soft look; some modern mattes are washable.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Eggshell",
     "definition": "A low sheen with a faint glow, common for living areas.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Satin",
     "definition": "A medium sheen that is smooth and washable, common for kitchens, baths and trim.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Semi-gloss",
     "definition": "A shiny, durable sheen common for trim, doors and cabinets.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "High-gloss",
     "definition": "The shiniest sheen; very durable and very revealing of surface flaws.",
     "source": "https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/project-center/paint-sheen-guide"
    },
    {
     "term": "Color temperature (kelvin)",
     "definition": "A number describing whether white light looks warm (low) or cool (high).",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature"
    },
    {
     "term": "CRI (color rendering index)",
     "definition": "A 0 to 100 score for how faithfully a light source shows object colors.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_rendering_index"
    },
    {
     "term": "Metamerism",
     "definition": "Two colors that match under one light but differ under another.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamerism_(color)"
    },
    {
     "term": "Chromatic adaptation",
     "definition": "The visual system’s adjustment to the prevailing light color, which changes how colors are perceived.",
     "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_adaptation"
    },
    {
     "term": "Color drenching",
     "definition": "Painting walls, trim and often the ceiling in the same color for a seamless look.",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "term": "Peel-and-stick sample",
     "definition": "A sheet painted with real paint that you stick on the wall and move around.",
     "source": "Color Swatch Lab editorial guidance"
    },
    {
     "term": "Coverage",
     "definition": "How many square feet a gallon of paint covers per coat, as stated on the can or data sheet.",
     "source": "https://buyat.ppg.com/rep_pafpainttools_files/PPG%20Ultra-Hide/TDB/1600-0100.pdf"
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}