Thursday, January 22, 2009

Opps! There It Is!

People pay me to help them decide on just the right color for their homes, so would it surprise you to know that I'm not one of those people who obsess over which is the perfect color to paint a room or piece of furniture. In fact, the only thing I do obsess over, when it comes to paint, are the "opps" paints. It drives my husband nuts that I cannot walk into a store that sells paint without checking out those discounted little beauties of mistints. Most stores sell a gallon of mistinted paint for five dollars. I've paid as little as one dollar and as much as ten dollars a gallon, depending on the brand. I almost always buy satin finishes because I like the warm shine of satin on the walls of my home. Occasionally I'll buy a semi-gloss because the finish gives furniture a nice shine and is easy to clean. I limit my color choices to neutrals, unless I have something specific in mind.
The wall in my dining room was a mistinted venetian plaster. I layered an opps glaze on top to give it warmth.
My kitchen cabinets were also painted with oops paint. I wanted a cream color and I knew that applying a poly on top would change the color a bit, so I choose not to be so particular about the exact color of cream.The kitchen wall color wasn't a mistint, but it was discounted because the paint store had a contractor decide he didn't want all of the paint that he'd originally ordered. Don't be afraid to ask the paint store employees about extra paint that they may have from cancelled orders. Sometimes these are the same colors that are being used in model homes.My family room walls are painted with two gallons of red oops paint that I mixed together. The paint on the entertainment center is also a mistint.The door coffee table is a happy oops---one of those colors that I would not have chosen unless it was super cheap, but I'm thrilled with the finished product.Remember when you learned to mix paint colors in grade school? You can do that with oops paints too! Just last month, I painted our guest room. I mixed two different colors of mistints until I got just the shade I was looking for. It's a gorgeous gray with a hint of green. I love the color so much, I wish I would have painted my master bedroom walls this color.The nice thing about oops paint is that you can paint a room for under ten dollars and if you don't like it, you haven't spent much more than you would on a fast food meal. I do reccomend that you have a color range in mind before you choose a mistint, and be open to all possibilities. For instance, you may love the color of your oops painted walls, but feel that your accessories now look out of place. Before you repaint the walls, consider changing the color of the accessories in your room (AHH! The wonders of a little spray paint). That change might be all you need to love your newly painted walls. And with freshly painted accessories, you'll feel like you had an entire room make-over for under twenty dollars.

43 comments:

Darlene said...

I have never looked at that paint. I know I will be now thanks to you!!! Your things, walls and accessories are always just the best!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Everything looks so nice!!! I love the peg board and the plates with the numbers...so very cute!
-sandy toe

Unknown said...

What great advice! I have looked at the "oops" paints, but never thought to ask about extra paint from a contractor's order.

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Ok, you convinced me...I'll now look at the "oops" paints.

Sara said...

I wish you'd come tell me what colors to paint my rooms! I'm obsessing too much about it and looking at builders beige!

Barb said...

Great tip I will start checking out "oops" thanks for the tip...love your house.....Barb

rebecca @ older and wisor said...

My problem is that I always LOOK, but I always think, "Maybe it's one of those funky shades and I'll hate it too..." After seeing your results, I'm now feeling some confidence! My kids bathroom needs some color, and THEY aren't too particular....hmmmm....thanks for the post. My to-do list has just grown ;)

Christina said...

I need to be more diligent about checking the oops paint at our local stores. Thanks for the reminder.

oh, I really love the little canisters in the last post. They are adorable.

Amy {Design Intervention} said...

It's a good thing we don't live in the same town or we would be competing over the oops paint! It is my favorite "cheap" decorating trick. Since we move every 2-3 years (love the military!) I am always needing paint and I don't want to make a huge investment in it so oops paint is my cheap solution! I always mix my paints and come up with the best colors! Sometimes I use little bottles of craft paint to get it just the perfect hue!

Janice said...

I love looking for oops paint. In my home in AZ we used oops paint to paint our master bedroom and our little play house outside. Its a great thing. Have a nice day!!

Unknown said...

Very cool Joy, I always forget about that option :-) Take care!

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

I always have to cruise the oops paint shelves, too! :) Good reminder that it can cost less than $10 to get a whole new look!

Lisa said...

I DO THE SAME THING!!! TOO FUNNY. HUGS FROM MAINE http://sophie4me.blogspot.com/

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

Joy--I love oops paint too! And once a year someone has a paint giveaway where you can bring old cans of paint for other people to take--ooo, I find some good ones here for FREE! I also do not worry too much about the perfect color. I do believe I have a knack for color and a good eye for it. I also can remember a color well and almost always match it without a swatch. My husband is so colorblind--so it is funny to watch him try to discuss color with me.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great idea! I didn't even know that "oops" paint existed!

AndreaLeigh said...

thanks for the tips! i haven't painted yet and i'm been in my house for almost a year. i think i'm almost ready... lol.

Sit A Spell said...

