Use your leftover paint with these 10 DIY projects.

If you're here, you’ve probably already read a lot about DIY painting projects and took on a few of your own. Now you have samples or leftovers just hanging around. Of course you can always store the remnants and save them for future touchups, but what if you’re still feeling crafty? Here are 10 creative projects to use up leftover paint.

1. Accent wall

If you have a large amount of paint left over but still not enough to do an entire room, now’s your chance to try an accent wall. Remember that not all accent walls have to be bright blue or daring red. That soft green you just used for the living room might look lovely in the bedroom. Try it behind your headboard if it complements other, darker walls.

When you have smaller amounts but like the idea of an accent wall, consider designs instead of a solid color. Tape off blocks like Aminah from Neatly Living did – she used painter's tape to create a cozy reading nook.

2. Trims

Baseboards don’t have to be white, and neither do your window frames. Door frames don’t have to match the color of the door, either. Use your smaller amounts of paint to spice up the details. This can be especially fun in a child’s room or eclectic powder room.

3. Doors

When painting, we often think of entire rooms or artwork. And if we do think about painting our doors, it’s usually just touchups after our kids have done a number on them. But having leftover paint is the perfect opportunity to switch the color from builder’s grade white, paint just the inset for some sophisticated detail (or to fake sophisticated detail on a hollow core door) or really think outside of the box with an “accent door.”

4. Drawers

Restored furniture, while beautiful on the outside, often overlooks the sides and interior of the drawers when they're open. However, small quantities of paint are all that's needed to create a touch of unexpected fun when you open the drawers. Diane from In My Own Style used leftover baby blue paint to spruce up this overlooked detail.

5. Cabinets

Replacing cabinets are expensive and time-consuming. Giving them a new look by painting isn’t revolutionary advice. But when even that job seems a bit too much right now, try freshening up parts of your cabinets with leftover paint. Maybe it’s painting the trim. It could be a new hue for just the upper or lower cabinets for a two-tone look. Maybe it’s the backs of the cabinets and shelves for an unexpected pop of color when you open them. In addition to the kitchen, don’t forget the cabinets in your bathrooms, laundry rooms and other storage areas.

6. Storage containers

Plastic bins are great for organizing but not always pretty to look at. Coat them in a solid layer of paint so they blend into your freshly painted room. The same applies to vases, jars, baskets and any other storage container.

7. Furniture

There are so many options for updating furniture with leftover paint, we don’t even know where to start. Chairs and tables are always prime candidates, and remember that you don’t have to paint the whole thing. Apply a coat just to the legs or the top of that end table, nightstand, occasional table, kid’s workstation, desk, coffee table...We said you had options, right?

8. Picture frames

If you want your really want your family photos or art gallery to stand out on that wall you've just painted, why not use the leftover paint to paint the picture frames to match?

9. Flower pots

Paint flower pots to help give your garden that extra personal touch. This is a great craft for kids. It might give them a greater sense of ownership over those herbs you’re helping them grow this season, or they might want to decorate it as a gift for someone.

10. Base coat for a future job

When you make a dramatic switch from dark to light paint, it can take a lot of work to cover up the old color. You might be able to use your leftovers as a base coat or primer for a future job.