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Do you have plans to paint a room in your home in the near future? Painting is undoubtedlty the least expensive, easiest way to completely update a room, and there are a few things you can do to penny pinch your paint job while you go. Here are a few tips:
1)  Visit the bargain bin at your local hardware store.  In our area, both Home Depot and Lowe's sell mis-matched paint at a fraction of the cost (usually $5 per gallon), and I've lucked into some great deals that way. When I recently updated our laundry room I searched the bargain bins, and found a perfect shade that's looks fantastic in our laundry room.  (I hated to spend much on such a small room, but am so happy with what I ended up with!)  I've also painted my daughter's bedroom using paint from the bargain bins, and couldn't have picked a shade that I liked more myself. (It's perfect!) Always be sure to take a peek at what's available if you have a paint project in the works.
(Do remember that mismatched paint can't be returned or matched, so you need to make sure there's enough to do an entire room. For $5 though, it's usually worth checking out what's there!)
2) Remember that ALL paint will be darker when you put it on a wall. I've wasted so much paint by not really thinking about the color ahead of time. A great way to get a “real” idea of just how dark your paint is, is to hold the color strip next to the white side of a paint chip. (The back of those chips are always a true white, so you'll have a better idea of what color you're really getting.)
So often I look at a color that seems pale on it's own, however when I compare it to a true white it's often much darker than I imagined. If you're going to purchase full price paint, it's totally worth spending a few dollars on the sample size paint colors that most paint stores carry. (Don't forget you can also pick up a free quart of paint at Ace Hardware on Saturday, which would be a great way to see if your color is right before you pay full price, or use this 30% off paints & stains at Sherwin Williams!)
3) Instead of purchasing plastic liners for your paint trays, use aluminum foil to line your tray and throw it away when you're done. (I got this tip from a friend of mine who was a painter . . . so smart!)
4) If you're painting a taller room, twist the handle off any plastic broom, and it will twist into the handle of your paint roller. This makes painting go so much faster, and you don't have to waste any money on an extra handle for your paint roller!
5) Use a rubberband to stop drips from running down the sides of your paint can. This won't save you any money, but is such a smart way to make your job easier. (Check out a few more smart painting tips over HERE.)
6) It's probably worth investing in a decent paint brush if you're going to paint often. I've bought more than my fair share of cheap brushes over the years, but have found that having a decent brush to wash and re-use makes the job so much easier, and saves money in the long run. My favorite paintbrushes are Purdy Brushes
 (which you can also find at Lowe's & Home Depot), and I've found that the ones with a slanted edge seem to handle corners and ceilings the most effectively.
Do you have any great ways to save when you paint (or just tips to make those paint jobs easier?) I'd love to hear them, because while painting is never all that exciting, it's sooooo fun to see the results!Â
See more fun decorating ideas over on Pinterest. (I love that place!) Check out previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!
Store left over paint in smaller containers as the paint will not last very long. Most paint store have empty qt. cans and even small plastic reusable containers with a brush on the lid ( makes touch up easy). Save the empty lids with the paint mixing info by poking a hole in it and hanging it on a nail in a closet. Then you don’t have to guess the color. This is really important for exterior colors.
Best tip I ever received came from a painter. For crisp lines, tape with painters tape and then run a bead of caulk over the edge and smooth with finger. Paint right over the top. When you are done pull the tape off and you have perfectly smooth lines. We have bullnosed (rounded) corners in our house so I thought paint accent wall was going to be hard. Piece of cake!