I’ve Tried Tons of Spray Paint, and This is The Only One I’ll Buy

Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a simple change of color. And, when it comes to giving furniture and decor a brand new lease on life, for the least money and effort, the hands-down winner is spray paint. I’ve tried a lotta lotta spray paint, and recently found my new favorite.

It’s easier to think of things I haven’t spray painted—my dogs, maybe—than all the things I have. Let’s see, there’s the ugly faux gold framed mirror that I sprayed glossy white and now looks dreamy in our Airbnb bathroom. And the cheap-o old chandelier I bought at Habitat ReStore for 20 bucks and painted the same white for a fresh pop in my dark gray laundry room. I’ve also spray painted outdoor grills, fire pits, flower pots, chairs, balcony railings, toilet paper holders—you name it, if it’s standing still, chances are it’s been subjected to a can of spray paint.

But first, a word about my other love when it comes to paint: chalk paint. Not the blackboard stuff you that lets you scrawl your grocery list on walls, but the matte finish of the Annie Sloan and knockoff variety. I think I painted every cabinet and piece of furniture in our Detroit house with that stuff, from thrift shop TV stands to random pieces I found in the house, like desks and piano benches. Painting everything the same color helped hide the fact that nothing matched or cost more than a few bucks.

That stuff is nothing short of a miracle, with no primer or sanding needed before you get right to the fun part: adding color. But regular chalk paint still takes time to brush on. Tedious, tedious time. So when I saw two of my favorite things combined into one beautiful combo as perfect as a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, you can imagine my joy. It is instant gratification in a can.

I promptly bought the can of spray-on chalk paint and got to work. My first project was a small nightstand I bought secondhand, dirt cheap, for a guest bedroom. The lines were great but the dated wood finish was not. I set up outside and, in a matter of minutes, had a cute, soft grey nightstand that looked perfect by the bed with a lamp and a few books.

It was so much faster than painting from a can with a brush, and more cost effective than buying a whole can when I only needed enough for one small piece of furniture. It dried quickly, and has held up for over a year.

Now I find myself looking around the house for other things that can get the quick-and-easy chalk spray paint treatment. I’m thinking the batch of mismatched framed maps I got at a flea market could benefit from all being painted flat black, and the vanity I ordered online that is a click too shiny for my taste would do much better in a nice, matte navy.

In fact, I kind of want to go out thrifting just to look for some more things to spray paint.

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