Leftovers are a good thing. But not when it’s unused paint. Here are a few tips to rid your garage of that unused paint…

1. If you aren’t going to use the rest of the paint, offer it to a neighbor, church or community group. There are folks out there who would really appreciate the donation.

2. If the paint is totally unusable, then here’s a nifty little trick. Remove and toss the lid. Or make a decorative something-or-other out of it. Thing is, get rid of the sucker.

~Check to be sure the paint can is 1/2 full (or less). If the there is more than 1/2 a can left, pour the excess into another container like a milk carton or a coffee can.

~Add clay-based kitty litter so that the can is 3/4 full.

~Stir the paint/kitty litter mixture.

~If some of the liquid paint remains, add more litter.

~Go hug your kitty while you wait for the mixture to air dry until it’s nice and hard.

~Once dry, kick that can to the curb. Well, the trash can at the curb. Don’t you dare dig that lid back out, cuz the trash dudes will not take it away if they can’t see that the paint is dry.

3. Oil-based paint is *KABOOM!* combustible and should be treated like your ex…er…I mean hazardous waste. Here’s a link to a hazardous waste center in Dallas.

If you are like me, and always finding flecks of paint on your hardwood floors after a DIY painting party, then I have a tip for ya.

No need to purchase expensive products or break out the sander, just a little lemon juice, rubbing alcohol and elbow grease will do the trick!

Mix 3/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Give the drips and drops a good scrape (butter knife is usually my tool of choice…either that or a really bad CD). Dig out an old toothbrush or something to scrub, apply some of your magical liquid concoction and watch the paint disappear!

Once the paint is gone, simply pour yourself a glass of wine, kick-back and bask in the glory of a job well done!

If you have children, they will most likely want some input into the design of their room. Allowing them to choose the paint color can be risky. I still remember the day when my daughter, then about 9-years old, wanted to paint her room dark purple. Years later, as an angst-ridden teen, she wanted to paint her room black. Neither of those ideas panned-out, but in both instances, we came to a mutual agreement. Now, in her 20′s, she’s opted for a lovely shade of creamy yellow for her very own room in her very own house.

Thanks to modern technology, the Internet provides lots and lots of places to find color wheels, tips and even places to give your kids a chance to do a virtual makeover.

One thing to keep in mind is that room colors can affect your child, both psychologically and physically. Maturity, cultural influences, personal experiences, light and even physical makeup are just a few of the elements that influence how an individual will respond to color.

Warm Colors – these colors are on the red side of the color wheel. These colors usually give one a feeling of warmth, intimacy and relaxation. However, intense warm colors such as reds and oranges tend to stimulate and excite. If your child is warm and affectionate, you might suggest choosing colors from the red side of the wheel.

Cool Colors – these colors will be found on the blue side of the color wheel. Cool colors often have a calming affect, although intensely cool colors (very dark) have a tendency to depress the viewer. Painting kid rooms, light cool colors such as blue green, light blue, blue-violet and even white have a calming effect and make rooms feel more spacious and elegant.

Earth Tones – Ground colors like grays, browns, and beige (muted yellows) ground you. They are a good choice for hyperactive children, creating a sense of warmth, comfort and relaxation.

Muted ground colors are best. Just look outside for examples of the browns and grays found in squirrels, trees, and the earth.

Black -Black is best used sparingly if at all. Traditionally it represents darkness, despair, sorrow and mourning and subconsciously it is strongly associated with death. When it is used in large amounts it absorbs light and it can generate depression and/or zap the energy out of the viewer.

While discussing painting kid rooms, teens often mention black as a color choice. For them it’s creates a sense of mystery and modern style. The style they want to communicate can still be reached using black in restricted amounts, as accents or accessories. That said, black should not be used in large amounts, especially in rooms that are used frequently.

White – White predominately represents peace, faith, joy, cleanliness and of course, purity. Since white reflects almost 80% of light, white rooms seem brighter and larger than rooms painted in other colors. It’s a great palate that can enhance other colors in the room.

We need to watch three aspects of painting, the brush, the paint and the technique.

Let’s start with the brush. Even using the most seasoned professional and the best bucket of paint on the market, you can’t get that fabulous look with a bad brush. It’s really best to spend a little more for a really good brush. You’ll find yourself with a quality finish and it’ll save you time and loads of frustration. A low quality brush will leave you with brush marks and also runs the risk of opening up at its sides, making painting clean edges an impossibility. Also, bristles tend to drop and stick onto the painting surface. To avoid brush marks, always choose bristles that are relatively soft. The length of the bristle should preferably be at least 2-inches or longer.

