Instead of chucking the stuff that’s gone grungy, save big bucks and do the landfill a favor by giving stuff a chic do-over with spray paint.
Here’s a roundup of some fun and different spray paint DIY projects:
Upholstery
Ever see a great piece of furniture at a thrift store or on Craigslist and wish it was another color? You don’t have to kill a bunch of Naugas to update your Naugahyde chair. Yes, you can spray paint vinyl upholstery for a totally new look.
Photo credit: Lettie at Living and Loving
Shoes
Need a pair of turquoise peep-toe pumps to match that special outfit? Make them. Spray paint vinyl shoes any color you like. You can even add a new fabric insert for a total update and feel oh, so clever when folks tell you your matching kicks are fab.
Photo credit: Abbie at M is for Mama
Bicycles
You’ve found the perfect old bike for cool vintage-style cruising, but it needs some refurbishing. Spray paint your bicycle frame for a jazzy new ride. You’ll need to take it apart, but you can take photos along the way to document how everything goes back together.
Photo credit: A Beautiful Mess
Refrigerators
While an old appliance is not the most eco-friendly household item, if it still works efficiently you can take your fridge from fugly to fabulous with spray paint. You can go for a bright color for something fun and different.
Curtains
Wait, what? I can spray paint plain white panels into a custom window treatment? Yes! You can use regular spray paint, but fabric spray works better. Tape horizontally, spray, and create wide stripes on curtains as a great way to pull a room together with color.
Photo credit: Life on Mars
Brass lamps and chandeliers
Go to the light. Thrift shops are full of interesting old brass lamps and chandeliers, but they tend to be frumpy and tarnished. Spray paint an old brass table lamp or update a dated chandelier to a bright new color, clean white or all black. It’s as easy as flipping a switch.
Photo credit: vixenMade
Countertops
There’s nothing that will date your bathroom decor like an old laminate countertop. For those who are ready to tackle a bigger spray paint project, you can modernize your countertop with spray paint for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Seal and gloss with oil-based polyurethane.
Folding chairs
If your metal folding chairs are scuffed and dingy, or just rockin’ that stock blah beige, you can turn them a rainbow of colors in no time. Start with primer, then spray paint your folding chairs, pads and all.
Ceiling fans
Wooden blades and brass fixtures used to be the standard design for ceiling fans. You can do a fan makeover for about $25 by spray painting your ceiling fans in a number of ways. You can go with all one color, or try a metallic spray paint for the brass fixtures.
Photo credit: PennyWiseCook.com
Outdoor fire pit
Rust happens. High Heat Rust-Oleum spray paint is perfect for outdoor patio objects like fire pits and grills, as long as you don’t paint anything you cook directly on. Refurbish your iron fire pit in a jiffy and be ready for s’mores by the weekend.
More genius spray paint ideas and tips
Confessions of a spray-paint addict
DIY painted Mason jars and wine bottles
How to spray paint furniture for a professional look
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