There was a time when all you needed to create a unique look with paint was a sea sponge and the energy to dab and wipe until the perfect, spongy xxx was achieved. Sponge painting may not be the preferred look of today, but there are plenty of cool things you can do with a quart - or gallon - to transform your space and give it distinctive appeal.
You can lower your heating costs
When painting your exterior, choose a paint that reflects the sun, like Paint Plus Paint Additive Solar Reflective from Rust-Oleum. "Rust-Oleum® Paint Plus Paint Additive Solar Reflective uses ceramic heat reflective technology to reflect the sun's rays away from your home," they said. "Mix with any exterior latex or oil based paint or primer and prepare to save up to 20% in cooling costs."
You can make concrete look like wood
It'll take some time and patience, but you can create a floor that looks like you spent thousands on hardwood when all you did was fancy up a concrete slab. Check out this DIY video if you want an idea of what it will take to get the look.
Flooriations
You can also make concrete look like stone, brick, and terracotta tile.
You can get a cool graphic pattern without expensive cement tiles
Cement tiles are one of the hottest looks in flooring right now, but the geometric-patterned tiles can be pricey. With a stencil and a steady hand, you can create a knockout floor that looks like an expensive installation.
Decorated Life
Here is a smaller, more intricate pattern using a stencil.
Decorated Life
You can kill bacteria with it
No, seriously. Sherwin Williams' Paint Shield®Microbicidal Interior Latex Paint is "the first EPA-registered microbicidal paint that kills greater than 99.9% of Staph (Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli (Escherichia coli), VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis) and Enterobacter aerogenes within two hours of exposure on painted surfaces," they said. "It continues to kill 90% of these bacteria even after repeated contamination on painted surfaces."
And, the paint's effectiveness can last for up to four years, making it a great choice for places that tend to be more germy, like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Create cool-looking art
You don't need a Fine Art degree to create works that look like they came out of a gallery or a home goods store. All you need is a canvas and some puffy paint.
Buzzfeed
Check out all the other cool things you can do with puffy paint here.
Neutralize smells
"To neutralize the strong smell of any type of paint, add one tablespoon of vanilla extract (a natural deodorizer) per gallon," said HGTV. "It won't affect the color of the paint."
Or maybe you're looking for a little more commitment to odor control out of your paint.
Harmony Interior Acrylic Latex Paint from Sherwin-Williams was designed to be odor absorbing. "This may sound like science fiction, but chemists have developed a paint that reduces bad smells and formaldehyde fumes in your house," said Family Handyman. "Harmony paint helps reduce odors from organic sources, such as cooking, smoke and pets, according to the manufacturer. It also reduces the concentration of formaldehyde, a pungent and irritating gas emitted by some types of newly installed insulation, carpet, cabinets and other building materials."
Make it sparkly
Looking for a way to make your walls really shine? Sprinkle in some Valspar Signature® Paint Crystals. It gives the walls a shimmer - the more crystals you use, the more shimmer effect you get.
You can write on it
You can go the chalkboard route. Or you can take your write-on capabilities up a notch with Rust-Oleum's Dry Erase. It turns your wall into a white board, and can be applied "to any interior surface made from drywall, Masonite, wood, concrete or metal," said Family Handyman.
Family Handyman
