If you're running a little low on funds after the holiday season — looking for a fresh start or you're just resourceful — painting an appliance can be an easy and inexpensive way to give new life to your kitchen. Just because you hate your fridge, doesn't mean you have to go out and buy a new one.
There's no reason to sigh each time you walk in your kitchen because you can't stand the sight of your fridge, stove or dishwasher. Let's face it, there are plenty of us that don't have the luxury of running out to the nearest big box store to purchase new appliances — but we can afford appliance paint.
If you're looking to brighten up your appliances, grab a can of white! Maybe you're looking to transform your fridge into a message board for notes or a place for your kids to draw masterpieces — grab a can of chalkboard paint. There's nothing wrong with getting a little creative and brushing off your DIY skills instead of going out to buy new.
Images: 1. Pure Style Home, 2. Internet Home Alliance, 3. Country Living, 4. Jasna Janekovic, 5. Cookie Magazine
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A chalkboard fridge would be awesome! I'm hoping to get something out of it on Craigslist if/when we get a new fridge though, so I guess I'll be avoiding the paint for now.
I wanted a retro-style fridge but couldn't stomach the $3,000+ price tag. Instead, I bought a curvy Whirlpool and had it painted tomato red at a local auto-body place. I saved about $2,000 and it's freakin' gorgeous. You can read all about the process here: http://www.news-gazette.com/tag/red-refrigerator
Just painted my old but still functioning fridge with chalkboard paint. It's a nice fresh look and people enjoyed scribbling on it at a recent party we had.
Great idea -- I just bought a home which still has the original wall oven and cook-top but the color, a rather drab brown, just doesn't thrill me. Now if I could only decide on a new color...
I'm afraid I'd be sighing every time I walked in to my kitchen and saw any of these, save for maybe what's in the 1st and 3rd pics. The purple oven? That's seriously better?
I love painted appliances when done well. I've seen a few really bad ones done. I also like the idea of taking an older stove and fixing it up to be more energy efficient, then painting it a crazy color.
I love these. Even the purple oven is a nice burst of color. However, I'd have to wipe down the chalkboard so it didn't look like the fridge in the last picture. That would drive me crazy.
Appliances are SO expensive. I never even thought about painting them. I think LovieDovie has a good point about upgrading to more energy efficient however, painting is something that can easily be done in the interm. I like the purple oven, I think it looks retro and intentional.
I like the chalkboard paint and the purple-blue oven! Huge improvement
I'd like a few more specifics on the type of paint to use, how to prep the appliances, etc. This seems like something that could go really awry.
another thing to consider is painting the stove hood. we had a bisque one that worked fine and didn't want to pay $300 for a stainless replacement; my husband used a can of stainless steel appliance spray paint and it looks fine after 4 years
If you are going to do it, do it absolutely right or be eternally sorry -- or, sorry until you spring for the replacement, anyhow! The autobody paint approach is one great one!
For very rectangular refrigerators (not the vintage curved ones) there are special "contact paper" type adhesive coverings, including some that look like stainless, that you can apply. (I haven't done it, but I saw it done on TV once.) They used the same appraoch that you do with window film, sparying first with water and squeegeeing our from the center to get a "perfect" bond.
meg286 - I love your red fridge! Great idea.
My first house had avocado green kitchen appliances that were painted almond. I didn't even realize this until I moved them to clean behind and under them. The finish lasted longer than the electrical and mechanical parts.
Please give more details. Can I do this myself? What type of paint should I use? Can I paint the cooktop of my stove, or should I just paint the front? I love the IDEA of this post, but I want to know how to implement it.
Thanks, ngnerd. It is the crown jewel of my kitchen, and you can actually see it as you walk in the front door. I love it.
I love the *idea* of a chalkboard fridge... but how functional is it? Does it clean up well? I just imagine it would absorb oil from food spills, causing some ugly stains.
please check on appliances stickers mur-mur I thinking of doing this to my old fridge