Let's face it, we all have big dreams when it comes to our living spaces. We're going to learn to reupholster, to refinish that cabinet, to rewire the bathroom and demo the drywall too. But if you're anything like me, my skills leave a little something to be desired. I also happen to be a smidge on the lazy side. This is why spraypaint is my friend and why it can be yours too.
Spraypaint doesn't discriminate. It helps to have experience with it but you can get great results your very first time. And if you're looking for a January Jumpstart project that can be finished easily consider sprayaint your friend. It can absolutely save a piece of furniture, lamp, frame, stool, you name it, it can be revamped in an afternoon and one can of spraypaint.
Here's what that chair looked like before:
A few key points.
1) Make sure whatever you're painting is clean and something the paint will stick to (they make special paint just for plastic for example). This means if you're spraypainting wood that has a finish you'll want to give it a light sanding to rough it up.
2) Don't spray paint when it's windy. This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised.
3) Even if it isn't windy lay down plenty of newspaper to cover where the mist will likely end up and then a foot more.
4) Wear a mask.
5) Even if you're impatient, really hold the nozzle at least a foot from what you're painting. It will go faster if you hold it closer but you're likely to get drips and an uneven job. Remember that many light coats are beter than one drippy one.
Through the magic of spraypaint I have salvaged quite a few chairs and a footstool or two. And a mirror. And a lamp. The list goes on.
If you have any leads on low voc spray paints please share them in the comments. I know that Jill's Paint in Atwater specializes in Eco-Friendly paints, so if you're close by you might try there! Otherwise: happy painting!
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
Spray paint is truly a wonderful tool.
Scuffing with steel wool will often work to give tooth to a finish if you don't have fine enough sandpaper around.
view wende in phoenix's profile
if you want a really smooth and finished surface (and your item isn't too details like that chair above), buy a can of primer and give it a few coats of that first. your final product will come out looking much better.
for optimal results prime it. then get special sand paper you can get wet that is a really find grit, auto sandpaper is good and you can get it anywhere from 1000-3200 grit, and then wet sand it. constantly dipping the sandpaper into water and rubbing the piece down. it'll get really ultra smooth, then paint it.
the more time you take prepping it the better it will look. primer is your best friend if you want the really good smooth coat. i've down a lot of pieces like this and they look awesome. i plan on painting a medium steel bookcase and my entire steel desk something bright as soon as it gets warm out.
view jmorey's profile
This is, perhaps, a stupid question, but is this something that should *only* be attempted out of doors? Is it then an impossibility for an apartment dweller with no access to yard or driveway?
view rina's profile
I've sprayed things in my apartment before. Not only is it bad for you, and you'll most likely find yourself feeling ill from the fumes, but also it's messy. All the particles sort of float out and into the air, this isn't too noticeable outside, but inside you'll notice that there seems to be dust the color of your paint on everything. I don't advise it. I plan to spray paint some branches for a project soon, and I may just do it on the sidewalk and tell people to back up if they don't want to be sprayed. There might be victims, but hey, my apartment is worth it :).
view Garrett's profile
Oh yes, spray paint is my friend. I have cinderblock bookshelves behind my sofa, and people comment on how nice and non-college they look - the trick was to spray paint the cinderblocks a nice bright white. My big bookshelves look great and cost next to nothing.
view Moxie the Maven's profile
Spraypainting indoors requires a paint booth, which you can construct with a refrigerator box and plastic sheeting. Then you MUST wear a breathing mask while painting!
Since you probably don't have a refrigerator box lying around, nor room for one, nor do you want a mask, it's best to find a friend with a yard or driveway when you want to paint large objects.
view wende in phoenix's profile
though i do have a little fenced-in yard, it's not big enough for some of the spray painting projects i've recently tackled (ie: a very large room divider).
my street is relatively quiet, so i just taped a car-sized rectangle of butcher paper (you could use newspaper or cardboard) in the parking space on the street in front of my house and got to sprayin'. it worked just fine and no one seemed to mind that i was occupying a parking space for a couple of hours. just be extra careful that it's not the slightest bit windy...you dont want to accidentally paint any surrounding cars!
view goodnightdean's profile
Has anyone found a good silver spray paint that doesn't rub off and looks good? Ideally I'd like a brushed steel or stainless look.
view JG's profile