I love this colorful photo by Casa Latina

The painter has left the building. Or, you and your husband have just completed a three-day painting project. The color looks great. The last thing you’re thinking about is future touch-ups. But a year later when your four-year-old rides her BigWheel into your dining room wall, you don’t want to be searching through bulky, half-empty, partly dried out paint cans looking for the right match.

So when the job is complete and before you pack up your supplies, follow the advice of HouseCall’s Ron Hazelton:  store your leftover paint in used water bottles.

1. Set a clean, dry bottle inside a ring of masking/painter’s tape to stabilize it then use a funnel to pour the paints (have paper towels on hand.)

2. Label the bottle(s) using a Sharpie. Make sure you include the paint’s number and the name of the room where it was used.  (May seem obvious now, but down the road it may not.)

3. If you have them, throw in some marbles. They’ll do a great job mixing the paint with a few quick shakes. (genius)

4. Check with your community on how to dispose of the paint cans in an environmentally friendly way. If you’ve got lots of unused paint, you could also donate it to local nonprofit agencies or churches.

Photo by xkpxfatassxx

This paint storage idea is one of my favorite home improvement project tips. Wish I could take credit for it.

Love Your Home and go ahead, let them ride their BigWheels in the house,
Sue

Photo from Abercrombie

I had my annual mammogram the other day.  When I walked into the exam room, the decorator nerd in me was delighted by the room’s paint colors: a soft tan offset by a wonderfully deep chocolate accent wall directly behind the…whatever it’s called…big squeezing xray machine.   The colors were so bold and unusual for a medical office.  I thought, “Nice touch.”

But as the exam began and I was “attached” (for lack of a better word) to the big squeezing xray machine, the blank chocolate wall I was forced to stare at just wasn’t doing it for me.  I mean, they should at least throw up some scenic artwork to keep your mind off what’s going on.

Then it hit me!  I know the perfect “Wall Decor” for that wall:  one of those 8ft x 8ft photographs of the gorgeous Abercrombie and Fitch models that are plastered all over their store in the mall.    

I mentioned my idea to the technician.  She laughed and promised she’d bring it up at the next staff meeting.  So there ya go.

Bet you were wondering how I was going to justify that photo on a decorating blog…

Love Your Home, (and get your mammogram)
Sue