Mixing Paint
Hey all, I have some leftover Benjamin Moore Linen White in a couple of different qualities (Regal and a lesser) and finishes (eggshell and semi-gloss). I am about to start painting my house upstate. There are a couple of guest bedrooms downstairs that are half in a ‘cellar’ and that are not all that exciting,…
Hey all, I have some leftover Benjamin Moore Linen White in a couple of different qualities (Regal and a lesser) and finishes (eggshell and semi-gloss).
I am about to start painting my house upstate. There are a couple of guest bedrooms downstairs that are half in a ‘cellar’ and that are not all that exciting, as rooms go.
I’m wondering, can I mix all these paints together and use it? IOW, will they mix up into something paintable?
I realize I would never again be able to duplicate the exact finish, and I also realize I better not run out in the middle.
Having said that, anyone done this before?
Thanks all, I think I’ll go ahead and give it a try.
Worked for a cheap landlord once where we took a 50 gallon garbage can and filled it with about a dozen different kinds (finishes/brands/off whites) of left over paint. Turned out this “dead” colored beige if i remember right. It dried perfectly fine. No problems with application. We mixed it with a paddle mixer on a drill and then ran the paint through an old stocking to remove the dried paint bits and gunk. Perfect LES tenement hallway color.
I’ve mixed finishes, and it comes out fine. You basically end up with a mixture of shine just like you’d expect, in your case a semi-eggshell depending on your proportions. You might consider using the semi-gloss to do all the trim, and then mix what remains. You’ll be left with a lower-gloss mixture for your wall paint, which is usually nicer. (shows flaws less)
I’ve also had a lot of success making custom colors using tints you can buy at the hardware store. This works best for pastel type colors since you’re mixing into a white or off-white. You can make an incredible beige or warm gray yourself, the colors can be very beautiful and very satisfying. For years everyone who saw my bedroom would exclaim about the paint color (a kind of mocha beige) which I mixed myself.
Think of a soft green say, and the tubes of tint are a few bucks each–cheaper than a whole new bucket of paint.
I used this book “Color: natural palettes for painted rooms” by Donald Kaufman. Lots of good tips in there too, like counter-intuitive advice to paint dark rooms in darker colors and vice versa.
We did it at my friend’s house to paint a couple of small closets. Came out fine for that purpose.
I’ve definitely mixed colors. If you ever needed to duplicate, just keep a sample aside to bring in next time.
I think I have mixed finishes, but I forgot the results! Just mix a bit and do a test run. Make sure to wait until it dries before you go crazy painting the entire room.
Never done it. Just not sure how a mix of eggshell & semigloss would come out. Can’t hurt to try.
The color would be a different story. I’m sure you couldn’t actually achieve “True Turquoise” though. 🙁
With a clean conscience knowing I haven’t put a gallon of leftover paint down the drain.
How do you get up in the morning?