Creative Ways to Use Leftover Paint
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If you paint furniture regularly, you probably have leftover paint piling up, just like me! Even if you are only painting one piece, most projects won’t use an entire pint or quart of paint, and there will still be extra at the end. Instead of letting it sit or go to waste, let’s get creative! In this post, I’ll share my favorite ways to use leftover paint so you can save money, reduce waste, and add some fresh style to your home.
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1. Paint a Mirror Frame
As a furniture refinisher, I have a lot of mirrors saved up. Vintage dressers or bedroom sets often come with a mirror, and many times, the customer isn’t interested in them. Last year, I took these two mirrors and painted them for our primary bedroom. A great use of some leftover paint!
2. Paint a Lamp or Vase
Another great thing to update? Lamps and vases. I used a rustic faux stone painting technique on this lamp to give it a new life using leftover furniture paint. Sure, you can do something like this with craft paint, but if you have a bunch of leftover furniture paint, then definitely use what you have!
3. Make Holiday Ornaments
That stone painting technique? It works great on ornaments too! I just love how these textured rustic ornaments turned out. And if you are looking for something really easy, these simple colored glass ornaments are a great way to use up all sorts of colors.
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4. Refresh Small Objects
This can be anything you have lying around – shelves, trays, etc. Do you have a peice of furniture that you’ve painted for a space? Use the extra paint on a small object, and you can place it somewhere else in the room to tie everything together. Coordinated but not too matchy!
5. Mix To Create a New Color
When painting furniture, I tend to mix paint colors together quite a bit! Sometimes it’s just to use up leftovers, or sometimes I’m looking for a certain color that I don’t have on hand. I have so much extra paint lying around, I would much rather use what I have than buy more.
- You can either measure or not – it all depends on whether you want to recreate the color at some point again, or if you are okay with it being totally unique.
- Make sure you mix up enough to complete your project. You don’t want to be almost finished and run out!
- Strain your paint! I use strainers to keep out any lumps or crusties that are in your older paint.
- You may have to add a bit of water (assuming you are using water-based paint) – opened paint may thicken over time. Adding some water or an extender like Floetrol will help return the paint to an ideal consistency.
6. Safely Dispose of Leftover Paint
So how do you dispose of leftover paint? Some states participate in recycling paint through PaintCare. You also may be able to use a paint hardener to dry out your excess paint, making it okay to throw away in your regular trash. Kitty litter also works for this purpose (but is not as effective). Do not pour leftover paint down the drain. As you can see, it can be a bit of a hassle, which is why I recommend using what you have if at all possible!
Do your research
Be sure to check local disposal regulations on leftover paint disposal. My suggestions refer to water-based products, as that is what I use for painting furniture.
Summary
As you can see, leftover paint can be the start of so many creative projects. It doesn’t have to sit forgotten on your shelves. These creative ideas to use up leftover paint save you money (by using what you have) and help you avoid the hassle of disposing of it properly. Experiment, refresh something small, or mix up a new shade you love. It’s amazing how far a little paint can go!