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How to Store Leftover Paint Using Mason Jars

DIY, Interiors, Lifestyle

If you are like me, you have gallons and gallons of leftover paint some where in your house or garage. You don’t want to just throw it away because you always need to do touchup spots in the house. Every December, I go around the house with my paints and touch up walls, otherwise, with 2 boys the walls of my house can look like a battlefield.

How to Store Leftover Paint Using Mason Jars

I always think of December as the time to rejuvenate your house and head into the New Year ready to roll.
Anyhoo, I was tired of carrying around these galloon paint jugs that are not nearly halfway full, and more importantly, I was tired of storing these in my laundry room. They that took up 2 shelves plus the floor space…
So, after a little searching around on Pinterest, I found an idea that would work for me. I did a little adjusting to fit my needs but it works out great.
I grabbed a bunch of large Mason Jars at my local craft shop (used a coupon for entire purchase, so each jar was only $1.10). Then, I poured the entire leftover contents of paint into their own Mason Jar.
Now, on Pinterest, everyone used labels. The bought cute labels and then printed on the labels the color of paint and brand etc. If you know me, if I don’t have to buy labels and spend more mula I won’t. I realized a couple things…
  1. When paint dries, it finally has the true color you will see on the wall. The wet paint in the jar is not it’s true color, especially because it will settle with time. The labels didn’t have the actual paint color on them.
  2. The top of the jar was empty and a great spot to paint on and write on.
  3. This would save me money and time.
So, instead of buying labels, printing etc. I grabbed a small sponge and painted a round circle on top of each mason jar the same color that is in the jar. I then wrote, with a permanent marker, the name of the paint and it’s brand i.e. Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams. I did not write which room it goes in because sometimes I use the paint for other projects, I change room colors a lot, and lastly, I have the paint colors for each room saved in “notes” on my iphone/ipad.
Now, I also buy a TON of sample paints. I am usually purchasing sample paints for client projects. But, these are also a great size to have cause they are easy to carry around and great for touch-up’s or smaller projects.
For the sample sizes, I did not have to write the name on the top because they come with a sticker on the side. However, I did decide to paint the color on the top so I could see what was inside. Which I can’t believe I did not do sooner.
Well, there you go. All paints nicely organized and labeled and I have a ton of leftover shelf space for MORE!!!
Total cost: $13.50

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Comments

  2. stage with style says

    Keri, I just love this Idea! I plan to this asap. Tired of all those dried up, ugly looking lids. and not knowing what the color looks like.
    Naomi ( fellow home stager)

  5. Handy B says

    I was looking for paint storage options and like this one the best. I also found that adding 3-4 marbles to the stored paint will help mixing up the settled paint when you shake the jar. the paint thickness prevents the marbles from getting enough momentum to crack the jars (of which I was nervous about the first time).

  6. linda amen says

    I have used glass jars too for paint storage. The only problem I find is that the paint needs to be shaken and then after using it ant putting the lid back on, the lid won’t open without force the next time you go to use it.

  7. Cynthia Weller says

    I love the idea of putting the paint color on the lid. It’s perfect. However you can buy the jars by the case at any hardware or supermarket. I believe they would be cheaper than a dollar each.

  8. lisa says

    You must keep the paint in the dark and not too cold or hot. The paint I kept in a glass jar changed color because of light so the entire jar had to be thrown out.