Although the general organizing rule of them is to store like items together, paint used for crafts—adults or kids—should be organized on their own. This is because they’re used much more frequently than regular paint and need to be accessible. You can use an organizer that’s made specifically for the type of paint you generally use, such as fabric, oil, watercolor, or acrylic. Otherwise, feel free to get creative and repurpose a spice riser, picture ledge, or a back-of-the-door shoe organizer.
How to Store Paint Properly
Make leftover paint last longer with these organization and safety tips.
Mary Cornetta has been in the professional organizing industry for over 5 years. She knew she had a passion for decluttering and organization upon graduating Marist College in 2007, however, pursued it as a hobby instead of a career. All of that changed when Mary founded Sort and Sweet Inc on Long Island in 2017. Since then, she has worked hands-on and virtually with hundreds of clients to clear their clutter and create functional systems in their homes and offices. Mary runs the Sort and Sweet social media accounts, creating content and writing captions with organizing tips and inspiration for more than 12,000 followers. Recently relocated to Savannah, she continues to own and operate the business with the help of a talented team. Mary has been a weekly contributing writer for House Digest and has been interviewed as an expert by Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Health magazines. She is the owner of the blog, Organized Overall, in which she details how she creates organization in her home.
Updated on June 28, 2023
Paint may seem like a small investment in the overall home renovation picture. However, whether you’re gutting your new house top to bottom or upgrading space by space, it’s never a bad idea to stay within budget. Storing leftover paint for touch-ups is a smart move, not only to save some money down the line but also to save a trip to the store for more. Plus, if the color you used gets discontinued, you can potentially save yourself from repainting an entire room.
Learning how to properly seal and store paint for future use is the key to success. Use the following simple paint storage ideas to ensure you have all of your bases (and walls) covered.
Clean and Close the Lid
When you’re wrapping up a paint job (and have a decent amount of surplus paint) always be sure to secure the lid back onto the can before putting it away. First, wipe it clean of any excess paint. Then, take a rubber mallet and gently tap the lid back in place. If you’d like, add a layer of plastic wrap between the can and the lid for extra protection. Also, always open a fresh can with a tool specifically designed for it, as opposed to something like a flathead screwdriver, to avoid warping the lid. That will then make it easier to seal it when you’re ready to do so.
All paint should be kept out of direct sunlight and in a place that’s temperature controlled, ideally between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. While the garage is a popular spot to stow cans away, paint can freeze so reconsider if you experience harsh winters where you live. Instead, carve out an area in the basement or a closed cabinet or closet elsewhere inside the house that’s out of the reach of small children or pets.
Separate Different Types of Paint
Once you’ve determined where leftover paint should be kept safely, take a moment to sort the various types including stains, primers, sealers, and spray paint cans. You can take it a step further and organize them by room or finish. This step will help you figure out how much space you need to dedicate to paint storage and how many bins, if any, you need to contain them.
Keeping your paint plus painting supplies in one spot means you have everything you need when you’re ready to tackle your next project. If there are no pre-existing or built-in shelves in the area you choose to store them, consider assembling a durable metal shelving unit. Add on caster wheels for convenience and shelf liners so items sit flat. Typical sized paint cans can line up on the shelves as is but use open top or open front bins to corral smaller cans and supplies like brushes, rollers, and drop cloths. Stick with inexpensive plastic or acrylic containers in case there are any spills. Assign each shelf a purpose, such as supplies or type of paint, and label them or the bins to minimize guesswork.
Keeping Acrylics Fresh
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Q. Is there a shelf life for acrylic paints? What can I do to make them last longer?
A. You should be able to store your unopened acrylic paints for a few years without experiencing significant changes in their consistency or working qualities. However, there are several factors that reduce their shelf life and may render then useless.
Once you begin to use the paint—whether you have tubes or plastic jars with screw-on lids—air gradually flows into these containers, evaporating liquid contents and drying out the acrylic paint. And by simply regularly opening and closing the container, paint may dry out around tube caps or screw-on lids. You may need to scoop out and discard the dried paint globules. Eventually, further drying may change the physical properites of the acrylic paint, making it impossible to work with.
You know it’s too late to save your paint when it’s rubber in consistency and you can’t remove lumps from the tube or jar. However, here are some suggestions for making your acrylic paints last longer before they reach this state:
- With a wet sponge, wipe out paint tube caps and screw-on lids. Doing this regularly will discourage paint from drying out around the container opening.
- Periodically open your jars of acrylic paint and lightly spray the inside with water to keep the paint inside wet.
- If you work with a lot of paint tubes and jars, you may want to write the date you open the container on the outside. A dating system can remind you which containers you should use the quickest.
Drawer Organizers for Craft Paint Storage
I am also using some pieces from a drawer organizer set to organize my paint brushes and other misc. paint supplies that don’t fit on the spice rack.
Use Empty Plastic Bottles for Left Over Paint
You can purchase empty clear acrylic paint bottles or plastic squeeze bottles to store your paint stash. I have also seen empty toiletry bottles at the dollar store that would work great for small amounts of leftover paint.
Using PVC pipe sections stacked on top of each other makes it easy to see and find all of your craft paint bottles. Just purchase a long piece of PVC pipe and cut it down with a circular saw or PVC cutter to the width you need. Then glue them together. Add to a shelf or ledge for handy paint storage.
You don’t need PVC per say, because any plastic tubes will work as long as they are sturdy and the paint bottle fits inside each one. Here is a standing or wall mounted rack from Amazon that is basically the same concept.
Wire Shelving Units for Craft Paint Storage
Wire shelves are a great way to store a lot of paint. I made mine with some wire grid shelving pieces and some scrap wood. It can sit or hang from the wall.
Don’t want to make your own. Here is a wooden and wire paint storage rack that’s basically the same thing.
