MIX AND MATCH - WHAT TO DO WITH THE PAINT LEFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAINT CAN?

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

I'm Kirsi, a passionate upcycler and vintage enthusiast. I work in interior design and furniture, and my free time is spent doing much the same. One of my Instagram friends even calls me the “project queen”.

I couldn't live without my DIY projects; they're therapeutic for me too, helping me relax and disconnect from everything else around me. When you've always got “a hundred irons in the fire” and a couple of new projects in mind, life never gets boring.

I've promised to show you some completed projects that I've done using Frenchic Paint products. I hope these inspire you to pick up a paintbrush and boldly try something completely new too!...

Projects often leave me with some leftover paint, sometimes more, sometimes less

If there's about half a can of paint left, it's a good idea to seal the lid tightly and store the paint somewhere dry and warm.

I often also 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. I write the paint's name and color on a piece of masking tape and stick it on the bag.

This way, I can easily find the paint and color I need later. In winter, it's also worth making sure the paint doesn't freeze if you store it in a place like an outdoor shed.

If there's a small drop of paint left at the bottom of a 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 comes out of it.

I sometimes mix colors quite deliberately when I'm looking for a particular shade that should suit its surroundings, yet still stand out.

I've done this with, among other things, the hallway side table, which includes wall paint in the color Green with Envy, as well as Al Fresco paint in the color Constance Moss.

This way, the hallway table's base color coordinates with the kitchen and hallway walls, but it is fresher and greener in color.

When you mix leftover paint in a lidded glass jar, such as an old jam jar, the paint stays fresh for a while.

I had some black Al Fresco paint left over from my greenhouse project, where I painted concrete paving slabs using a stencil.

I have painted old tin trays in a chalkboard-paint style using this black Blackjack color. I use them as noticeboards and so on. The surface is completely matte and resembles a chalkboard. Chalk and glass markers also work well on this surface.

With some black Blackjack paint still left over, one evening I painted a small checkerboard on the top of an old stool

The checkerboard pattern was made with masking tape, and it isn't perfectly symmetrical. Nor is it meant to be. Small imperfections are part of life and also make furniture more unique.

I wanted the checkerboard to look old, so once the paint had dried, I lightly sanded it here and there with fine-grit sandpaper to make the pattern look as if it had always been there and had worn with use. To finish, I used clear Frenchic –furniture wax, to make it easier to keep clean in the future and give the surface a smooth feel to the touch. 

You can easily use leftover paint to paint pots, candle holders, statues, toys, or practically anything small and fun

To me, anything white, whether a piece of furniture or a home decor item, is like a blank sheet of white paper, just waiting for color.

The same thing happened with these two “lady-head vases,” which looked a little dull in white. I wanted a pot for all my brushes, so I could easily grab the right tool whenever I needed it.

I love combining gold with jewel tones, so the other lady got a base coat of Victory Lane left over from an exterior door project, plus a touch of gold in a few places. I first painted the vase three times with Victory Lane, and once the paint had dried, I dabbed gold paint in a few places using a sparse watercolor brush.

For a subtle finish with the gold paint, first dab the brush on cardboard or something similar so you don't apply too much paint to the final surface.

The other lady was first painted twice in Bradstock. Then I brushed shadows onto the arms and other suitable areas with the gray Greyhound shade. Once that had dried, I lightly added some more Bradstock over the shaded areas. 

The yellow flower is painted in Honeycombe , left over from the bookcases in the study. Finally, this vase also got a light touch of gold. I also brushed gold paint over the yellow flower, giving it a beautiful, subtle shimmer.

These distinctive, beautiful brush pots are perfect for keeping your tools tidy between projects.

I hope these tips inspire you too to pick up a paintbrush and bravely try something completely new!

Follow Kirsi on Instagram: @pieni_paivansade