Using leftover paint creatively

You have finished your work, but the colour was more abundant than expected - now you have leftovers.
But what to do with it? The paint is too good to throw away, but not enough for a whole project.
What can you do with the leftover paint? We'll explain in this blog post!

What is the best way to store my leftover paint?

You can store chalk paint, water-based wall emulsions and varnishes for a long time. It is important that you seal the paint airtight so that it does not dry out.
To do this, pour it into a preserving jar or similar sealable container.
These can be easily sealed and, unlike paint tins, do not rust. An additional advantage is that you can see the colour shade and quantity at first glance.

Use Leftover Paint to Touch Up Mistakes, Imperfections and Scuffs

Sometimes, damage may occur to your wall, a painted piece of furniture, a staircase or a window sill. These are often small areas, but they can significantly detract from the overall appearance. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a little paint in stock to touch up any damage.

Using leftover paint for creative ideas

You can basically use your leftover paint for any idea that pops into your head. So it's almost impossible to list all the possibilities.
We have presented the most common ideas here.

Painting vases

You can also give glass or porcelain vases a fantastic makeover with MissPompadour paints.
However, it’s a good idea to use a primer such as MissPompadour To Bond & Block so that the paint adheres properly to the smooth surface. If the painted area is purely decorative and won’t be used, this primer isn’t strictly necessary. If you have any leftover primer, you can of course use it.

Painting Flower Pots

Clay flower pots, with their slightly porous surface, are particularly well-suited for painting indoors with MissPompadour paints. Both Easy Eggshell! and leftover pots of The Functional Wall Paint! and The Valuable Wall Paint! or chalk paints are suitable.
You can also use leftover paint to spruce up metal or plastic balcony planters. For outdoor use, use our Easy Eggshell! Just remember that on smooth surfaces you’ll need to apply a primer with MissPompadour To Bond & Block if you want to create the most stable surface possible.

Painting lampshades

It is also very popular to give lampshades a new colour. Regardless of whether your lampshade is made of paper, wicker or fabric, you can always change it with a splash of colour.
Pro tip: If you are painting on fabric, add a little oil to your paint.

Painting fabric

Would you like to design a fabric chair seat to match the new wall paint? Do you happen to have some wall paint left over? Then add some oil to the paint and simply paint the seat upholstery!
Would you like to use your leftover paint for more fabrics and are looking for instructions? You can find them in our article on " Painting fabrics"!

Paint residue that has dried in the tin

Once the paint has dried, you can no longer use it, but MissPompadour Paints can be disposed of with normal household waste when dry.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Find out more about how to deal with leftover paint.