Want to learn how to spray paint furniture? Here are my five best tips!
Hey guys! Ever gone to spray paint something and have it all blow away? What about having the paint drip down the sides? Or have thick round spots where you sprayed in one spot?
When we painted this coffee table, we decided to use spray paint on the Greek key detailing. We chose spray paint because it is inexpensive and easy to use.
However, you have to follow some best practices.
Spray paint is great because it is cheap, comes in tons of colors, and applies and dries very quickly. For a professional finish, make sure you do the following:
- Spray in a well-ventilated area– preferably outside and away from all buildings. If it’s a windy day, it might be better to wait! Spray paint is extremely light and blows away in the wind. You’ll do a lot better by waiting for the wind to die down.
- Buy 2 cans of paint, even if you’re doing something small. Most spray paint is inexpensive enough that it’s affordable to buy more cans than you need. You can save the extra can for another project or even return it, but there is nothing worse than being 90% done spray painting something and having the can of paint run out or malfunction! You won’t want to have to stop and run to the store.
- Focus on multiple light coats instead of one thick coat in order to minimize the risk of getting drips. Spray from about 8 to 10 inches away and move your hand the whole time. I like to start each stream by spraying onto the ground, then move to the piece I’m painting, and then end by spraying onto the ground. The beginning and end of each spray can leave a circle of thicker paint or even a small puddle, so by spraying onto the ground, you get a much cleaner finish on your piece.
- Use painters tape to get crisp lines – just tape off what you don’t want painted (you can tape down plastic bags if you want to cover a large area) and spray around it. Peel the tape off after it is completely dry and you should get crisp lines.
- Resist the urge to touch or move your piece until as long as it says on the can. It’s tempting to move it back inside early, but there’s nothing worse than smudging or dinging your perfect finish!
We love using spray paint for a quick and inexpensive update. Next time you go shopping at the thrift store, imagine everything with a fresh, colorful coat!
Click here to pin this project to your Pinterest board!
Here are some of my favorite makeovers with a few coats of spray paint:
DIY side table from a vase + chip and dip plate
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Hey there, I’m Sean, the woodworking enthusiast and builder behind CharlestonCrafted.com! Since 2012, I’ve been sharing the magic of turning raw materials into beautiful creations. I love teaching others the art and satisfaction of woodworking and DIY. I try to inspire fellow crafters to make something extraordinary out of nothing at all.