13 Simple Paint Hacks That Make Painting Your Home So Much Easier

Make That Fresh-Paint Smell Less Noticeable

There's something exciting about freshly painted walls—until you have to spend several hours in the room with that unmistakable paint smell. When you're painting indoors, especially in a smaller room, the odor can become one of the most unpleasant parts of the entire project.

One old household trick is to add a small amount of vanilla extract to the paint before you begin. The idea is that the vanilla's scent can help make the strong smell of fresh paint less noticeable while you're working. The trick is simple: add a small amount, such as a teaspoon or two, to the paint and mix it thoroughly. Don't expect it to magically eliminate paint fumes, though. Good ventilation is still important, and you should always follow the paint manufacturer's instructions.

What the trick can potentially do is make the overall smell more pleasant while the paint dries. Instead of that sharp, unmistakable "I just painted this room" odor, you may notice a much softer scent. It sounds strange, but sometimes the easiest household hacks are the ones that make you wonder why nobody told you about them before.