Frugal Luxuries: Storing Old Paint

As I mentioned yesterday, I love having a painted table because it's so easy to touch up. With painted kitchen cupboards, having touch up paint is absolutely invaluable. Seriously. Then there are the inevitable dings on walls, filling in nail holes... SO many uses for touch up paint.

You know what makes it even easier to touch up? Having the exact same paint color handy. If you have leftover paint you can store it in the can, sure, but if you have just a little bit in a giant gallon container it can be annoying, awkward, and a waste of space. Enter: Your friend, the jar.

For latex paint, a plastic jar is fine. For oil you should use a glass jar. Either way, make sure it has a tightly fitting lid. If the lid seems a little too loose, try putting a piece of plastic wrap in between the lid and the jar, the plastic wrap will help seal the grooves. I also highly recommend that you label the jar with the brand, color, sheen, interior/exterior, and the tint. That way if/when you run out you can get the same kind again.

Personally, I'm a fan of peanut butter jars. They clean up well, the lids go on tightly, and they stack. Reusing old materials, saving space, being organized, it's a win-win-win.