Mix and match – what to do with the paint left at the bottom of the paint can

I am Kirsi, a passionate upcycler and vintage enthusiast. My day job is in the interior and furniture industry, and my free time is pretty much spent in the same spirit. One of my Insta friends even calls me the "project queen".

I couldn't live without these DIY things of mine; they are also therapy for me, allowing me to relax and disconnect from everything else around me. When you always have "a hundred irons in the fire" and a couple of new projects in mind, time really never gets boring.

I have promised to show you some finished projects that I have completed with Frenchic Paint products. Hopefully, these will also inspire you to pick up a paintbrush and boldly try something completely new!...

Projects often leave leftover paint, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less

If there is about half the paint left in the can, it's best to close the lid tightly and store the paint in a dry and warm place.

I often put a plastic bag over the paint can and tie it tightly with a bag clip to make sure the paint doesn't dry out. On the bag, I write the paint name and color on a piece of painter's tape.

This way I can easily find the paint and color I need later. In winter, it's also important to make sure the paint doesn't freeze if stored, for example, in an outdoor shed.

If there is a small drop of paint left at the bottom of the paint can and you don't want to throw it away, it's time to make your own paint mixes!

I personally like mixing different colors together and seeing what kind of result it produces.

Sometimes I also mix colors consciously when I am looking for a specific shade that should fit its environment but also stand out.

This is how I have done it, for example, with the hallway side table, whose color includes wall paint in the shade Green with Envy, as well as Al Fresco paint in the shade Constance Moss.

This way the hallway table matches the base color of the kitchen and hallway wall, but is fresher and greener in color.

When you mix paint in a lidded glass jar, like an old jam jar, the paint leftovers stay fresh for a while.

There was leftover black Al Fresco paint from the greenhouse project when I painted stencil on concrete wash tiles

With this black, Blackjack color, I have painted old metal trays in a chalkboard paint style, which I use as notice boards, etc.

The surface is completely matte and resembles a chalkboard.

Chalk and glass markers also stick well to this surface.

When there was still some black Blackjack paint left, one evening I painted a small chessboard on an old stool with itto the lid

The grid base is made with painter's tape, and it is not completely symmetrical. And that's not the intention.Small imperfections are part of life and also make furniture more personal.

I wanted the checkerboard to look old, so after the paint dried I lightly sanded it with fine sandpaperhere and there, so the pattern looks like it has always been there and worn with use. For finishing, I used colorless Frenchic –furniture wax, so cleaning will be easier in the future and the surface feels smooth under the hand. 

With leftover paint from the can, you can conveniently paint pots, candlesticks, statues, toys, or basically anythingpossible small and fun

For me, all white, whether furniture or decor item, is like a blank white paper just waiting for color.

The same happened with these two “ladies' main vases,” which looked a bit dull in white. I wanted a jar for all brushes and paintbrushes, from which it’s easy to grab the right tool.

I love combining gold with jewel tones, so the other lady got as base color some leftover Victory Lane from the front door project and a touch of gold in some spots. I painted the vase three times with Victory Lane color and after the paint dried, I dabbed gold paint in some spots with a soft watercolor brush.

If you want a light finish with that gold color, it's best to dab the brush first on cardboard or similar, so not too much paint goes to the final spot.

The other lady was first painted twice with Bradstockcolor. Then I brushed shadows on the arms and suitable spots with gray Greyhound shade. After this dried, I added a light layer of Bradstock color over the shading. 

The yellow flower is painted with Honeycombe color, leftover from the studio's bookcases. Finally, this vase also got a light touch of gold. I also brushed gold paint on the flower over the yellow, giving it a beautiful, matte shine.

In personal and beautiful brush jars, it's nice to keep tools organized between projects.

Hopefully these tips will inspire you too to pick up a paintbrush and boldly try something completely new!

Follow Kirsi on Instagram: @pieni_paivansade