Kim and I have recently started a new site all about remodeling and design ideas and pictures. This article was inspired by one of the images Kim found for the new blog – you can find it here: Beautiful Workspaces {Dreamy Desks}.
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Find Your Color Bliss With Spray Paint
I have no idea whether the desk and chair above were painted with a can of spray paint, a professional spray rig, or a traditional paint brush. Even my brilliance doesn’t quite reach that level. However, what I do know is that they could be painted with a spray can.
I’m talking an off-the-shelf can of good old spray paint. And I’m talking quality here too. Not just some ho-hum job meant to last long enough for a photo shoot. (Maybe not heirloom quality either… something in the middle)
Spray paint rocks for good reason:
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Your color options are extensive
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Your tool requirements are minimal
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Your dry time is faster
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The overall job is done faster
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It’s easy, fun, and will make you feel like a rock star.
A Half-Dozen Tips For Quality Spray Paint Perfection
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Put more effort into prep than paint – The surface you’re painting is more important than the paint you use to cover it. Take the time to get it really ready:
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Scrape or strip all loose paint
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Sand the entire surface with two goals: first is to rough-up the surface and remove any existing glossy sheen so your paint will stick; second is to smooth down any edges left by scraping old paint off.
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Clean off sanding residue completely with a tack cloth. The best cloth is a clean rag or t-shirt with a little bit of water or mineral spirits (paint thinner). I prefer the paint thinner because it evaporates quickly.
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Use a primer coat – This step is somewhat optional depending on how close to the aforementioned heirloom quality you want to get. A good solid coat of primer, allowed to dry properly before top coat, will greatly increase the durability of your finish. They always sell the primer right next to the spray paint cans. It’s not super critical which primer you get. I’ve used automotive primer on wood before with great results.
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Spray very thin coats – Did I say thin? I meant thin. The biggest mistake people make with spray cans is putting on too much paint. Spray paint is thin so it’s very prone to running, which is a big mess. Thin coats prevent that and they dry fast.
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Never hold the can still. – “Just-Keep-Moving” should be your motto. Be moving before you hit the button and be moving when you let go. Never pull the trigger on a stationary spray can. Trust me.
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Use plenty of coats – The thing with thin coats is that they’re, um, thin. If you want a durable surface, you’ll need a good thickness of paint, so use more coats. It’s not unusual when spraying furniture to have four, five, or even six coats on the finished work.
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Finish with a clear coat (or four) – The last secret to a great spray paint finish is to use a liberal amount of clear on top. You can choose your sheen (glossy, semi-gloss, satin, or flat) with the clear and apply thin coats. Make sure the color coat is totally dry before applying the clear.
Not As Much Work As It Sounds Like
While this may sound like a ton of work, it’s really faster and easier than any of the other alternative methods. The thin coats dry fast.
Drawbacks – cost (those cans add up) and environmental concerns – wear a mask and don’t breath that junk in!
Thinking about spray painting your kitchen cabinets… you can do it! We tried it awhile back. Here is the post.
Do you have any spray paint tips or projects you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!
Enjoy!
~RG
Great tips, especially the one on the thin coats (been there, done that)! The clearcoat is new to me though. I don’t think I’ve ever clearcoated something I’ve spray painted, but you really think it’s a worthy step, huh? What clearcoat is going to keep my whites white and not yellow over time?
Hi Tim. This is a long comment so I apologize up front. I am fairly new to your blog and I really enjoy it! Your spray painting tips are helpful and spot on. I am a spray paint fanatic! I have attached some before and after pics of my latest project.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/breadarnell/CIMG7925.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/breadarnell/CIMG7822.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/breadarnell/CIMG7821.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/breadarnell/CIMG7783.jpg
It is a very old, very large pine cupboard that was in really rough shape. You are so right about prep. While I initially thought about keeping it natural it needed so much patching and repair I just decided to do a layered spray paint technique on it. I always sand my furniture pieces but I don’t always prime them. I primed this with spray primer mainly because the wood was bare and I wanted a good surface for my paint to stick to plus there was a lot of patching with putty. I then spray painted it with three different colors of spray paint, a dark gray, a medium brown and khaki …a couple of light coats of each color. For the top coat I used a creamy white and painted probably 4 or 5 thin coats. Sometimes I find that when I am painting a piece with large surface areas it is sometimes hard to get my final coat to be really smooth because of overspray. If this happens I just go over it lightly with a 220 grit sanding block after it dries and that smoothes it out nicely. I let the paint cure for a couple of days and then I distress it with my electric mouse sander using 220 grit. You don’t have to use an electric sander but in order to get the layers of paint to show through it’s a lot faster with an electric sander. You can distress it a lot as I did or just a little depending on the look you want. After going over it with a tack cloth I wax the whole thing (small sections at a time) with carnauba wax. I have painted a lot of furniture and this is the only finish I have ever used including on breakfast room chairs that get used every day. I have found it holds up great. Maybe the secret is in the prep, I’m not sure, but I have been super happy with the wax. I have used poly on stained furniture but I would be afraid of it yellowing on white painted furniture.
You are absolutely right Tim about spray paint being so much faster than the alternative and the only reason this piece took so long was because of its size. I tend to be a little heavy handed so I have to really watch it or I will get runs. And, yes, the drawback to spray painting is the cost. This is a large piece of furniture and while I don’t always paint the inside of the drawers I did on this piece…I had to, they were awful. I estimate I spent about $135 on spray paint alone. The cupboard itself costs me $250 on Craig’s List which was a steal. Vintage Welsh or English cupboards like this can go anywhere from $1200 to $3,000. It fits the recessed space in my breakfast room perfectly which was very important. I am thrilled with how it turned out!
Helen
@Erin @ The Impatient Gardener, Thanks for your comment and your question! I think you brought up a common concern regarding clear coats.
I’m not an official paint formula expert, so don’t bet your life savings on this, but here’s the answer I have from my experience:
Most modern clear finishes don’t yellow. The traditional discoloration of clear finishes was common with oil-based finishes. Most modern finishes are made with other base materials. Water based clear finishes are common and lacquer based clear finishes don’t suffer much discoloration.
So again, don’t trust me totally before painting the most valuable family heirloom you have, but if it were me buying a clear spray can topcoat at the store, discoloration wouldn’t be one of my concerns.
I hope that helps!
Tim
@Helen, Thanks for your very detailed and helpful comment. I may be contacting you soon to talk about making a post out of your pictures and comment.
The result of your work was amazing and from what I can tell is comparable to the higher-end of the price range you mentioned. I think the overall investment is an incredible deal and you’ve got the pride of having done the work yourself AND having found the cupboard at a fire sale price!
Your tips are excellent and it’s clear that you’re a force to be reckoned with when wielding a spray can!
I like the carnuba wax idea and I think it’s a good alternative to my suggestion of a clear coat.
Great job and thanks for posting this.
Tim
have been following your blog on Pininterest. thank you for all the tips on spray painting. I am new at refinishing furniture and you tips have helped me alot. I have been trying to track down the color of desk and chair on this blog. all I found out is that Sherwin Williams Harmony interior acrylic latex. it just showed a picture of a can, I do not know if it comes in a spray. Do you know the color name or something like it? Thank you for your all your help.