With an overall warmer-than-normal Fall expected, now may be the best time to do any last-minute house painting you’ve had to put off. It’s also the best way to freshen up the inside of your home before holiday guests arrive. But if cost has been slowing down your painting plans, these 7 tips will help you update your wall colors without breaking your bank.

1.Check your local recycling center. Recycling and hazardous waste centers usually take paint from local business owners who need to discard old, unused paint. Since paint has a long shelf life, much of the paint thrown away is still good. Often, you can pick it up for free!

2.Visit hardware stores frequently. Many hardware stores and paint specialty stores have a mistints section for selling discolored paint at a fraction of the cost.

3.Invest in better paint. Like the old adage, you get what you pay for. Higher-end paints cover better, allowing you to use less paint. They’re less messy (saving clean-up costs) and more durable, so your paint job lasts longer.

4.Use primer. If you’re painting raw wood or drywall, or stained or rough surfaces, you’ll need to use primer. Also, if you’re painting a dark color or drastically changing the color of your walls, primer will help your paint cover better, so you’ll use less. Generally, one coat of primer and one coat of paint will be cheaper than two or three coats of paint.

5.Learn to paint like a pro. It may seem to make sense, but don’t try to squeeze all the paint out of a roller every time, because you’ll use all the paint you put on the roller. Instead, roll on thicker layers using a lighter touch. This actually uses less paint and looks more professional.

6.Buy in bulk. Buying paint in five-gallon cans is cheaper than buying one-gallon cans. Generally, a five-gallon bucket of paint will cost about the same as four one-gallon buckets, allowing you to get a gallon free. If you’ve got a big painting job, you should try to choose one color to use on most of the walls, which will save you money. Consider asking your local paint store about buying several one-gallon buckets of paint at a bulk price.

7.Cover your rollers and brushes. After each day of painting, don’t rinse out your brushes and rollers. Instead, wrap them tightly in plastic bags and tie them with rubber bands or twine. When you’re ready to resume painting, simply unwrap your rollers.

If your purse strings are really tight, you may want to redecorate your home with an accent wall, rather than painting the entire room. Or if you’re content with your existing color scheme, you can paint the ceiling a lighter version of the wall color, instead of just a dull white.

Have any low-cost painting tips for me? Please let me know in the comments below. And if you’re looking to buy or sell a house in the Albuquerque area, contact me today!