DIY on the cheap.

rizla01

Never ceases to amaze me the amount of paint that is thrown away cos it's the wrong colour.

I have decorated many of my properties by investing in a paint mixer (£1 shop) and making what ever colour I choose.

And don't think that you need another paint colour to achieve this. You can use cake colouring or spices (many of which have a LOT of colouring in them) or virtually anything else containing dye.

Kids colouring sets can offer a solution too.

Don't mix GLOSS with EMULSION, whatever you do. Horrible sticky mess will result, but you can mix outdoor Masonry) paint with ordinary emulsion.

If you are unsure what type of paint you have make sure that if it needs water to wash brushes then it must be mixed with the same. Likewise if it needs white spirit (Gloss, usually) and likewise if it needs thinners. (Cellulose)

Surprise the OH tonight with a new kitchen/bathroom from that paint pot that they were waiting to dump.

Pink.

Hi Rizla,

This is a good tip for the In My Home board so I've moved your thread over there.

Pink

Poppycat

The only problem with using white paint with a added colour is that you need to measure accurately the amount of colour added in case you run out.

White paint is often much cheaper than coloured, gloss colour is about a 3rd more, so it does work out cheaper to mix.

rizla01

Oh yes, forgot to add that bit.

You run out of the mix and are then up the swannie.:)

Poppycat

Its a good tip just have to be cautious, I have done what you suggested before but I try and avoid it as I nearly always use more paint then I thought I would

paddy's_mum

I too have done this many times over the years. To avoid any possible problem with running out of the paint, I generally make sure that I either have loads of it or use it as an undercoat/primer. Perhaps it's not so much about being moneysaving as being an utter skinflint!

handyman.

this is the most silly thread i#ve read on here for ages :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

misgrace

I'm a bit doubtful myself, , cause you really cant mix exterior paint with interior paint, and like poppycat, you have to have the right amount mixed up.
I'm still not sure about the colouring or spices, but it seems to be okay for you, but TBH I would never do this if I am doing work for a client, and I'm not too sure if I would do this at home either.

But adding the colouring is also a good tip if you are a DIYer and pasting paper, we all know that bubbles appear cause we have missed a bit of paper when we have pasted, or havent smoothed down paper properly, so if you add a couple of drops in your paste, it will show on the paper where you have not pasted.:D