If you’ve ever stood in B&Q waiting for a custom Valspar mix, you know the anxiety. Will it actually look like the Farrow & Ball colour I wanted? Will it be patchy?
While Valspar’s in-store scanning service is popular, thousands of UK renovators are discovering a smarter, more accurate way to get the designer look for less.
In this guide, we compare Valspar’s Custom Mixing vs. DupeCoat’s Trade Matching to see which one delivers the better finish for your home.
The Problem with In-Store Scanners (Valspar)
Valspar uses a spectrophotometer to “scan” a physical object (like a colour card) and then squirts tint into a base can to create a brand new, unique formula just for you.
On paper, this sounds great. In reality, it often leads to frustration:
- Inconsistent Results: Because every mix is “custom,” if you need a second tin next week, it might not match the first one perfectly.
- The “Retail Paint” Quality: Valspar is primarily a retail brand. Many professional decorators avoid it because retail paint often lacks the opacity (coverage) of trade paint. This means you might need 3-4 coats to get a solid colour, costing you more money in the long run.
- Lighting Issues: The scanner reads the colour under harsh fluorescent store lights, which is very different from the natural light in your living room.
The DupeCoat Solution: Predefined Trade Matches
DupeCoat takes a completely different approach. We don’t ask a machine to “guess” a new formula.
Instead, we use our database to find the closest existing trade colour from professional brands like Johnstone’s Trade, Crown Trade, and Dulux Trade.
Why is this better?
- Lab-Verified Accuracy: We match to existing, standard industry codes (like NCS or RAL). These formulas are tried and tested, not invented on the spot.
- Professional Finish: By switching to a brand like Johnstone’s Trade Covaplus, you are using the same paint professional decorators swear by. It covers better, wipes clean, and touches up perfectly years later.
- No Store Visits Needed: You don’t need to drive to a DIY store and wait in line. You can find your match on your phone and have it delivered to your door.
Real World Example: “Sulking Room Pink”
Let’s say you want a dupe for Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink.
- Valspar Way: You take a colour card to the store. The machine scans it. You get a tin of “Valspar V700” mixed right there. It might be slightly too purple, and you might need 3 coats to cover the wall.
- DupeCoat Way: You search the colour in our app. We instantly identify that Dulux Heritage has a match code (NCS S 4010-Y70R). You order that exact code from our partner Next Day Paint, and it arrives tomorrow. You get a trade-quality finish that covers in 2 coats.
How to Get Your Paint Without Leaving Home
The best part about the DupeCoat method is the convenience. You don’t need to carry heavy tins to your car.
- Find Your Match: Search for your designer colour in the DupeCoat App.
- Select Your Finish: Choose a durable Trade finish (like Crown Clean Extreme for kitchens or Covaplus Vinyl Matt for living rooms).
- Order for Next Day Delivery: We have partnered with Next Day Paint to get your trade paint delivered directly to your doorstep. They stock all the major pro brands including Dulux Trade, Crown, and Johnstone’s.
The Verdict
If you need a cheap pot of paint for a quick craft project, Valspar is fine.
But if you are decorating a room and want a flawless, high-end finish that looks exactly like the designer brand, skip the scanner.
Use DupeCoat to find the nearest Johnstone’s Trade Covaplus match instead of risking a Valspar mix.