FAQ

Don’t feel bad for asking—we totally get it, which is why we’ve benchmarked Backdrop paints against other national brands so that you don’t have to. In all quantitative testing, Backdrop meets or exceeds on key performance metrics, including hide, coverage, color purity, and washability.

And it doesn’t stop there! The product itself is top notch, but so are its certifications. Backdrop is proud to be Greenwise and Climate Neutral Certified, so you can rest assured knowing that the paint in your home meets environmental standards in addition to performance metrics.

We also have a partnership with the International Rescue Committee, supporting families who have been displaced due to conflict and disaster with every can of paint we sell.

Our Standard Finish is ideal for pretty much any interior wall surface. Standard Finish is a semi-matte with 6% sheen level, which means it's not shiny and hides imperfections in the surface with a really premium look but doesn’t sacrifice durability.

Our Semi-Gloss Finish is a bit higher gloss with a 30% sheen level, which is ideal for trim and bathrooms—areas that take a bit more of a beating.

Our durable Cabinet and Door Paint was designed for use specifically on kitchen cabinets and doors, with the same 30% sheen level as our Semi-Gloss finish. We recommend Cabinet Paint for cabinets, doors, and furniture with drawers and cupboards!

Looking for Exterior Paint? We offer this in our Standard and Semi-Gloss finishes! Exterior Standard should be used for the bulk of the house with the Semi-Gloss finish detailing trim, doors, and shutters.

Painting over wood? We recommend starting with a coat of Interior Primer first (found in our Supplies section!).

If you need a helping hand to guide you through our palette as it relates to your space and project, check out our color consultation option! We currently offer email consultations, which include three complimentary adhesive samples.

No time to DIY? Hire a professional! We make this process seamless with painting services.

The short answer is "usually no," but there are a few instances where we would recommend using our Interior (or Exterior!) Primer as a first coat. 

• if you're painting over a dark color 

• if you're painting over a glossy surface

• if you're painting over bare/unpainted drywall

• if you're applying paint to a wood surface (furniture, cabinets, doors)

• if your walls have smoke damage or any staining

Backdrop paint is considered self-priming and has great coverage and hide (meaning: goes on well, covers well), but we never steer people away from using our primer, which is formulated to help you get the best results with all our products. If you still aren't sure whether or not you need a primer, email us at hello@backdrophome.com! 

We've got a manual for that right here! We also include a hard copy in each shipment of paint :)

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Still not working? Ugh, we’re sorry! Email us at hello@backdrophome.com.

We currently ship to the contiguous 48 states in the US as well as Canada. We offer fast standard shipping on all orders of paint and supplies to make sure you have what you need when you need it.

Orders are typically processed within 24 hours—orders placed after 2pm local time are processed the next business day. We do not currently have business hours over the weekend.

You’ll receive a shipping confirmation with a tracking number as soon as your package ships.

Paint and Supplies Standard Shipping via FedEx/UPS Ground takes an average of 1-3 business days.

Samples Standard Shipping (avg 3-5 business days): samples ship for $2 via USPS. We also offer FedEx Ground Shipping (avg 1-3 business days) for samples for $5.

Schumacher wallpaper products (both yardage and memos) average about 48 hours to ship for in-stock products and ship separately from Backdrop items in your order.

If you require overnight or expedited shipping, please send us a note at hello@backdrophome.com and we'll do the best we can to coordinate!

Sorry about that! Occasionally, the shipping carrier takes an extra day or two to register your shipment status. If your tracking number isn’t updating or working, please reach out as soon as you can at hello@backdrophome.com and we’ll get things squared away.

If your order is shipping to an incorrect address, please email us right away at hello@backdrophome.com with the updated shipping address and we’ll do the best we can to help!

We’re currently unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

The legacy paint brands have been doing things the same way for almost 200 years, which is as old-fashioned as you can get! If you’ve ever had a messy experience with a traditional paint can or tried to open and close a can without a specific tool, you’ve felt the pain.

When we started Backdrop, we wanted to rethink the entire experience from the ground up in a way that makes sense for consumers like you, starting with a new take on the paint can.

Our can is stainless steel, so it won’t rust. You’ll never need a tool to open or close. It has an ergonomic handle that makes carrying and pouring much more comfortable. It has a wide mouth opening for a great, clean pour that won’t make a mess. And, we think it’s beautiful, too.

If you’ve ever stood in front of 3,000 color cards at the hardware store until your eyes burned, you get it. More choice isn’t always better because it's often unnecessary work for you. We spent a year refining our launch palette of 50 colors—meaning, we’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to. We've added to the palette over the years, but always with intention. We’re consumers, like you, and we chose colors that we would actually put on our walls. At Backdrop, we believe you’re the expert. SELF PORTRAIT accent wall? Yes. PALO SANTO in the hallway? Sure. SURF CAMP or SHY BOYS for the bedroom? Up to you.

