Would you like to create a similar cabinet yourself at home? You only need a few scraps of varnish in different shades and a wooden square slat. Cut the slat into narrow tiles. In this case, one side should be straight, and the other side should be cut at an angle. Before applying the impregnation and glaze, sand the wooden tiles well and clean them with thinner. When the wood is dry, arrange them in the desired sequence and prepare different shades. You can mix the remains of glaze coatings with each other and thus expand your color palette. Just be careful not to mix water-based coatings with solvent-based coatings, and vice versa. Gentle transitions between color tones can also be achieved with a different number of applications, since the glazes are semi-transparent coatings, which means that the next application darkens the shade a little. When the coating has dried well, stick the tiles with the flat side on the cabinet, for example on the side of the door or drawer.

Perforated board, whether wooden or metal, is the ideal canvas to express your creativity using leftover topcoats. With a well-thought-out arrangement of containers, such a board can be perfectly integrated into any room and offers endless possibilities for personalization. Only have one shade available? Try hatching! Use masking tape to clearly delineate individual areas and prevent paint from spilling onto adjacent surfaces. Be careful when removing the tape – peel it off at an obtuse angle, as close to the surface as possible. Do not pull it away from the surface, as this could damage the freshly dried coating. Are you worried that you can't fully imagine the end result? Take a piece of paper the same size as your board and test your ideas on it. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Have you ever thought how scraps of wall paint could become the basis for beautiful works of art? A blank canvas or even a scrap of plasterboard is a great starting point for your next creative project. Start by applying the base color with a roller, then let your imagination run wild and use whatever leftover colors you have on hand. When creating relief and artistic textures, you can use the technique with two brushes. Use the first one to apply paint to the canvas, then use a dry brush to rub the paint in different directions. You can use old and hardened brushes that may no longer be suitable for other projects. You can also achieve interesting effects by dripping paint onto the canvas, which is then spread over the surface with a trowel in one or more directions. There are many options, so instead of one canvas, get two or more and create a home gallery.

Would you like to be more economical when using gift wrapping paper and bags? Look for scraps of a newspaper, cardboard boxes or even old maps that are perfect for your next gift wrapping. With leftover wall paint, you can create a unique and sustainable gift packaging that will absolutely enchant your recipients! Cut out any shapes like dots, stars or hearts from discarded sponge or foam, dip them in paint and stamp them on wrapping paper. You can also use brushes or cotton swabs to create patterns. Involve the children in the creation – let them use their fingers to form their own unique pattern, which will add a special personal touch to the gift. Every gift can become a real work of art, a reflection of your creativity and attention to detail. The recipients will certainly appreciate your personal touch in the gift, and nature will be especially grateful to you.

Do you find the idea of making a board game yourself from natural materials, leftover paint and with your own creativity interesting? On a walk by the river or the sea, pick up flat pebbles of about the same size. You need ten of them for the game of tic-tac-toe. Search the pantry for leftover topcoats; you will need at least one shade and an alcohol marker. Paint half of the pebbles, wait for them to dry well, and draw circles on them. Draw crosses on the remaining pebbles and paint them as desired. You can make the game board out of wood or cardboard and paint it in interesting color combinations that make the game even more attractive, or you can use twigs and pencils to mark the fields. If the idea intrigued you, how about making chess pieces out of clay?

Do you still remember enamel cups and bowls? They are so cute, but they may no longer be suitable for cooking. No problem – you can easily give them a new purpose. With some decoration, they can become an indispensable part of your living space. With the remains of covering coatings and a few strokes of color and inspiration, you can create a unique container for storing cooking utensils or fresh herbs. Have you heard of the spray technique? It is a simple method where you dip a small bristle brush in the paint and apply it to the product by quickly gliding your finger along the top of the bristles, in the direction towards you. Before starting spraying, apply primer and one layer of the final coating, as this way the color will be more durable. Protect the surrounding area, including walls and hands, as you come into direct contact with the paint.

If you have leftover environmentally friendly water-based woodstains or topcoats from past projects, this is an ideal opportunity to take care of the birds as well. Refresh their houses and create a real bird's paradise in your garden. Which style you choose depends on the leftover paint you want to use. If you have several different shades available, you can mix them together and thus create a wide color palette that will give you more opportunities for creative expression. By hatching you can create interesting details with a base in white. Don't forget details such as a frame around the opening or a roof with an interesting pattern. Before starting work, remove old coatings and properly prepare the surface for a fresh application. Before hanging the houses, make sure the paint is well dried. Let your creativity run wild and the birdhouses will become a real artistic addition to your garden.

