Professional painters usually have leftover paint in their possession. Most of this leftover paint is accumulated from various projects throughout the year. Often, homeowners may opt to keep their leftover paint and use it for different interior and even exterior home improvement tasks. Many other people have no clue what they should do with extras if they decide to keep it, so they give it to their painting contractor after a completed project. Here are some ideas of what you can do with the leftover paint once your project is complete:
- Properly store it and use it for touch ups. This is a brilliant idea and quite useful if you have children or pets.
- Use it to paint furniture as accent pieces. Think about refinishing your dining room table or that old desk sitting around your home or office.
- When storing paint, be sure to keep the paint in a safe place away from children and pets. Paint quality can be preserved by turning the paint can upside down.
- Share it with family, friends, or neighbors. There is surely someone you know that could use the leftover paint to paint an accent wall in their home. If they want it or need it, help them out!
- Donate it to a non-profit organization. Check with local churches, charities, and schools to see if they could possibly use the paint. Women’s shelters are also a good place to check to donate any unused paint.
- Experiment with the leftover paint. Mix it with others colors you have stored away from a previous interior or exterior painting project to see what color you end up with. Only mix with the same paint types – water based paint should be mixed with water-based paint and oil based paints should be mixed with other oil based paints. (Remember, water and oil don’t mix!)
- Use it for do-it-yourself arts and crafts. Create your own artwork with leftover paint from other projects. Many are surprised to see how creative they can be by purchasing some canvases from the art store and creating unique artwork.
- Properly dispose of it. You are not allowed to just throw away leftover paint like other trash. Call your local painting company or check with local municipalities to find a paint recycling center near you.
- Add a little color to the storage areas by using leftovers to paint the kitchen drawers or cabinetry in the laundry room. You can also paint your front door to add a little extra curb appeal.
- Crown molding and trim are important in home design. You can create a statement with door and window trim, crown molding, and even baseboard trim.
Do you have any ideas for using leftover paint? Do you have any feedback on our ideas? Would you implement any of them? We’d love to hear from you!
Burnett Painting is based in Venice, FL and provides quality painting services. Give us a call at 1-800-PAINTING if you’re planning an interior or exterior painting project and would like a quote.