Whatever you decide, each one of our 74 carefully-curated colors means there’s no wrong choice.

Yes! We often help customers choose their new backdrop. Just hop over to the Color Consultation page to give us some info and get things started.

We believe in people and we believe everyone has the potential to make their home their own, but unfortunately not everyone has that opportunity. That’s why before we sold a single can of paint, we partnered with The International Rescue Committee, a non-profit responding to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helping people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their futures. When you buy from Backdrop, you’re also supporting families who've been displaced from their homes involuntarily.

Our paint cans are made from stainless steel, which is definitely recyclable. Please make sure your cans are empty before recycling. Or have fun with it and showcase your can against your new backdrop -- we’ve used ours as both bookends and a vase, so far.

Nope! You’re welcome.

Multiple trips to the store, purchasing expensive color samples that often weren’t even “real paint,” buying supplies just to sample the product, and having partially painted walls until we finished the job. We HATED the paint sampling process before, so we upgraded it.

With adhesive sample swatches, we can offer a large (12” x 12’’) picture of the color in your space, and they can be re-positioned to get the best sense of what your new backdrop will look like. Cheaper, more convenient, less messy.

We were inspired by people, the internet (a.k.a. Instagram), and real life. We think the names are important, because who wants “Avocado Toast” or “Black Bean Soup” as their backdrop?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids. VOCs have an impact on indoor air quality and have historically been present in many household cleaning items, paints, etc. We’re proud to offer low-VOC paint that meets the strictest standards for our industry, which are currently set by California’s South Coast Air Quality Management office. We're also Green Wise Certified, a third party that conducts stringent testing to verify performance and environmental standards.

Green Wise is a leading certification that demonstrates successfully meeting high levels of performance and environmental standards. Our paint has passed robust testing in two separate labs to earn the Green Wise credential.

We're the first Climate Neutral Certified paint brand. That means we worked together with Climate Neutral a non profit organization to audit, offset, and certify the entirety of our carbon footprint starting in 2020. This even includes carbon emissions generated on our behalf up through our suppliers.

All paints are basically made up of solvents, resins, and pigments. Solvents serve as the liquid vehicle, resins serve to create a tight bond with the painting surface, and pigments create the paint color. Our paints are all water-based (latex), made with high quality acrylic resins and the best pigments. Most paints today are water-based, where as many older paints were oil based. You can see more detail about our paint by downloading our product detail documents.

First of all, why would you want to throw out something so beautiful? But if you really need to dispose of your paint, here are a few tips to remember: latex paint (like ours) should only be put in the trash after it’s fully dried (no wet paint in the trash). If it’s a very small amount, you can let it dry in an open container for a day or two. Otherwise you can use cat litter or other high absorbent material to collect and dry the paint before disposing. Please don’t pour excess paint down the drain. You may have other alternatives in your area; check with your local recycling provider for more details.

If you live in one of the nine states in which PaintCare operates, you can find a PaintCare recycling location. Backdrop is a proud member of PaintCare, a non profit which manages paint stewardship programs for responsible paint recycling in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Backdrop contributes a portion of each sale in these nine states to support PaintCare’s work.

Stored in the right conditions (i.e. no extreme cold or heat) in a sealed container, paint will be good for several years. Our cans are stainless steel for rust resistance and come with an air tight security seal under the cap for maximum protection. After opening, there are several factors that could impact the shelf life (air exposure, temperature, how much paint is in the container, etc), but it will likely remain usable for about a year.

We do! We currently offer ceiling paint in SUPERMOON, which is our purest white. Our ceiling paint is a pure flat optimized for ceilings. You can find ceiling paint in the supplies section of the site. If you're looking for other colors besides SUPERMOON for your ceiling, Standard Finish can also be a good option as it still offers a quite low sheen (6% sheen at a 60 degree viewing angle).

The short answer is "usually no," but there are a few instances where we would recommend using our Interior (or Exterior!) Primer as a first coat. 

• if you're painting over a dark color 

• if you're painting over a glossy surface

• if you're painting over bare/unpainted drywall

• if you're applying paint to a wood surface (furniture, cabinets, doors)

• if your walls have smoke damage or any staining

Backdrop paint is considered self-priming and has great coverage and hide (meaning: goes on well, covers well), but we never steer people away from using our primer, which is formulated to help you get the best results with all our products. If you still aren't sure whether or not you need a primer, email us at hello@backdrophome.com! 

Our supplies assortment offers everything you need and nothing you don’t. We’ve spent a lot of time narrowing down the overwhelming selection of supplies at the hardware store and then creating the highest quality possible of every item we offer. Supplies really are one of the most important parts of a great paint job, so we’ve set you up for success.

Our paints are ultra low odor and low-VOC (Green Wise certified), meeting the most stringent standards set by California’s South Coast Air Management Office. We think they’re great for every room, definitely including nurseries and children’s rooms.

