---
title: Colour differences in paint and wallpaper – what causes them?
description: Why do paint and wallpaper sometimes look different than on screen? The most common reasons – screen display, batches and light – at a glance.
---

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# Colour differences in paint and wallpaper – what causes them?

## Screen display, batches and light: the most common reasons at a glance

Does your new wall paint or wallpaper not look quite the way it did on screen, in the product photo, or on a previous order? In the vast majority of cases, this isn't a fault — it has understandable, technical causes. Here's why it happens and how to reliably judge the actual colour before you buy.

**The most common reasons at a glance**

1. **Screen and camera display** – Every screen, smartphone display and camera renders colour differently, depending on brightness, contrast, colour profile and calibration of the specific device. That's why the same shade can look warmer, cooler, lighter or darker on two different devices. Product photos are always just a guide, never a binding colour reference.
2. **Batch differences** – Paints and wallpapers are manufactured in production batches. Minor, technically unavoidable colour differences are possible between two batches — these fall within standard commercial tolerance and are not considered a defect. For wallpaper, see our articles "What is a batch/batch number?" and "What should I pay attention to when reordering wallpaper?". For paint, the batch number is printed on the tin's label.
3. **Lighting conditions (metamerism)** – The very same colour can look different depending on daylight, artificial light, or the light colour in a room. A detailed explanation is available in our article "Metamerism – Why Colors Can Look Different Depending on the Light".
4. **Natural materials and handcrafted production** – With natural products such as sisal or grasscloth wallpapers, as well as hand-printed wallpapers, slight variations in colour and texture are part of the product's character and not a manufacturing fault.
5. **A reliable reference: the original sample** – To be sure before you buy, we always recommend checking an original sample or a colour card rather than relying on the screen display. Our sample service lets you order samples and colour cards free of charge.

**Summary & FAQ**

- **Is a slight colour difference grounds for a complaint?** No, as long as it falls within standard commercial tolerance. If there's an actual defect, for example transport damage, please contact us — see also our article "Goods arrived damaged – what to do?".
- **How do I order a reliable sample?** Our sample service lets you order free colour cards and samples of paints and wallpapers.
- **Where do I find the batch number of my wallpaper or paint?** For wallpaper, the batch number is printed on the roll's paper band; for paint, it's on the tin's label. More in our article "What is a batch/batch number?".
- **What should I keep in mind when reordering paint or wallpaper?** Where possible, order the total quantity you need in one go. If you do reorder later, let us know the original batch number — we'll then check whether stock from the same batch is still available.

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