Colin Archer

Colin Archer fell in love with DIY the first time a $12 can of paint completely transformed a thrifted dresser. She had recently rented a flat and wanted to design and make it her home. Everyone else saw a worn-out navy blue dresser with bronze knobs and wrote it off but she saw potential. She brought it home, sanded it, primed it, and painted it butter yellow with white knobs. Now it’s one of her favorite pieces. That obsession with turning ordinary pieces into something worth keeping has stuck with her ever since. Paint is a big part of what she writes about. She covers choosing colors, prepping surfaces, and picking finishes like matte, satin, and gloss. She also shares tips on brushes, rollers, and fixing drips and streaks. With a Visual Arts degree and over 10 years of hands-on experience, Colin tests everything herself before she writes about it, mistakes included, so readers get advice that actually holds up in a real home. Her approachable, no-judgment style meets people wherever they’re starting from, and she regularly hosts community workshops to keep that connection hands-on and real.