Yep. Our paints have no animal derived products in them. Additionally, neither we nor any of our suppliers perform animal testing. Note that every paint however does contain materials that would have been tested on fish and rats over the past several decades as these are important inputs to public policy and the setting of toxicology thresholds and industry wide environmental standards.

We sure do, and in every Backdrop color! Check out the Exterior Paint collection here.

Exterior paint is optimized for exterior surfaces, which are exposed to harsher conditions such as changing temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. Our exterior formulation has all the great characteristics of our interior paint, but built to withstand those harsher conditions as well.

Yep! Our paint is covered by our lifetime limited warranty. See the warranty page for more details.

We sure do! Backdrop 1, our first collection of five patterns, launched in 2022.

Backdrop’s wallcoverings are made from hand-crafted artwork and printed on a non-woven ground with a subtle fibrous texture. Each pattern was designed in Los Angeles and expertly printed in Brooklyn.

We strongly recommend guidance and installation by a professional. They will be able to calculate the yardage needed for your exact space.

We strongly recommend hiring a professional for our traditional wallpaper—they will also be able to help you with ordering after measuring your unique space.

First things first—inspect your package to ensure you've received the correct pattern and colorway and that there aren't damages or defects present. Important to note that wallpaper installed in the same room should always come from the same lot number. This information will arrive alongside your wallpaper, please keep this!

If you have any concerns about the above, please reach out to hello@backdrophome.com immediately. All reports of damage or defects must be sent in within 30 days of receipt.

Once you've approved your order, your installer can proceed with wall preparation and hanging.

Of course you can—and it's highly recommended before committing to a pattern and colorway! Wallpaper memos (aka samples of our wallcoverings) vary in size based on design, each with a spec ticket included with information on repeat and match, care instructions, and suggestions for paint pairings.

Many factors come into play here—size and intricacy of pattern being the big ones. To keep it simple though, ourwallpaper is priced per yard, starting at $34 per yard, and sold in rolls of 5 and 10 yard increments.

If you're unsure how much to order, we highly recommend talking to a professional installer about your room and needs.

We accept returns on Wallcoverings so long as they are returned in pristine condition (ie shrink-wrapped and without any damage in transit or wear and tear). There is a $30 restocking fee per roll returned. When receiving rolls of Backdrop Wallcoverings, please take time to thoroughly inspect for any potential defects—reach out to us at hello@backdrophome.com within 30 days to report any claims. Memo samples are final sale.

We recently started carrying a special assortment of Schumacher designs, including iconic patterns as well as new collaborator patterns. You can purchase both memos and yardage of these on our site! Please note that these items are fulfilled by Schumacher and will arrive separately from any Backdrop items in your order.

If you’re curious where your order is in the process, check your inbox for order update emails, log in to your account here, or just shoot us a note at hello@backdrophome.com.

If you’d like to make any changes to your recently completed order, send us a note at hello@backdrophome.com as soon as possible. Our fulfillment center processes orders quickly, so sooner is better. Order changes or cancellations are subject to a potential $15 fee if made after things get in motion with our warehouse.

For Paint:

Deadlines stress us out, so we aren’t going to give one to you. You can return any unopened paint and any unused and unopened supplies. Our paint cans have a security seal under the cap. There will just be a $10 restocking fee per paint can returned and/or a $10 restocking fee per order for supplies returned. Original order shipping fees are also non-refundable. 5 Gallon Buckets, sample swatches, and apparel are final sale.

If your order benefitted from volume based pricing discounts, based on your return your refund amount will be impacted by adjusting quantities that could result in the removal of quantity-based discounts.

For Wallcoverings:

We accept returns on Wallcoverings so long as they are returned in pristine condition (ie shrink-wrapped and without any damage in transit or wear and tear). When receiving rolls of Backdrop Wallcoverings, please take time to thoroughly inspect for any potential defects—reach out to us at hello@backdrophome.com within 30 days to report any claims. Memo samples are final sale.

For Rugs:

Rugs can be returned, but the return must be initiated within 30 days of receiving. A 25% restocking fee will be charged. Rug returns are inspected once received, returns with any signs of wear will not be eligible for refund.

Samples, merch, and 5 gallon buckets are considered final sale.

No problem, you can get things started easily at the Returns & Exchanges page. If you have any questions you can always email us at hello@backdrophome.com as well.

Your credit card will be charged as soon as your order is accepted and processed.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards or debit cards. Unfortunately, we cannot accept checks or money orders.

Bummer! Check a few things if your payment didn’t go through: that your card’s billing details match what you’ve entered into our system and that your card didn’t recently expire. Your card issuer may have declined your payment. If that’s the case, they don’t tell us the reason why, so it’s best to have a chat with them before trying your card again. If none of those apply and you’re still having trouble, please contact us at hello@backdrophome.com and we’ll be happy to help!

Afterpay allows you to spread your payments into 4 installments on orders over $50. It's interest free and super easy, just select Afterpay payment method at the check out.