13 Handy Hints for Your Next Painting Project (2024)

Don't have any furniture glides on hand when you need to move a piece of heavy furniture by yourself? Dig into your painting supplies and use the base of a FrogTape container under each leg on the furniture piece. It'll then slide smoothly across the floor. Transform the look of a chair, table or dresser with these DIY tips on how to paint furniture.

Rather than take up space in a drawer or cabinet for storing rolls of tape, mount an old paper towel dispenser to your wall or pegboard. It can hold several rolls of duct tape, painter’s tape, etc., within easy reach. And unlike stashing tape in a dark cabinet or cramped drawer, the paper towel holder makes it really easy to find the specific tape needed for different jobs. A dowel-style paper towel holder designed to sit on top of a countertop would also work for corralling rolls of tape. And it’s portable, so you could take it with you for painting and repair jobs around your house.

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Here's another way to keep your paintbrush fresh while you take a break in the middle of painting. Snip the corner of a zippered plastic bag. Then slide your paintbrush inside the bag, handle first, and zip it closed. The paintbrush won't dry out, and the mess will stay inside the bag.

Easily cut up old t-shirts and towels to use as shop rags with this simple cutter: Clamp a sharp utility knife in a vise and start cutting the material. Continue cutting or tear the material into the desired size and shape.

Here's how to paint a door without waiting for oneside to dry before flipping it over: Drive one lagscrew into the center of the top edge andtwo near the bottom corners. Set thescrews on sawhorses, paint, flipand paint the other side.Plus: How to Install a Door.

When it comes time to touch up walls that have been marked or scratched, trying to find the correct paint can on the storage shelf is a huge headache. Even if you do manage to find the correct color for a room, the can may so old and rusted that the paint inside is useless. To make shopping for new cans of my existing paint colors easier, I started taking pictures of the labels and uploading them to the cloud, so I can find them later. Then I bring the photo with me to the store, and the associate can whip up a can of the same color using the ID on the label. —JD Williams

Keep a few empty egg cartons with the rest of your painting supplies. They're great for lifting a small project off of a work surface, making it easier to paint nooks and crannies and along the base of the project.

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When you buy custom-mixed paint, the paint clerk slaps the mix label on top of the can. I always ask for an extra label to wrap around a stir stick. When I'm done with the project, I let the stir stick dry and drill a hole near the top of it. Then I label both the stick and the can with the name of the room where I used the paint. I hang the stir sticks near the cans of leftover paint. With both the color formula and a dried paint sample in view, I don't have to pull down every can to find the right one for touch-ups.— reader Perry ParsonHere are 8 Great Painting Tips.

Always have a paint can opener on hand when you’re ready to start a painting project. Use pliers or a multitool to slightly bend open the loop of the opener. Then hook it onto the handle of the paint can you just purchased.

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Keep your watercolor brushes dry and handy! Cut a short section of pool noodle, slice it part of the way through and insert brushes.

Stop paint splatter when you re-seal a paint can lid by covering it with a rag or paper towel. Then place a wood block just larger than the diameter of the paint can across the lid and hammer the center of the block. Rotate the block a few times, hammering the center each time, to seal the lid without damaging the top of the can.

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When you wipe your paint brush against the inside of the can, paint fills the rim and eventually runs down the side and onto the floor. Solve the problem by wiping the paint against a heavy rubber band wrapped around the center of the can. Excess paint will drip back into the can without making a mess or gumming up the lid.