Painting is the quickest way of transforming an old unused room in your house into a new haven. You could purpose such a room into a study, a guest bedroom, or even a nursery for the new baby. And we all know how important choosing paint for the nursery is.
Have you asked yourself, though, what you’ll do with all the paint that remains behind? Since paints have a chemical composition, you can’t dispose of them the way you’d pour out spoilt milk. Even when dealing with odorless paints, you ought to ensure you dispose of it properly.
However, if you’ve got a true DIY spirit, there’s no scenario in the world in which you’d pour out leftover paint. There are so many projects you could start on! Here are a few things you could do with all the paint that remains after your painting project.
1. Storing Leftover Paint Properly
Most homeowners tend to throw out old paint because of how untidy used paint cans make a room look. This is not a good idea, since sometimes there may be smudges and scratches in your paint job, and you’ll need a little bit of paint to do some touching up. Painting is also the best way to hide water damage on ceilings and walls. But where will you keep all this paint?
Since you’re likely to remain with only a little bit of paint after each project, keeping it in mason jars and empty shampoo bottles makes it easy to keep the leftover paint without making your home untidy. A considerable benefit of odorless paints is that you can store them indoors without worrying about that migraine-inducing smell.
Remember to print out some labels as well- write down the color of this paint, when, and where you used it. You don’t want to use expired paint or pick out the wrong shade. You should also store your paint in the dark, cool corners of your home.
2. Use it to Add a Pop Of Color into a Room
If you have bold and vibrant odorless paints, it may be exciting to use them to add a streak of color in your otherwise monochromatic room. For example, if you have leftover cyan paint, you can use it to paint your bedroom door. A freshly painted door elevates the room’s aesthetic and aura. It may even dictate the design of your new bedspread.
You may also use leftover paint on the back of your bookshelf or cabinet, the legs of your antique tables and chairs, or even to paint a rug. If you’re a creative person, there are no limits to how many uses this non-toxic interior paint has.
3. Freshen Up Old Furniture
If you have old furniture that’s still in good shape, it may be worthwhile to restore it with a fresh coat of paint instead of getting rid of it. This is an incredible way of adding color to your home without having to make any major changes.
You can also visit a flea market and find something you can dedicate that small tube of lavender paint to.
4. You Can Dispose of It Yourself
If you’re sure the amount of paint that’s leftover is too little to suit you in another project, you could take it upon yourself to dispose of it. However, you must make sure you do it correctly.
An easy way would be to add as much cat litter to the paint can as there is paint, stir everything up and let it sit in the sun for about an hour. This will dry the paint up, and it’ll be possible to throw the entire thing in the trash.
However, this method only works for latex paint. If you’re looking to dispose of oil-based odorless paints, you should do it at a recycling center. Some eco-friendly paint manufacturers have such centers to ensure unused paint is recycled and not poured out.