Have you ever had a furniture paint project where you end up with leftover furniture paint? Maybe you were painting a piece of furniture, and you had some leftover furniture paint from the original color and now it is not enough to paint another furniture piece. Whatever the reason, sometimes we are left with excess paint that we don’t know what to do with. In this blog post, I’m going to show you how to easily mix furniture paint colors. Let’s get started!
Mixing furniture paint colors can be fun and is an easy way to change the look of your home without spending a lot of money. Let me show you how to mix paint colors to create a perfect custom color that will perfectly reflect your style. So get ready to unleash your inner artist and transform those boring pieces of furniture into masterpieces!
How to start mixing paint colors
When it comes to mixing a custom paint color, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to decide on the colors you want to mix. It’s important to create a color palette that you’re happy with before you start mixing.
Once you have your colors selected, you’ll need to decide on the ratio of each color. A good starting point is a 1:1 radio, but you can adjust this depending on the color shade you’re going for.
Start easily by mixing the base paint color or main color with white paint to lighten the color or black paint to darken the color. Obviously, the more white or black paint you add the lighter or darker the color mix will become. This is a great starting point to extend leftover paint.
Watch this video to see how I easily mix leftover furniture paint so that I am not wasting a lot of paint.
Once you’ve decided on the ratio, it’s time to start mixing a test batch! Using the ratios you discovered make a small test batch of the new colors of paint and use it on a sample board. This allows you to make sure the paints blend together well and adhere to the sample board.
Once you tested the different paint colors, simply combine the paint ratios in a container and mix thoroughly with a paddle attachment. Remember to mix a little extra so you have plenty of paint to complete the furniture painting.
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Also, check out this color mixing guide for General Finishes milk paint. It is a helpful free guide and resource as you can find a similar color you may have in a different brand and see the custom colors that they mixed. It is one of the best color recipes for painted furniture and finding a great color combination for your own custom colors.
Also, check out this Annie Sloan mixing chart, it is a little more complicated but it will give you some good ideas and a lot of color options.
Tools for paint mixing
Nothing is more frustrating when you begin mixing leftover paints and you don’t have the proper tools on hand. Check your supplies before you begin. Here is a list of the common tools you will need to properly mix furniture paint.
- Mixing Containers
- Paint Mixer Drill Attachment
- measuring cups
- paint strainer
- storage containers
- white paper and pencil
- stir sticks/paint stick
- paint syringe
Do not forget to label your custom paint containers with the ratios for each paint color and brand used. This is critical if you ever want to duplicate the custom color.
Mixing leftover furniture paints
As mentioned before, creating a custom furniture paint blend with leftover paints is a perfect way to use up paint. I always get a host of questions about mixing paints, so let me answer all of those questions below.
- Can you mix different paint types together?
Similar paint types can often be mixed together without any problems. For example, you can mix chalk style paints with acrylic paint or chalk paint with latex paint and even mineral paint. However, it’s important to note that the chalk paint needs to be of a higher ratio, otherwise, you will lose the chalk properties and benefits of the chalk paint.
- Can you mix different brands of paint together?
The simple answer is yes. Again you will need to mix similar paint types together as mentioned above.
- Can you mix different paint sheens together?
Absolutely as long as they are similar paint types. Also, remember you will be creating a new sheen so make sure you have enough for your painting project.
The biggest takeaway is to know the type of paint you are mixing and always try a small amount to see how the paint mixes together.
Tips to easily mix furniture paint
- Create a small batch of your custom paint before mixing it all together. Test this small batch of paint on a sample board or piece of wood to make sure it goes on well and adheres to the material.
- Mix, mix, and mix some more. Also, it never hurts to pour the mixed paint into a clean container after thoroughly mixing. Sometimes it is hard to get paint off the sides of the container it was mixed in and that causes variegated paint.
- Strain paint before doing the final mixing. Some paint containers have chunks of paint or debris around the edges and you do not want this in your custom paint color.
- Make extra paint so you have enough to complete the furniture makeover and have extra for touch-ups. Nothing is worse than running out of the custom paint because I guarantee that mixing it again will be close but not an exact match.
- Store in a proper container so it does not dry out. Most cheap plastic containers do not have airtight lids. And label with the color ratios along with paint brands and the various colors used.
And that’s all there is to mix furniture paint! With a little practice, you’ll be creating custom colors like a pro in no time. Have you ever tried to mix leftover paint colors to create a new hue? Let me know in the comments below. So the next time you have some leftover paint, don’t toss it – try mixing it up and see what beautiful shades you can create!
Need help painting furniture?
Check out these other great furniture painting resources. They will help to eliminate the fear of messing up and gain confidence to take on that furniture makeover.
- Insider Furniture Painting Tips & Tricks
- Online Furniture Painting Workshops
- Paint Pour Furniture Painting
- How to choose the best type of furniture paint
Check out these furniture makeovers using custom paint colors
DeDe Bailey
DeDe Bailey is the artistic mastermind behind Designed Décor and The Puzzle Table. With a rich background in home décor retail, she has transformed her website into a platform driven by a profound passion for helping individuals craft spaces they adore. As a self-taught furniture painting artist and thrift decorator, she loves sharing her knowledge and empowering others to beautify their homes through furniture painting and thrifting. When she isn’t sharing her wisdom on the Designed Décor blog, DeDe is occupied with showcasing her ingenious jigsaw puzzle table design and expanding her short-term rental located in NE Ohio.
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