You’d Be Surprised What You Can Do with a Can of Spray Paint

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Spray paint is a quick, easy and relatively inexpensive way to achieve the look you want. And the possibilities are endless. For example, if you find an object on sale but it’s not in the desired color, you can always just spray paint it. If you have old, outdated items, spray paint can transform them. And don’t forget there are TV programs dedicated to finding thrift store items, then painting and reselling them at a significantly higher price.

These are just some of the cool ways you can decorate with spray paint.

Spray Paint Ideas

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Metallic gold makes everything look more expensive. Image: Rustoleum

According to Kymberlyn Lacy, Principal Designer at International Flair Designs, there are many things that you can refresh and restore with spray paint. “Add a little shimmer to old picture frames by spray painting them with a metallic gold, bronze or silver spray paint,” Lacy says.

“You can also revitalize old brass chandeliers with a vibrantly colored spray paint that coordinates with your room design.”

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Depending on your color choice, you can make chairs look vintage or new. Image: Krylon

Here’s another good tip. “Paint wooden chairs or an old vintage piece of furniture to add a wow factor to your room design,” Lacy says.

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Your imagination is the only limit. Image: Colorshot

“Spray paint works on wood, metal, plastic and more, so you can refresh a variety of existing items in your home with a whole new color palette,” explains Vanessa Aceves at Colorshot. “Use spray paint to update your flower pots and planters with color. Try using stickers or tape to mask off areas for creating cool shapes and patterns when spraying.”

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Experiment with different colors. Image: Colorshot

Chloe Tatoe at Colorshot explains, “You can choose an entirely new color family for maximum impact without spending a fortune on all new items.” For example, Tatoe recommends choosing a bold color to make an item the focal point of the room. “Then, surround it with more subdued, yet complementary, shades to help it pop,” she says. Tatoe encourages Freshome readers to go glam with metallic spray paint.

Appliance Spray Paint

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The red refrigerator brings this room alive. Image: Adam Butler Photography

If your appliances have seen better days, you can restore their natural beauty – or you can change colors completely – with appliance paint. That dingy white refrigerator can be transformed into a shiny new red one. Note: appliance paint is different from regular spray paint. It’s formulated for indoor metal surfaces and is moisture resistant and designed to withstand heat.

Spray Painting Tips

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A vintage vanity gets new life with an ombre paint job. Image: Krylon

While spray painting is relatively easy, Megan Abraham, Associate Brand Manager at Krylon, provides the following tips for the perfect paint job.

• Before starting your project, read the label for safety and application instructions and always spray in a well-ventilated area.
• To ensure a smooth finish, paint in the shade on days when humidity is low. As for technique, it’s recommended that you move the can back and forth, overlapping each spray pattern to ensure uniform coverage. The best way to do this is to start and stop spraying off of the object.

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A spray painted dorm kitchen cart. Image: Krylon

• Use two to three light coats rather than one thick coat of paint. You’ll also want to be aware of the recoat times listed on the back of the can, which will tell you the optimal time to apply the next coat.
• For the best results, use a spray paint primer whenever possible as it creates a clean, smooth surface that increases paint adhesion, seals your surface and ensures the true paint color is achieved.
• Air bubbles are one result you don’t want to see after completing a spray paint project. To ensure a smooth, even finish, make sure the surface of your project is clean, dull and dry before spray painting. Also, it is best to spray paint when temperatures are between 55 and 75° F and humidity is below 60%. If you do have air bubbles on a project, allow the spray paint to dry before lightly sanding the surface area and reapplying.