Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

12 Genius Uses for Leftover Sample Paint Pots

12 Genius Uses for Leftover Sample Paint Pots

Stop throwing away extra paint. Put it to work with one of these clever DIY projects that use sample paint pots to dress up wall art and accessories.

Sample paint pots are typically used to test out a color before you apply it to the entire wall, furniture piece, or another surface. They offer a handy way to see your color choice in person and in the context of your room before you commit to the full paint job. Once you've decided on a winning paint color, however, don't throw away those leftover sample pots. Besides allowing you to test-drive a color, sample pots of paint are also great for quick furniture updates, DIY wall art, and other small decorating projects that don't require a lot of paint. By repurposing the paint in creative ways, you can cut down on waste while taking advantage of budget-friendly materials.

Typical sample pot sizes range from about 8 to 32 ounces, and most cost about $10 or less. Before you begin a paint project with sample pots, measure the surface area you plan to cover and make sure you have enough paint to complete the job, factoring in whether you'll need multiple coats. When you're ready to start painting, consider one of these clever uses for sample paint pots to turn leftover materials into show-stopping decor.



1. Paint Stair Risers


Gather sample pots in a variety of hues to give your staircase a rainbow makeover. Tape off the tread and nosing of each step, as well as the surrounding wall, so the color covers just the stair risers. Before painting, sand and wipe down the surface to ensure good adhesion. Use a small roller or a 2-inch brush for precision, and remove the tape while the paint is still wet.



2. Make a DIY Chalkboard


Transform basic sample pots into chalk-finish paint to create a DIY message board on any wall. Simply mix unsanded tile grout into latex paint and stir to combine. Tape off your desired wall space and apply the chalk-style paint with a roller or brush, allowing the paint to dry and sanding between coats. This leftover paint idea works well in a home office or entryway. Keep chalk nearby for jotting down to-do lists and reminders.



3. Create Geometric Artwork


Grab some painters tape and a plain canvas to create modern art with sample paint pots. A spare sheet of plywood or a wood canvas works as a surface, too. Start by applying lines of tape at various angles across the canvas to form geometric shapes. Wrap the tape around the sides to ensure clean lines. Working one section at a time, fill in the shapes with complementary colors of paint. Apply a second coat if needed and remove the tape as the paint dries.



4. Highlight a Section of Wall


Sample paint pots likely won't cover an entire wall, but you can use them to highlight a certain area of the room with a two-toned look. This color-blocking technique works especially well in an empty corner or directly above a piece of furniture. Use a contrasting shade that will stand out vividly against the base wall color for a striking effect. To ensure straight lines, use painters tape and a level to mark off the area you plan to paint. Be sure to calculate how much paint you'll need to cover the entire section before you begin painting.



5. Decorate Plant Pots


This quick DIY project is a great way to use up leftover paint samples. Dip your brush into a sample pot and paint over inexpensive terra-cotta plant pots. Cover the entire planter in a solid color, or get creative with patterns of stripes, swirls, dots, and other designs. Use a variety of coordinating hues for a colorful update to your houseplant collection.



6. Create a Message Board


Make this grayscale ombre message board with corkboard and paint. Cluster 12 corkboard panels above your workspace, then lay out all the panels, sides touching, on a protected surface in the arrangement you plan to hang. Use a dry-brush technique to paint across the panels. Put a small amount of paint on a brush, and apply in long strokes from left to right to create a gradually diminishing effect. Continue dragging paint until you achieve the desired look.



7. Paint Dresser Drawers


Add pops of color to a dresser or desk with one pot of sample paint in a bright shade. Start by emptying and removing all drawers. Sand the drawer sides, and tape off any areas you don't want to paint (like the tops of the drawer sides or the drawer fronts). Prime, let dry, then apply two coats of paint. Apply a coat of clear wax or matte varnish for protection. Allow the paint to cure for a few days before reinstalling the drawers.



8. Spruce Up Plain Baskets


Use paint to add stripes and polka dots to small wicker baskets or other accessories. This trick works especially well when you have only a trace amount of paint left, ensuring that not a single drop goes to waste. Use the accents to match other paint colors in the room, like on the walls or furniture. Apply paint with a small artists brush, and let dry before filling with trinkets.



9. Update a Bookshelf


Dress up plain white bookshelves with a quick color makeover. Use a brush or disposable foam roller to prime the face frame of a bookcase and front edge of shelves; let dry. Apply two coats of a single color of sample paint, allowing each coat to dry. Top with a coat of clear wax or matte varnish for extra protection.



10. Stamp and Stencil a Rug


Add a painted pattern to an ordinary cotton rug. Print our Aztec motif, enlarge to fit your rug, trace onto cardboard, and cut out the pattern with a utility knife to create a stencil. We placed our stencil in the center and each corner of the rug. Use a 2-inch stencil brush to lightly fill in the shape. Dip the brush in paint, wipe off excess paint on scrap cardboard, and dab it on the rug. To create the lines between the stenciled shapes, use painters tape to create 2-inch-wide strips with angled ends. After painting, remove the tape and let dry for several days before using.



11. Update Curtain Panels


Tie a room together with leftover sample paint applied to plain curtain panels. Begin by ironing curtains and laying them on top of a work surface covered in kraft paper. Use a 1-inch foam brush to paint a row of irregular Xs, using the top brush edge as your stamp. We placed the first row of Xs at the top of the curtain panel, just below the rod pocket. We used a ruler to evenly space the rows 1 inch apart. Lift the curtain panel after completing a few rows so that the fabric and paper don't stick together while the paint dries. This paint treatment will hold up to a gentle wash with a mild detergent. Hang the panel to air-dry.



12. Embellish Glass Vases


Add subtle style to plain glassware, like these simple vases. Using the eraser on a new pencil, stamp polka-dots on the bottom and up the sides of the vase. Allow to dry and let cure for a few days before using. Because sample paint is not permanent on glass, you can scratch or wash off as your style needs change.



How to Buy Sample Paint Pots


Most paint manufacturers sell color samples. While these little pots can be mixed to match thousands of gorgeous hues, they typically lack the additives that make full-price paint scrubbable, fade-resistant, and lustrous. For best results, deploy sample paint on properly prepped or absorbent surfaces. Avoid sample paints on high-use, moist, or outdoor projects. Get started by asking your favorite paint sources about their sample programs.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×