Ready to Decorate? Give Your Leftover Latex Paint New Life

Are you sitting on a stash of leftover latex paint? Did you realize you've got yourself a gold mine when it comes to home decorating?

With a little imagination and creative flair, you can use paint leftovers to give your home extra appeal, and have lots of fun in the process. To get you started, here's a few great ideas, courtesy of the Paint Quality Institute on how forgotten paint can infuse new life into your home interior:

• Make kitchen items kitschy. Dab a little leftover paint on canisters, coasters, or the handles of wooden spoons and spatulas with bright, fun color that can make cooking more joyful.
• Colorize some flowerpots -- the more, the merrier. Paint them one solid color, or embellish them with pattern for more panache!
• Have an old dresser that’s tired-looking? Use different colors on different parts for added visual interest.  Do the same with an old stool, table, or cabinet.
• Add pizzazz to painted walls with a handcrafted patterned border. Fashion a “stamp” out of an old sponge in the pattern of your choice, then dip it in the leftover paint and dab new color onto the walls.  Voila!  Custom design.
• Express your home’s individuality by adding accent color to a door, doorway, or an entire wall.  The unexpected color will make your interior something special.
• Embellish built-in bookcases, cabinets, or a mantelpiece with leftover paint to create striking elements in your decor.
• Using a homemade or commercial stencil, apply paint to just about anything – a piece of furniture, a wall, or even the floor.  It can render the ordinary, extraordinary.
• Frame your artwork.  Repaint the frames on your prints, paintings, and drawings to give them a fresh appearance.  Or, paint a simulated “frame” right on the wall to draw attention to favorite objects or sculpture.

Most of these projects take just a small amount of paint, but they can make a big difference in your home decor. For more how-to information on paint projects, visit the Paint Quality Institute blog at blog.paintquality.com.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.