My grandmother was a big do-it-yourself girl. She recovered chairs, built shelving, sewed curtains and pillows - you name it. Helen was a very capable woman who knew how to make a home cozy - on a budget.
My mother Lana and my aunt June continued the DIY adventures. Lana loves yellow, black, white and red. She painted wood furniture when everyone else was stripping it. She loves a bright and cheerful home full of dramatic color. She shared her love of vintage things with me.
June's style is different than mom's - she loves soft colors, pretty florals, feminine touches. She is a peace maker, good at compromising, since her husband likes earthy colors and has a decidedly masculine style. She changes things often - paints, wallpapers, paints furniture, gardens, sews pillows, etc. She loves to garden, too.
I suppose you could say home decorating is in our genes.
We are frugal, too. Thrift stores and garage sales are favorites of ours. We also use coupons at Hobby Lobby.
When I bought my home ten years ago, it was a fixer-upper. I couldn't wait to paint and furnish and make it my own!
The whole house had been wallpapered in 1945 - various shades of green. Even the ceilings were papered. It had been well-kept, but it was dark and not at all my style.
Back then, I purchased paint from Walmart. I heard from more than one source that it was made by a "name" brand. I had already chosen the colors I wanted to use. I'd been pouring over decorating magazines for years.
The Walmart house brand of paint was really good. I painted my whole house in it, and I still recommend it. I used Rustoleum Oil for my trim and cabinetry. It's got a few dings, but otherwise still looks brand new after 10 years!
But I digress. The Walmart and Rustoleum paints are not what this post is about. As good a deal as those paints are, there's an even cheaper way to get a quality paint for your home.
Buy mis-tint paints and mix your own colors.
I buy them in colors that are anywhere near a color I think I might want to use. I find them for pennies on the dollar. Lowe's is a great source for really cheap mis-tint paints.
I've purchased a gallon with a small amount spilled out for a dollar before!
When I get a pretty good supply of paints in colors near my goal colors, I mix them in a 5 gallon paint bucket. I buy a gallon of white paint to mix with them if needed.
I mixed a khaki color for my kitchen.
I mixed a greige color for my living room and dining room.
I've had requests for the name of the color of my living room and dining room before, and I had to say, "I mixed it from mis-tint paints." But recently, I brought home a stack of swatches (from Lowe's) and found one that's a match.
I even love the name of it: FADED BURLAP.
Don't be afraid to mix paint - especially cheap paint! Just make sure they're all water based. Or if you're mixing trim, make sure they're all oil based, if that's what you use.
I mixed my interior oil in a warm gray color for my front door and window. It was Rustoleum gray and brown mixed with white. I just mixed until I got a color I liked. Then, I went to Walmart and found a swatch that matched perfectly. I painted the outside door in the same color of exterior latex.
I think I may have spent less than $20 to paint my living room and dining room, and I still have enough to paint a hallway. I'll keep a jar of it for touch ups.
Someone asked me if I wouldn't regret it down the road, when I couldn't get the same paint in case I needed to match it.
Though it is something to consider, I won't. I'll either match it, to an existing paint color or spend another $20 to
paint it all over again!
I like to feel like a good steward of my blessings.
And I do love the smell of a freshly painted room...
Word for the Day:
1 Corinthians 4:1
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
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11 comments:
Oh! whole heartedly agree.
I giggled at the thought of finding paint chips to match.I DO THAT!!! I just bought a huge 5 gallon bucket of "white"...what did I do? I put it in the buggie and turned around to find the VALSPAR paint chips and stood there until I came up with a match.
I was so hoping to find a 'white-ish' paint that day. FIVE GALLONS! I was so excited. I was standing there in Lowe's saying "thank you, LORD."
$30 BUCKS... for Valspar 'Latte'... who caRes if it was FLAT? With my walls? are you kidding?
:P
Such a smart tip! Paint really adds up quickly!
Great tips! I'm a new follower,
Karee
You take frugal to a whole new level, and I'm loving it!!! Never would have thought of Walmart paint, never heard it was "brand". Love your colors, especially love that key hole, we had ones like that in our home I grew up in. Love your verse!!! Love the box with all your linky parties, how'd you do that?!?! Thanks for sharing with us, found your link at Savvy Southern Style. Mary
Very clever! You have a beautiful home!
Jennelise
walmart paint? we spend way too much on sherwin williams--i need to check it out--tfs, revi:)
I too mix my own paint! I find most of mine at the Habitat Restore. Our local stores don't seem to mark mistints down that much.
To Lynn...I tried Sherwin Williams once because it was on sale (which was still way more expensive than my favorite Ace paint). I hated it. It was too thick and still needed to do two coats.
Thank you for sharing it at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Deborah
That's a great idea! I've never mixed my own wall paint, just paints for everything else. Never even thought of it. Brilliant!
Liz
We've used that 'trick' before, too, with great results! Love all the pics of your home :)
Susan
great tips on finding cheap paint. Also, if you have a Re-store around your area, you can find paint for cheap ($1 a quart or $3 a gallon). I got a Martha Stewart paint for our bathroom last year for $1...and if needed, I know what the color is :)
I have used Wal-Mart paint too and it was just as good as the expensive paint I got at Home Depot. I never thought about mixing a 5 gallon bucket though! Thank you, I am planning to paint my living room and was not looking forward to the cost :(. I'm going to Lowes on the way home. I'll let you know how it turns out. I LOVE your style and always look forward to your posts!
Clara from Redeemed Junk and Stuff
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