7 Ways to save Money on Painting Your Home ...

One of the obvious ways to cut the cost of painting is to buy in bulk. It is quite understandable that you will have to spend more to buy paint in 1-gallon cans as compared to buying in 5-gallon cans. In the U.S., you will be spending the same amount of money if you buy a 5-gallon bucket of paint or you buy four 1-gallon buckets – it means you will get a gallon for no extra charges if you buy a 5-gallon bucket. The only thing you should bear in mind is that the idea of buying in bulk will help save money on paint if you're painting your entire home, i.e. you should have a lot of square footage to cover. Otherwise, you’ll have a ton of paint leftover.

I’m not talking about going to a store where they match a shade you like or make one for you. Usually the cheapest paint is white – especially large cans. You can make your very own colors by using a tester pot mixed into a quantity of white paint. Plus, it will be a unique shade that no-one else has. Just make sure that you mix enough in one go to cover the space you’re painting, otherwise you’ll have mismatched patches. If you buy a large can of white paint you can split it into several batches, each with a different shade, depending on what spaces you want to tackle. And, as long as you seal the can tightly and store it properly, you don’t have to use the white paint all in one decorating project.

One of the less obvious ways to save money on painting your home is to brush up on your technique (see what I did there?). It is important that you understand a little of the art of painting. Inexperienced painters have a tendency to squeeze all the paint out of a roller, but that's not always the right thing to do – rolling on thicker layers with a relatively lighter touch will save paint and give a professional feel.

Buying a gallon of good quality paint is also something you can consider. Higher-end paint will always cover better and save you from using more paint. These paints may have a higher up-front cost, but they offer a good value for money. Theoretically, the paint job should last longer so you save money by not painting so often.

One of the ways to save money on paint as well as do a bit for the environment is to pay a visit to your local recycling center and buy paint. Most of these recycling and hazardous waste centers are in a position to offer paint for less, and that's mainly because they buy it from local business owners who often have to throw out unused paint. Paint comes with a long shelf life, which is the reason why much of the paint available at these centers will still be in usable condition. Interestingly, you may even get a chance to pick up this paint without having to spend any money at all.

People don't always use primer, but make sure you don't forget it, especially when you're painting raw drywall, raw wood, stained, or rough surfaces. Sometimes, investing in primer is a better idea than buying more paint to cover better or to change the existing color of your walls. Using primer in a sensible way can definitely help reduce the cost of painting.

If you're trying to complete a large paint job, it's definitely going to take some time to handle everything from start to finish. If that's the case, don't wash or rinse out your rollers and brushes – simply cover them all or wrap them properly in plastic bags using some twine. It will save paint and time. Have you noticed how much paint is wasted when you wash out a roller? A huge amount – best avoided if possible.

Are you now inspired by these ways to save money on the cost of painting your home to tackle some DIY decorating?