Spray Paint Tutorial
About a month ago, I wrote 10 Frugal Home Decor Tips for Money Saving Mom. One reader asked about spray painting and how to do it. So, the idea for this post was born…
Spray painting is a wonderful, quick, and inexpensive way to give “new” life to outdated pieces. I’ve spray painted accessories, mirrors, kitchen chairs, wall art, and a lamp table (among many other items that I can’t remember right now.)
How To Spray Paint Tutorial – Step By Step
- Find a gaudy (hideous) accessory that needs updating. I found these finials at a yard sale for $6.
- Go to Home Depot or Lowes and purchase a Comfort Grip spray paint gun. I think I paid $6-7 for it. Today I used it for the first time and my pointer finger thanks me immensely. I honestly thought for a moment that I died and went to heaven…it’s just THAT amazing!
- Also purchase your choice of spray paint. For this project, I’m using an ivory color.
- Attach the magic to your spray paint can.
- It will look alien-like, but this is completely normal. Ha!
- If necessary, sand down the surface(s) that you will be painting, then point spray paint can/gun and squeeze the trigger. I rarely sand, mostly because things don’t usually need it, but also because I might be slightly impatient.
- Keep your hand moving and do a light coat of paint all over. Let it set for a couple minutes.
- Having an adorable helper, like my little man, makes the job SO much more enjoyable. Look at his eyes!
- After paint sets, spray another sweeping coat as you keep your hand moving so paint doesn’t run.
- I intentionally wanted the shadows on these finials to show through, so I did two light coats to hide the gaudy gold. If you want to completely cover your surface, you might need to do 3-4 light coats.
- Oh, so pretty!
- See that little run? That’s what happens when you don’t keep moving fast enough. {ahem} The spray paint globs a little. I could have sanded it down and repainted, but instead I just turned it a little bit so hopefully no one will notice. Ha!
- The finished product! These finials are perfect on the chest behind my sofa. I have one of them sitting on a cigar box that I also found at a yard sale.
LOVE, love, love!
Have you ever used a spray paint gun attachment? Do you spray paint?
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I love this and can’t wait to try my hand at spray painting something! I have the desire to be more creative, just didn’t really know how/where to start – so this is a great starting place. I want a spray gun attachment! 🙂
How have I not yet discovered that such a thing as a spray paint gun exists? I think that may just transform my D.I.Y life 😀
thanks for the tutorial!
Hey Kara! Seriously the spray paint gun revolutionized my life! 🙂 So glad you stopped by!
Hi Myra-
Great tute. Spray paint is one of the best inventions EVER! I work in display where we have a spray booth. Perhaps some day every home will come equiped with one making our DIYing even easier.
Happy New Year. I found your blog through Layla’s.
My best- Diane
Hi Diane!! Welcome! 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by…and how amazing it would be to have a spray booth in each house. {swooning} Happy New Year! 🙂
I heart my Comfort Grip thingy! I have to learn to be patient and not try to do it all in one coat, darn those drips!
Oh Sandy, tell me about drips. Just yesterday I got overly excited about getting a piece spray painted (it was cold outside) and I ended up with a few drips. I’ve got my fingers crossed that i can gently sand them out since I’m distressing the piece. 🙂
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for the Comfort Grip tip. I’m about to paint my boys’ bunk beds and I was wondering about this!
Girl, this is not the first time you have come to my rescue and I’m sure it won’t be the last. 🙂
Congrats on the new blog!
Amy Lynn, you are the sweetest! Your index finger will thank you for using the Comfort Grip. 😉 Will I see you this year at a conference? Blissdom or Relevant? 🙂
I have a spray paint trigger dealie that works just like that but I got it for a buck at a dollar store several years ago.
I LOVE it.
These are darling. I would never have purchased them if they looked like the before picture. I need to open my mind to these sorts of things. I have spray painted a couple of things, but always get the runs (haha).. now I know, I can sand a bit to get rid of them. =)
I just spray painted a bunch of little bird figurines from the thrift store… I didn’t see this before though or I would have picked up one of those nozzles. I also spraypainted a hideous old 70’s vase, but it is dripping from the top. I’ll try to sand it down like you said.