10 High-Impact Weekend Projects You Can Accomplish With a Can of Paint

If you're ready to make a big change in your space but you're working with a limited budget, the solution often lies in a can of paint. Shifting the color scheme in your room can transform its aesthetic to bright and playful or moody and sophisticated.

While giving your walls a fresh new hue certainly will do the trick, there are other ways you can leverage paint. These 10 examples prove you should never underestimate the power of pigment.

Try Color Drenching

If your walls are already a hue you love, consider painting your trim and ceiling to match. This technique is called color drenching, which refers to incorporating one color family into a design. Robert and Sharon Reed, co-owners and designers at Walnut+Ash Interiors, love using this method, and the two suggest going slightly lighter on the ceiling.

“Color drenching is our favorite way to bring drama into a room," Robert says. "We typically choose a slightly lighter shade of the room’s color for the ceiling. The lighter shade reflects light into the room, but without the stark contrast of a typical bright white ceiling.”

Paint a Design For Backsplash

If a marble backsplash isn't currently in the budget, consider painting one. Sharon Gullett, designer and owner at Pickwick House, commissioned this mini mural. However, you can give any surface a marble look yourself with the right DIY tutorial as your guide.

The end result will be a classic choice with a whimsical twist.

“For this design, I drew heavily on the influence of Nate Berkus and Athena Godwin’s NYC apartment kitchens with ledges," Gullett says. "They are both marbled and monochromatic in scheme, which provides a great canvas backdrop for displaying art and moving vintage pieces."

Change Your Kitchen Island

Painting your cabinets can be a big commitment that's hard to turn back from. However, you can still give an all-white kitchen a pop of color via the island. You don't necessarily have to choose a bold color to make a statement. For example, a muted gray-green tone can add interest to an island while still reading neutral.

Transform an IKEA Piece

If you want to give an IKEA piece more of a custom look, simply add paint. If you want to take it a step further, you can also add in extra paintable details like moldings. Shelby Vanhoy, creator of Pretty in the Pines, gave her IKEA PAX wardrobe system more of a built-in and historical look with both. According to her, the key is choosing a primer designed for laminate.

Make a Statement With Abstract Art

Artist and designer Colby Kern Morrell is a big proponent of DIY art, and he encourages everyone to give it a try, even if they don't identify as an artist.

"Graphic art makes a high impact in any space," he says. "It can be a surprising contrast in traditional spaces or a welcome addition to a transitional aesthetic."

To create your own abstract art, he suggests using a large canvas and two contrasting paint colors that match your space. In pencil and directly on the canvas, trace out two large shapes that have an equal distance between them and then paint your design. He suggests trying out different compositions on notebook paper ahead of time to figure out what you like best.

"Remember to have fun and that it’s just paint," he notes. "You can always paint over mistakes, so let yourself explore and enjoy the process."

Create Cohesion With Color

If you've got a spare hour on a weekend, consider looking around your house for little details you could improve with a small amount of paint. This before and after of painted window trim by Angela Houska of @hello.haveaseat proves that small changes can make a big impact.

"It was a cold and dreary February day, so I thought, 'What better to do than sift through the cans of paint in the garage?'" she recalls. "I had a can of black satin paint, which is the perfect sheen for some trim. I envisioned the white trim becoming seamless with our soapstone counters and decided to give it a go. This small yet impactful endeavor added a cohesive look to the kitchen window sill, and also became a testament to the power of DIY creativity in transforming a space."

Give Your Floors a Coat

Sometimes refinishing wood floors isn't in the budget quite yet, and other times you've just inherited already painted floors. In either situation, a fresh coat of paint can give them a much-needed refresh.

When Brigette Muller, content creator at @hummusbirrd moved into her Brooklyn apartment, the floors were already painted a shade of white. She opted to change them to more of a softer, creamier off-white.

"I love painted floors and actually have a feeling we might see a lot more of them in the near future," she says. "They can give your space a custom look and make it feel more like you. I find that the white floors in my apartment add a sense of warmth, charm, and airiness."

Breathe New Life Into a Built-In

Built-ins make wonderful additions to your home because they blend into your space. However, there are times when making a built-in a stand out feature can have a positive impact on the overall design. This before and after by Walnut+Ash Interiors is the perfect example.

“Color can be the star of the show or simply a supporting role that lends depth and meaning to your home’s story," Robert says.

Paint Your Fireplace Surround

Giving the area around your fireplace a pop of color can create an anchor for your eyes to rest. Plus, if you have a TV above your mantle, you can use paint to camouflage it.

Interior designer Charity Scott of Refine Studios did just that in her own bedroom.

"I chose to do black on this wall to help the TV blend in and not stand out as much, so the fireplace is the focal point, not the TV," Scott says.

Upcycle a Vintage Piece

Paint is always a great option for when you want to give a formal piece of wood furniture a more casual look. This especially works well for antique pieces that you want to use in a child's room, such in this nursery by Rebecca Rollins Interiors. Finish the DIY off with some new hardware like wooden knobs, and voilà—you've got a completely transformed piece of furniture.