Visual barriers are an excellent solution for creating cozy corners and dividing space. You can use wooden slats to separate the living room from the dining room, organize a work corner or discreetly demarcate the sleeping area in a studio apartment. In addition to functionality, they also offer an opportunity to express your creativity. Why not paint them with leftover paint you have at home? You can give your partitions a personal touch with different color accents: you can create modern geometric lines, play with hand-painted patterns or try creating an ombre effect by gently blending two shades. With a little imagination, a wooden partition will become a real work of art, and at the same time a practical addition to your space.

To start with, prepare a large enough work surface and protect it well, as this is a technique that literally splatters paint everywhere. Clean any dirt or dust from the vase, decorative bowl or other decorative element that you’re getting tired of. Before starting to paint, make sure that the surface is completely dry. Then the fun can begin. Look for leftover paint and thin it a little if necessary, so that the paint is not too thick. Then find a paintbrush with very dense bristles that will create larger and more even patterns. Dip the paintbrush into the paint and then tap it lightly with your thumb, so that the paint splatters onto the element. You can use different tapping techniques to create different sized patterns, so it is advisable to start by practising on old newspaper and perfect the technique that works best for you.

What can an old ladder be used for? A mini theatre for finger puppets, of course! Attach a tablecloth or curtain to the longer side to serve as a theatre curtain and you can start enjoying the show. And when there’s no play on, the ladder can become a climbing toy. You can build a bridge over the terrifying chasm between the bed and the chair that only the bravest toys will dare to climb. Like in a real jungle, vines and venomous snakes can hang from it, looking strangely like old shoelaces wrapped around a thin wire. Before playing, sand the ladder well to remove any splinters and damaged parts that could hurt your children’s delicate hands, and apply a fresh coat of paint. Just make sure that the ladder is properly secured and safe to use during play.

Do you still remember the days when big cardboard boxes were one of the most fun toys? They’re excellent for creating dream castles or mighty fortresses or for making box monsters and other creatures that you can turn into if you just poke a few holes for arms, legs and eyes, and put the box over your head. And even smaller cardboard boxes or cartons have their charm. You can assemble a freight train with a thousand and one colorful carriages, which can embark on a long fantasy journey over plains and plateaus, across the living room, down the corridor, a round in the bathroom and back to the kitchen. For fun that’s a little less boxy, you can use old cardboard soaked in water and pieces of wet newspaper to create figurines of various shapes – whether it’s a zoo, a farm or a colorful group of aliens. Aspiring artists will almost have more fun creating their own toys than playing with them. You just need a little leftover paint from your last renovation and old cardboard boxes.

We've already written about making your own furniture. Larger pieces of furniture certainly require some knowledge and skill, but they can also offer a great opportunity to develop not only your craft skills, but also your creativity. Each piece of furniture should be perfectly adapted to your personal interests and needs, and you can search for leftover paint right at home. Carefully thought-out solutions can also increase their usefulness; a bed frame can be extended into a bookshelf or a space for extra pillows or blankets, so that they’re within arm’s reach if a cold night takes you by surprise. If you have pets, you can think about creating a cosy nook for them to sleep in, which will offer them additional shelter and a sense of security. Of course, if your pets are already used to sleeping with you, we suggest you consider a different solution, as they’re unlikely to just give up your bed.

Wall panneling is an excellent solution for making even awkward and large surfaces look stylish and sophisticated. A simple intervention adds an additional dimension into the space and, with the right placement, visually enlarges it, closes it or raises the ceiling. The panelling can be placed vertically, horizontally or in a pattern of your choice. You can create frames that will highlight pictures, mirrors or other decorative elements, or use curved wall panelling to create arches over doors or windows. If you paint them in the color of the wall, you can use them as a discreet frame for LED strips, which can be great for creating ambient lighting that will contribute to a pleasant armosphere. Wall panelling can also serve as a transition between two different colours on the wall, which is especially useful when you want to separate two colour schemes or create visual dividing lines between different functional parts of a space.

