Leftover paint? Here's what you can do with it!
Leftover wall paint? Here's what you can do with it!
Create a color block
To create a color block, you really don't need much leftover paint. Think of a square, a circle... You can be as creative as you want. When you paint a geometric shape behind an object like a floor lamp, a picture frame, or a coat rack, you draw attention to that object.
Convinced about color blocks? Then check out our blog dedicated to color accents.
Finish off your painted wainscoting
Creating custom wood wainscoting yourself isn't that simple. Did you know you can create the exact same effect with paint? Perhaps you already have painted wainscoting that you can perfect with a leftover bit of paint. A line at the top in a different color, for example in pink, gives a really nice effect.
If you have even more paint left, you can also paint rectangles within the wainscoting to create a classic effect.
In this Flexa/Levis video, you can follow the step-by-step plan
Widen your door by painting further onto the wall
Want to make a door more playful? You can widen your door by extending the paint onto the wall. A popular choice is adding playful arches. This turns the door into a real eye-catcher, making you want to explore the space behind it. Ideal for a passageway to the kids' room!
The same method can be applied to widen windows or make them more playful. Instead of multiple small arches, you could also opt for one large rounded arch at the top.
Your go-to for clean lines on walls
3M Purple Masking tape
Leftover lacquer paint? Here's how to use it!
Paint a picture frame
Wooden picture frames, black or white frames - you can find them in stores everywhere. But you might get bored of them quickly. What you can do is paint them with leftover lacquer paint. Maybe you already used the color on a chair, and you can bring it back in a frame so the artwork or photo stands out even more.
Dip-dye your furniture
With the dip-dye technique, you give the impression that you've dipped the legs of chairs or a crib into a pot of paint. However, you can paint this in a controlled way by taping off a straight line with gold masking tape. So, instead of actually dipping them in paint, you paint the furniture legs by taping them off tightly.
Paint the inside of a cabinet
Giving display cabinets a second life can be as simple as painting the inside. Usually, a bright color is chosen so you can clearly see the contrast between the wood on the outside and the fun color on the inside.
Want to let your creative mind run wild? Then maybe go for a pattern. This way, you can really have fun with your leftover lacquer paint.
Your go-to for clean lines on wood/ MDF
3M Golden Masking tape
Leftover wood stain? Transform your leftover stain like this!
Make wooden crates water-resistant
You can create really fun walls with wooden crates. Suddenly, they can function as shelves where you place cute plants, herbs, or frames. If you finish the wooden crates with your leftover wood stain, they can also be placed on your exterior wall. After staining, the crates are ready for all weather conditions.
Stool or side table in a darker wood color
Do you have some wood stain left in a walnut, teak, or dark oak color? Then you have the ideal product at home to darken small wooden furniture. Think of a small side table or stool in light wood. When this furniture is made of light wood and you also have a light floor in your home, it's especially beautiful to darken your furniture with stain. This creates more contrast!
Leftover exterior wall paint? Save it for these mini-projects!
Personalize a concrete mailbox
Many mailboxes are made of concrete or stone. With your leftover exterior paint, you can give it the same color as your exterior wall. You could also paint your house number on your mailbox so it's even more visible. Lastly, we also love those mailboxes transformed into a pink piglet or a cow. Super cute and perfectly fitting for a farmhouse.
Give stone flower pots a new color
Are you getting a bit tired of that typical terracotta flower pot color? Want to give it a Greek vibe? You can do this with your leftover blue exterior paint. Or maybe just paint the top edge blue.
Other creative vibes are always welcome too. For example, how fun would it be to let your child help? Paint their little hand with your leftover exterior paint and press it against the planter or flower pot. This gives you not only a personalized item but also a lovely lasting memory.
How to store leftover paint?
Often, projects with leftover paint are for later. So the most important thing is to store the paint properly, so you can create something fun with it afterwards. But how do you best store paint leftovers so they are still perfectly usable after a year?
How to store paint the right way:
- Transferring: Use a small, airtight container, like an empty paint can. But a clean, glass jam jar works perfectly too. The less air that can get in, the better.
- Labeling: Stick a piece of painter's tape on the container. Write down the exact color (code), the date, and which room it was used for.
- Turning upside down: Turn the container upside down briefly after closing. This allows the paint to seal the edges airtight.
- Keep frost-free: Never store your water-based paint in a garden shed or garage where it can freeze. As soon as the temperature drops below freezing, your paint will freeze and be ready for the trash. Instead, store it in a dark, dry, and frost-free place.
In principle, paint can last a very long time if you store it this way.
If you store water-based paint, you will also notice when it has gone bad. How? Water-based paint that has gone bad smells like rotten eggs.
Final tip: use leftover paint for touch-ups
An accident happens quickly. Just think of carrying a chair through the hallway outside, and suddenly there's a dent in your wall. Instead of that beautifully colored wall, you're now mainly focusing on that annoying white spot. Your solution is the super easy Red Devil Onetime filler and your leftover paint.
Once the filler has dried, you touch up the white spot and the accident is gone. Handy, those paint leftovers!
Recent blogs
Using, storing and reusing leftover paint is a sustainable practice. Are you someone who values sustainability and is therefore looking for sustainable tips in the world of painting? If so, be sure to check out the blogs below.
How sustainably do you paint?
As a growing online store, we find it important to operate sustainably and as ecologically as possible. However, we make a bigger impact if we also involve you in our way of thinking. That is why we are now giving you a few tips on how you can paint more sustainably.
Paint with the Product of the Year 2024
Hooray, we simply have the product of the year among our range. Which product are we talking about exactly? Libéron Velours de Peinture! For one year, this paint product may wear the beautiful label that stands not only for quality, but also innovation.
Wondering what makes this paint so unique? Then dive into this blog post.
Spotlighted: Sustainable evolution in paint packaging
One thing is certain: recycled paint buckets are improving the painting industry. But they also bring some questions. Which brands are already packaging paint in recycled plastic? How does this ecological packaging affect the quality of your paint, and does it change the price? These are some questions you may have already dwelled on.
And we are happy to answer them for you!
