Paint should be properly stored all year round but especially in cold weather. If you've got paint leftover from a project make sure to follow these 5 rules for storing paint and you'll have plenty of paint for your next project.
1. Paint can freeze
Make sure paint is stored at the recommended temperature. If it freezes it will be ruined.
2. Follow storage directions
All paints come with specific storage directions and most of them should be kept away from heat and flames and also out of the cold.
3. Check expiration date
Paint has a shelf life and make sure you know how long your paint will last before using it again.
4. Watch where you store it
Paint should not be stored hear a car or any motorized vehicles. It should also be kept away from furnaces, power tools and water heaters.
5. Use sturdy shelves
Paint should be stored on sturdy shelves that can meet the weight requirement. No other chemicals should be stored near paint.
Gyms are expensive and if you've got the space at home, why not invest a bit in building and setting up a home workout space. Not just a home gym with some weights and a Soloflex but a real place to do your favorite workout whether that's lifting weights, running, biking, basketball or yoga.
You are the true expert when it comes to doing the workout you enjoy and here are 7 steps to building the ultimate home workout space.
1. Make it Fun
Why don't you go to the gym? Because it stopped being fun. The same goes for your home workout space. If it's a room with a treadmill, it will soon become the least used room in the house. Take time to design the room and add some color or motivational posters or mirrors, whatever you need to get your juices flowing.
2. Pump up the Volume
If you're at home then ditch the ear buds and setup a nice sound system in your workout room. Music is a great motivator and not as distracting as a television.
3. Keep it Clean
Don't let your workout room become storage or you'll be reminded of all the stuff you need to do or get rid of. Keep the room clean so you can stay focused on your workout.
4. What Sport Do You Love?
Follow your gut and setup a space to practice your favorite sport. Basketball hoops are easy and if you've got room a lacrosse goal is fun to shoot on if that's your thing. You'll be surprised at how many homes have wrestling mats in the basement or yoga bars. If you've got kids this is where the good ones start which is early.
5. Share with Friends
Don't hog all the fun, share your new workout space with your friends and invite them over for a game of basketball on your new DIY court or have them do a workout with you with your new recumbent bike.
6. Be Kind to Neighbors
If you've got an outdoor workout space, be respectful to neighbors when it comes to sounds and lighting. Nobody likes to hear basketballs bouncing while they are enjoying dinner with their family.
Do you think your sliding windows and sliding glass doors are closed and locked? You can remove all doubt by using this simple security trick.
Cut a wood dowel to the size of the exposed window track when its closed and always keep the dowel in place to secure the window. Even if the window or sliding glass door isn't locked, this simple security trick will make the window or door unmovable.
Dowels cost less than $2 and are found at any hardware store.
One of our highlights this year was attending a media event sponsored by Lowe's and Valspar and hosted by Nate Berkus. It was a very intimate setting and only about fifteen of us were invited and Nate spent the afternoon sharing a bit about himself and his design process as well as participating in some paint and design projects that Lowe's had setup for us.
Throughout the day Nate dropped hints as to what he like and what worked best for him when he would design a room. We think his work is brilliant so we of course paid special attention.
Here are the highlights.
1. Nate believes any color can work - He mentioned lighting and personal taste but that you should be open to exploring the entire palette of colors offered to you or available.
2. Light is important - Testing colors can only be done under a variety of lighting conditions. Looking at swatches in the store is nothing like what the color will look like on your walls so make sure you test a few colors on your wall and with different types of lighting.
3. Nate's favorite neutral color is gray - Nate feels that gray makes a great foundation for the rich and vibrant colors he likes to use. He often pairs it with yellow and black.
4. Nate loves green and mentioned it often. His personal favorite color to decorate with is green, a color which represents balance, harmony, and growth.
5. Nate's greatest source of inspiration is traveling. He said there is no better way to influence your taste then to see how others around the world and around the country live and experience life.
Do you like Nate's tips? Are you sad to see his TV show go?