I have used OOPS paint a couple of times and was very pleased with the outcome! The green is very fun on that table!

Michelle said...

Almost all our paint is oops - but we buy *gasp* 5 gallons at a time - all neutral colors just like you. My husband used to do property maintenance and we'd repaint the apts between tenants and I love mixing up the leftovers.

Megan {The Brick Bungalow} said...

I do the same thing! One day I even called a friend, who I knew was looking for various bright colors, because Lowe's had the little itty bitty containers, which was perfect for her project, and they were maybe $1 each!

tam said...

Oh I always check out the oops paint-I am normal I knew it! LoL! I drive my husband nuts because I just have to see whats there even if that is not what we originally went in for! Hey-You never know what great color is there-and if I see something I like I buy it even if I am not too sure what I will use it for. I have used oops paint for a lot of my craft projects too! Great post-thanks!~Tam:D

Mimi Sue said...

My son in law used to work for Sherwin Williams. We got first pick of any oops paint. So sorry he doesn't work there any more. Mimi

The Nester said...

Great post! Every time I see your door coffee table I get a little jealous.

Wendy said...

Love the color on the guest room walls. And I love the numbered plates! DARLING!

Free Art Printables said...

I love oops! Paint~ ! For $5 a can how can you miss?

Walker Family said...

This post made me laugh my husband is a sales rep for a paint company and there is nothing wrong with mistints someone just decided they didn't want the color....Good paint for a killer steal... I have painted things in my house and shockingly my parents entire house is done in mistints....That was a challenge.... plastics bins to mix the paint!!!! All I can say is it saves you a ton in money and it's a simple way to redecorate! Cheers to you!! I am glad others are figuring it all out!

Amber

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

I have bought oops paints a few times & have my own little stash of paints in the garage, my go-tos when I need a color for something. Never have mixed my own for a wall color, but looks like you've been really successful with it.

Unknown said...

I've never tried Oops paint, but now I'm inspired. I LOVE the color of your guest room walls!

Inspired Kara said...

I always love looking at the mistints even when I have nothing to paint!!

Unknown said...

OMG....I would LOVE shopping with you! I ALWAYS drop by the paint section of stores I frequent. I haven't bought too many OOPS paints but I'm going to re-think that whole process. You are SO right!

And I HAD to laugh and agree...I always am painting accessories; picture frames, statues, etc.

I'm ready to go paint shopping....OOPS!!!!

Ashley said...

Great ideas! I'll have to start checking out the 'oops' paints, as well. Thanks!

sam and kyrsten said...

you have a wonderful blog. I visit it quite frequently but have never left a comment. I just want to thank you for all the great ideas and inspiration you always have! keep it up! :)

Taryn said...

I did not know that you could buy discounted paint like that. How interesting. I will have to give it a shot next time I have to paint something. Thanks for the heads up.

Kim said...

Yes, this is something we've often done too. A cousin and her hubby bought an old farmhouse and we used five gallons of various whites and yellow mistints mixed together to make a beautiful soft yellow and painted the entire downstairs with it. Turned it into a bright, happy space! By mixing it all at once, in a big 5-gallon bucket, they had plenty enough of that color for their project.

DairyQueen said...

I love that oops paint too! I look about every time I go into a home improvement store too!

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

WOWIE! I always check out the Oops paints but I've never been brave enough to buy any.

I'd really love your (& anybody else's too!)input. Please check out http://thelopsidedhouse.blogspot.com/2009/01/paint-or-stain-that-is-question.html to view my dilemma!

Anonymous said...

Awwww. Girl You know you ahve got it going on in that house! opps paint and all.

wendy said...

I would say there is nothing Oops about your decorating talents and paint choices. Do you hire out.

Tracey said...

I found your blog through Chocolate and Marmalade tea.. I love the fact you take old oops paint and make it work, I've done the same in my home. I love to decorate and will stop by your blog again and your more than welcome to come by mine.. Tracey

You know who said...

I am so glad I found your blog. I do this same thing. I have painted my whole house with "oops" paint. People always say I am crazy, but I have spent less than $50, and I still have a lot of left over paint. Thanks for helping me to not feel cheep or crazy!!

Crafty Niche said...

I should really check out the oops paints!

www.craftyniche.com

Melissa said...

Enter me in the "Can't Leave Lowes or HD without scouring the oops paint Anonymous" club. My paint collection is getting a bit ridiculous. :) Yours all look fabulous and I will have to keep my eyes out for wooden bowls now as well! I'm having a hard time finding cloches~do you know any stores that sell them?? I would love some for spring...
Melissa

The Masked Mommy said...

I love the door coffee table! I love the idea of just being a little different. I really liked the color, too! Cute! (and I always buy oops paint ;-) We just turned our old (small) dining room table into a coffee table. The top is kinda banged up... I might need to paint it. Thanks for the inspiration!

misty said...

love, love, LOVE that coffee table! so cool & i'm liking the color too!

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