Now let’s move on to the paint. You’ll want to choose paints that have a certain amount of “body,” or volume solids. Using these types of paints will result in less brush marks. Also look for the paint’s ability to flow easily. If the “flow” is poor, brush strokes will not be smooth, again resulting in brush marks. This can usually be solved by thinning with the recommended thinner. Drying time is another important factor. If the paint dries extremely fast, you won’t have enough time to smooth out any brush marks.

It’s all in the technique. Be sure to use sufficient amounts of paint on your brush. Dip only about 1/3 the length of the brush into the paint and lightly touch the inner side of the paint can to drain off some excess (but not too much). Apply and distribute the paint with horizontal strokes before smoothing it out with light long strokes, lifting off lightly at the end of the stroke.

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Here’s the deal.  The more sheen “shiny” a paint is, the easier it will be to take a wet rag and wipe off. However the more shiny it is, the more imperfections in the sheet rock and texture you will notice. Also shiny paint usually is not the best choice if you like to pull out a brush and do a touch up here and there. The wet sheen will not blend with the dry sheen and if there is any light on the touch up you will see a sheen spot.

Just because a paint is flat does not mean it’s cheap. The guts of a high quality flat paint can be much better than a junky semi-gloss. High quality flat paints will hold their color and sheen and will touch-up very well.

Recently, I went to a customer’s home in Frisco in which we completed a full interior job, 2-years previously. They were putting the house on the market and wanted freshen up the entire interior. They just assumed, like most, that the stored original paint wouldn’t match for a perfect touch-up. We pulled a can out of the garage, touched it up, and they were amazed that it blended right in. It saved them about $3,000.  If the  walls were originally painted in an eggshell or satin, they would have to repainted most of the walls.

One of the most common questions we receive is, “How much does it cost to refinish my cabinets.” Glad you asked. Here’s a little insight.

The ballparks are based on a typical kitchen in a 2,000 to 4,000 square foot house.

$1,250
- Repainting the front side of the cabinets and doors with a brush.

$2,500
- Repainting inside and outside with a spray rig.

$3,750
- Painting cabinets that are currently stained.
- Painting or staining cabinets that are bare wood.

$850
Will usually get a one coat faux technique done on the cabinets.

Please keep in mind that every job is different and your job could be more of less. If you are interested in getting a firm estimate. Fill out our request a quote form and tell us a little about your project. Even if your interested in learning a little more about the process drop us a line or give us a ring. We’re always happy to help in any way we can.

Do make note of the desired environment for interior painting. What mood do you want to convey? A peaceful haven or an energy inspiring space? Think about your favorite places to play, or a restaurant you love frequenting. What is the color palate used in these settings? Perhaps it will work well in your home.

Don’t underestimate chameleon qualities of color. Varying types of light cause changes in any color. Talk to your DFW painting professional about painting a test swatch on a portion of your wall that receives both natural and artificial light. Observing color in these various types of lights will aid in your decision-making.

Do plan on smoothly integrating your home with color for a successful house painting project. Think about the flow from one room to the next. Pick out a palate that will work well together on your walls and then unite the rooms by painting the baseboards, trim, and crown molding all one color.

Don’t forget your ceilings. DFW painting is known for our popcorn removal. We have a proprietary process unlike that of any other Dallas painting companies. Nothing updates a room like removing that 1970s texture. Give painters the opportunity to make your home feel brand new with more than just color!

Do embrace the new neutrals. Gray is the new beige. It is versatile and comes in warm, cool, light, or dark shades. Painters in Dallas have seen an increase in demand for all shades of gray. Rethink your view of this color and reinvent your favorite space with just the right shade of gray.

Don’t resist your instincts. One thing all painting companies can agree on is the customer must feel comfortable with the outcome. You can refresh a room without making drastic changes. It’s allowed.

Do make note of anything needing to coordinate with your home’s interior color choices. Painters in Dallas have the privilege of painting some of the most desirable homes around. What type of tantalizing pieces do you want to incorporate? A family heirloom, an awe-inspiring area rug, or maybe an envied piece of artwork from abroad?

Ok here’s what you do.  Make sure that the lid and the rim of the paint can don’t have any crude on them.  Then knock the lid on real tight.  If you use a hammer be sure not the bend any of the metal.  A rubber mallet is better suited for this.  Now just turn the paint can over and the paint will seal it self in the can.  It is as simple as that.  If your kids are anything like mine then don’t store it in the house.  You’ll walk around the corner to find your little sweetheart is the next Picasso.  I keep mine in the garage.  The down side to that is the extreme hot and cold will shorten the life of the paint.