I think I'd make note of all the colors by room with brand, number, and sheen then file that away somewhere for future reference. Then just take the cans to a safe disposal facility. You can always get sample sizes at a later date for touch-ups. And if you need to fully re-paint in the future, you'll need bigger quantities than you'll have stored anyway, so there's probably no reason to keep any of it.

Piggybacking on Sabrina’s comment — I write the paint info down (or use the actual label) and tape it behind a switchplate in the room.

What Sabrina said, if you don't have room to store the cans. I'd try to carve out some space for a can or two of whatever you have used most widely and/or where it's most likely to be dinged up, but it's not that expensive to get a quart later if you do need to repaint an area. I would write down (ideally electronically too) the name, code, and room for each paint color. You can also pour off a small amount from each can into mason jars or plastic containers for touchups. It won't last forever, but takes up much less space to store and in my experience is good enough for the small stuff.

We always store our paint in the cans, but if you don't have a basement or similar for that, I can see how that would be difficult.

Maybe you could pick up some empty quart sized cans at the paint store? I've seen some people use things like mason jars, but you have to be carful to make sure that they don't get exposed to light ... I'd be asking the paint store person for their recommendation, stores that specifically sell paint usually have people with good advice on that type of thing.

Regardless of vessel, make sure to copy down the brand, line, sheen, color name, and ideally the formula, and adhere that to the container. I also like to make a note of the room/project the paint goes with and the year. A small smear of paint can be nice, too ... that way you can see what it is easily without opening the can.

I definitely wouldn't be throwing it out. I would hate to have to have paint remixed for touch-ups ... even if sample paints could be guaranteed to match despite being mixed separately, they tend to only come in limited sheens or lines of paint, and if the paint color is discontinued ... ugh. Who wants to buy a whole new quart of paint to paint a four inch square where some spackle was needed? And the colors that only come in gallons? I've also brought old cans of discontinued paints (brand no longer exists) to our local paint store, and they were able to color match it without us needing to bring a chip off the walls.

I do the same thing @Jilly

never keep excess paint, you always want fresh paint and a clean brush when you touch up anyway.

Many of my paints are Farrow and Ball, which only comes in gallons. And their samples sizes - as with most companies - don't come in a variety of sheens. So I would really like to keep the left overs for touch ups. I asked at my local paint store and they couldn't tell me what to store it in (maybe a language barrier) so that's why I posted.

Thanks for the suggestions for copious note takeing. I see another google spreadsheet in my future, which makes me very excited.

And, @BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA - thanks for the tip about no exposure to light if I'm using a glass jar. Hopefully keeping this in a closet should take care of that. Maybe I can store it in a box in the closet to be sure.

Yay spreadsheets!

I use glass canning jars for leftover paint. They seal a lot better than paint cans, and take up less space.

I usually have room to store them and then end up throwing them away a few years later!

Local high schools will usually take leftover paint for their theater sets.

I have shelves, I store them all on. I have always been happy, I kept them, when touch up time came. The paint stays fresh in the can, if you seal it properly. If I change colors in a room, then, I throw the old color away. Many times, those cans are still 1/2 full, and sometimes even more. I see no reason not to keep them. For smaller amounts, I use the glass jars too, and they work great.

Glass jars, labeled with paint color but mainly room and year it was used. Really, you don’t need much, only for touch-ups. Offer the rest of the can to a middle school, high school, or college for their theater or tech department, or if you know of a church doing a vacation bible school, they might use the colors you have (even if it is Farrow and Ball!)

Farrow and Ball or not, I wouldn't save much if any: ) A jar is usually less than you need but if bound and determined? Use plastic jars/lid

By the time you need to touch up? Guarantee you'll be met with rust using glass/metal.

I keep mine in the cans in the basement.

If you have underbed space, you could tuck them under your bed.

Agree with Jan--plastic containers with a tight-sealing lid, and plastic wrap laid directly on top of the paint surface to seal out air. Rectangular plastic containers stack well and use shelf space more efficiently than round cans or jars.

save your paint, even if it is a small amount for touch ups. paint stores cannot match paint! i tried once.

@JAN MOYER .I got some new, small metal paint cans from the hardware storage and am putting the leftover paint in there and pounding them shut with a rubber mallet. But I'm second guessing myself after your rust comment. Do you think these ziplock plastic containers with a screw top lid will be airtight enough?

I already need to touch up paint just from the contractors scuffing things on their way out the door. The doorways and halls are extremely narrow and I think lots of touch ups will need to happen frequently.

Contractor wanted to toss all the grout. I'm so glad I saved small ziplock bags of each color. Again, when they were leaving and took up all the floor protection, I noticed an area near the kitchen doorway that needed regrouted.

@beesneeds I need more beds for under the bed space! Mine is completely maxed out. But, I'm doing a ton of reorganizing and think I can stash small cans or plastic containers somewhere.

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