America Recycles Day: Getting Creative With Leftover Paint
Hello & happy Friday!
Did you know today is America Recycles Day? We’re excited to highlight a product you may not think to reuse or recycle today - paint.
Anyone who’s done some renovations or even a little one-room refresh likely has at least a few half-empty cans of unused paint gathering dust in their storage spaces (I know I do). While we always try to buy the right amount of paint, sometimes we over-calculate and end up with leftovers. Rather than let them dry out or go to waste, why not use them on some projects to freshen up your home?
In honor of America Recycles Day (today, November 15), here are just a few ways you can use paint you already have to freshen up your home just in time for the holidays.
Give your baseboards and door frames a new coat. While trim often goes unnoticed, giving door frames and baseboards a fresh coat of paint gives any space an immediate lift. And it’s a great use for the white and cream paint nearly everyone has in their closets or garage.
Add an unexpected pop of fresh color. Love that navy blue or olive green you used for an accent wall, but not sure what to do with your leftovers? Painting a lamp base or plant pot in that same color can spice up an old piece you love, and help avoid wasting paint. Or, brighten up a room further by painting the inside of a cabinet, a window frame, or the back of a free-standing bookshelf.
Rethink the accent wall. Don’t have enough paint to cover an entire wall? Use color to create an accent wall of stripes, or paint the lower half of your wall to create a color-blocked accent wall.
If you still find yourself with paint to spare, it’s easy to recycle it. PaintCare, a nonprofit that runs paint stewardship programs in 9 states and the District of Columbia, partners with hundreds of convenient drop-off sites in California where anyone can bring old house paint to be recycled at no charge. Find your nearest drop-off location (they’re usually in paint retail stores).
I’d love to see what you’re doing with your leftover paint—tag us on Instagram (@solsticeinteriors) and use the hashtag #AmericaRecyclesDay. I’ll share some of our favorites. Have fun!