Paint is one of the easiest ways to give your home’s interior a fresh look.   And while painting is certainly cheaper than renovating a kitchen or bathroom, it really doesn’t take much to rack up the costs.

It’s possible to save money on paint and create a room you and your family will love.

How to Save Money on Paint

Think small.  One way to save money on paint is to simply paint less.  Rather than painting the entire room, consider painting one wall to create an accent for the room.  If you choose a small wall or even just a small part of a wall, you can get away with buying a much less expensive quart of paint instead of a gallon (or more).

Choose the right color.  One of the most expensive mistakes you can make when painting is choosing the wrong color.  Gather up plenty of paint chip cards to get a sense of what colors are out there.  Tape them up to the wall and see what you think.  When you’ve narrowed down your choices to just one or two, pick up a sample of paint at the store and paint a section on the wall.  Seeing a bigger swatch of color on your wall will help you determine if the color is right for the space.  You can see how the color looks at different times of day as the sun moves through the room.

Choose the right paint.  If you’re going to invest the time in painting a room, make sure to pick the finish that will last the longest.  Take a look at magazines like Consumer Reports and Family Handyman for recommendations on brands of paint that are the best value.  You should also consider purchasing a paint that includes a primer, as this can help ensure the paint adheres to the wall.  It will save you time and money because you won’t have to buy primer and apply it.  If you choose to paint light colors over light colors, you may only need one coat.

Look for markdowns.  One of the best ways to save on paint is to check for paint markdowns.  Many times paint stores and home improvement stores get paint that has been returned because the person didn’t like the color, or sometimes mistakes are made when the paint is mixed.  These cans of paint can be marked down by 50 percent or more, so it doesn’t hurt to check out what’s available, especially if you’re only painting a small area.

Take advantage of rebates, coupons, and sales.  All of the home improvement stores have regular sales on both interior and exterior house paints.  And Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace often offer mail-in rebates throughout the year.  (Long holiday weekends like Labor Day and President’s Day are popular times for rebate offers).  Menards frequently has 11% rebates on everything in the store, including paint. In addition, I have seen coupons for places like Sherwin Williams and locally-owned paint stores in newspapers and online.

Prep the area you’re going to paint.  Make the job as painless as possible by prepping the walls before you start.  That means making sure they’re clean and any wholes are patched.  Clean, damage-free walls will hold the paint better.   Cover the floor and any furniture that needs to be protected.  If you’re a very careful painter, you can save money by skipping the painter’s tape, but in my opinion, it’s money well spent.  Tired painters tend to get sloppy, so taping things off can save you time and money later on.

Do the painting yourself using quality brushes and rollers.  It would be nice to pay a professional painter (or even a neighbor kid) to paint your home, but you can save much more money if you do the job yourself.  Buy the best quality brushes and rollers you can afford so that you can apply the paint well.

Save a little of the leftover paint.  Be sure to keep small container of leftover paint.  You can use it for making minor touch ups and extend the life of your wall color.

With a little planning, prepping, and bargain hunting, you can save money on paint and get a fresh new look for your home.

How do you save money on paint?