Don’t let the high cost of paint discolor your renovation plans! Paying more for paint doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll get better quality, better colors or better coverage. Plus, you have a whole slate of opportunities to save.

Calculate the coverage. To prevent buying too much paint, retailer and manufacturer websites offer online calculators. Determine how many gallons will be required for the linear footage you want to paint and the number of coats you plan to put up.

Take it online. Follow manufacturer and home improvement retailer social media accounts and websites for coupons, rebates, and news about sales.

Make it monochromatic. Using a single color throughout your home can save lots of money. A five-gallon container of paint is usually significantly less than five single gallons. Keep one color from getting boring by using pops of color in your decor.

Optimize the oops. “Oops” or “mis-tints” are containers of paint that have been returned by other customers and are often heavily discounted. If you find a great color but only a gallon is available, buy a second at regular price and mix them at home to achieve consistent color.

Wait and save. The week before a three-day holiday weekend is often a good time to buy paint on sale as retailers anticipate holiday home improvements.

Can the primer. While some contractors like to use a primer, many self-priming paints have improved enough to skip the priming process.

Homeowners starting summer renovation projects that require a do-it-yourself paint job will want to keep these money-saving tips handy.

Sources: Consumer Reports, The Spruce

• home repair,
• home tips,
• painting,
• saving money