You can give an old watering can that has served its original purpose a new lease on life with just a little leftover paint and use it as a flower vase. Whether placed in the garden, on the terrace or on a window sill, it will surely attract the attention of curious onlookers. Old watering cans can also be used as unique personalised gifts for those of your loved ones who appreciate sustainable and creative solutions. You can find inspiration for patterns in nature and create different botanical motifs with tiny leaves, vines and flowers, or you can liven up the watering can with playful polka dots. For a personal touch, you can also include a unique little message or a quotation. If the watering can is a gift, don’t forget to add a bouquet of wildflowers and a big bow.

The stairs can be one of the loveliest yet one of the most challenging interiors to furnish and decorate. Their design should be in keeping with the other elements in the interior to achieve a perfect symbiosis between architecture, colours and decoration. Family photos are an always welcome if not quite unexpected element in any staircase. For a slightly different approach, you can decide to paint the vertical sections of the stairs. Paint each step in its own colour to create a colourful rainbow, progress from a darker to a lighter shade for a soft flowing effect, or follow your very own, unique approach. And don’t worry, as long as the horizontal parts of steps or treads remain unpainted, you can allow yourself full freedom on the vertical surfaces, because even the wildest patterns will not make you dizzy as you walk the stairs.

All too often do we wander around furniture shops, looking for exactly the piece of furniture that we envisioned in our minds and shaking our heads at the high price tags. We forget that simple pieces of furniture can easily be built by ourselves instead of rushing from shop to shop and draining our wallets. The basic element can be a simple ladder. A ladder is strong enough to hold the weight of a person, so it will serve as an excellent basic element. Add some wooden boards for shelves, some boxes and small drawers, and you can quickly create a whole range of furniture pieces, such as bedside tables, sideboards, shelves or shelving units. You can also use old pieces of furniture that you might find in your own attic – dust them off carefully, repair minor flaws with some wood putty and sandpaper and give them a fresh coat of paint. What is left of the paint can be used to enhance some decorative elements.

Who didn’t want to jump on the bed, draw on the walls or even swing in their own room as a child? By setting up a children’s swing you can move some of the outdoor fun indoors and provide a fun activity for the whole family even on rainy days. Make sure that making the swing will be a family project that will involve an effort from everybody. Each family member should have a task and help to the best of their abilities, whether it’s hunting for paint leftovers, wooden boards and a length of rope in the storage room, or drawing up a family schedule that indicates clearly whose turn it is to swing and whose turn it is to push. Another highly important and responsible task is to choose the colour. As adults, we sometimes fail to understand that it is crucial whether the swing is yellow, blue or white.

Trends in interior design show that a matching set of dining chairs is no longer a steadfast rule. No more tough decisions between the chair you saw at the shop, in the attic or at the flea market. Or, what a shame, we need six chairs but they only have four. Well, you can have all three, and a fourth and a fifth. Then you can easily connect them with a few interesting colour accents into a single story – paint only the backrest on one chair, only the legs on the second chair and a different element on the third one. An eclectic style is wide open to all approaches, all shapes and all colours and colour combinations. While you’re still equipped with paintbrushes, you could use the leftovers also to paint the picture frames, dining table lamp, wooden shelves or other decorative features in your dining table.

With a pinch of creativity, wooden boxes can have many uses besides storage for fruit and vegetables. They can be easily changed into hanging shelves, a herb garden or tipped on their sides and assembled into a cupboard. Another popular way to use them is on balconies and for attractive organisation in the pantry or cellar. Here, colour-coding can be a helpful way to organise storage. Keep your gardening tools and utensils in the green boxes, old paintbrushes, rollers and painting equipment in the blue boxes, and children’s toys for the sandbox or other small items in the yellow boxes. Finally, to encourage a healthy diet – the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the more opportunities you will have to get creative with your wooden boxes.

Are you the proud owner of a vegetable patch or raised bed? Then you must know that gardening tools are essential for work in the garden. You can give your rakes, trowels, hoes and watering cans a fresh coat of paint to prepare yourself for colourful spring. Look around for some paint leftovers and let your gardening tools take on a fresh look and start a new story. Some attractive dots or minor colour accents on your trusty watering can may be enough to spark your enthusiasm. Before painting, clean its surface of rust and dirt, then let it dry completely. We recommend applying several thin coats to achieve thorough dryness with the best mechanical properties. Until the paint is completely dry don’t expose it to the sunlight and let all the items dry in the air. Happy gardening!