Holidays, long weekends and painting projects – How to use your free time creatively
Vacations and long holidays are the highlights of the year for many people – days when you don't have to go to work and can focus on what you enjoy!
If you enjoy painting or are just starting out, the holidays are a great opportunity to unleash your creativity. A long summer vacation or a long weekend - both offer the opportunity!
But what should you paint?
It all depends on the time you have available. In this guide, you'll find painting ideas that are perfect for short moments or weekend projects, as well as colorful tips for making the most of your time.
⏰ 1–2 HOURS – QUICK AND INSPIRING PAINTING IDEAS
Sometimes small projects bring the greatest joy. Small color changes can give your home a new look and feel quickly and affordably. When inspiration strikes, open a can of paint and make a quick change to small surfaces like frames, storage boxes, lampshades or pots.
1. Lamps
A lamp base is a great quick project. Always remember to unplug it before you start preparing and painting.
2. Flower pots
Plastic flower pots are easy to paint, but a bit more challenging if the plant is already planted. Porous materials, such as terracotta or concrete, should be emptied before painting and protected from the inside and outside. There are good instructions for pot painters in our FB group .
3. Table legs or table top edge
If you're short on time, you can paint just a part of the furniture. For example, painting just the legs of a table can change the look of the entire piece. Painting the edge of a wooden table top matte black easily adds character and a beautiful detail to even an antique table.
3. Waxing
Waxing protects and gives a beautiful velvety finish to your wooden surfaces and antique furniture. Multi-purpose and high-quality natural waxes are safe and easy to use. Waxing small furniture is quick and easy with flexible natural waxes. You can read instructions for using waxes here.
⏰ HALF A DAY – MAJOR CHANGES TO THE APPEARANCE OF YOUR HOME
If you have a few hours free in the morning or evening, you can tackle a larger project that will make a significant difference to your home's interior. A small test can of paint (250ml) is often enough to paint a single door, chair, bedside table, radiator or small chest of drawers if you only use one colour.
1. Doors inside or outside
Whether you're freshening up your front door, renovating your backyard door, changing the color of your closet door, or refinishing your bathroom door - painting your doors is simple but impressive. It's a good idea to paint your exterior doors in the morning so they have time to dry before nightfall. Door painting instructions video.
2. Radiators
The best time to paint radiators is when they are not in use. After painting, they should be allowed to dry for at least 48 hours before turning on the heating. By painting the radiator, you can either blend the radiator into the color scheme of the wall or wallpaper, or highlight and paint your radiator in a stunning way - for example, a copper color? Radiator painting instructions.
3. Chests of drawers
Not all chests of drawers are quick projects – large, ornate or difficult-to-assemble pieces can take time. If you want to save time, you can paint just the frame or drawers. Read instructions on how to paint pine furniture here.
4. Half panels
Painting half panels is easy in that you don't need a ladder, and you can simply move the furniture away from the panel and protect the floor. In the same way, you can paint a thick stripe or arc of color at a suitable height on the wall. Read more about Paint Block painting here.
⏰ ALL DAY – BOLD INTERIOR RENOVATIONS
If you have a full day set aside for painting, you can make a bigger change to your home.
1. Chairs and stools
Painting your indoor or outdoor chairs is a great way to add personality to your home. If the chair doesn't have too many details, it can easily be finished in one day. Painting and drying the paint are quick, but preparations such as washing and sanding can take a little longer.
2. Effect wall
Painting an accent wall is a quick and effective way to change the feel of a space. Remember to also allow time for moving and protecting furniture. Wall painting instructions.
⏰ MULTIPLE DAYS – LARGE PROJECTS
If you have time and enthusiasm during the holidays and long weekends, you can tackle larger projects, such as painting an entire room, kitchen cabinets, or a furniture set.
1. Entire room
A small room can be painted in a couple of days, but larger spaces take more time, especially if you are painting the walls, ceiling, moldings, frames, and doors.
Tip: Try the color bath technique , Clolour Drenching , and paint the entire room – walls, ceiling and moldings – in the same shade. It speeds up the work and gives a harmonious end result.
2. Table and chair set
Painting larger groups of furniture takes time, especially if they have a lot of detail. It is a good idea to move garden furniture inside to dry for a few days before painting if it has been wet. Instructions for painting garden furniture.
Time-saving tips for your holiday painting project
You can never have too much vacation, so it's worth using your vacation and days off wisely. These tips will help you streamline the painting process and save time and money for other things:
- Water-based paint dries faster and has less odor.
- Frenchic paint eliminates the need for a separate primer, saving work time and money.
- Frenchic paint does not require additional varnish, so you can finish the project faster.
- It is worth considering the drying time when planning – use the waiting time to relax!
- Good preparation: washing, sanding, protecting and taping will save time later and help you get a smoother finish.
- Good background music and a friend as a renovation buddy will help you finish projects ahead of time without you noticing!
- Read instructions and tips in advance and check out other people's projects on our social media channels . Do a small test painting before a larger project.
Find the best paints for your project
If you spend your holidays with a brush in hand, Frenchic will help you achieve great results. Our paints are self-priming and adhere to many surfaces without extra work. Test it yourself and see for yourself - try a 250ml test bottle!
Explore our extensive bank of instructions and tips and find inspiration for your next project!
