Can You Safely Use Oil Paints in Your Bedroom?

While oil paints can be toxic in close quarters, like a small bedroom, there are ways to repurpose leftover oil paint. Oil painting would not be appropriate for your bedroom walls, but you can create other art to beautify your sleeping space. 

If you think the only thing you can do is throw out the remaining oil paints, I have some great ideas for you to try so you can bring life and color to your bedroom area. Because oil paint can be expensive, reusing it will keep you from pouring money down the drain. 

You can safely use oil paints in your bedroom when you use them to create new art and decorate small items such as jewelry boxes and frames. Since oil paint is durable and long-lasting, choose things that you don’t want to change the paint color often.

Even if it is a small painting, we would still not recommend sleeping in a room with oil paint. Whenever possible, try to leave what you are painting outside when you are sleeping. Keep reading to learn some innovative ways to use oil paint safely in your bedroom space by answering Can You Safely Use Oil Paints in Your Bedroom?

Painting Accessories With Oil Paint

When you want to give your bedroom a stylish and inexpensive look, repurposing oil paint on accessories can be a great choice. Because most accessories are small, the amount of oil paint will be minimal, but it will pack a big punch from color and pattern. 

Flower Pots

Oil paint can be an excellent choice for painting designs on plastic flower pots. The hard plastic is ideal for painting with oils since it won’t crack or bend. Think about your favorite patterns, such as a two-color chevron or winding vines. 

If you prefer minimalist looks, adorn the flower pots with broad stripes in the same color but different tones. Monochromatic patterns can turn out well for flower pots and planters. Then you can fill them with plants and place them on a nearby table for sunlight. 

Jewelry Boxes 

Wood is another exceptional surface for oil paints that stick to the wood well. If you have an old jewelry box or wooden box to hold precious letters, it can be a place to paint with leftover oil paints. 

A thrift store is a great place to look for old boxes to paint. When browsing the aisles and shelves, keep an eye peeled for old wooden boxes that can hold jewelry, hair accessories, or notes from loved ones. 

Sign Sayings 

The popular “sayings” signs to hang on the walls are a perfect use of oil paints. You can paint motivational sayings or one large phrase like “Be Thankful.” If you are handy with a saw, cut some boards to different sizes, rough them up, stain them, and add a saying. You might start a little side business this way.

Painting Canvas With Oil Paints

Decorating your bedroom walls can be easy with leftover canvas prints that you’ve found at a thrift store or purchased at an arts and crafts spot. To prepare your canvas for painting, lightly sand the canvas and apply a primer layer to create a new base. 

This Youtube video will help as you paint over the canvas to create a new design:

Canvas Wall Mural With Oil Paints

If you have three of the same sized canvas panels, prepare them for oil paints with the above method. Then, choose a pattern or design that suits the style and decor of your bedroom. Use each canvas panel to continue the design and hang them together for an expansive wall mural. 

This wall mural on Amazon can spur your imagination for a design that would highlight all the colors and aesthetics of your bedroom. 

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Large Canvas With Oil Paints

You can often find a large canvas at the thrift store or in a clearance section of the arts and crafts stores to use as a focal point in your bedroom. The best focal point paintings are muted landscapes, a single flower on a stem, or an animal you love. 

Once you have the primary background color on the canvas, add your focal point design with other paints to make a beautiful addition to hang over your bed. You can choose a modern, minimalist block picture with a gilded divider line like this one, or you might prefer a vintage-inspired landscape or pastoral scene. 

Painting Furniture With Oil Paints

Whether you want to paint a design on the top or make the legs of a piece of furniture different colors, using oil paints to decorate a table is another great idea. You should do it outdoors where the fumes will not be overwhelming when you paint. Once dry, bring the furniture into your bedroom for a custom look. 

Hand-Painting Designs on Furniture With Oil Paints

Using leftover oil paints, you can design and paint flowers, a decorative pattern, or any other idea that strikes your fancy. When painting on furniture, dressers and nightstands are the best choices. These pieces of furniture seem to be the most suited for whimsical or symmetrical patterns. 

This Youtube video shows how to paint furniture to give it a transformed appearance to match your bedroom decor. 

You can paint simple lines and swirls, change the hardware, and have a new look for an older piece of furniture. 

Can You Paint Walls With Oil Paints?

If you want to use oil paints on your walls, stick to painting a canvas or frames with oil paints. Once you finish painting your art, you can let it dry outside and add it to your bedroom decor for a unique, fun look. 

Final Words

Most people who create with oil paints find it challenging to know what to do with the leftover paint on the palette. You can scrape it into a glass jar with a lid or place the paint in the freezer until you are ready to use it again. However, consider using that oil paint to make something special for your bedroom to personalize that space with your one-of-a-kind style.